The Rodeo Rides into Statesboro
Time to dust off your boots and shine your spurs, rodeo season is coming to the Boro! Kiwanis International and their sponsors are proud to present the Annual Statesboro Kiwanis Rodeo April 20th and 21st at the Kiwanis Fair Grounds.
Cowboying is a longstanding American tradition, with a deep-rooted history spanning from sea to shining sea. The hard work of cowboys from over a century ago guided our nation’s expansion into the west, and also helped usher in a successful agriculture industry. With little time away from the very tools and animals the riders used on their long days of work, their only means of recreation spurred from their very means of labor. And so, from the modest trade of breaking, herding, tending, roping and riding beasts of burden, the American Rodeo was born.
Viewers are guaranteed a treat with plenty of saddle and bareback riding, bull riding, cattle roping, barrel racing and lots more! The Statesboro Kiwanis Rodeo offers traditional American family fun as well as a great historical experience. Fans also get a chance to meet the cowboys and cowgirls from the show, including Miss Rodeo USA. The excitement starts when the gates open at 5pm with the rodeo starting at 7:30. All events are at the Kiwanis Fair Grounds, easily located off of Highway 67 in Statesboro. Entrance is just $7.00 for kids and $12.00 for adults when purchased in advance at Anderson’s General Store. Ticket prices at the gate are $11 for ages 6-13 and $16 for adults.
For more information please visit: https://www.statesborokiwanisrodeo.com
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The 28th Annual Brooklet Peanut Festival
By: Peyton Fuller, Guest Blogger for Visit Statesboro
The Brooklet Pean
ut Festival occurs every year on the third Saturday in August, falling on the 19th this year. The Brooklet Community Development Association organizes the annual festival which takes place in downtown Brooklet on Parker Avenue. This is a day-long event with a wide variety of activities for the entire family. The festival kicks-off early with a 7 a.m. start of the 5K Peanut Run. The cost of the race is $20 if paid by August 5th, $25 after August 5th, and $30 the day of the race. Runners can save time by signing up online at active.com, eventbrite.com, or raceroster.com.
After the race, the Peanut Festival Parade begins at 10:00 a.m., making its way through beautiful downtown Brooklet. The parade will be broadcast live on Savannah’s WTOC Cable Channel 11 for anyone who cannot attend but still wants to watch the fun and enjoy the lively commentary! The parade also marks the opening of the full festival. Boiled peanuts, roasted peanuts, and food of all kinds including funnel cakes, blooming onions, hot dogs and hamburgers are available all day so bring your appetite! Be sure to browse the unique collection of arts & crafts and delight in entertainment for all ages. Immediately following the parade, live music will begin and continue all day. The musical acts will change every 30 minutes, ensuring something for everyone! Also wildly popular are the tractor races. Beginning at noon, there are two must-see races: the Kiddie Pedal Tractor Race and the Slow Tractor Race.
The festival is capped off by a street dance beginning at 7:00 p.m. This year’s dance will feature the bands Lyn Avenue and Tell Scarlet. Lyn Avenue is an alternative country band out of Savannah that has been nominated 3 consecutive years for Best County Band by both the Georgia Music Awards and the Georgia Country Music Awards. Tell Scarlet is also out of Savannah and their music is alternative pop-rock and country. This band has gained popularity as an award-winning wedding and event band. The street dance will conclude at 10:30 p.m. bringing the 2017 Brooklet Peanut Festival to a close. Don’t miss this highly anticipated Bulloch County event when you Visit Statesboro!
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Retail Now Available at Visit Statesboro
By: Peyton Fuller, Guest Blogger for Visit Statesboro
The Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Statesboro) is now offering a selection of specialty Statesboro-branded and Bulloch County based products. This new service is in response to a great deal of people, both locals and tourists, coming in to ask about where to find Statesboro souvenirs. Due to their frequent interaction with visitors plus their central location, the staff at Visit Statesboro thought it would be a perfect opportunity to promote Statesboro products. Also, many businesses have requested locally identifiable gifts to send to out of town clients and visitors. As an advocate of the Blue Mile project, Visit Statesboro saw this as a great way to increase retail along the corridor while increasing exposure to Statesboro’s own Regional Visitor Information Center, including the constantly changing exhibits maintained there by Georgia Southern University’s museum.
