Community Events

Downtown Dublin GA rocks the First Friday of each month from early Spring to Fall with FREE fun activities, music, food, and more! 

• April 4th, 2025 – Selfie Scavenger Hunt
• May 2nd, 2025 – Chalk Night
• June 6th, 2025 – First Friday Flamingle
• August 1st, 2025 – Jamaican Celebration
• September 5th, 2025 – Family Fun Night at Theatre Dublin
• October 3rd, 2025 – Georgia Chryslers and Cars

Click the link to learn more about each event!

No creature looms larger over the savanna than the African elephant, and you’ll agree when you come face-to-trunk with one at Zoo Atlanta! Meet Tara or Kelly while learning why they are such important ambassadors for their species.

During this Wild Encounter experience, you will learn about elephants with a Zoo Educator before heading behind the scenes to meet up with members of the Elephant Care Team and find out more about elephant care at the Zoo. Of course, no Elephant Wild Encounter would be complete without the opportunity to hand-feed one of the “girls” an afternoon snack.

• Meet at the Zambezi Elephant Center 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter. 
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.

Days Available: Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. 

Member Cost: $117 | Non-Member Cost: $130 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We can’t plan a trip to Madagascar for you, but we can help you meet one of its most iconic native species. Experience our Lemur Wild Encounter!

Meet and feed some of the amazing primates that make the island of Madagascar one of Earth’s richest and most dynamic natural ecosystems, and learn what you can do to help one of the most endangered groups of mammals on the planet.  

• Meet outside the entrance to The Living Treehouse 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11 a.m. beginning March 28

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We welcome you to the wild world of warthogs! Come explore what it takes to care for these charismatic creatures and their neighbors in the African Savanna.  

Do warthogs really have warts? Get an up-close look and see! Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at Zoo Atlanta’s African Savanna and give the warthogs a favorite treat. You’ll also meet members of the Zoo’s Animal Care Team and find out what goes into the care of warthogs and other savanna animals.

• Meet outside the warthog habitat near the SweetWater Beer Garden 15 minutes (at 12:45) before the Wild Encounter to check in.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.
• This encounter is not ADA accessible.
• All guests must wear closed-toed shoes on this encounter.

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 1 p.m. beginning March 29

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

Visit the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art from Jan. 25-June 28 for their Special Exhibition From Tears to the Sea and Other Works, featuring Alexandra Huynh.

More details to follow.  Please call or visit their website for the most up-to-date information on this and other events hosted by the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art.

The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Saturday, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Developed in collaboration with the Georgia Writers Museum, the upcoming will feature the art of painter Raven Waters, potter Senora Lynch (Haliwa-Saponi Tribe) and Steffen Thomas.

This environmentally-focused exhibition will explore, with artists and writers and audience, our place in the natural world: do we exist as a part of nature? Or outside of nature, experiencing the environment as a tourist or a consumer?

The title is a play on the internet phrase “touch grass” or “go touch some grass” that is said as a criticism to someone that they have been online too much and are disconnected from reality/the real world.

The museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
 

No Diggity band is the most exciting, talent-packed 90s-2000s Hip Hop, RnB and Pop Tribute Party Band in the nation and they’ll be playing in downtown Forsyth on June 7th, 2025! Come jam to their tunes starting at 7:30PM on the square.

PARENTS, ENJOY A WELL-DESERVED NIGHT OFF!

Send your kids to the Zoo for a wildly fun and educational evening with our trained educators. 

Activities are purposefully designed for children ages 5-11 and include a guided after-hours tour of the Zoo, games and activities, crafts, story time and a pizza dinner. 

2025 Dates/Themes:
June 7 – Curious Cats
June 28 – Bird Brains 
July 19 – Savanna Giants 
August 23 – Mystifying Mammals 
August 30 – Radical Reptiles 

Time: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Member Cost: $35 per child

Non-Member Cost: $42 per child

Age Range: 5-11 years old

Join the Animal Care Team and one of our talented animal artists, meeting either the Zoo’s “VanGoat” or “Baaahlo,” and take home a unique work of art in this unforgettable experience.

Learn about the positive reinforcement training process of becoming an animal artist. See firsthand the ways this enrichment activity fits into high standards of care for animals at the Zoo when you meet a goat or sheep and see their art creation in action. Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific animal for your program.

