Arts Emanuel
Each autumn, the Arts Emanuel Festival celebrates the visual and performing arts in southeast Georgia through a weekend long celebration. Visitors view art exhibits, enjoy live performances, participate in hands-on art, and experience a unique shopping opportunity. The Arts Emanuel Festival is an introduction to visitors from around the state of the emerging arts scene in Swainsboro and Emanuel County. The festival takes place in the heart of downtown at the “Boneyard Pavilion” and Patriots Square with theatrical performances taking place at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Auditorium. Family fun is the highlight of the day in a comfortable hometown atmosphere. For more information on the live entertainment, Artist’s market and children’s activities, contact the Emanuel Arts Council, Inc. at (478) 237-2592.
Pine Tree Festival and Timber Exposition 
The Pine Tree Festival and Southeast Timber Expo is Emanuel County’s oldest and most well known festival. Each May, thousands of people from across the southeast flock to Swainsboro to attend the four days of activities. Highlights of the event include beauty contests, auto races, a golf tournament, arts & crafts vendors, wildlife exhibits, forestry exhibits, musical entertainment, antique car displays, living history demonstrations, and a main event. Each year the main event is different; 2007’s main event was the Fred Scheer Lumberjack Show from Wisconsin. Also featured in the downtown area was WXRS Battle of the Bands, grill-off, aerobatic plane, children’s rides, and Art stroll. Organized in 1946 by the Swainsboro Kiwanis Club, the Pine Tree Festival is a week-long event paying tribute to this area’s vast forestry resources. For more information on the Pine Tree Festival and Timber Expo call 478-237-6426 or CLICK HERE.
Art Stroll
Every second Saturday of the month, Swainsboro hosts an Art Stroll downtown. The event begins at 5pm featuring art venues and special deals at local businesses. Each art venue holds a reception showcasing new works by local, regional, national and international artists. The six venues that host monthly exhibitions are Gallery RFD, The Kalmanson Gallery, Emanuel Arts Council’s Young Artists’ Gallery, Folds Photography, 114 West Main, and Designs on the Square. From 5-8pm, visitors stroll through downtown viewing artwork and shopping at local businesses. Beginning at 8:30pm, the Art Stroll reaches its zenith with a musical performance by local, regional and nationally known entertainers who play until 10pm at the Boneyard Pavilion. For more information on the Art Stroll’s exhibitions and musical entertainers CLICK HERE.
Ultimate Yard Sale
On the first Saturday of June a huge County-wide yard sale is held in 
Downtown Swainsboro. The event is dubbed “The Ultimate Yard Sale” for a reason: it includes three locations downtown and draws vendors and visitors from across Emanuel County to sell all their yard sale items. The event is free for vendors who are expected to set up their items on the Boneyard, Square, or Roger Shaw Street within a 10ft X 10ft area. The event begins at 7am in downtown Swainsboro. For more information on the “Ultimate Yard Sale” contact Downtown Development at (478) 237-7025.
Weekly Yard Sale
Every Saturday, vendors set up on the “Boneyard Pavilion” in downtown Swainsboro to sell their yard sale items. The event begins at 7am and is FREE and open to the public.
The Emanu’Ole Opry
The Emanu’Ole Opry is annual celebration of the music and 
culture of Emanuel County. The event began in 1999 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Emanuel Arts Council. Originally created and presented by Tim Palmer and Julia Rountree, the Emanu’Ole Opry showcases local talent playing traditional, county, rock-n-roll, and gospel music. Since 1999, a diverse selection of performers including Glenn Watkins, Phil Wilson, Lige Moore, Billy Cooler, Trey Cowart, Donald Jenkins, Betsy Johnson, Whitney Bush, and many others have performed on the Emanuel Arts Council stage. This original showcase of music typically takes place each fall. For more information on The Emanu’Ole Opry please contact the Emanuel Arts Council, Inc. at (478) 237-2592.
Christmas Parade
The Swainsboro Christmas Parade is an annual celebration that takes place each December. The Downtown Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce kicks off the Christmas season with a huge nighttime Parade down Main Street that traditionally features over 80 Floats and a special appearance by Santa Claus. The event culminates with a old fashioned carol singing, an Artist’s Market, a Taste of Christmas and Photo’s with the man of the hour: Santa Claus. The event is held in Downtown Swainsboro around the Square. If you would like more information on Swainsboro’s Christmas Parade, please contact the Downtown Development Authority at (478) 237-7025.
