Small Town, Big Art

Arts & Entertainment

STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH PHOTOS BY JAKE ARTHUR, AMY PASSARETTI & AUDRA SPEARS

A small town with a big arts community

On any given day, residents and visitors to Dadeville could choose from multiple live entertainment options, from concerts to arts festivals, live theater, storytelling and more. These events – often supported through the sponsorship of local businesses – improve the quality of life in the Dadeville community in a variety of venues all around the town and at the lake.

Zazu’s Verandah on the Square in downtown Dadeville opened last year, providing patrons with the opportunity to gather on the sidewalks and in the streets to enjoy live music and each other’s company. And again, in 2021, when the warmer months rolled around, Rick and Mitzy Hidding, opened the doors of Zazu’s every Thursday evening, beckoning patrons to come and enjoy community as tunes ignited the skies in Dadeville. As the summer passed and the crowd’s continued to grow, the Hiddings added Saturday nights to the repertoire.

Well-known artists such as Susan Scholz, Brett Foshee, The Campbell Brothers and Company, David Jones, Tina Marie and the band and many others all provided the beautiful Dadeville Square with entertainment through the warmer months. Zazu’s was also one of the main venues for the Lake Martin Songwriters Festival, which kicked off its inaugural season last August.

But the summer is not the only time the lights are on at Zazu’s. They often host parties in the evenings, wine tastings, art auctions and more. Not to mention the venue is available for rent as well.

Keep your ears turned on for New Year’s Eve this year. Rumor has it the music legends will be returning to Zazu’s to ring in the New Year.

Visit the Facebook page for updates and to find out when new events and entertainers will be coming to town.

As of Oct. 8, 2021, the Dadevill Performing Arts Center joined Zazu’s on the Square. This nonprofit organization had been looking for a location since December 2020, and when a space opened up in downtown Dadeville, they jumped on it, said owner Kim Walls.

“We knew being on the square was the ideal location. It is near the schools, and people enjoy coming to the square to eat, shop and enjoy live entertainment,” she said.

The purpose of the Dadeville Performing Arts Center is to have a place where people can come together. The goal is to create community by creating music.

There have been talks of creating a community

Emma Zinck performs at Zazu’s Verandah during the Inaugural Lake Martin Songwriters Festival.

Mobile Palette set up at the Fall Festival for painters to put their own unique spin on painting a pumkin

chorus and even developing a theater program at the performing arts center; however, those decisions will be left up to the board of directors, which consists of five members, including Walls, the spokesperson.

“We are in collaboration with Everything’s Art on a few projects, and we are working with Bobby Hill’s production company,” Walls said.

The Dadeville Performing Arts Center will host all kinds of musicians at all levels and implement other artistic outlets. For more information on playser, show and exactly what this spectacular venue has to offer, visit Dadeville.performingartscenter.us or check out the Facebook page.

Down the road just a few miles, at the Stillwaters Golf clubhouse on the eastern shore of Lake Martin, Copper’s Grill also offers weekly concerts on its picturesque lawn overlooking the beautiful golf course.

Diners at any number of lake area restaurants will find live musical entertainment on weekends, and some offer other activities as well. Niffers at the Lake hosts trivia contests and bingo with proceeds benefitting local charities.

Chuckwalla’s Pizza at Chuck’s Marina hosts music, a wine club, art shows, fishing tournaments and a charity duck derby to benefit a local charity.

And there’s more. Dadeville and the lake area abound with music, arts and other entertainment all summer long and throughout the year.