The products currently being sold include local honey, “Boro” stickers, Georgia t-shirts in all sizes, and miniature replicas of some of Statesboro’s most famous downtown buildings. You can also purchase glasses, coffee mugs, koozies, coloring books and post-cards – all with a Statesboro theme. Magnets, additional t-shirt designs, and much more are coming soon. The prices are very reasonable and selection is great, ranging from $1 koozies to $7 drinking glasses. If you or someone you know is interested in having their local Statesboro products sold at the Statesboro Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, contact Becky or Justin at 912-489-1869. Visit Statesboro is open Monday – Thursday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Friday from 9:00am to 4:00 pm, and Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm.
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Summer Bucket List For the Young Statesborian
There’s nothing quite like summer in the South; large, sweaty glasses of sweet tea, sunny snoozes by the pool or pitching the perfect cast are just a few ingredients to make one fine summer.
For the young adult hanging around in Statesboro this summer, you’ll want to check out this list in order to take full advantage of your time off. Take some time away from binge-watching your latest Netflix show and see what’s out there!
The Jumping Place Skydiving Center
If you’re seeking your next adrenaline fix, look no further than The Jumping Place. Located on Airport Road in Statesboro, this team of certified professionals — and adventure junkies themselves — offer the ultimate skydiving experience for divers of all skill levels.
Eagle Creek Brewing Company
For all you beer connoisseurs looking to expand your palate, ECBC is your spot. With several brews of all personalities to choose from, you’ll be sure to find your new favorite go-to beer! Tours are available Thursday and Friday from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, Friday evenings from 5:00pm to 10:00pm, and Saturday from 2:00pm to 10:00pm. Come spend your weekend with Eagle Creek!
Free Spirit Pottery & Glass
Free Spirit Pottery & Glass is just the place to hone your artistic abilities. Located in the heart of downtown Statesboro, get your girls together for lunch and spend the afternoon crafting your own piece of pottery! You can book your own personal event here.
Firecracker Fest at Mill Creek Park
Sure to be the most explosive event of the summer, celebrate 4th of July at the Firecracker Fest at Statesboro’s Mill Creek Park. Spend the day kicking back with your own picnic, live music, and a grand finale fireworks show to top it all off.
Karaoke Night at Gnat’s Landing
Food, drinks, and karaoke are arguably one of the world’s best combinations; Gnat’s Landing offers all three on Friday nights. Whether you’re rehearsing for your next open mic night or just want to sing somewhere else other than the shower, you will be sure to have a blast (not to mention the seafood is incredible!)
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Outdoor Fishing Life is Good
Weather is warming and the outdoors call! For fresh water enthusiasts who prefer to spend their time around rivers and lakes enjoying fishing, hiking and birdwatching, Bulloch County has a lot to offer! As a home base, you can grab a fishing pole, kayak, canoe, boat, camping gear or your hiking shoes. There are places to enjoy in and around Statesboro to help you experience beautiful and natural surroundings.
Before you go, you might want to stock up on your favorite gear. Locally owned TC Outdoors is home to outdoor supplies of all kinds including fresh fish bait, along with lures, rods and reels. Once you have what you need, choose from several destinations for a day of relaxation, quiet and sunshine.
Staying local, check out Williams Landing at the end of Macedonia Church Road, the US Hwy 301 Bridge and Highway 24 Landing. All of these are public places to launch boats and fish off the banks of the Ogeechee River. Known as one of Georgia’s least spoiled rivers to explore, it will delight anglers of all ages. A best kept secret, the river begins in Green County and is a great place for outdoor recreational activity. Home to an abundance of fresh water fish, the action on the Ogeechee picks up in the spring and lasts throughout the summer depending on the water flow and temperatures.
