TIFTON—Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture will be decked out in red, white, and blue on Saturday, July 1 at the Wiregrass Freedom Festival.
Visitors can celebrate their patriotic pride as they ride the 1914 Vulcan Steam Train into the Historic Village and enjoy numerous games and contests representative of the Wiregrass region of Georgia during the early 20th century.
Guests will also enjoy a game of baseball, sample delicious watermelon slices, and challenge their historic vocabulary knowledge with trivia in the Wiregrass School House. Cane pole fishing in the Grist Mill Pond and Victorian-era paper firework crafts will add to the atmosphere.
A new feature this year is a watermelon decorating contest. Watermelons should be decorated offsite and brought to the museum on Friday, June 30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or Saturday, July 1 from 9-11 a.m. Entries can be dropped off at the welcome desk inside the main museum located adjacent to Interstate 75. Winners will be announced at 1 p.m. on the museum’s Facebook page.
“The event will highlight the history of America as we celebrate our great nation through fun, educational, and unique activities for the whole family,” said Museum Director Garrett Boone. “We hope everyone comes to celebrate the holiday with some old-fashioned fun in the Historic Village.”
Other popular attractions include slices of watermelon at the Cravey House, hand-dipped ice cream from the Drug Store, sweet treats from Cole’s Cakery and Wilma’s Place on the Tift House lawn, and two comfort stations to provide a break in the shade from the summer sun.
The Wiregrass Farmer’s Market will also be open, featuring local growers and producers offering fresh produce, hand-made goods, and more. The market is located under the pole barn behind the Country Store.
The festival will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $8 for children 5-16, and free for children four and under. For more information, contact the museum at (229) 391-5205.
###
