Spring 2023

March

March 2

The Plaza Arts Center in downtown Eatonton presents “One Night in Memphis- Presley, Perkins, Lewis and Cash” at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

Plazacenter.org

March 2 - 5

The 21st annual Madison Chamber Music Festival is held at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. The festival kicks off Thursday with a free family concert at 4:30 p.m. featur- ing the musical tales of Babar the Elephant, Ferdinand the Bull and Star Wars. Friday’s concert features Spanish Brass at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50. Saturday showcases “A Night at the Opera” at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday features the Georgian Chamber Players at 4 p.m. www.mmcc-arts.org/event-list/madison-chamber-music-festival

March 3

Carpool, the #1 Cars tribute band, performs at Oconee Brewing Co. in downtown Greensboro at 8 p.m.

Oconeebrewingco.com

March 4

Oconee Brewing Co. in downtown Greensboro hosts the city’s Motown on Main event, featuring music by Jarvis and Friends at 7 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Greene County Family Connections.

Oconeebrewingco.com

March 5

The Old School History Museum in Eatonton presents a lecture by Dr. Eric Tenbus, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia College & State University, on “The History of Beer” at 2 p.m at The Plaza Arts Center in downtown Eatonton. The event is free, and light refreshments will be served after the lecture. www.oldschoolhistorymuseum.org

March 10

Rumours, a Fleetwood Mac Tribute band, performs at Oconee Brewing Co. in downtown Greensboro at 8 p.m. Oconeebrewingco.com

March 17-19

The Lake Oconee Food & Wine Festival is held at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee. The three-day event includes a launch party on Friday, the Grand Tasting on Saturday, brunch on Sunday and much more in between.. Lakeoconeefoodandwine.com

March 18

The Lake Oconee Area Builders Association holds its annual “Big Event” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lake Oconee Village. The Big Event will feature a wide variety of local exhibitors in the home industry and will also include food trucks, arts and crafts and Kids Zone. Lobalive.com

March 18

The Madison Kiwanis Spring Classic 5K is held in historic Madison. The Peachtree Qualifier begins at First United Methodist Church with registration at 7:30 a.m. runsignup.com/Race/GA/Madison/Kiwanis5KSpringClassic

March 23

The Artisans Village Guild in downtown Eatonton presents “The BIG little Project,” featuring small scale 6x6 works from artists in the Lake County and beyond, on sale for $40. An opening reception and art selection is held on March 23. theartisansvillage.org.

March 23-26 nightly and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Festivalhallga.com

The Lake Country Players present “Noises Off” at Festival Hall in downtown Greensboro. Performances are held at 7 p.m.

March 25

Madison’s third annual Sweet Tooth Festival is held from noon to 5 p.m. at 1311 Fairgrounds Road. The event features a bake-off, cake sampling, food, games, arts and crafts and more. Proceeds benefit the Madison-Morgan Boys & Girls Club.

March 25

Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge offers Spring Wagon Rides with the Easter Bunny on select Saturdays through April 8. This guided wagon ride around the park takes place every 20 minutes. Tickets are $3 in advance. Wagon rides will take place March 25, April 1, April 2, April 8 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Gastateparks.org

Through March 26

“A Pastel Palette,” featuring large abstracts and florals by Bev Jones, is on display at the MAGallery in downtown Madison. Themadisonartistsguild.org

March 30

The Madison-Morgan Cultural Center kicks off its Mainstage Concert series with LP & The Vinyl at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. www.mmcc-arts.org/event-list/mainstagelp-the-vinyl

‘Free to Be’ by Bev Jones, on display at MAGallery through March 26.

March 31 www.opas.org

Oconee Performing Arts Society presents a performance by “Best New Artist” Grammar nominee Samara Joy at 7:30 p.m. at Festival Hall in downtown Greensboro as part of the OPAS Lounge Series.

March 31

An opening reception is held at the MAGallery in downtown Madison for Atlanta artist Bea McDowell from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. www.madisonartistsguild.org

March 31 - April 27

The Georgia Artists With Disabilities (GAWD) exhibit opens at the Marlor House Art Center in downtown Milledgeville. An artists reception will be held April 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. www.milledgevillealliedarts.com

April

April 7 www.mmcc-arts.org/event-list/mainstage-eric-dodd-presents-masters-of-songwriting

Nashville country musician Eric Dodd hosts a Masters of Songwriting concert featuring some of Georgia’s most prominent songwriters at 7:30 p.m. at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. Tickets are $75.

April 7

America’s favorite game show, The Price is Right Live, comes to The Classic Center in downtown Athens. Classiccenter.com

April 14 to 10 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Call (706) 769-4974 for more information.

The Oconee Area Resource Council holds a “Books, Boots & Bling” benefit at Thomas Cotton Gin in Watkinsville from 7 p.m.

