Southwest Georgia is partially known for its abundance of festivals. Some of the more interesting are the Ant Festival in Ashburn, the Gnat Festival in Camilla and the Swine Festival in Climax. Some festivals celebrate Southwest Georgia musicians such as the Fletcher Henderson Jazz Festival in Cuthbert. From insects and aminals to music and entertainment, Southwest Georgians know how to celebrate home and create fun activities that attract visitors from far and near.

April

The annual National Mayhaw Festival in Colquitt celebrates the hawthorn fruit that is used to make jelly. The festival is a two-day affair filled with fun, food, fellowship and entertainment. Festival activities include a parade, bake sale, foot race, fun race, one mile run and a 5K run.

A newly added activity is the strong man contest consisting of a tire flip contest, peanut bag loading contest and a truck pull. Entertainment includes music, dramatic performances and the May Haw Variety Show at Cotton Hall. As always, there is plenty of mayhaw jelly to go around.

Spring

The Rose Show and Festival in Thomasville attracts visitors from all over the world to Georgia's City of Roses. The festival highlights the Thomasville Rose Garden, the city's public garden that contains 500 blooming rosebushes.

Rose Festival events include the Annual Rose Parade, Annual Orchids on Parade, Annual Children's Rose Bud Parade, the Rose City 10K Run and Jump for the Roses, an equestrian dressage and jumping show. Two highlights of the festival are the Annual Civic Garden Club Flower Show and the Annual Rose Show where Georgia's Rose Queen, Miss Thomasville, is crowned.

September

The Plains Peanut Festival celebrates peanut production and agriculture in Southwest Georgia. Activities include the Annual Plains Peanut Festival Parade , a 1 mile run and a 5-K road race. Sam Shortline train excursion has a special run to Plains during the Plains Peanut Festival.

October

The annual FleaGrass Festival is three full days of Bluegrass music, Bluegrass Gospel music and country entertainment. The festival is held in Sasser, Georgia at the Sasser Flea Market, located north of Albany on Highway 82.

Jointly organized by the owner and the resident manager of the Sasser Flea Market, the festival is an outgrowth of the flea market's Friday night open mike bluegrass jams. Good particpation by bluegrass and bluegrass gospel groups at the opem mike nights led the organizers to see the need for a festival. Festival activities also include a one hour rail ride aboard the Flea-Bluegrass Express, a 1950s vintage passenger train.

The annual Flea Festival, predecessor to the FleaGrass Festival, draws crowds from 8000 to 15000+ and includes arts and crafts, antique shopping, games and food. RV hook-ups are available. For more info, call 229-698-4578.

October

Each year, thousands of people come to Sylvester Georgia for the Georgia Peanut Festival that celebrates Georgia's peanut industry. Sylvester is the Peanut Capital of the World and the home of Peter Pan peanut butter.

The annual celebration in Sylvester-Worth County includes the Georgia Peanut Festival Parade, a peanut/peanut butter cooking contest, Southern food, entertainment, attractions, rides, arts & crafts and much more. The Georgia Peanut Festival is the record holder for making the world's largest peanut butter sandwich (1987), 12 feet by 12 feet. This festival is a fun event for the entire family. For more information, call 229-776-6657 or visit Website.