Labor Day Weekend Activities

Stick Around this Weekend!

By Laura Perry

America finished the Olympics three weeks ago with the highest medal count — 46 Gold, 29 Silver, and 29 Bronze for a 104 total medals. In short, we cleaned house! Can our local Rednecks build on that momentum with their own games this Saturday? Come down to the Lock & Dam tomorrow and see for yourself. The weather looks good this weekend, with just a 30% chance of rain Sunday and 40% on Labor Day. Summer’s officially over, but don’t cry about it. Check your Tears at the Door with Drivin’ N Cryin Friday night at Sky City.

Friday, August 31st
Karaoke Night
8-11 p.m.
Columbia County Amphitheater (behind Evans Branch Library) While you’re waiting for American Idol’s next season, win some prizes and sing some of your own favorites at Karaoke night. It’s free admission with food, beer and wine available. Call 706-312-7192 or visit www.columbiacountyga.gov.

Drivin’ N Cryin’ in Concert
Doors= 8 p.m./ Music= 10 p.m.
Sky City
Everybody’s favorite late-80’s/ early-90’s Southern Rock band is in town this weekend, so come by to hear your favorites like “Honeysuckle Blue,” “Straight to Hell” and “Fly Me Courageous.” 706-945-1270 or visit www.skycityaugusta.com.

Saturday, September 1st
Redneck Olympics
10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Lock & Dam Park (behind Augusta Regional Airport)
Officially, the Olympics are over. So now’s the time for Rednecks to win their medals. The first part of the day will be kids’ events and the second half will be adult events. All day, there’ll be live music, vendors, and fair rides. Chairs, tents, coolers with beer, blankets and fishing poles are welcome. For more information, see the Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/events/408180049227962.

Boat-In Movie Night at Wildwood Park featuring “The Lorax” Dusk
Wildwood Park in Appling Stretch Summer just a little longer and enjoy a nice night on the lake with a great movie. To get additional details, visit Columbia County’s website: www.columbiacountyga.gov/index.aspx?page=516&recordid=2006&returnURL=%2findex.aspx%3fpage%3d1

Sunday, September 2nd
Last day for Active-Duty Free Admission
noon-5:00 p.m.
Morris Museum of Art
Active-duty military personnel and their families receive free admission to the Morris through Sunday, as part of the museum’s participation in the Blue Star Museum Program. Call 706-724-7501 or
visit www.themorris.org

Augusta ArtWalk 2012 + the UnCommon Jazz Festival
2:00- about 10:15 p.m.
Augusta Commons
The Augusta ArtWalk will put that spring in your step as you see the diverse work of local artists. Following this free event, The Jazz Festival offers live music with ticket prices $15-20. Make it a fun night—you don’t have to work tomorrow! Call 706-495-6238 or
visit www.gardencityjazz.com. Focus

While Augusta’s best jazz band, Garden City Jazz, treats us to Candlelight Jazz all summer, their 5 performers will add 3 more for the annual Art Walk on Sunday. At Augusta Common, the Commons Jazz Festival + Augusta Art Walk features 5 jazz bands including quietSTORM, which performed last Sunday for Candlelight Jazz.

“Maybe it’s an acquired taste,” Garden City Jazz’s Karen Gordon says of her music genre. “But a lot of people don’t seek out things that are unfamiliar, so we present the show where we’re encouraging people to come and stay so that we’ll regularly see them.”

Gordon’s goal is to make jazz more accessible to and more appreciated by our community. Garden City Jazz received a grant from Westobou last year to do a concert. Karen says that through their music events, they try to promote our local talent and support Augusta musicians.

You might hear the term “Traditional Jazz,” but Jazz has a life of its own and is never the same-ole, same-ole, Gordon says.

“There’s always going to be traditions in every genre and people who want it to stay the same, but most forms of music are evolving,” she says. “And for those who can ride that wave and be aware of what people are listening to and try to integrate that.”

Frank Zappa’s lyric is “Jazz is not dead – it just smells funny.” Could be. You Might Also Like: