
Fall in Love with Downtown Statesboro
Grab your valentine and come celebrate the month of love with Downtown Date Night presented by the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority. The event will be held on February 7 from 5:30-8:00 pm on West Main Street.
This First Friday event fills the air with love as you and your sweetheart stroll down West Main Street enjoying food, music, and fun. The event features local shops and food vendors including various food trucks and even a s’mores station where you and your significant other can share a sweet treat.
Brandi Harvey, a local musician, will be providing the music for this event. Another highlighted vendor is the puppy kissing booth hosted by the Statesboro Humane Society. Couples also have a chance to stop by the Rosengart Gallery to check out the Gabriel Diaz Exhibit hosted by the Averitt Center.
West Main Street will be closing at 4:00 pm, however, many businesses will be staying open late as well as offering special promotions for the happy couples. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with our downtown shops and interact with the downtown culture.

For more information, please contact the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority by calling them at (912)764-7227 or emailing them at mainstreet@statesborodowntown.com.

Famed Comedy Troupe “The Second City” Brings the Laughs to GSUPAC
The Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is proud to present “The Second City: Improv All-Stars” as part of their 2019-2020 Main Stage Series on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 7:30pm. The best seats are going fast for this legendary comedy troupe!
Chicago’s storied comedy theater The Second City is bringing their talent to Statesboro with “The Second City: Improv All-Stars,” an irresistible hour of improved comedy performed by the industry’s up-and-coming talent. These masters of the form will astound with their skill and wit – all without the aid of scripts or sets. Fresh, fast, and always spectacularly funny, The Second City is celebrating more than 55 years of producing cutting-edge satirical revues and has launched the careers of legends like Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, and more.
The group is also planning to lead two improv masterclasses during their time on campus. Those interested in attending a workshop can keep an eye on the Performing Arts Center Facebook page for more details once dates and times of the classes are confirmed.
PAC Director Stacie McDaniel says the whole staff is excited about the show, noting “I’ve been trying to get this group to our venue for years, and we finally worked out the right date to make it happen! If you’re looking to start the new decade off with a laugh, this is absolutely the right show for you.”
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for youth 17 and under and are on sale now at the GSUPAC Box Office. Discounts are available for Georgia Southern students and faculty/staff. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit the Box Office in person Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or purchase tickets over the phone at 912-478-7999 or online at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac.

For more information, including cast and crew interview inquiries, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830

A Fair Reflection
I found the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair to be delightfully fun, with a unique touch of small-town charm. My husband and I went Monday, the opening night, and hoofed it over to the Heritage Village section. There we had a lovely conversation with Mr. Bowen in the Old Store. He regaled us with the history of the establishment and its role in the community. After that we took a stroll through the historic Aldrich house, watched bees in the bee house, and took in the aroma of woodsmoke wafting from the blacksmith shop.

The attraction that I was most looking forward to – The Kiwanis Pancake House – did not disappoint! Sitting at long picnic tables chowing down on pancakes and local sausage felt like a big community breakfast. That is definitely something unique that Statesboro brings to the fair experience. An elephant ear for dessert and old-fashioned carnival rides took me right back to my childhood fair memories. In short, the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair encapsulated everything charming and nostalgic that I associated with fairs with a dash of local flair.

Thank you to everyone who dropped a suggestion for things to do at the fair! You made this fair novice feel like a truly initiated part of the Statesboro community. – Lauren Della-Piazza
Lauren moved to Statesboro from Pennsylvania to complete her Master’s Degree in Public History at Georgia Southern University.