- Meet at the Petting Zoo area of Outback Station 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter start time. 
- Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 
- Includes one (1) take-home canvas per registered group.

Days Available: Saturdays at 3:15 p.m.

Member Cost: $67.50 | Includes one painting per group of four people.
Non-Member Cost: $75 per group of up to four people, + individual Zoo Admission | Includes one painting per group of four people.

Age Range: All ages

Are you craving some animal time before the Zoo opens to the public?

Join us to Rise and Dine with the Animals, where you can enjoy a continental breakfast* by Proof of the Pudding while also enjoying an early morning view of the animals as they get ready to start their day.

Each program will include an educational component to learn more about the species, time with an Animal Care Professional to hear about the individuals in their care, a memorable takeaway connected to the featured animal, and Zoo admission to stay and enjoy the Zoo at the end of the program. 

*Breakfast will include fruit, yogurt, pastries, coffee, hot tea, and juice. Option to add a Mimosa for 21+ guests when you register. 

2025 Dates:
March 29: Reptiles and Amphibians
April 19: Elephants
May 17: Tiger and Clouded Leopard
June 7: Gorillas
July 12: Tiger and Clouded Leopard
August 23: Giraffe and African Savanna
September 13: Gorilla
October 4: Lion

Time: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Check-in starts at 8:15 a.m.

Cost: $65 (includes Zoo admission)
Member Cost: $52

Age Range:
Program is open to all ages, but content is geared to audiences ages 12+. Children 2 and under are free, but must be registered. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

THEMES:

March 29: Georgia eXtremes – Reptiles and Amphibians 
Take your breakfast to the next level, surrounded by extremes of the animal kingdom. Dine inside Georgia eXtremes at Scaly Slimy Spectacular with a view of reptiles and amphibians and learn about these incredible creatures through biofacts and activities. You’ll also get the chance to meet some scaly and slimy Animal Ambassadors up close! 

April 19: Elephants 
As our elephant herd starts their day, you’ll see them searching the habitat for enrichment and surprises left by the Animal Care Team. Hear from a Zoo Educator about elephants’ amazing adaptations, see and touch biofacts, find out how we care for elephants at Zoo Atlanta, and learn about our partnerships with conservation organizations to save elephants in Africa. After breakfast, meet and chat with one of our Elephant Care Team members before enjoying the rest of your day visiting other animals in the Zoo. 

May 17 and July 12: Complex Carnivores – Tigers & Clouded Leopard 
While their breakfasts might be different, join some carnivorous friends as they investigate and patrol their habitats. Come face-to-face with some of the incredible adaptations that help carnivores survive, and hear from our Animal Care and Education Teams about how we take these adaptations into account while caring for animals including tigers, the clouded leopard, and more! 

June 7 and September 13: Gorillas 
Bring your troop to join us for an interactive breakfast and learn more about how we care for this iconic species, including the youngster Floyd and his silverback dad, Taz. During breakfast, you’ll watch the gorillas start their morning as they search their habitat for surprises left for them by the Animal Care Team. You’ll have the opportunity to hear firsthand what it is like to care for gorillas at the Zoo from one of our Animal Care Professionals, and Zoo Educators will have activities and biofacts for you to explore as you learn more about gorillas at the Zoo and in the wild. 

August 23: Giraffes and African Savanna 
Graze alongside the animals of the African Savanna where you might catch glimpses of zebras, ostrich, giraffes and elephants as they start their day. Learn from our Education and Animal Care Teams about the dynamic relationships between the different species on the savanna and investigate how our teams care for multiple species living together. 

October 4: Lions 
Roar alongside the lions as they greet the morning while you snack on some breakfast treats. Learn from our Zoo Educators and Animal Care Professionals about what goes into caring for the lions at the Zoo, the ways the habitat has been designed with their wellbeing in mind, and the steps you can take to help lions on the savannas in Africa. 

Calling all Adventure Cubs, ages 0-5, and their favorite grownups for a morning of exploration, learning and fun!

Embark on a new journey each month with a Zoo Educator as families get to learn and play together.

Engaging activities will get you and your little one moving and creating. Each month, young explorers will learn about a new animal through a game, craft, story, and singalong. At the end of the program, participants will visit the animal of the month’s habitat to make observations and draw connections to the lesson. You and your family will then receive a themed scavenger hunt to do in the Zoo on your own. This is a great opportunity to make friends and spend time with your little explorers as they discover new skills and learn about wildlife.

