Augusta, GA

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday. Here is some Augusta-area fun for the long weekend

Published

2 years ago

January 14, 2024

Press Room

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday. Here is some Augusta-area fun for the long weekend

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday. It will mark what would have been Dr. King’s 95th birthday.

The occasion will not go unnoticed as prose and parades, keynotes and opportunities to help those in need have been scheduled throughout the weekend. For many, this will also serve as a three-day weekend, a chance for relaxation and reflection.

There’s plenty to do, including the last chance to get some ice skating in, a night full of stars, and a couple of chances to see local athletes go head-to-head.

Here’s a look at these and other fun events scheduled this weekend across the Augusta area:

Remembering MLK: Retired Augusta priest, 95, recalls marching with his friend, Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. festivities, give-back opportunities

The 2024 Tri-College Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is noon Friday at Augusta Technical College off Bobby Jones Expressway. This is a collaborative celebration between Augusta Tech, Augusta University and Paine College. The keynote speaker is Otis Samuel Johnson, chairman of the Racial Equity and Leadership Task Force in Savannah.

Augusta Mini Theatre’s “Telling Our Stories Through Poetry” is 8-10 p.m. Friday, 3-5 p.m. Saturday-Monday at the theatre in Augusta at 2548 Deans Bridge Rd. In tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., young performers will combine poetry, movement, songs and other skills to illustrate Black history and culture. General admission is about $10 to $15 and tickets are available at augustaminitheatre.org.

Augusta NAACP’s 50th annual Freedom Fund Banquet is 6 p.m. Friday at Good Shepherd Baptist Church Family Life Center at 1714 Olive Rd. The keynote speaker is Augusta’s Chief Judge Kellie McIntyre, the first Black female chief justice of Richmond County. Tickets start at about $75 and are available at naacpaugustaga.org.

Augusta’s 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Parade is Saturday starting at 1 p.m. at Dyess Park Community Center on at 902 James Brown Blvd. Participants will walk south on James Brown Boulevard, then west onto Wrightsboro Road, north onto Augusta Avenue, east onto Laney Walker Boulevard, and then north onto 11th Street to Johnson Motors.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson is organizing a Day of Service, but it has reached volunteer capacity, according to the mayor’s spokesperson Brennan Meagher.

Augusta’s Community Fair and 10th annual Homeless Winter Clothing Drive is 2-4 p.m. Saturday in the James Brown Arena parking lot at 601 7th St. There will be community resources, food, a bounce house and other entertainment. This is to recognize World AIDS Day.

Outdoor activities

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park’s “Eco Explorer” Day is 2-4 p.m. Friday in Augusta at 1858 Lock and Dam Rd. Guests will get to become scientists, jumping into the water, examine bugs and get a behind-the-scenes look at the research lab. The day is restricted to adults and is twice per month. Those interested can register for about $26 per person at phinizycenter.org/eco-explorers.

Hephzibah’s Food Truck Friday returns 5-9 p.m. Friday at the Hephzibah Agricultural Center at 4245 Peach Orchard Rd. There will be plenty of food to choose from plus music, shopping and face painting.

Border Bowl XI is Saturday at Burke County High School in Waynesboro at 1057 Burke Veterans Pkwy. The best high school football seniors from Georgia and South Carolina will face off with gates opening at 11 a.m. and kick off at 1 p.m. Parking will be $5 cash. Tickets are sold on-site for $15 cash and $10 pre-sale for a limited time at eventbrite.com. Programs are available for $10 cash.

Evans on Ice is open for just a few more days at Evans Towne Center Park off Washington Road. It’s open 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, and noon to 9 p.m. Monday. Ice skate the night away, and when you need to warm up, there is also a fire pit. Tickets are $13 on weekdays and $17 on weekends. For more information, go to evansonice.com.

Ringing in the holiday spirit: Salvation Army of Augusta kettles raise more than $230,000

Indoor entertainment

The Imperial Theatre in Augusta has two shows this weekend: Southern Soul and Song Series’ “Appalachian Roadshow and The Cleverlys” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” at 3 p.m. Monday. For tickets, call (706) 722-8341 or go to imperialtheatre.com.

Augusta University’s men’s basketball team faces USC Aiken’s at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Christenberry Fieldhouse in Augusta at 3109 Wrightsboro Rd. Tickets are $10 for adults, free for AU members as well as ages 6 and younger, and $5 for everyone else.

DuPont Planetarium’s “Ancient Sky Lore” is 7-8 p.m. Saturday at the Ruth Patrick Science Center in Aiken at 471 University Pkwy. Stars and constellations will be used to tell legends and stories from ancient cultures. Admission is $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for senior citizens, $4.50 for grades 4K-12, and $2 for USC Aiken members.

