If you’re just finding us – Welcome! Each Wednesday, we drop a weekly update of fun things to do around Macon (and beyond – so be sure to read to the end). In town this week we’ve got an open mic, knits and purls, Trail Day adventures and more. Here we go!
Wednesday, May 29
Open Mic Comedy Night
Robin Williams was onto something when he said “Comedy is acting out optimism.” Bring your best bits to Vice Bar for this bi-weekly open mic hosted by comedian Caroline Exum. Signup starts at 8 pm for your five minutes to shine. Or, if you’re a bit shy, kick back with a drink in the peanut gallery and enjoy.
8:30 p.m.; no cover; 499 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, 31201; (478) 259-1298; Vice Bar’s Facebook
Thursday, May 30
Meet the Editor
It’s a listening session where you get to the editor of a brand new newspaper launching in Macon-Bibb just what you want from local news. Meet the team from the Georgia Trust for Local News and let them know how to best cover our vibrant community. Light meal and refreshments will be served.
6 – 8 p.m.; free; Frank Johnson Recreation Center; 2227 Mercer University Dr, 31204; Georgia Trust for Local News.
Friday, May 31
Free Family Movie Night
Grab your tents, blankets, and chairs and head to Carolyn Crayton Park to enjoy an evening under the stars watching ‘Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom.’ Complimentary popcorn included and dogs allowed!
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.; free; 150 Willie Smokie Glover Dr, 31201; (478) 621-6280.
Saturday, June 1 (* see bottom of the page for another fun trail option)
It’s Trails Day All Day
Celebrate National Trails Day by joining Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful for storytime at Amerson River Park (2551 Pierce Drive North, 31204) at 11 or 11:45 a.m., followed by a “Trails Day Adventure Challenge” along the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail. Bring your completed challenge card to the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail Master Plan Reveal Party at Fall Line Brewing Co from 6-8 p.m. to celebrate and maybe even win a prize!
Various times; free; for StoryTime, meet at the playground by the NewTown Macon event flag.
Sunday, June 2
From Trails to Tobesofkee
Continue the weekend vibe with a trip to Lake Tobesofkee’s Sandy Beach Park, which has just opened for the season. Enjoy the large beaches, playground, picnic pavilions and the four new pickleball courts. Camping and RV hookups are available.
9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; $3/person; 6880 Moseley Dixon Rd, 31220; Lake Tobesofkee.
Monday, June 3
Change Gonna Come
Legendary singer-songwriter Otis Redding began his music career in the choir at Vineville Baptist Church and won the Douglass Theatre’s talent show more than a dozen times. For Redding, music served as a ticket out of poverty and the South’s societal limitations. Explore his life and legacy by visiting the Otis Redding Museum in the heart of downtown. See original documents and photos and pick up some cool merch when you’re done.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; $5/person; 339 Cotton Avenue, 31201; (478) 742-5737.
Tuesday, June 4
Knitting as Self Care
Whether you’re quick with the needles or a first-timer, you’re always welcome at the Macon Mental Health Matters’ First Tuesdays Knitting Club. Knitting and crafting have been proven to reduce stress, enhance focus, and promote relaxation. So spend some time unwinding at Washington Memorial Park as Paige Reeves teaches knitting, crocheting, loom knitting, and finger knitting.
7 – 8 p.m.; 1180 Washington Ave, 31201; RSVP here.
Wednesday, June 5
Kassi Valazza’s Spellbinding Songs
Kassi Valazza’s “Watching Planes Go By” made the Best of 2023 list for NPR Music’s Ann Powers (listen here). Powers describes the song as “a hazy psychedelia highly evocative of late-1960s English folk music and its Laurel Canyon counterparts, especially early Joni Mitchell. You can judge for yourself, as Valazza performs songs from her forthcoming album “Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing” at Macon’s legendary Capricorn Sound Studios.
7:30 p.m.; $25 plus service fee (purchase tickets here); 530 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, 31201; (478) 257-5327
And finally … this week’s “Hop, Skip & a Jump” (Saturday, June 1)
Indian Springs State Park Hike
Pack water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, bug spray, and walking poles if you need them and join Macon Outdoors for a six mile group hike (details here with registration required ahead of time). Bring your dog along (6′ leash required). Afterwards, folks will lunch at Fresh Air Barbecue.
10 a.m.; free, although parking is $5; Lake Clark Rd, Flovilla, GA 30216; Indian Springs State Park.