Upcoming 2025 Dates:
April 5 & 17
May 3 & 15
June 7 & 19
July 5 & 17
August 2 & 21
September 6 & 18

Time: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. 

Age Range: 0-5 years old

Non-Member Cost:
$26 for a parent/guardian and child (each additional child participant will be $5/each)
*Program registration INCLUDES Zoo admission.

Member Cost:
$21 for a parent/guardian and child (each additional child participant will be $5/each) 

All topics and activities are designed for children ages 2-5, with opportunities for exploration for ages 0-2. During the winter months, this program will be held indoors.

Each month, a new adventure awaits with new animals to observe. Adventure Cubs will explore a new region of the world to investigate the animals and environments there! The purpose of each program is to expose young children to the diversity of animals around the world and to draw connections to the ways we are similar and different. For each adventure they go on, Adventure Cubs will engage in an activity, read a story, and create a take-away memory.  

Summer is here and Adventure Awaits in downtown Douglas!

For $10, you will get a passport and access to participate in this event. Each business will provide destination-themed food, drink, photo ops, decor and more! Get your passport stamped at each of the different "destinations" for a chance to win great prizes.

10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Hosted by the Pilot Club of Eatonton, the annual Putnam County Dairy Festival is an exciting day for the whole family.

As a tribute to the dairy industry and local dairy families, the festival acknowledges the success of Putnam County as a leading dairy county in Georgia. Through the efforts of the Pilot Club and with the cooperation of the Putnam County Commissioners and Sheriff’s Department, the Mayor, City Council and Police Department of Eatonton, Chamber of Commerce and many local organizations, businesses and industries of Putnam County, the Dairy Festival is a fun time for all.

The festival engenders a feeling of good will and civic pride. Along with the festival, many other activities are planned which bring visitors and families back to the community such as class reunions, family gatherings, etc.

Visit the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art from Jan. 25-June 28 for their Special Exhibition From Tears to the Sea and Other Works, featuring Alexandra Huynh.

More details to follow.  Please call or visit their website for the most up-to-date information on this and other events hosted by the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art.

The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Saturday, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Ringgold Cruisers and Pharoah’s Choo Choo, Tenn., have teamed up to bring a Cruz Night to the City of Ringgold, so you can take it back to those good ‘ole days!

Organizers are working with the local radio station, so you can listen to all your favorite music from the '50s, '60s, '70s, and '80s while you cruise, park, hang out with friends, shop local businesses and grab a bite to eat at the local eateries. We look forward to seeing everyone and Cruzin' the Depot!

Cruise-ins happen on the first Saturday of each month, beginning in March and running through November. The event starts at 6 p.m., but the streets start filling up quickly around 5 p.m., so arrive early to get a good spot! 

Georgia's Official Musical Theatre, Peach State Summer Theatre presents three musicals in rotating repertory each summer.

The PSST company consists of theatre artists from across the country, including some with a Valdosta State University affiliation.

Summer 2025 is the 36th season of professional musical theatre produced by Valdosta State University.

The 2025 season will present "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline," "Little Shop of Horrors" and "The Wizard of Oz."

Evans Market is a weekly Saturday market made up of local artisans, farmers, producers, and vendors. The Market will be held in the Market (1005 Market St.) in Evans on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the spring and fall.   

The Spring Evans Market kicks off on Saturday, March 15, and will continue through June 28. (There will be no Evans Market on Saturday, April 12 or Saturday, April 19.) 

Visit the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art from Jan. 25-June 28 for their Special Exhibition From Tears to the Sea and Other Works, featuring Alexandra Huynh.

More details to follow.  Please call or visit their website for the most up-to-date information on this and other events hosted by the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art.

The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Saturday, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Georgia's Official Musical Theatre, Peach State Summer Theatre presents three musicals in rotating repertory each summer.

The PSST company consists of theatre artists from across the country, including some with a Valdosta State University affiliation.

Summer 2025 is the 36th season of professional musical theatre produced by Valdosta State University.

The 2025 season will present "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline," "Little Shop of Horrors" and "The Wizard of Oz."

Visit the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art from Jan. 25-June 28 for their Special Exhibition From Tears to the Sea and Other Works, featuring Alexandra Huynh.

More details to follow.  Please call or visit their website for the most up-to-date information on this and other events hosted by the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art.

The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Saturday, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.