Keep summer fun ‘cool’ in Middle Georgia

Looking for ways to stay cool this summer and not spend a small fortune? From reading to swimming to fishing to watching movies, Middle Georgia has a variety of activities that can keep any youngster busy during the hot summer months.

J. Sara Paulk, director of the Houston County Public Library System, said that last year, more than 4,500 kids signed up for the Vacation Reading Program. This year, the program kicked off in Houston County on Memorial Day and will end July 30, the last day for reading logs to be turned in for awards. Kids can sign up anytime during the summer, and once registered, they can attend programs at any of the three library locations. Programs are divided up by age and are provided at different times and different locations.

“All activities are free, although some have registration and attendance limits,” said Paulk, who recommended visiting the website at www.houpl.org for a complete list of activities, dates and times. “There is so much going on. ... We try not to have repeat programs.”

Other activities in Middle Georgia include:

▪  A Summer Kid Show Series is being held at Houston Lake Cinemas in Warner Robins and the Galleria Mall Cinemas in Centerville. A movie is shown at 10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Movies, popcorn and drinks can be purchased for $1.50 each. Check the website www.gtcmovies.com for more details and movie listings.

▪  The Go Fish Education Center, located at the second entrance into the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, educates the public and encourages fishing in Georgia. Hours through Sept. 1 are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For details on prices and educational opportunities, visit www.gofisheducationcenter.com.

▪  Johnny G’s Fun Center, located at 815 Russell Parkway in Warner Robins, features go-carts, arcade games, jumpers, a toddler area, indoor/outdoor mini golf, batting cages, laser tag and more. Johnny G’s has two summer specials for families. A family with four kids can purchase four yellow wristbands, four drinks and a pizza for $25 plus tax. A family with two kids can buy two yellow wristbands, two drinks and a pizza for $15 plus tax. The offer is good 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and Friday from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the web site at www.johnnygsfuncenter.com.

▪  Lane Southern Orchards, located at 50 Lane Road in Fort Valley, has a cafe, bakery, market and tours, and is open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Farm tours take place from 10 a.m-4:30 p.m. through July 31 and provide visitors a 25-minute tour to get a “behind the scenes” look at what it takes to produce peaches and pecans. For more information and prices, visit www.lanesouthernorchards.com.

▪  Gold Cup Bowling Center, located at 1041 Russell Parkway in Warner Robins, is offering a special on bowling from 6 p.m.-midnight Monday-Wednesdays. The cost is $10 per person for 2.5 hours of bowling.

▪  The 2016 Little League Softball Region Tournament will be held July 30-Aug. 1 at Southeast Park, located at 438 Snellgrove Drive in Warner Robins. The 2016 Little League Baseball Region Tournament will be held Aug. 5-10. Admission and parking are free for all tournament games, including the Challenger Division game, according to a news release.

▪  Rigby’s, located at 2001 Karl Drive in Warner Robins, offers a variety of activities, including bowling, go-carts, laser tag, mini golf, billiards, skating and more. Rigby’s is holding one-, three- and five-day summer camps from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. through July 28. For information, visit www.rigbysec.com

▪  The Tubman Museum, located at 310 Cherry St. in Macon, is the largest museum in the Southeast that educates the public about African-American art, history and culture, according to its website www.tubmanmuseum.com. It is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children 3-17 years old, and $8 for college students, military and educators.

▪  The Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base is open year-round with a variety of exhibits for people of all ages and is also offering weekly STEM camps for pre-K through grade 12 through July 22. Camps are 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday and are $130 each. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., except for Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years’ Day, For more information, visit www.museumofaviation.org.

▪  The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, located at 401 Larry Walker Parkway in Perry, also has a number of events in July. Some of these activities include the National Barrel Horse Association Youth World Championships July 17-23; the Agility Dog Show, July 6-10; and the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championship July 27-31. For more information, visit www.gnfa.com.

This story was originally published July 1, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Keep summer fun ‘cool’ in Middle Georgia."