GRIFFIN, GEORGIA—AUGUST 2023—Take a road trip just 40 miles south of Atlanta to Griffin and Spalding County, Georgia for unforgettable charm, leisure sports and recreation, a thriving art scene and more. Founded in 1840, this former railroad and cotton town has preserved its fascinating architecture and evolved into an ideal getaway destination with plenty to do and see.
There are more than enough reasons to visit now through fall. Here are just a few.
This city gives off a small-town vibe with big rewards–boutiques, antique shops, 20+ restaurants, 2nd Saturday events, a free Summer Concert Series and more music and entertainment every weekend. The downtown area offers 900+ free public parking spaces and the theatre and concert admission prices are reasonable. Stroll the streets with a Griffin GoCup–from 4 p.m. to midnight daily, select restaurants in the Arts and Entertainment District provide them to ages 21 and up. Food and fun events make it a must-do for a friends’ getaway or family weekend. Check out the Griffin scene in these videos: https://www.youtube.com/@ingriffin/videos and specifically, September events here.
September 8, 2023
Doc Holliday Festival Concert Kickoff
7 p.m.
Park at Sixth, 204 East Solomon Street
Griffin, Georgia
770-228-5356
https://www.facebook.com/downtowngriffin
The Doc Holliday Festival (see below) kicks off with live music at the Park at Sixth, Music is from 7-9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free public parking is available in the parking deck on Solomon Street.
September 9, 2023
Doc Holliday Festival and BBQ Championship
10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Griffin City Park
821 Pimento Avenue
Griffin, Georgia
(770) 228-8200
https://www.facebook.com/dochollidayfest
https://www.dochollidayfest.com/
Music, entertainment, delicious barbecue: Griffin-Spalding is home to the Western figure John Henry “Doc” Holliday, the area’s native son. The legendary gunslinger grew up in Griffin and later returned after dental school before heading west to Texas. Explore the birthplace and dental office of John Henry “Doc” Holliday, and attend the annual event, which includes local vendors, family entertainment and more. One of the highlights of the festival is the re-enactment group Aces and Eights, who will be performing three shows depicting the famous shootout at the OK Corral. Shows run for approximately 30 minutes each and tell the story of the life of John Henry “Doc” Holliday, who was born in Griffin and had a dentistry practice on Solomon Street, making it a must-watch for history enthusiasts and Wild West fans. Self-guided tour of the places Doc Holliday knew as a young man, when Griffin was a prosperous cotton town. https://ingriffin.com/explorations/doc-holliday Video preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w26dD-MlLTE
The Doc Holliday BBQ Championship is a Georgia Barbecue Association event; about 30 professional teams will compete for a portion of the $13,000 total payout. Contestants prepare their best pork loin, pulled pork or pork rib. Ancillary contests for brisket, steak, wings and desserts will also be held. Visitors can purchase a sampler platter and also have the chance to vote for their favorite team.
After the festival, groove to the sounds of The Mainstream Band GA from Valdosta. They will be taking the main stage at Griffin City Park and kicking off their live performance at 5 p.m. Known for their dynamic and diverse repertoire spanning multiple genres, The Mainstream Band GA promises to deliver an electrifying show that will captivate audiences of all ages.
The entire day’s events will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs, although some bleacher seating will be provided in the park. A portion of the profits will be donated to the Spalding Collaborative for Families and Children. No ticket needed and no cost to attend the festival. No cost public parking is available in the parking deck on Solomon Street.
September 9, 2023
Downtown Griffin Second Saturdays
Griffin, Georgia
770-228-5356
https://www.facebook.com/downtowngriffin
Stroll the streets and enjoy art, entertainment, live music, unique merchant promotions and see why Griffin is such a fun and welcoming town. This month’s theme: Woofstock.
Recurring: September 9, October 14, 2023
Georgia Grown Downtown Market 2023
Historic City Hall, 201 East Solomon Street
Griffin, Georgia
770-228-5356
An open-air marketplace that features Georgia Grown farmers, crafters, artisans, and more from
2-5 p.m. Free parking at Historic City Hall or the Solomon Street public parking deck. Come shop local fruits, vegetables, eggs, coffee beans, organic meats, homemade treats and enjoy live music on the patio.