Las Vegas-Based Cirque Mechanics Brings the Magic of the Big Top Circus To GSUPAC
The 2019-2020 Main Stage Series at the Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is heating up! Up next, the GSUPAC presents cirque-style acrobatics with a mechanical twist. Cirque Mechanics: 42FT is scheduled for Friday, October 25, 2019 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now!
Las Vegas-based troupe Cirque Mechanics was founded in 2004 and quickly established itself as a premier American circus with its unique approach to performance, inspiring storytelling, and innovative mechanical staging. Spectacle Magazine hailed the group as “the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil.” Finding its roots in the mechanical and its heart in the stories of American ingenuity, Cirque Mechanics prides itself of timeless and relevant message – not to mention jaw-dropping spectacle.
Their new show, 42 FT: A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels focuses on the glory days of the traveling one-ring circus, showcasing a mechanical metal horse and a rotating tent frame to display the feats of strongmen, dazzling acrobats, and flying aerialists. So step right up, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of Statesboro to the Cirque Mechanics world of gears, canvas, pulleys, and stardust.
GSUPAC Director Stacie McDaniel notes, “In an effort to bring something really unique to our community, I have been working to get Cirque Mechanics to Statesboro for years – and we’ve finally made it happen! I have had the pleasure of watching the Acrobats of China as well as Cirque du Soleil, but Cirque Mechanics truly brings something fresh and exciting to the table that gives all other cirque shows a run for their money!”
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for youth 17 and under and are on sale now at the GSUPAC Box Office. Discounts are available for Georgia Southern students and faculty/staff. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit the Box Office in person Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or purchase tickets over the phone at 912-478-7999 or online at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac.

For more information, including cast and crew interview inquiries, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830
smcdaniel@georgiasouthern.edu

Country Superstars Lonestar to Play Georgia Southern’s Performing Arts Center
The Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is excited to present country music super group Lonestar for the opening performance of their 2019-2020 Main Stage Series on Friday, September 20, 2019 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now and going quickly!
Just over two decades ago, Lonestar was formed when destiny brought together four Texas musicians trying to make their way to country stardom in Nashville, TN. Now, more than 20 years after they began their journey, they have logged countless miles touring throughout the world, released multiple Platinum-selling albums, and earned ten No. 1 hit singles, including “No News,” “Come Crying to Me,” and the pop-chart crossover smash, “Amazed.”
The band’s awards include a 1999 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Single of the Year and the 2001 Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year. Known for excellent songwriting, pure vocals, and exuberant instrumental tracks, Lonestar merges strong country roots with catchy, memorable melodies. Today, Lonestar continues to inspire rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Says Performing Arts Center Director Stacie McDaniel, “Lonestar’s music has been the soundtrack of so many people’s lives, and I know they are going to put on a show to remember here in Statesboro. This is going to be such a special and memorable evening! I’m anticipating a sold-out show, so purchase your tickets now!”
Tickets are $28 for adults and $14 for youth 17 and under, and are on sale now at the Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern Box Office. Discounts are available for Georgia Southern students and faculty/staff. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit the Box Office in person Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or purchase tickets over the phone at 912-478-7999 or online at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac.

For more information, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830
smcdaniel@georgiasouthern.edu

Visit Statesboro Attends Travel Media Showcase

Travel Media Showcase is one of the premier events offering top travel industry professionals and travel journalists the rare opportunity to meet one-on-one, at a single location, for the purpose of exchanging information and developing personal contacts. Dozens of destination writers, broadcast travel journalists and vacation bloggers from all over the United States gathered in Atlanta last week to meet with tourism experts pitching unique story ideas from their areas.
Visit Statesboro’s Executive Director Becky Davis and Marketing Director Justin Samples were among the exhibitors at this year’s event. The three-day program included two days of scheduled journalist/exhibitor appointment sessions, regional press tours, plus numerous other networking opportunities.
Davis compared the showcase to speed dating with a twist. “We researched the profiles of attending writers and geared our Statesboro pitch toward their area of expertise and our desired audience. Justin and I made some great connections with writers that we will definitely be inviting to visit Statesboro.”
Visit Statesboro (Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau) is an accredited Regional Visitor Information Center and the official destination marketing organization for Statesboro and Bulloch County. The staff is dedicated to promoting tourism by attracting more visitors, meetings, groups, and events to the area through destination marketing.