Blackwater Preserve is located in Register, Georgia, nearby Statesboro. This privately owned preserve offers fishing (host to almost every fish you will find in a river), kayaking, canoeing and camping on Lotts Creek with back water of 200 acres. With pristine wetlands to explore, these are just a few of the adventures you can have as a member of Blackwater Preserve. They have a biologist on staff who can give walking tours for members, students and bird watchers. Duck, deer and turkey are on the menu for any hunting experience. Miles of waterways and land trails await for hours of fun. You can go fishing or just paddle through the cypress swamp to take in the numerous birds and animals in this unspoiled back to nature get away. Blackwater Preserve offers daily, monthly and yearly memberships along with fishing boats, canoes and kayaks. It is available for birthday parties and meetings.
There are several state parks within an easy drive from Statesboro. Magnolia Springs State Park is in Millen, Georgia. It has a fishing dock on Magnolia Spring Lake. Magnolia Springs is known for its crystal clear springs flowing 7 million gallons per day. A boardwalk spans the cool water, allowing visitors to look for alligators, turtles and other wildlife near the springs.
George L. Smith State Park in Twin City has a mill pond that beckons anglers and paddlers to explore thick stands of cypress and tupelo trees draped with Spanish moss. Canoeists and kayakers can join the Park Paddlers Club. While on the water, nature enthusiasts can look for beaver dams, blue heron, white ibis and other wading birds.
If you are seeking fresh air and outdoor activity that might possibly put dinner on your table, consider visiting Statesboro as your starting point. Remember that permission from a private landowner is always required in order to fish on private property, but there are great public and private places to meet your freshwater fishing needs.
For more information, visit any of these helpful sites:
http://gastateparks.org/find/
http://gadnr.org
http://www.georgiawildlife.com
http://www.blackwaterpreserve.com/home.html
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Pick Up A Statesboro Magazine to Get an Insider’s View
If you want to know about the people, places, and things that make Statesboro a great area to visit and live in, pick up a Statesboro Magazine. It’s an enjoyable read to discover what makes Statesboro and the surrounding area one of America’s Best Communities. Outsiders and locals alike look forward to the bi-monthly publications filled with nuggets of information.
This is where you will find stories that often blend the history of the area into profiles of the dynamic people who make up the community today. From topics that range from agribusiness, to community events, leaders, history, and up to date economic development activity, this is the publication that has it all. As the stories unfold about people who are behind the businesses, government, arts, restaurants, entertainment, sports scene, education and so on, you will obtain a real sense of what makes Statesboro a special place.
With 25,000 plus regional readers, the Statesboro Magazine consistently showcases a community calendar full of events in order to know what is happening around town during each two-month period of publication. Distribution of 5,000 copies makes issues available in hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, and free standing magazine racks throughout the area.
You can easily find them in the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau, Statesboro Regional Library, RJ’s Grill, The Chamber of Commerce, County Commission Offices, City Hall and many other locales. If you are flying in to Savannah, be sure to pick one up in the tourist information kiosk and learn about Statesboro before you arrive.
The Statesboro Magazine staff, headed by Editor Jenny Starling Foss, does an excellent job captivating readers with stories to interest, educate, delight and inspire. With guest editors, readers will learn from experts on all types of subjects as well.
The Statesboro Magazine is a full-color, coffee table style publication used as the leading Economic Development piece by The Chamber of Commerce, Visit Statesboro, the City, the County, Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical College that promotes the area to newcomers, residents, visitors and tourists. Be sure to pick one up or go online and read current and past issues at: statesboromagazine.com.
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Get Some Fresh Air and Just Walk, Bike or Run!
The benefits of getting outdoors are so far reaching that a simple walk, bike or run can energize you and make you feel more alive! The connection with nature and how it affects your health, outlook and overall quality of life cannot be underestimated to good living lifestyle.
Statesboro has beautiful places to enjoy a walk during this beautiful springtime. Many walking trails have been constructed for this sole purpose, to encourage visitors and citizens alike to just get moving. Before the heat settles in, enjoy seeing Statesboro from an up close and personal point of view while on foot. There are several trails to enjoy as well as just beautiful neighborhoods with low traffic or side walks.
Consider the Blind Willie McTell Trail. You’ll ramble or cycle through a mile – and 7,415 square yards — of architecturally designed park, quirky art, and cobra lighting throughout that connects the Georgia Southern University campus to Downtown Statesboro. Bike racks, picnic tables and quirky art benches invite you to stop and enjoy lunch or the beautiful day.
