Guide to Middle Georgia festivals

MARCH

Forsythia Festival

Held the second weekend in March in Forsyth, this free, family-friendly event features arts and crafts, children’s activities, a 5K and fun run, sports tournaments and live entertainment. www.forsythiafestival.com.

Cherry Blossom Festival

This is the biggest festival held in Macon. The focus is on the beautiful Yoshino cherry trees planted all over the city. There are exhibits, rides, concerts, a dance, tours, kids activities, food and more. www.cherryblossom.com.

APRIL

Hawkinsville Harness Festival

Held at the Lawrence L. Bennett Harness Track in Hawkinsville, the event honors the city’s harness racing history through a parade, live entertainment, kids activities, food vendors, arts and crafts and, of course, harness racing. www.hawkinsvilleharnessfestival.com.

Perry Dogwood Festival

Held in downtown Perry, this festival features arts and crafts, live entertainment, food, Dock Dogs, a 5K run and more. www.perrydogwoodfestival.com.

Pan African Festival

A signature event of the Tubman Museum, this festival in downtown Macon celebrates African influences from around the world. There is music, poetry, dancing, artists and vendors. www.tubmanmuseum.com.

Fired Works

Georgia’s largest exhibit of functional and sculptural pottery, Fired Works in Macon is a weeklong pottery exhibition and sale at Central City Park sponsored by the Macon Arts Alliance. Visitors can attend special pottery events, meet the artists and shop their wares.www.firedworksmacon.com.

Strawberry Festival

For more than 15 years, Reynolds has honored a sweet crop: strawberries. The Strawberry Festival features a 5K run, softball tournament, strawberry cook-off, pottery painting, a picnic and concert in the park. www.ga-strawberry.org.

MAY

Old Clinton War Days

Various re-enactment groups annually participate in Old Clinton War Days, featuring the Battle of Sunshine Church and Griswoldville Battle re-enactments. It’s held in Old Clinton, near Gray. Also features a genealogical research tent. www.scvcamp1399.org/old_clinton_war_days.php.

JUNE

Daylily Festival

Held in a pecan field in Gray, the Daylily Festival features more than 100 craftsmen and exhibitors, food, a parade, car show, horseshoe tournament, 5K run, music and, of course, a daylily flower show. www.gsbht.com/daylilyfestival.htm.

Georgia Peach Festival

The Peach Festival was created to promote Peach County and the peach industry in Georgia. Georgia ranks third in the nation in the annual production of peaches, and this festival honors peach growers with concerts, a parade, arts and crafts, fireworks and the world’s largest peach cobbler. www.worldslargestpeachcobbler.com.

Juneteenth Freedom Festival

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The celebration in Macon includes Civil War re-enactors, as well as demonstrations of Civil War-era trades and crafts, live music, poetry and dance. www.juneteenth.com.

JULY

Macon Film Festival

The Macon Film Festival was created to introduce independent films that rarely appear in Macon. The festival screens innovative and imaginative films both mainstream and independent in nature, and brings visiting filmmakers and guests to Middle Georgia. www.maconfilmfestival.com.

Bragg Jam

The last Saturday of July is alive with music in Macon. Dozens of bands perform on several stages around town, for a day of music honoring the late Brax and Tate Bragg. The event raises money for local charities. www.braggjam.org.

AUGUST

Macon Beer Festival

Sample dozens of beers from craft breweries at several different venues in downtown Macon. The event benefits Pints for Prostates. www.themaconbeerfest.com.

SEPTEMBER

Ocmulgee Indian Celebration

The Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon is an important archaeological site relating to the prehistory of the Southeast. The festival is held amid the ancient Indian mounds and is staged by the U.S. Park Service. Representatives of Southeastern Indian tribes perform traditional dances and music, and demonstrate traditional arts and crafts. www.nps.gov/ocmu.

International City Festival

This festival honors the history of Warner Robins, known as the “International City” because of the diversity of people stationed at Robins Air Force Base. The festival features music, entertainment, arts and crafts, kids activities and a barbecue competition. www.wrdda.org.

Barnesville Buggy Days

Barnesville Buggy Days celebrates Barnesville’s heritage as the Buggy Capital of the South during the late 1800s. The festival features a parade with horses, a pageant, arts and crafts, food and a dance. www.barnesville.org.

OCTOBER

Greek Festival

Sponsored by the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Macon, the Greek Festival recognizes Macon’s Greek population and serves as a fundraiser for the church. There’s homemade Greek food, live Greek music, dancers and vendors. www.holycross.ga.goarch.org.

Georgia National Fair

The Georgia National Fair in Perry has promoted the state’s heritage, people and agriculture since 1990. The fair appeals to young and old with its livestock and horse shows, competitive exhibits, food, midway rides and games, commercial vendors, major concerts, street entertainers, family entertainment, circus and nightly fireworks. www.georgianationalfair.com.

Deep Roots Festival

Honoring Milledgeville’s heritage, the Deep Roots Festival is an annual event attracting thousands to downtown Milledgeville. It features concerts, arts and crafts vendors, kids activities, a car show and a very popular barbecue competition. www.deeprootsfestival.com.

Green Tomato Festival

Celebrate the town of Juliette’s brush with Hollywood fame. The festival celebrates the filming of the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes” in Juliette. It features arts and crafts vendors, bluegrass music, and of course, fried green tomatoes from the Whistle Stop Cafe. www.juliettega.com.

Macon Octoberfest

Enjoy craft beers from breweries around the state, as well as a great musical lineup of all-Georgia bands and authentic Bavarian cuisine. www.maconoctoberfest.com.

This story was originally published October 14, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Guide to Middle Georgia festivals ."