This Weekend in Georgia

There's no more beautiful time in Georgia than glorious fall, and here are some things going on over this Columbus Day Weekend in Georgia:

Tybee Island Pirate Fest
October 8 - 10, 2009
Tybee Island, Georgia
Ahoy, mates, swashbucklers of all ages will be converging on Tybee Island to participate in the 5th Annual Tybee Island Pirate Fest on October 9th and 10th! Don your most colorful pirate costume, and gather your crew of marauding buccaneers. Featuring a Pirate Victory Parade, fireworks, live entertainment with 10 bands including the Marshall Tucker Band! There will also be costume contests, loads of children’s activities and the Thieves Market filled with treasures, grog, and grub! Admission to the oceanfront festival grounds is $10 per person for a weekend pass, children 12 and under are free. For more information, call the Tybee Island Visitor Center at 800-868-2322 or visit http://www.tybeepiratefest.com. Arrrrrrr!!!

Georgia Mountain Fall Festival
October 9 - 17, 2009
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee, Georgia

The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee is hosting an annual, unique attraction, the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival from October 9-17. The event features 9 days of exciting musical performances, educational demonstrations, a flower show, Georgia's Official State Fiddler's Convention, and new for 2009 The Great Bear Show. Experience the oldest and longest running animal educational show in the country. Here's their website for more information!

Brunswick Rockin' Stewbilee
October 9 - 10, 2009 Mary Ross Waterfront Park, Brunswick, Georgia
Come enjoy an authentic taste of the Georgia coast with the 5th Annual Brunswick Rockin' Stewbilee! This full day event promises to be fun for the entire family. The festivities will begin early Saturday morning with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia 5K Freedom Run and continue with the popular Pooch Parade, Brunswick stew tastings, the Classic Car Show, and full day of free concerts. It's all happening at Mary Ross Waterfront Park and the streets of downtown Brunswick. For more information on the Stewbilee, visit the website. Georgia Traveler's Gerald Bryant and Phil Proctor visited the Stewbilee and tasted some amazing stew in our first season. Check it out here!

And those are just a few of the ways you can get out there and enjoy Georgia! For more ideas, visit the Explore Georgia website operated by our production partners at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

This Weekend in Georgia

It's the Mountain Music Series! This Saturday, May 30, head up to Red Top Mountain State Park in Cartersville and enjoy a summer evening at the Vaughn Cabin, listening to the sounds of live mountain and bluegrass music. Bring a lawnchair or blanket and have fun with the whole family. The music starts at 8 PM. Call the park for the band of the week: 770-975-4226. There is a small parking fee; more information is available at friendsofredtop.org. To see Georgia Traveler's David Zelski participate in the Iron Pour at Red Top Mountain, visit the Georgia Traveler website.


Continuing in the music vein...Dulcimer music lovers, on Saturday, May 30, there will be a hands-on introduction to the mountain dulcimer at Mistletoe State Park in Appling! Don't miss this chance to learn the king of old-time mountain music. Folks who own their own dulcimers are encouraged to bring them along for tuning and playing tips. The class runs from 10 AM til 12 PM. For more information call 706-541-0321, or visit the Mistletoe State Park website.


Chili and stew enthusiasts, you won't dare to miss "Fire in the Mountains" in Hiawassee. It's a chili/stew cook-off from 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturday, May 30. Professional judges will be on hand to judge entries by community cook-teams. There will also be fire-safety demonstrations, bluegrass music, and fun! This is one for the whole family. For more information, visit www.townscountyfirecorps.org, or call 706-896-6472.




And those are just a few of the great ways to explore Georgia this weekend. For more information, check out the Explore Georgia website operated by Georgia Traveler's production partners at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

This Week: Coast South (St. Simons) and Historic South (Macon)

On this episode of Georgia Traveler, its off to Georgia's beautiful southern coast. St. Simons Island is the destination city where we explore mysterious tree spirits, historic Christ Church, colonial foundations at Fort Frederica and a lighthouse that dates to 1872. David Zelski shows us how millionaires once vacationed on Jekyll Island. Discover Georgia's first British outpost at Fort King George in Darien and follow Phil Proctor as he invades Brunswick's annual Stewbilee.

GeorgiaTraveler Episode 101- Coast South (St. Simons) airs this Friday, October 10 at 9 PM, Saturday, October 11 at 7 PM and Wednesday, October 15 at 7:30 PM.

AND ON THE NEWLY LAUNCHED GPB KNOWLEDGE

On this episode of Georgia Traveler, its off to Georgia's Historic South. Macon is our destination city which we visit during the famous Cherry Blossom Festival. Gerald Bryant explores the Music and Sports Halls of Fame and finds the geographic center of Georgia, we think. David Zelski visits Fitzgerald and meets some interesting residents. Phil Proctor helps cook that old southern classic- chicken and dumplings- at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle. Keely Muse takes us on a tour of historic Milledgeville, and its off to Perry for the Georgia National Fair.

Georgia Traveler 106- Historic South (Macon) airs on GPB Knowledge this Saturday, October 11 at 8 PM and Sunday, October 12 at 8 AM.

For more information, check out our website at:
http://www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler/

Georgia Traveler is produced in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Check out the new Georgia Tourism website at http://www.exploregeorgia.org/