If you want more distance, try the S&S Greenway. It is in the process of becoming an eight-mile stretch reaching from Statesboro to Brooklet. The first portion of the trail begins in Downtown Statesboro, starting with the Blind Willie McTell Trail. The trail then crosses over to the entrance at Gentilly Road and ends at Cawana Road. The S&S Greenway picks back up at the starting point across from Howard Lumber. The popular trail takes you through woods, under Veterans Memorial By-Pass, through fields and has bathrooms on either end. Perfect place to stretch your legs and enjoy some quiet time.
Of course you can visit Mill Creek Regional Park. With a 1.25 mile paved and lit pathway with exercise stations scattered throughout, it is a great destination for a breath of fresh air. The park also has state-of-the-art sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas and plenty of wide opened spaces to enjoy. With a picturesque lake, the park is beautifully landscaped with over 300 hardwood trees.
If you are near Georgia Southern University’s campus, there is a great walking trail that encircles the Recreational Activity Center, better known as the RAC. The 70-acre M.C. Anderson Park, which is comprised of lighted playing fields, walking trails, high & low challenge course, large pavilion and amphitheater give you plenty to look at as you go. The facilities host state, regional and national tournaments ranging from archery to flag football to ultimate Frisbee. This outdoor space also provides the university community with a place to relax outside. There is usually activity of some kind going on, so it is a fun place to get some exercise and be entertained with college students staying active as well.
Neighborhoods are always a great place to enjoy some fresh air. The in-town area surrounding Savannah Avenue has sidewalks and quiet side streets with tree-lined plazas. This is a nice place to enjoy some of the historic homes that beautify Statesboro.
There is no doubt that people who get outside enjoy wellness benefits, such as less anxiety, depression, and mood swings. While you are in Statesboro, enjoy our beautiful outdoors while restoring your physical and mental good health!
For more information:
http://www.visitstatesboroga.com/trails/
http://recreation.georgiasouthern.edu/facilities/recreation-activity-center/
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Performing Arts Center Packs In Performances
New York has nothing on the ‘Boro! When it comes to upscale performances that appeal to all ages, you can find a fabulous selection of entertaining shows that are sure to delight right here in Statesboro.
The Georgia Southern University’s Performing Arts Center, better known as the PAC, is located in the heart of campus on Plant Drive. It’s mission is “to present diverse, quality cultural experiences to the Georgia Southern University and regional communities through the performing arts.; to support and enhance the University’s performing art departments.; to promote the discovery, appreciation, and enrichment of the performing arts to all with accessibility to perform and train in a professional, state-of-the-art performing arts center.” This is certainly being achieved!
From Live From Nashville to the big band Equinox Orchestra to the Moscow Festival Ballet’s “Sleeping Beauty” performances, you can find a show to interest you. Like Broadway? Check out The Inspiration of Broadway scheduled in April. Have a child in the Bulloch County schools? There is a wonderful school matinee series where books are brought to life on stage with engaging music and acting to lift the stories right off the pages!
The PAC is also the site of other community and university sponsored events open to the public, such as the Rockin’ Out Alzheimer’s event schedule on January 23rd which is a Billy Joel experience. In addition, check out the music and opera performances by GSU students.
Tickets and packages are available online at http://www.etix.com/ticket/v/1841/performing-arts-center-at-georgia-southern-university?cobrand=georgiasouthernpac.
The Performing Arts Center is not only home to outstanding cultural talent, but it is available for rent for community and private events. This makes the PAC’s state of the art theatre a tremendous asset to the Statesboro and Bulloch County community.
When you want to enjoy first class culture on stage, you can find it right here in Statesboro, Georgia. Visit the Performing Arts Center online to learn more: http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/pac/.
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Statesboro Regional Library – A Place for Everyone
A resource that many take for granted is their local library. With technology increasing, some may wonder if a library is still a viable place for locals and visitors. The Statesboro Regional Library has a full range of programs and opportunities for everyone who wants to visit and participate…and it’s available to everyone.
