WHAT'S GOING ON IN CHARLTON COUNTY

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

January

• Third Monday: Martin Luther King Holiday: Chamber and City offices closed for in observance of the holiday.
• January 11^th: Relay for Life Kick-off: 6:00 pm at Folkston United Methodist Church.
• January 26^th: Annual Chamber Banquet

February

• Second Saturday: Sandhill Crane Awareness Day and Wings Over the Swamp: Activities, games, demonstrations, and bird walks provide visitors information about Sandhill Cranes and other birds that rely on the refuge for survival.

March

• 8^th & 10^th : Newell Lodge Bluegrass Festival: Call 912-496-2838 for more details.

April

• April 5 - 7^th : Cherokee of Georgia Spring Powwow: Come and share storytellers, children’s games, flute players, primitive camps/tools, ancient museum relics and traders with arts and crafts. Call (912) 843-2230 for more details. Download the flyer here.
• April 14^th: Annual Railwatch Day: Trains on the screen, trains on the tracks. More information on our Trains page. Download vendor application on the downloads page.
• April 14^th & 15^th : Newell Lodge Junior Rodeo: Call 912-496-2838 for more details.
• April 30^th & May 1^st: Southern Junior Rodeo: Starts at 10 am on Saturday. Cowboy Church begins Sunday at 8 am with the Rodeo starting at 9 am.
• Third Saturday: National Wildlife Week: Join Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge staff and volunteers to clean up the environment and learn how Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge protects, conserves and enhances habitat for fish and wildlife. For more information, contact the Okefenokee NWR Visitor Center, at 912-496-7836 or visit their website.
• To Be Announced : American Cancer Society's Charlton County Relay for Life: Charlton County High School Track

May

• Banks Lake NWR Youth Fishing Derby – May 5, 8 am - 2 pm: Have fun in the Fishing Derby for children ages 3 – 15. Learn how national wildlife refuges protect fish and learn about the recreational fishing opportunities in the area. Attend a knot tying demonstration and discover which knots are best for different test lines. Find out how folks “grunt worms” for bait. Bring a plain t-shirt and get free fish art to wear home, and other arts and crafts. For more information, contact the Okefenokee NWR Visitor Center, at 912-496-7836 or visit their website.
• International Migratory Bird Day – May 12, 8 am - 8:30 pm: Join the nation in celebrating and learning about migratory birds. Activities include an early morning bird walk, and a talk. For more information, contact the Okefenokee NWR Visitor Center, at 912-496-7836 or visit their website.
• May 28 -31: Newell Lodge Horse Camp: Call 912-496-2838 for more details.

June

• June 4 - 7: Newell Lodge Horse Camp: Call 912-496-2838 for more details.
• June 28 - 28: Newell Lodge Horse Camp: Call 912-496-2838 for more details.

July

• July 9 - 12: Newell Lodge Horse Camp: Call 912-496-2838 for more details.

September

• September 22^nd: Miss Okefenokee Pageant Charlton County High School. Contact the Chamber for more information on participating or sponsoring a contestant.
  Applications and rules on the Downloads page.
• National Public Lands Day Celebration - September 29, 8am-12pm: Join the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for a day set aside for service to our nation’s public lands. Activities include maintenance on the historic Chesser Island Homestead. Free hot dogs and refreshments for participants! For more information, contact the Okefenokee NWR Visitor Center, at 912-496-7836 or visit their website.

October

• Second Week: National Wildlife Refuge System Week
• Second Saturday: Okefenokee Festival: Jesse Crews Sr. Memorial Park and Main Street Festival Parade, street vendors and games, food and fun, night-time street dance. Applications and rules on the Downloads page.
• Also Second Saturday: National Wildlife Refuge Week, 11am-4:30pm: Visit the Chesser Island Homestead to discover how people once lived in Southeast Georgia at the time the refuge system was established. Learn how settlers made soap, brooms, butter, quilts, baskets, and other everyday items. Examine how settlers washed clothes, smoked meat, made pickets, and survived in and around the swamp. Sample boiled peanuts, soup, biscuits, and other items cooked on a wood-burning stove. Listen to the sounds of bluegrass music, stories, and four-note singing. Enjoy horses, mules, and other livestock. Join a ranger for interpretative programs throughout the day. Finally, join in the games your grandparents played - musical chairs, wheelbarrow races, and more! For more information, contact the Okefenokee NWR Visitor Center at 912-496-7836.
• 28^th & 29^th: Newell Lodge Bluegrass Festival: Featuring Joe Diffie. Begins Oct. 28 at 7:30 pm and continues on Oct. 29 11:30 am with Joe Diffie performing in the evening. Call 912-496-2838 for more details.
• Date TBD: Trick or Treat on Main Street: Join the fun downtown as the merchants hand out treats to the kids.

November

• First Saturday: City of Homeland Founder's Day
• TBD: Cookies and Hot Chocolate with Santa Followed by the Tree Lighting. We will have caroling by our local churches, treats for the children and good holiday family fun. For further information please contact the Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce at 496-2536.
• Sugar Cane Grinding and Syrup Boil - November 17, 10am-4pm: Take part in a traditional sugar cane boil at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Cut your own sugar cane from the garden, grind it using a traditional mule operated grinder, and sample the sweet cane juice. Watch as staff and volunteers boil down a vat of sugar cane juice and produce authentic pure cane syrup. For more information, contact the Okefenokee NWR Visitor Center at 912-496-7836.
• TBD: Cookies and Hot Chocolate with Santa Followed by the Tree Lighting. We will have caroling by our local churches, treats for the children and good holiday family fun. For further information please contact the Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce at 496-2536.
• 24^th and 25^th: Thanksgiving Holidays

December

• TBD: Unofficial Winter Railwatch.
• TBD: Christmas on Main Street Visit our Main Street Merchants for a Holiday Open House. For further information please contact the Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce at 496-2536
• Second Saturday: Christmas on Chesser Island, 5:30pm-8:30pm:Celebrate the holiday season at the Chesser Island Homestead with a hayride, luminaries, refreshments, caroling, and live music! Discover the region's traditions as you tour a swamp homestead decorated with traditional homemade decorations. Stay warm by the bonfire while enjoying homemade cookies and cider. For more information, contact the Okefenokee NWR Visitor Center at 912-496-7836.

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