midstate - events & festivals

When Macon businessman William Fickling began propagating Yoshino cherry trees in the 1950s, he has no idea that one day Macon would become the "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World." Ficklings interest in Yoshinos started in 1949 when he discovered a flowering tree in his backyard. He was curious about it, but no one in Macon could identify hate delicate tree with the beautiful pink flowers. A few years later, Fickling visited Washington D.C. and saw the famous Yoshino cherry trees along the Tidal Basin, and his mystery was solved. Raising these trees became his hobby, and he enjoyed giving away saplings to his friends.

One friend, Carolyn Crayton, was so impressed with the beauty of the delicate white-pink blossoms that she asked Fickling if he would be willing to donate trees for he neighborhood. He generously agreed, and one Saturday in November of 1973, 500 cherry trees were planted in what was the first of many community beautification projects. The Fickling family still donates trees to the community, and today there are more than 300,000 cherry trees in Macon.

The first Cherry Blossom Festival was held in March of 1982 as a tribute to Fickling. What began as a weekend event to showcase the blossoms and honor the benefactor has become a 10-day celebration full of concerts, carnival rides, sporting events, balloon and air shows, parades, and of course blossom tours. The Southeast Tourism Society named the festival a Top 20 Event in the Southeast and awarded it the "Shining Example Award for Best Festival " in 2006.

Macon is not the only town in Middle Georgia that has a reason to be festive. Dublin celebrates its Irish name with a month-long St. Patrick's Festival; Hawkinsville honors its long association with harness racing in April, and Peach County has, what else, a Peach Festival. Here are some of Midstate's annual events listed in roughly chronological order.