Swine Time Mural, Climax
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Tag Archives: Georgia Festivals
Rattlesnake Roundup Grounds, Whigham
Rattlesnake roundups are mostly a thing of the past, but I believe Whigham’s is still held each January. Jerod Maxwell writes: My Grandfather (Julian Maxwell) and his cousin (Herman Maxwell) started it inadvertently when they caught a couple of snakes and took them to the Whigham High School to show the science class the snakes in order to teach kids about them. That week at the Whigham town meeting eight men decided that they would hold a festival in order to raise money for the town and Grady County and to milk the snakes in order to make more anti-venom because many people were being bitten every year in our area. He notes that his Uncle Herman was at the meeting, but not his Grandfather, because he didn’t like politics. Most old farmers stayed a far away from politics as they could. I know my grandfather did.
The live-catch aspect of the roundup was phased out in 2022.
Peacock Day, Pavo
Over a century ago, a prominent local family, the Peacocks, wanted the name of their town changed from McDonald to Peacock. They compromised and chose the Latin name for peacock, Pavo. Check out the Peacock Festival if you’re in the area on the 2nd Saturday in May. Just know you won’t find many peacocks.
The Mule Roundup, Guysie
James and Barbara Spires and family graciously open their beautiful farm each year to showcase those curious hybrid creations we call mules at the famous Mule Roundup in Guysie. A nice history of the festival can be found here. [There’s also a Mule Day, in Calvary, Georgia, and another in Wilkes County].
The photos in this post were made at the 16th Annual Roundup in 2010.
Hands down this is one of the best festivals in South Georgia, with mule competitions, old-fashioned cane grinding, cloggers, and gospel and country singers, as well as antique automobiles, and plenty of vendors and fun for the kids.
The best part about it is that it doesn’t feel like a festival; it feels like you were just invited over for a hoe-down on the farm.
Don’t forget to stop by the Guysie General Store and buy a souvenir of your visit. They have great t-shirts.
In case you don’t know, mules are the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.
As a result, mules share similar colors and patterns with horses.
They also liver longer and eat less than horses, in general.
They can live up to 50 years.
Until modern tractors were commonly available, mules were preferred for plowing. They have also been in military use for over a thousand years.
And they’re actually not as stubborn as their reputation would suggest. They’re definitely smarter than donkeys.
The sign is a landmark in its own right.
UPDATE: Sadly, the Mule Roundup has ceased operation.
National Grits Festival, Warwick
The National Grits Festival has been paused in the past due to sponsorship issues but I believe it is back and better than ever. It’s held the second Saturday in April. The building pictured here is the old Warwick Masonic Lodge.Dan Aultman and Lee Lucas shared memories of the building. Dan wrote: Sixty years ago when I was a young fellow, this old Masonic Lodge was an old wood building . The kids in Warwick, lacking safe places to play, used the bottom floor to roller skate. I don’t remember if we were given permission or if we assumed it was okay. The one police officer never threw us out, but life was different back then. Lee recalled: In the middle to late 60’s, upstairs in the Masonic building was where we held the Boy Scouts meetings. The Scout Master was Mr. Grady West, who would take us on hikes and camp outs through out the surrounding countryside. We even went on canoe trips down the Flint River from just below the power dam (where Mr. West worked) to downtown Albany Ga. This was during the heyday of Turner Air Field, an U.S. Air Force B-52 airfield. You have not lived until a B-52 takes off just feet above your head while you are in a canoe. The way our troop scattered INTO the river,you would have thought we were being strafed! Fun memories!
Sweet Potatoes for Sale, Irwin County
In 1960, Irwin County held the first Georgia Sweet Potato Festival to recognize and promote local growers. It remains wildly popular today, and is held the last Saturday in October.