April 14 -15

The Madison Spring Tour of Homes is held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout Madison. The self-guided tour features a selection of treasured historic and modern homes. Proceeds benefit the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. Tickets are $30 in advance. www.mmcc-arts.org

April 15

The Southland Jubilee returns to downtown Greensboro, featuring live entertainment, arts and crafts, kids activities and more. southlandjubilee.com

April 20-23

The Plaza Alliance for the Performing Arts (PAPA) presents “The Odd Couple” at the Plaza Arts Center in downtown Eatonton. Performances are held at 7 p.m. nightly and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. plazacenter.org

April 20

The Lake Country Chorus presents “Singing 7 Days a Week” at Festival Hall in downtown Greensboro at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available from chorus members or Bank South at Lake Oconee.

April 21-23 www.georgiabushcraft.com/

The Spring Campout 2023 with Georgia Bushcraft is held in Watkinsville. The family-friendly weekend event features camping, cooking, trading and learning activities for outdoor lovers.

April 21 - June 2

The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation’s 28th annual Southworks exhibit opens in downtown Watkinsville. This nationally juried show features a range of artists working in several mediums. Visitoconee.com

April 22

Madison Fest Garden & Crafts Celebration returns to Madison’s Town Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free family-friendly event features garden plants, arts and crafts, regional food and live music. www.madisonga.com/350/ MadisonFest

April 22

Denim & Diamonds, Lake Oconee Academy’s annual fundraiser, is held at Collins Farm. The event will feature dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions, and live music by Haywire. Tickets are $150. DenimAndDiamondsLO.com

April 22

The Madison Artists Guild and MAGallery sponsors a “Plein Air Paint Out” during MadisonFest in downtown Madison from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by an exhibition of works on the Pavilion Stage from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. www.madisonartistsguild.org

April 22

The Morgan County Landmarks Society presents its annual “Spring Ramble,” highlighting African American History in Madison and Morgan County. Time and location TBD.

April 29

The Artisans Village Guild in downtown Eatonton presents the 7th Annual Eatonton One Day Paint Out. The day consists of Plein Air Painting Workshops and a local Paint Out in downtown Eatonton with cash prizes. Artists must be 18 years of age or older and may register online at theartisansvillage.org/events.

May

May 5

An opening reception and Meet and Greet with Atlanta artist Lisa Guyton is held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at MAGallery in downtown Madison. Guytons’s works will be on display at the gallery through June 4. www.madisonartistsguild.org

May 6

The Madison-Morgan Conservancy holds its annual Derby Day event at 5:30 p.m. at the historic Foster-Thomason-Miller House in downtown Madison. www.mmcGeorgia.org

May 7

The Old School History Museum in Eatonton presents a lecture on “Chief Alexander McGillivray” (18th Century Creek Indian Chief) by award-winning author Mauriel Joslyn at 2 p.m. at The Plaza Arts Center in downtown Eatonton. The event is free, and light refreshments will be served after the lecture. www.oldschoolhistorymuseum.org

May 11

Festival Hall in downtown Greensboro presents “Art Blakey, the Father of Modern Jazz” at 7:30 p.m. as part of its Jazz Legacy Project series. Festivalhallga.com

May 11

The Artisans Village Guild presents the 7th Annual Lake Country Juried Art Show. Entries for the show are due by March 30. The opening reception and awards will be held on May 11, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Barrel 118 in downtown Eatonton. The exhibit will be on display and for sale at the Artisans Village Art Gallery through early July. theartisansvillage.org/events

May 12 - 26

The Allied Arts Oconee Art exhibit opens at the Marlor House Art Center in downtown Milledgeville. An artists reception will be held May 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. www.milledgevillealliedarts.com

May 13

The Plaza Arts Center in downtown Eatonton presents the “Sounds of Georgia” concert outside on the Plaza lawn at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and $50. plazacenter.org

May 13

The Madison in May 5K/10K Road Race is held in the historic district and will benefit the Madison Lions Club. www.madisonga.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=612

May 13

The Madison-Morgan Cultural Center presents a performance by the Quebe Sisters, an American swing revival band base in Texas, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. www.mmcc-arts.org/event-list/quebe-sisters

May 17

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame star Bonnie Raitt performs at The Classic Center Theatre in downtown Athens as part of her “Just Like That..” world tour. classiccenter.com

May 18 -20 www.mmcc-arts.org

The 22nd annual Madison Antiques Show & Sale returns to the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, featuring more than 20 dealers from across the nation displaying the best in American antiques and accessories. A preview party and early buying event is held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday. The show is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hall. Free lectures are held at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday in the auditorium before the show. Tickets for the show are $10 at the door. Preview Party tickets are $50.

May 22 www.eatonton.com

The ninth annual Sweet Tee Off golf tournament to benefit the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce is held at Harbor Club on Lake Oconee.

May 27

Oconee Performing Arts Society presents its annual Memorial Day Weekend Patriotic salute, followed by The Music of Billy Joes, starring Michael Cavanaugh, at 7 p.m. at The Farm at Oconee www.opas.org