Aiken Bridal Show 2024 is 1-5 p.m. Sunday at the Anne and Cot Campbell Center in Aiken at 1310 East Pine Log Rd. There will be a bridal fashion show, wedding vendors, dance lessons, food trucks and door prizes. Tickets are $15 at the door and $12 in advance at eventbrite.com.

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Augusta, GA

Another portion of Augusta Canal towpath is reopening to public

Published

12 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Another portion of Augusta Canal towpath is reopening to public

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Another section of the Augusta Canal towpath is reopening after being closed since Hurricane Helene.

The storm on Sept. 27, 2024, left the path strewn with debris as broken branches hung precarously overhead.

On Friday, the path will reopen between the raw water pump station and the Interstate 20 bridge.

In preparation, crews have made safety improvements along the previously closed section of the trail.

Visitors are asked to observe all posted signs and stay behind safety barriers.

Embankment repairs have been delayed, but will take place in the future.

Once repair work begins, portions of the towpath will be temporarily closed at various times. Advance notice will be shared with the public before any closures.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta budget approved, but battle could rage on

Published

24 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Augusta budget approved, but battle could rage on

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Greg Costello is getting his steps in at Diamond Lakes, and he thinks Augusta took the right step on the budget.

“I like that, that’s good. That was probably something that was needed right,” said Greg Costello.

Commissioners approved the 2026 budget without a tax increase. Instead, there’s a 5 percent cut to city departments and the elimination of funding for some non-government organizations.

“For this budget and we went through line item by line item through the budget we had to make some difficult decisions to make cuts,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle.

At Diamond Lakes, those cuts will likely be felt.

MACH Academy Inc., the nationally recognized tennis mentoring program, is losing $200,000 in funding, and a 5 percent cut to Recreation that maintains it, creates worries.

“Yes, I am, because I think parks are very well needed,” said Costello.

Commissioners can make changes to the budget at any time, and some would like that instead of the cuts.

“We have a responsibility to support programs that help our kids stay out of trouble to help our community stay healthy and strong, to help add quality of life and museums and things of that nature,” said Commissioner Jordan Johnson.

“The only other option we have is to raise taxes to fund the NGOs. As a steward of the taxpayers, I can not do that,” said Guilfoyle.

It was a battle getting next year’s budget approved. Expect another one if there’s a move to amend it.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta nonprofits unite to raise $200K for medical supply center

Published

1 day ago

December 17, 2025

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Augusta nonprofits unite to raise 0K for medical supply center

AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Two local nonprofit groups are teaming up to expand their mission to provide medical equipment to those in need.

Cutter’s Resource Closet and Sons of Consolation Ministries collect, refurbish and distribute used medical equipment to people who can’t afford it.

“We see roughly around anywhere around about 100 people. And we only operate for 4 hours one day a week,” explained Cutter Mitchell of Cutter’s Resource Closet. “Through that time, we’ve given out about $1,000,000 worth of equipment and supplies. And these are just growing. I mean, we’re at capacity. We literally can’t do more without more.”

The two organizations have been working together for some time. Now they are partnering to raise a total of $200,000 to buy, renovate and operate a full-time community medical resource center in Augusta.

“Really what we’re trying to do is have a central location to be able to distribute the medical supplies and equipment. But more than that, connect people with resources,” said Mitchell.

They told NewsChannel 6 the new center will help them do even more for the community.

“Here, we also are looking at adding a couple of things that we’re not presently doing, like some exam rooms to do, just basic health screening and maybe some minor wound care,” said Don Cummings, Sons of Consolation Ministries. “Because a lot of people, they’re just not being taken care of because they won’t or don’t go to the doctor or can’t afford it or whatever. So we’re really looking for this to be a supplement to what we started.”

So far, they’ve raised about $60,000. Now they’re asking for the community’s help and generosity to get the center up and running.

“I’ve often thought the right thing to do, right, is not what you could do, not what you want to do, but it’s what you should do. And it often isn’t easy, often comes at a cost to you personally. But that’s why it’s called the right thing to do,” said Mitchell.

“You know, every little bit helps. You know, a lot of times people, they feel like they don’t have enough to make a difference or they just don’t know where to send it. And I believe that this is a good cause,” Cummings added.

If you are in need of medical equipment or have equipment you would like to donate, just go to the websites for either Sons of Consolation Ministries or Cutter’s Resource Closet to find out how they can help.

If you are interested in contributing financially to the capital campaign, the organizations have a GoFundMe set up.

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