Articles - Celebrations

Cherry Blossom Festival Highlights

Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony: March 19, 12 noon. VIP's and visiting dignitaries celebrate the opening of the 22 Annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The celebrated South Wales Male Choir will perform. Brown & Williamson's area in the Central City Park.

Cherry Blossom Riding Tour: March 19, 20, & 22-27; 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., & 3 p.m. Arrive fifteen minutes before departure time. Tours leave from the Brown & Williamson's station at Central City Park. $10 per person.

HP's Bengal Tiger Family Show: March 19-28; 12, 2 & 6 p.m., and nightly feedings at 8 p.m. Hosted and trained by Dr. Josip Marcan, these beautiful and endangered tigers will perform thrilling thirty minute-long shows daily at Central City Park. FREE.

Cherry Market in the Long Building: March 19-28, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., open until 9 p.m. on weekends. FREE entry. a truly unique shopping experience for one-of-a-kind arts and crafts. Crafters and businesses display and sell their products which consist of handcrafted semi-precious jewelry, sculpture, paintings, photography, etc. Here, you'll also find the Festival Information Booth and the Tour Bus Headquarters. Long Building in Central City Park.

Balloon Glow: March 19; 6:30-7:30 p.m. Bring blankets/chairs to enjoy the hot air balloons illuminating the night sky while you listen to a country band. Dinner vendors include NuWay Weiners, Fuddruckers, and Chick-fil-A. Macon Downtown Airport, Herbert Smart Field (weather permitting). FREE; $2 on-site parking or take a free shuttle.

Ocmulgee National Monument Lantern Light Tours: March 19; 7:30 & 9 p.m. $4/adults/children free. Grab a lantern and join a park ranger for a one-mile walk through 1,000-year-old ancient Indican Mounds. Tour ends with a spectacular evening view of Macon. Ocmulgee National Monument, 1207 Emery Hwy.

Picnic & Pops Concert: March 20 at 4 p.m. Bring a picnic and blanket and enjoy a free concert at this lovely venue overlooking the city of Macon. The South Wales Male Choir will perform. Atop Coleman Hill, Bond St.

Balloon Fest & Air Show: March 20-21; 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. A hound race, pink pancakes, food vendors, jazz music, air acrobatics with both civilian and experimental aircraft, and a late afternoon hot air balloon launch. Macon Downtown Airport, Herbert Smart Field (weather permitting). FREE; $2 on-site parking or a free shuttle.

The Dixie Disc Dog Championships: March 20-21; 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Toss, fetch, and freestyle in four divisions - novice, pro-novice, open freestyle, and super-open freestyle. Central City Park. FREE.

Tindall Heights Family Fun Day: March 20; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Food, games, prizes, live band, and health screenings. 985 Plant St. 478/752-5002. FREE.

Cherry Bear Sidewalk Chalk Extravaganza: March 20; 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Ages 4-12 are invited to utilize their creativity to decorate the sidewalks of downtown. Enjoy Colonial Mall mascot Cherry Bear, T-shirts, and prizes. Third Street Park. FREE.

Health Fair: March 20; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Health screenings, exhibits, giveaways, Andy the Ambulance, face painting, and pictures with Medi Tedi for children. Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, 301 Cherry St. 478/633-1353. FREE.

Blue Star Services' Parade: March 21; 3 p.m. Colorful floats, marching bands, costumed performers, South Wales Male Choir, Japanese drummers, and celebrity appearances. Cherry and Mulberry Streets. 478/751-2745 for bleacher seating. FREE or $4 for bleacher seating.

Kaleidoscope of Cultures: March 21; 3 p.m. South Wales Male Choir, Japanese drummers, and celebrity appearances. Grand Opera House, 651 Mulberry St. FREE.
John Paul Walters Kid's Environmental Education Show: March 22-26; 9:45 & 11 a.m. "There's No Such Thing As Away." Porter Auditorium Wesleyan College. 478/751-7427. FREE.

Third St. Park Festivities: March 22-26; 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Concerts, performances, free soft drinks, free horse-drawn carriage rides, and free "cherries & cream" ice cream. Cherry & Third Streets. FREE.

Children's Concert: March 22; 7 p.m. Music, art, drama, dance, a 500-voice chorus, Bibb County Faculty Orchestra, and Cherry Blossom Honor Orchestra. City Auditorium. 478/765-8593. FREE.

Pink Pancake Breakfast: March 27-28; 7:30-10:30 a.m. All-you-can-eat pink pancakes, sausage, coffee, and juice. Central City Park, Security Bank Fairfield Financial Food Tent. 478/751-9140. $5 per person (proceeds go to the American Cancer Society).

Cherry Dazzle: March 27-28; all-day, family-friendly event. Bike safety rodeo, pet parade of stuffed animals, adopt-a-pet services, mascots, magic show, child 'cherryoke,' hot dog-eating contest, blood bank drive, volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, and demonstrations on Scouting, cooking, kickboxing, karate, dancing, and more. Central City Park. FREE.

Family Night: March 27; 5-9 p.m. Entertainment by the Cadillac Group, followed by a concert by Reserve Generation. Coca-Cola Stage. FREE.

Fireworks Over Macon: March 27; 9:30 p.m. Coleman Hill. FREE.

Grand Finale at Wesleyan: March 28; 4 p.m-until. Spread your picnic baskets and lawn chairs for an afternoon of splendor on the grass for the entire family. Events include live musical entertainment, a fireworks showcase (8 p.m.), children's activities, and more. Wesleyan College Campus. FREE.