From Genealogy Workshops, Adult Coloring Classes, Craft Night – Sip and Sketch, Job Search Workshop with Resume Writing to teen activities, there is something for all ages and interests. For the health conscious, holistic health series: Yoga & Essential Oils and New Year/New You – Food & Nutrition are features during January. A great way to preserve family recipes is the “Original Recipes Made to Last” program where the library staff will take original recipes and preserve them in a durable format by the Genealogy Coordinator.
There is even an open forum called “Our Community Talks!” This is a chance for people to come in and discuss issues/concerns/news within the community and find ways to get involved.
Book lovers can participate in a free Book Club once a month. There is also a Book to Movie Club. All of these wonderful activities are being held just in the month of January 2016. What a great way to start out the New Year!
The Youth and Family Services calendar is full of great programs, including Toddler Time and Teen Nights. Reading to Rover (children practice reading to therapy dogs), Lego Club and 52 Weeks of Giving are favorites.
For Genealogy enthusiasts, The Statesboro Regional Library has over 7000 books, magazines, bound periodicals, which includes oral history collections, census records, family histories, court records, marriages, land records, will abstracts, Civil War records and cemetery records to search. It would be easy to dig in and discover your family history here.
Of course, books in all genres are available in all forms. You can even load eBooks at the library and check them out just like a hard cover book.
There are so many reasons to visit the Statesboro Regional Library! Whether you are visiting or live in the area, there is something for you at the Library. Be sure to check out the website for a calendar of events, list of services, Book Club news and more: http://strl.info. You will be pleasantly surprised at the variety of ways you can enjoy Statesboro’s local library. Stop in soon!
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Botanic Garden Ready to Explore and Expand
The Botanic Garden in Statesboro is a gem worth visiting. It is fascinating that the 11-acre parcel of land adjacent to Georgia Southern University’s main campus was once a thriving small family farm.
Catherine and Daniel Bland met in 1916 at the First District Agricultural and Mechanical School, now known at GSU. Nearly 100 years ago, they forged a partnership that would transform the land and the way we view it in the present and preserve it for the future.
Toiling a living out of the sandy coastal plain soil, they managed to run a small dairy farm that raised livestock, grew pecans, pears and row crops early in the century. Georgia Magazine deemed the Bland Farm as a model farm in Georgia Magazine 1929.
A self-taught naturalist, Dan Bland was really ahead of his time. He had a keen sense of botany and understood that planting native plants, while raising animals, would allow the farm to be self-sustaining and preserve the region’s landscape. As a result, he and Catherine established a legacy for the future, and area residents and visitors are now the beneficiaries of their vision.
The Bland farm, now the Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University, boasts a myriad of progress and activity. The acres of gardens on the original farmstead provide wandering trails, paths and courtyards that allow visitors to explore natural terrain of the southeastern coastal plain. Here you will find over 20 of the state of Georgia’s most protected species while seeing first hand farm history, including instruments such as plows that once hand toiled the land.
The Garden is a showcase of annual and seasonal flowers, plants, trees, original structures and the like. It is a popular place to visit in Statesboro for all ages. There are family friendly things to do there; you can explore, learn, participate and grow your knowledge of the past, present and see the vision for the future of this area highlight.
Because of the popularity of The Botanic Garden, an exciting plan for expansion and development has been established, and momentum is catching to move forward. The current facilities, including a Heritage Pavilion, Children’s Learning Garden, Butterfly and Hummingbird borders, Heritage Farmyard, Weathervane Barn Rural Life Exhibit and Bland Cottage to name a few, are a marvel to enjoy and explore.
What you see now is just the beginning, as exciting plans for growth are underway for additional features.
Education is a big part of the mission there. School aged children visit daily for an opportunity to explore nature and man’s partnership with it. Adults can participate through the monthly Lunch and Learn Series, with upcoming programs on November 10th and December 10th. These delightful lunches allow supporters and interested visitors to enjoy a delicious lunch while learning about a variety of topics, such as organic cooking to the latest in coffee roasting.
If you are visiting Statesboro or live here and haven’t been out to the Botanic Garden lately, you need to set time aside to do so. You will be delighted to see nature at it’s finest and discover what a beautiful treasure we have tucked away from the hub of campus activity while being right next-door. Be sure to visit the website for hours, programs and specific areas of interest for you, your friends and family.
For more information read: http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/garden/.
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