September 8-9, 2023
Maker’s Market Fine Arts Fair
885 Memorial Drive
Griffin, Georgia 30223
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Everything from blown glass, pottery and woodwork to jewelry, ornaments and books by local authors. A select few vendors accept credit cards, others cash only.
https://www.griffinchamber.com/events/5th-annual-makers-market
September 22–30, 2023
Spalding County Fair
Kiwanis Fairgrounds
1025 South Hill Street
Griffin, Georgia
770-227-9187
https://www.kiwanisofgriffin.com/projects/kiwanis-fair
Kick off the fall season with a full week of family entertainment at the Kiwanis Spalding County Fair. An old-fashioned county fair with exciting attractions, delicious fair food including famous corn dogs, a petting zoo, live entertainment and much more. For a preview, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhXqCg66cAo
September 27-October 1, 2023
Professional Pickleball on Tour
APP Sunmed Atlanta Metro Open
Spalding County Pickleball Complex
Winona Tyus Olympic Park
1301 Cowan Road
Griffin, Georgia 30223
Registration https://www.pickleballtournaments.com/tournamentinfo.pl?tid=8018
https://spaldingpickleball.com
The world class Spalding County Pickleball Complex has made Griffin a hotspot for this hot new pastime, creating opportunities for open pros, senior pros, super senior pros and amateurs.
The Spalding County Pickleball Association (SCPA) has garnered a national reputation for world class pickleball tournaments with nationally televised broadcast coverage on EPSN+ and YouTube APPTV through two successful hostings of the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) – Atlanta Metro Open tournament events. Once again hosting the APP’s annual stop in Georgia, this year the final round action on October 1 will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.
Since June 2017, Spalding County’s Winona Tyus Park Pickleball Complex has been home to numerous tournaments, having attracted over 6,500+ tournament participants, countless spectators, and daily recreational pickleball players. SCPA hosted tournaments alone have generated over $4m of sports tourism revenue for Spalding County according to Spalding County Leisure Services.
October 21, 2023
Cemetery Ramble
Oak Hill Cemetery
797 Memorial Drive
Griffin, Georgia 30223
(770) 228-8200
https://www.griffinchamber.com/events/cemetery-ramble-2023
Tiptoe through the gravestones for an evening of history. Portrayed by actors in period costumes, famous local buried “residents” come to life in this growing annual event. 6-10 p.m. Moderate walking required, estimated around one mile total from station to station on paved roads.
If You Go
Adding to the charm are downtown Griffin’s beautifully executed murals depicting the town’s railroad, aviation and diverse history. Griffin and Spalding County features unique shops offering antiques, apparel and gifts, 2nd Saturday events, Summer Concert Series, and Movies in the Park. Among the more than 20 cafes and restaurants, many locally owned, those in the Arts and Entertainment District offer to-go alcoholic beverages, ages 21+ and up, for strolling the streets from 4 p.m. to midnight daily. The downtown area also offers over 900 free public parking spaces.
Griffin-Spalding has a wide variety of lodging options, including downtown. Whether it’s a historic loft, a bed and breakfast or a traditional hotel experience, there are plenty of choices to make your trip memorable. Among the many area VRBO and Air B&B options is Historic Brookfield Estate. This 1875 Italianate-Federal style home, with its well-appointed rooms, vacation cottages and its intact outbuildings and gardens, is the perfect place to recharge for another day of exploring. (1590 Carver Road, Griffin, Georgia 30224; 770-851-3714)
The official website of the Griffin Spalding Business & Tourism Association is https://ingriffin.com.
For more ideas on what to do in Griffin and Spalding County, visit
https://www.exploregeorgia.org/things-to-do/list/things-to-do-in-griffin-georgia-doc-hollidays-hometown and explore the area through videos here.
Journalists: for downloadable captioned, credited photos and more details, please go to https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/georgia/griffin-spalding-county-georgia