Plan a Fall Weekend Filled with Family Fun in Thomson, GA
Located minutes from Augusta and convenient to Atlanta, Thomson is the ideal place for a weekend getaway in eastern Georgia. The historic town of Thomson is a beautiful location for camping, hiking, and fishing along Georgia’s Clarks Hill Lake. Home to several campgrounds with excellent amenities, Thomson-McDuffie offers an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Georgia. The Georgia Little River Water Trail offers 20 miles of paddling along the Little River and Clarks Hill Lake. The McDuffie Public Fishing Area and Clarks Hill Wildlife Management Area also offer free admission and ample opportunities for wildlife watching, and fishing.
Thomson also offers plenty of amenities for those looking to enjoy the best of small town America. Start your morning with a cup of single-sourced coffee and a pastry from Gathering Grounds, or treat yourself to a French toast casserole at Camellia City Café. While away the afternoon following the McTell’s 12-String Strut, a public art walk through downtown Thomson, or search for your next favorite treasure at Aunt Tique & Uncle Junk’s antique and resale store. Finish the day with a glass of wine and a steak from Bordeaux Steak & Seafood, which offers a farm-to-table dining experience featuring locally sourced ingredients.
This fall, Thomson is hosting several events sure to be fun for the whole family - plan your trip around these exciting events scheduled for Fall 2023!
Blind Willie McTell Music Festival
Date: September 22-23
Time: Gates open at 11:00am
Location: 965 Stagecoach Rd NE Thomson, GA 30824
More Info | Website
Named for Georgia native Blind Willie McTell, a 12-string guitar pioneer and influential musician best known for writing Statesboro Blues, the Blind Willie McTell Music Festival in Thomson, GA is a can’t-miss event for fans of blues, gospel, jazz, or just a great time listening to music! This open-air festival will go on, rain or shine, so bring your umbrella and get ready to dance. In true homage to Blind Willie, known for his prolific contributions to a wide variety of musical styles, over the past 29 years the festival has regularly featured nationally recognized, award-winning acts from a variety of musical genres. Local food vendors will be on site, and beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for purchase (no outside food and drink allowed). All ages are welcome!
This year’s lineup includes several acts you won’t want to miss. Grammy Award winner Jon Cleary, a fixture in the New Orleans jazz scene and regular at New Orleans JazzFest, will be performing as part of the Absolute Monster Gentlemen trio. Shemekia Copeland, winner of the 2021 Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, will be performing her latest, Grammy-nominated disc, Done Come Too Far. The Americana genre will be well represented by Grammy nominee John Fullbright and Atlanta’s Eddie 9V, and Thomson is thrilled to welcome Austin’s Carolyn Wonderland for the first time. The lineup will be rounded out by Chris and Courtney Barnes, known as The Sensational Barnes Brothers. Their unique blend of R&B and Gospel is sure to be a highlight of the festival!
The festival will begin on Friday, September 22, with a free concert in Historic Downtown Thomson featuring Sugar Ray and the Bluetones.
Advanced tickets are on sale now for $40 and can be purchased online or in person at Forward McDuffie, located at 149 Main Street Thomson, GA 30824. Day-of tickets can be purchased at the gate for $50. Kids 12 and under get in free. Gates open at 11:00am, and the first act takes the stage at noon. The last act usually finishes up around 8:30 pm.
Will Smith Memorial Rodeo
Date: October 13-14
Time: Gates open at 5:00pm, rodeo starts at 7:30pm
Location: The Old Frontier, 1965 Old Milledgeville Rd.
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The Will Smith Memorial Rodeo is an annual event in Thomson, with proceeds benefiting the Jabez Therapeutic Horse-Riding Facility, which offers equine therapy to veterans and children with special needs. Come watch professional cowboys compete in thrilling events such as calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, and bull riding! This rodeo is an International Professional Rodeo Association event, and all participants (competitors and their animals) are well-trained. The rodeo also offers a variety of entertainments for kids, including a mechanical bull, pony rides, pumpkin painting, hay rides, and more! Food and drink vendors will be on site. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate for ages 13 and up; $8 in advance and $15 at the gate for ages 6-12; free admission for ages 5 and younger.
Camellia City Festival
Date: October 21
Time: 10:00am-5:00pm
Location: Downtown Thomson
The Camellia City Festival is a free, annual arts and crafts festival that offers over 100 vendors, all located in the beautiful, historic downtown. This family-friendly event kicks off with a 5k race hosted by the Thomson Family YMCA at 9:00am, then the festival runs from 10:00am-5:00pm. Bring the kids to enjoy the all-day live entertainment and sample all the delicious food Thomson-McDuffie has to offer. The festival includes local businesses, artists, jewelry, artisans, book signings by local authors, and so much more! Named for Thomson-McDuffie’s abundance of camellias, this event shows the town at its best. Get your Christmas shopping done early, or treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind local find!
This fall, come enjoy everything Thomson-McDuffie has to offer. Come enjoy the spectacular events lined up for this fall, or just get away from it all and enjoy some scenic beauty! Let us help you plan your weekend getaway – request a visitor’s guide here: