Time for Some Summer Fun in the Sun!

The kids are getting restless at school, mom & dad are getting antsy with anticipation of almost three months of kids at home full-time whining “I’m bored” and “mom, can’t we go do something??” With gas prices rising almost as fast as the temperatures, trying to find something budget-friendly for the entire family can become quite a task in itself.

But fear not citizens of Columbia County! We've got you covered!

With so many things to do locally over the next several months, there is hope that the kids will be busy and not bored during the dog days of summer. Here are some of the things on the calendar to help you get a head start on your summer planning:

Jim Quick and the Coastline will perform at this year's Summer Beach Blast.

-Summer Beach Blast is coming to Evans Towne Center Park on Friday, June 6^th. Not only does this concert feature three awesome beach bands—The Catalinas, Jim Quick & the Coastline, & The Embers—but there will be tons of fun activities for kids and parents alike including water slides, beach sand, volleyball and corn hole. The best part is kids under 12 get in FREE! Kick off your summer in the right way! Tickets are on sale NOW! 

For more information visit www.evanstownecenterpark.com.

-Family Movie Matinees will be six Wednesdays in June & July when parents can bring their kids to enjoy a free movie at 1 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center in the Evans Branch Library. The movies list includes Epic (6/11), Despicable Me 2 (6/18), Walking with Dinosaurs (6/25), The Croods (7/9), Cloud with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (7/16), and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (7/23). Seats are first come, first serve, and tickets will be available starting at 12:30 p.m. on movie day in the lobby of the library.

-Karaoke Under the Stars will be at the Columbia County Amphitheater (behind the library) two Fridays in June this year. Friday, June 13^th will be kid’s night with special guest Tara Scheyer. Not only will your kids get to showcase their talents, but Tara will also be performing a short concert at 7:30 p.m. Sign-ups will begin at 6 p.m. and songs will start at 6:30 p.m. There will be food and beverages available for purchase and probably some surprises along the way. This event is free to the public, and dancing is encouraged! Kids are also welcome back the next Friday for our all-ages karaoke night—but mom and dad are highly encouraged to sing on stage on Friday, June 20^th. Same time, same place, new guest—DJ Kris Fisher. Again, free to the public, and food and beverages will be available for purchase.

-The Fourth of July Celebration this year is sure to be a special night. For the first time, it is being moved to Evans Towne Center Park, and there will be tons of activities all day, beginning at an earlier time—2 p.m. This event is free to the public, but be sure to bring your change for food, drinks, and other fun fares.

With a county rich in natural resources and magnificent parks, maybe this is the summer to hit the great outdoors.

-Evans Towne Center Park is a family favorite and with plenty of space for picnicking, frisbee, a large playground, dog park, and a water feature to keep cool. With the addition of the new B-Cycle kiosk and the expansion of the playground underway, ETCP is great place to take the family this summer. Check out www.evanstownecenterpark.com for park information as well as a list of any events going on at the park this summer.

-The Columbia County Library Park is a shady alternative to ETCP, with lots of trees and picnic shelters. There are also some great playgrounds for children of all ages, and a water feature where the kids will love to get wet with their friends. Often during the summer, the Catch Phrase Café will open their concession stand and offer shaved ice, ice cream, and other treats for the kids who have been playing hard all afternoon.

Splash Pads at both the Library and ETCP are a fun way to cool off during the hot summer months

-Wildwood Park is a fantastic place for a fun day get away, right down the road from your own back yard! Wildwood not only offers beach access to the lake and a great swimming area for families, but there are also picnic areas, covered pavilions for picnicking, playgrounds, and trails for walking and biking. At only $3 for a day pass for cars, this is a great way to spend a day in the great outdoors! If camping is up your alley, reserve your campsite today for only $20 per night. Call 706-54-0586 for more information or directions and check out their new Facebook page for details about events at the park.

-Riverside Park is a multi-use recreational facility that has direct access to the Savannah River, along with a large picnic shelter, volleyball and tennis courts, two playgrounds, and a beautiful dog park for Fido to enjoy the summer days with the family.

You never know what kind of wild life you'll run into at one of our nature parks!

-Savannah Rapids Park & Canal is a hidden gem in Columbia County. Situated along the Augusta Canal and Reed Creek waterfall, this is a picturesque place for a family picnic or a scenic bike ride. There is a toddler’s playground, along with several open picnic tables and barbeque grills for general use. There are bicycle and kayak rentals available on-site. Visit ccrentalfacilities.com for more information.

-Reed Creek Park is Columbia County’s local nature center located in the heart of Martinez. With trails that are open from sunrise to sunset, 7 days per week, this is a great place for spotting wildlife with your little ones.  Reed Creek Nature Center often offers programming for children. Check their website, www.reedcreekpark.com for dates and information.

-Heggie’s Rock is a natural phenomenon located right here in Columbia County. It is such an exceptional area that it has been designated as a National Natural Landmark. It is one of the finest remaining examples of Piedmont flat rock in the nation and plays home to numerous endangered plant and wildlife species. This is a great adventure for those with children middle school aged and above. For more information on visiting the preserves, you can e-mail tncgeorgia@tnc.org.

Other things to check out:

-Summer Co-Ed rec basketball at Patriot’s Park starts on May 27^th and continues through July. This is a league for ages 9-16, and registration is through May 9^th. Visit www.columbiacountyga.gov for more information about how to sign your child up today.

