Houston County Insider

Tag: Macon

  • Cherry Blossom Music Highlights – SUGARHILL GANG and More!!

    If you’re hoping for great live music at the Cherry Blossom Festival this year, we’ve got you covered, HoCo!

    The Concert Series is held every night at 8pm during the festival (March 17-26) in Carolyn Crater Park (115 Willie Smokie Glover Dr). Entry to the festival area is $10, with kids 10 and under free.

    You can find the full schedule at the official Cherry Blossom Festival website, but here are Houston County Insider’s top picks and highlights you won’t want to miss!

    • Saturday, March 18, 8pm: Junior Marvin’s The Legendary Wailers
      • Ready for Reggae, mon?? Join Julian Junior Marvin, former lead guitarist for Bob Marley & The Wailers, and his version of the Wailers for a night of unforgettable reggae music.
    • Monday, March 20, 8pm: Demun Jones
      • Homegrown country music from Middle GA! Demun Jones is a singer-songwriter and former member of the group Rehab. Did you know: his album “Jones County” pays tribute to his Central Georgia upbringing!
    • Tuesday, March 21, 8pm: Sugarhill Gang
      • I say the hip, hop, the hippy to the hip hip hop, you don’t stop! Get down with the Sugarhill Gang, the pioneering hip-hop group that brought us the iconic hit “Rapper’s Delight”. The Sugarhill Gang can still bring the house down with classic rap and hip-hop – you don’t want to miss it!
    • Friday, March 24, 8pm: Eli Young Band
      • Cause we’s country round here! Don’t miss the Eli Young Band, the country music sensation known for hits like “Crazy Girl” and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” Come out and hear why they keep topping the charts!

    The Cherry Blossom Festival has a lot more to offer – here’s our primer for the opening weekend!

  • Macon Cherry Blossom Festival Kicks Off This Weekend!

    Macon‘s International Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off today, despite the forecasted rain and cold, to celebrate spring and the spectacular blooming of the city’s 350,000+ Yoshino cherry trees with a week of special events, vendors, live music and more! It’s not in Houston County, but is a beloved tradition in adjacent Macon-Bibb County that draws huge crowds from HoCo and beyond.

    Macon has more Yoshino cherry trees than anywhere on earth – thanks mostly to a concerted planting effort beginning in 1952!

    There are a dizzying number of events – a parade, guided tours, rides, races, concerts, shopping and all kinds of live entertainment, including a lot of live music, magic shows, art shows, dog races – there really is something for everyone!

    Fun fact: statistically, the peak blooming of cherry blossom in Macon most often falls on March 23, so the festival is always arranged to include that date!

    You’ll want to browse the official website to plan your visit to the ”Pinkest Party on Earth,” but here are a couple of highlights for the opening weekend:

    Bed Race – Saturday, March 18, 2-3pm @ Cherry St. & Third St.

    • Sounds weird, right?? It is! Teams compete to see who can race down the streets of downtown Macon on a “bed” mounted on wheels – they define bed pretty loosely, but it’s fun all the same!

    The Legendary Wailers – Saturday, March 18, 8pm @ Carolyn Crater Park

    • Get feeling irie with some Reggae music tomorrow night! The Legendary Wailers is led by Junior Marvin, former lead guitarist for Bob Marley & the Wailers.

    Cherry Blossom Parade – Sunday, March 19, 3-4pm @ Cherry St. & First St.

    • One of the most popular events of the festival is the Cherry Blossom Parade, which features colorful floats, marching bands, dancers, and other performers.

    (If you’re in it for the Concert Series, don’t miss Houston County Insider’s highlight picks for this year!)

    The Macon Cherry Blossom Festival is a wonderful celebration of spring and nature’s beauty, and a great way to experience the vibrant culture and community of the city. Go check it out!