Georgia Southern’s Performing Arts Center Welcomes Big Stars and Hit Shows in Their 2019-2020 Main Stage Series
The Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern is knee-deep in tickets this week as they begin their season subscription drive for the upcoming 2019-2020 Main Stage Series. Full season packages are available for patrons who wish to come to all six shows, while a flexible package option allows patrons to purchase advanced tickets to three or more shows. All season subscribers enjoy the privilege of choosing their seats early and maintaining their seat choice throughout the season in addition to the best ticket prices.
This year’s season takes patrons on a trip across the United States, featuring big stars and hit shows from across the country. Beginning with Texas-born and Nashville-based country legends Lonestar, famous for their No. 1 crossover smash “Amazed,” we then venture further west with a glitzy Vegas-style cirque performance from Cirque Mechanics who take the glory days of the American circus to the next level. Next, Broadway comes to Statesboro with the national tour of the Tony- and Grammy-winning musical The Color Purple. Then we start 2020 off laughing with Chicago’s famed comedy troupe, The Second City, and their all-improv performance, Improv All-Stars. In February, the PAC partners with Georgia Southern’s Theatre & Performance to present another Broadway favorite, Jesus Christ Superstar, before finally ending the season strong with a nostalgic performance of beloved Motown artists – The Drifters, Platters, and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters. Visit the PAC website at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac for detailed descriptions, dates and times.
PAC patrons have expressed their excitement about the new season. Season subscriber Joanna Schreiber says, “The PAC has put together yet another amazing season of entertainment.” Another subscriber, Christina Olson, adds, “From musical arts to theatre to comedy, there’s something for everyone!”
Previous season ticket holders can renew their subscription now through August 23 while those interested in becoming new subscribers this year can do so beginning August 26. Full season packages are $130 per seat, while flexible package prices vary depending on show choice. Tickets to individual shows will be available starting September 3. Visit the PAC Box Office in person Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or purchase your subscription over the phone at 912-478-7999. Single tickets will be available online at www.georgiasouthern.edu/pac.

For more information, please contact:
Stacie McDaniel
(912) 478-0830

Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) Announces Partnership with Pineapple Public Relations
The Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with long-standing tourism industry PR firm, Pineapple Public Relations. The partnership will support GACVB in creating and promoting awareness of Georgia’s destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and their contributions to the state’s economy and quality of life for both residents and visitors via industry education, professional development, and legislative awareness.
“GACVB is committed to being the voice for our destination marketing organizations and tourism industry professionals. Through this partnership, we look forward to communicating and advocating
news of our members and their contributions to Georgia’s tourism-based economic development, industry trends, and legislation that potentially affects our hospitality communities,” said Jay Markwalter, Executive Director, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Pineapple PR brings a unique understanding of Georgia’s tourism industry through their decades of work with numerous destinations across the state and beyond. Their reputation for best-in-class service and skill is something that we are excited to bring to GACVB. We welcome the Pineapple PR team as one of our newest Ally Members at the Sustaining Level partnership.”
“We are thrilled to be a part of GACVB, the exciting future of this organization and the many communities across the state. Working with DMOs and CVBs to share news and stories that further enhance economic growth dovetails with our own mission statement, and we look forward working to increase awareness and visitation to Georgia,” said Deborah Stone, President of Pineapple PR.
Pineapple Public Relations is a full-service PR agency with more than 20 years of success in serving large and small businesses in the tourism, hospitality and lifestyle industries and helping them achieve economic success. The agency provides forward-thinking, results-based strategies backed by superior service and experience, offering big agency capabilities with the responsiveness and attentiveness of an independent, hands-on firm. Founded on three principals – excellence in service, a passion for travel and a never-ending quest to successfully and creatively tell clients’ stories – Pineapple PR offers a full-suite of traditional, digital and social media services.
The Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus is an organization comprised of 90+ diverse tourism bureaus throughout the state of Georgia and associate members who provide services and support to the CVB community. The organization provides a unified voice of Georgia’s destination marketing organizations as well as industry education and professional development opportunities to members. GACVB represents members across the state and country to keep Georgia’s tourism industry at the forefront of developments, trends, products and services that may benefit its members, partners and ultimately communities.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Jay Markwalter, Executive Director
Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus
(706) 338-0124
Jay@gacvb.com
www.GACVB.com
Deborah M. Stone, President
Pineapple Public Relations
(404) 237-3761, ext. 1001
Dstone@Pineapple-PR.com

Two Statesboro Restaurants Featured in Georgia’s Official State Culinary Guide
Two Statesboro restaurants make the Georgia list of 100 Plates Locals Love.

Caffeine Cravings & Beyond
More than just a cup of coffee! Check out Three Tree Coffee Roasters when you Visit Statesboro.