-The Columbia County Summer Reading Program kicks off on May 22^nd at the Evans Branch Library at 4 p.m. with crafts and fun for all ages. Parents can pick up program information and get signed up.  The program has tons of educational activities all summer, through July, including reading enrichment classes for all ages, special programs from magicians and other entertainers, self defense classes for kids, and even some competitions for the teens. The Evans, Harlem, and Euchee Creek Libraries all are involved in this program and you can visit www.ccolibrary.org for more information.

-The Evans Towne Farmers Market at the Columbia County Amphitheater is another great place to enjoy some quality family time. Every Thursday this summer, from 4:30-7:00, peruse some of the area’s best local fares while enjoying cooking demos, music, and entertainment. What a great way to start your child’s interest in healthy, clean eating as well as supporting the locally grown movement. Check evanstownefarmersmarket.com for more information and a schedule of events.

For information on any of the above events or facilities, please visit www.columbiacountyga.gov.

Bicycles, Brews, Blues and Good Ole' Fashioned BBQ!

I remember the first time I rode my bicycle without training wheels. I was a lady with a mission and after a few bumps and bruises along the way, I was a master of the art by the age of five. I continued to love my bike and as I grew, my parents ensured that my bike grew with me.

Fast forward several...(ahem!) years, and I haven’t ridden my bike in quite some time. Actually, I think my parents may have sold it in a garage sale, leaving me at times dreaming of those days when I could zip around the neighborhood or park with the greatest of ease. Now thanks to a new amenity available at Evans Towne Center Park, all of those bike riding desires can be fulfilled!

B-Cycle is a self-service bike kiosk located in Evans Towne Center Park on the side of the concession/restroom building. This is a service that the county is very excited to offer, and it is ready just in time for summer! The bikes are meant for riders 18 and up, which is perfect for all of those parents/adults, like me, whose bicycle may have ended up in someone else’s garage after years of no rides.  You can pay as you go—the $8 fee includes two hours of riding—or you can sign up for a yearly membership which offers endless riding possibilities. For more information on B-Cycle, check out columbiacounty.bcycle.com, or stop by the park and see for yourself!

Not only is it prime bike season, but the azaleas are in full bloom, the pollen is in full force and the warm weather has finally settled in. Spring time in Columbia County has officially sprung and that means it's time for our annual spring rite of passage, Blues, Brews & BBQ! For three consecutive Fridays, beginning April 25th, the Columbia County Amphitheater will be THE place to be for good music and good food from the area's best barbecue pit masters.

Blues, Brews & BBQ will be held at the Columbia County Amphitheater

This year we have a great line-up of musical acts! Kicking off the series this year (thanks to an unwelcome rain delay on the 18^th) will be The Kenny George Band on April 25^th  with delicious BBQ from Perry Foster’s BBQ (Hank Williams, Jr. is a fan of their stuff!). If you enjoy getting your late-breaking, local news from WRDW’s Richard Rogers, wait until you hear him on drums! On Friday, May 2^nd, News 12’s Breaking News Band will be opening up for Athens favorite blues band, Funky Bluester with BBQ from local favorite Jus’ Plain Smokin’.  The closing week of the show will feature Chris Ndeti & Company (from Mama Says fame) with BBQ by Dixie Pig. Brews will be available for purchase, provided by Vineyard Wine Market.

Athens favorite Funky Bluester will perform on Friday, May 2nd

Admission is $5 for adults, children 12 and under are free. So grab your blankets & chairs (no coolers, please) and get your heapin' helpin' of the area's best BBQ at the 9th Annual Blues, Brews & BBQ shindig happening at the Columbia County Amphitheater (behind Evans Branch Library)! For more information visit columbiacountyga.gov or call (706) 650-5005.

Time to Get Scramblin'

It’s that time of year again. Time to dust off your baskets, pull out your bunny ears, and throw away all of the candy you forgot was still left in those eggs. It’s hard to believe that it is already April and that Easter is right around the corner!

Our annual Columbia County Easter Egg Scramble will be held on Saturday, April 12^th at Evans Towne Center Park. We have two different times for different age groups.  Ages 1-4 will begin their scramble at 10 a.m. and ages 5 and up will begin their scramble at 11 a.m. We have over 15,000 eggs this year…and over 30 grand prize baskets to be won!! Be sure to arrive early so that you can pay your $1 admission fee and be prepared for when we sound the start whistle. Those eggs don’t last long once the scrambles begin!

This year, we have lots of fun things going on aside from the scrambles. Aggregates USA will be on site again, generously handing out hot-dogs and sodas to participants!  We will also have the Fun Cruiser from West Acres Baptist church with other treats for the kids.  WJBF is bringing special guest, Freddie the Forecaster, and arts and crafts for the kids. The Fabulous Fun Clown Company will be painting faces and creating balloon animals of all kinds—so be sure to bring some extra dollars for some cool face art or a fabulous balloon creature. The very talented Kelley Family will be on hand with their family blue-grass band to do a short concert from 10:30-11:00 on the Lady Antebellum Stage. This group travels all over Georgia performing, and it will be a real treat to have them!  There will also be the opportunity for parents to get their child’s picture with the Easter Bunny!

We will all be praying for sunny, warm weather….but if it does happen to be nasty outside, the scramble will be moved to the following Saturday, April 19^th. Same time, same place. Just keep a look out on Facebook, Twitter, and the county website for an announcement, or if you’re in doubt, feel free to give us a call any time Monday-Friday, 8-5 p.m.

We all have fond memories of our Easter egg endeavors as children and we hope that you will bring your family to make some new memories at the park! Be sure to dress in your best, festive Easter apparel. Bunny accessories are not a requirement, but highly recommended. This will be such a fun day for the kids and parents alike!