Concerts and Open Mic Night
Swainsboro is home to a very exciting emerging music scene. Professional musicians from all over the United States perform during the monthly Art Stroll Concert Series which is sponsored by the DCAC. The Second Saturday Art Stroll Concerts have featured a diverse selection of musicians including Afromotive of North Carolina, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Tony Arata of Tennessee, and regional musician Erin Williams of Georgia. Gallery RFD also hosts concerts on a regular basis that feature a balance of local and regional bands such as Garden of Stone, Arum Rae and Josh Roberts and the Hinges. Local talent attend the Emanuel Arts Council’s Open Mic Night held at Gallery RFD every other Monday. Local musicians and poets perform to packed audiences interested in listening to the newest works by up and coming Emanuel County performers. For more information on concerts, contact Gallery RFD at (478) 237-6873 or CLICK HERE
Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade
The MLK Parade is an annual celebration of the life and work of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Civil Rights Activist and Georgia native Martin Luther King, Jr. Since 1984, Swainsboro has hosted a parade that includes numerous marching bands, churches, and civic groups in attendance. Each January, the MLK Parade Committee chooses a Grand Marshall who has shown “great leadership and service to Emanuel County.” Former Grand Marshall’s include Donald Jenkins, Fannie Hughes, Grady Yancey, Wayne Rountree and Bill Kelly. For more information on this event please contact Al Huston at (478) 237- 7768 or Delmus Mosley at (478) 237-8587
Jaycee’s County Fair
Emanuel County’s Annual Fair takes place each October at the Jaycee’s Fairground. The Fair includes numerous rides and games. The week long event also includes Pageants, 4H exhibits and a Swine and Cattle Show. The Jaycee’s County Fair celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2008. The Fair is not only a celebration of Emanuel County; it has become part a tradition! For more information on the Jaycees’ Annual Fair please contact the Southeast Georgia Jaycee’s Fairground at (478) 237-3986.
July 4th
Each year, the Southeast Georgia Jaycees Club hosts a July 4th Celebration. The July 4th celebration takes place at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Airport and includes a FREE Fireworks display. The celebration also includes family friendly events hosted by Swainsboro’s local radio station. The 40 minute display of Fireworks is a tradition in Emanuel County and front row seats are available at the Recreational Department off of McLeod Bridge Road.
Fall Festivals
The beginning of Fall is a time of celebration in Swainsboro! The Kiwanis Club hosts a Fall Festival Downtown to correspond with trick or treating in Downtown Swainsboro. Swainsboro Tech also hosts a Fall Festival in early October that includes rides and games. The Kiwanis Club Festival takes place at the Boneyard in Downtown Swainsboro while the Swainsboro Tech Festival takes place at their main campus off Kite Road. These events are part of a tradition in Swainsboro to celebrate every beginning!
GA Cities Week
The Downtown Development Authority and The City of Swainsboro host Swainsboro’s GA Cities Week Celebration each April. GA Cities Week is geared toward celebrating the unique role downtown plays in the history or culture of a town. Festivities traditionally include a Downtown tour by the Mayor, art exhibitions, a sidewalk sale, and an event titled “Best of Open Mic Night” featuring area performers singing and reading poetry. The event begins at 5pm in Downtown Swainsboro. For more information on this year’s GA Cities Week Celebration contact Downtown Development at (478) 237-7025.
Vision Series:
The East Georgia College Vision Series is a privately-funded initiative that brings programs of cultural and intellectual enrichment to East Georgia College and its broader
constituency, the presentation is free and open to the public. The EGC Vision Series has featured: Internationally known writer and poet Dr. Maya Angelou; President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter; Nano-technology Specialist Dr. James Meindl; UGA History Professor and writer Dr. James Cobb; Augusta Symphony Orchestra, Chairman and CEO Emeritus of Georgia Pacific Corporation Pete Correll; Manhattan Piano Trio; Author and Commentator Bruce Feiler; Television and Movie Set Designer and EGC Alumnus Tim Earls; Author, Terry Kay; Lindsay Thomas; Ambassador Andrew Young; Jonathan Schwabe; Dr. Lee Berger; Atlanta Pops Orchestra; Off-Broadway Plays and Musicals; Cornelia Walker Bailey; Rich Karlgaard; Clyde Edgerton; Ted Spivey; the late Joseph D. Greene; Cokie Roberts; James McBride; and the Reinhardt College Choir to mention a few. All free and open to our service area. For more info call (478) 289-2108 or CLICK HERE and explore campus events.
