ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture Hosts Wiregrass Freedom Festival on July 2nd

Staff Report

Thursday, June 23rd, 2022

Break out the red, white, and blue on July 2 when visitors can celebrate their patriotic pride at the Wiregrass Freedom Festival at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture.

Ride the 1914 Vulcan Steam Train into the Historic Village and enjoy numerous entertaining games and contests representative of the Wiregrass region of Georgia during the early 20th century.

All ages can enjoy traditional baseball, watermelon samples, and challenge their historical vocabulary knowledge with trivia in the Wiregrass School House. Kids can enjoy cane pole fishing in the Grist Mill Pond.

Victorian era paper firework crafts will add to the atmosphere which is sure to be enhanced by the pie-baking contest. Contest rules require pies to be made offsite and brought to the Museum for entry.

Pies can be submitted from 9 until 11:30 a.m. at the welcome desk inside the Main Museum. A copy of the recipe must be submitted with the pie, which should include a list of all ingredients. Winners will be announced at 1 p.m. on the Drug Store porch.

The action-packed list of activities begins at 9 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. at the Museum, located just off I-75 in Tifton.

Museum Director Garrett Boone said, “the event will highlight the history of America as we celebrate our great nation through fun, educational, and unique activities for the whole family. Celebrate the holiday with old fashioned fun in the Historic Village.”

Cool off with slice of watermelon at the Cravey House or hand-dipped ice cream from the Drug Store. Enjoy other sweet treats from Simply Sweet Celebrations and Wilma’s Place on the Opry Shelter Lawn. Guests can break from fun in the sun at two comfort stations complete with shade, water, and misters.

See the past in action at the antique tractor display on the Tift House Lawn. The antique tractors will parade through the Historic Village at noon.

The Wiregrass Farmers Market will also be open for visitors from 9 a.m. until noon. Local growers and producers will be offering fresh picked produce as well as hand-made goods for sale at the Market located under the pole barn behind the Country Store.

Admission for the day is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $6 for children 5–16 years of age, and free for children four and under. For more information, interested persons can contact the Museum’s Country Store at (229) 391-5205.