Uptown Columbus Comes Alive With Concerts, Festivals, Parades, Holiday Events and Much More…

Life is back in full swing in Uptown Columbus as locals and visitors have been enjoying the newly revamped streetscape, dining in the many fine eateries, shopping in the unique and trendy boutiques and attending fun-filled events and concerts in the one-of-a-kind atmosphere that is inherent to the Uptown area.  This Fall Season and the rest of the year promise a full calendar of events to look forward to.  You can continue to enjoy Market Days on Broadway every Saturday morning through December.   This popular Saturday morning excursion features locally grown farm fresh goods every Saturday on the east side of the 1000 block of Broadway, between 9:00AM to 1:00PM. Join us as Uptown comes alive with seasonal produce, fresh baked goods, handcrafted items, fresh flowers, live music and so much more!

October brings Concerts in Uptown.  The Broadway Concert Series began Friday October 5^th and will run every Friday night through November 16^th.  Brought to you by God Bless Fort Benning, these free concerts will take place on the main stage on the 1100 Block of Broadway.  This October we also celebrate the beginning of  “Sculpture Walk” in Uptown. This event consists of the exhibition of 15 sculptures along the sidewalks and median of Broadway in the heart of Uptown Columbus. Sculptors from all over the United States will be here to build these astonishing pieces. This exhibition will be open for the public starting October 2007 and will end August 2008. The Columbus community will have the opportunity to experience these great pieces of art while enjoying a walk through the newly revitalized Uptown. 

This year, the 12^th Annual Arts on the River will be held on Saturday, October 20^th, from 11:00AM to 5:00PM on Front Avenue between 6^th and 7^th Streets. This festival will include member organizations of the Columbus Cultural Arts Alliance. The event will showcase paint media, photography, metal work, glass, hand thrown pottery, sculpture, and wood carving. Entertainment is scheduled throughout the day, including activities for children. The event is free to the public and will be handicapped accessible.  Pirates of the Chattahoochee will take place on October 20^th and 21^st at Port Columbus.  This family event will be filled with all sorts of piratical fun including a treasure hunt (digging for booty), pirate story time and an indoor scavenger hunt. There will also be a kids' pirate costume contest, boat rides on the Chattahoochee and pirate photo opportunities, not to mention the always popular cannon firing at the end of the day. Bring out the entire family for a day of swashbuckling fun!

Christmas Made in the South is planned for the weekend of October 26^th, 27^th, and 28^th.  This seasonal shopper’s delight will be held at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center.  That same weekend, The Columbus Business Improvement District (BID) hosts the sixth annual “SPOOKTACULAR.”  The “Spooktacular” Halloween Festival will be held Saturday, October 27^th, from 6PM-8PM in the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Broadway.  The fair features over 40 activities, including pumpkin painting, duck pond, spooky spider fishing, a costume contest, a candy walk and much, much more.  “Spooktacular” provides a safe environment for the children of Columbus to enjoy the holiday. So wear your best costume and come to “Spooktacular” for a haunting night of ghosts and goblins, spooky activities, candy and lots of fun!!!

We kick off the month of November with "The 18th Annual Fountain City Football Classic".  Albany State University will play Fort Valley State University at 2:00 PM, November 3rd at AJ McClung Memorial Stadium, following the parade from 9AM to 10:30 Saturday morning.  On November 17th, God Bless Fort Benning will celebrate in Uptown Columbus.  The largest military support event in the country will be held Saturday on Broadway from noon to 11 PM.  November 29th, the 8th annual Night of Lights Ceremony kicks off the Tri-community Holiday Season in the Phenix City Amphitheater from 6PM to 7PM; with the addition of Holiday on Broadway taking place directly afterwards on the 1100 Block of Broadway ending at 9PM.  Night of Lights and Holiday on Broadway will feature caroling, dance, holiday music, fireworks, and appearance by Santa Clause and much more!  Admission is free and includes complimentary holiday treats. 

The RiverCenter’s Winterfest will be November 30^th through December 2^nd.  The event will run Friday from 5PM to 10PM, with a performance at 7PM, Saturday from 11AM to 10PM with a performance at 7:30PM, and Sunday from noon to 5PM with a performance at 2PM.  Also in December is Port Columbus’ Victorian Christmas.  Victorian Christmas is scheduled for December 1^st and 2^nd.  The museum is decorated throughout with circa 1863 decorations and trees. An original 1862 Santa will listen to children's want lists.   Photos and Breakfast with Santa are available.   Admission to the museum is FREE during the open house.  Historic Columbus Foundation's Holiday Tour of Homes returns on December 9th with "Mistletoe in Midtown" from 12PM -6PM.   

The Georgia Downtown Conference to be held in  Uptown Columbus

October brings downtown professionals from all over the State to Uptown Columbus to further their education on building and revitalizing successful downtowns, receive recognition and recognize others for their extraordinary efforts and, most importantly, enjoy all that Uptown Columbus Georgia has to offer.  The 2007 Georgia Downtown Conference will be held in Uptown Columbus October 10-12.  The Conference and Annual Awards Ceremony sponsored by the Georgia Downtown Association in partnership with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), The Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, Uptown Columbus, Inc, and The Columbus Business Improvement District.  The conference provides educational workshops, an exhibition area, receptions, panel discussions, the Georgia Downtown Awards, and an excellent opportunity to show off our vibrant Uptown area. 

The Georgia Downtown Conference is designed to further educate individuals on issues effecting downtown development on a national and statewide level, reinforce existing downtown development efforts, and plan for future initiatives. It is a conduit to promote downtown and economic development through public awareness, governmental relations, and education. The highlight of the conference will be the Georgia Downtown Awards (October 11) where the accomplishments of those organizations and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and improvement in Georgia's traditional downtowns will be celebrated. It will be a night to remember as the awards ceremony will take place in the beautifully restored Springer Opera House, the State Theatre of Georgia.

The Georgia Downtown Association (GDA) is a non-profit association that promotes the economic redevelopment of Georgia's traditional downtowns. Through advocacy, education and marketing, GDA works to focus the public's attention on the value of downtown. This year's theme, “Setting the Scene…The Arts Downtown!” was inspired by the immense variety of arts amenities available in Uptown Columbus and explores the vast elements of the arts and how they can invigorate successful downtown revitalization, offering educational sessions which explore such topics as developing a public arts program, completing oral histories, establishing arts cooperatives, focusing on cultural heritage tourism, etc. The various segments of the conference will be held at the Convention and Trade Center, The RiverCenter, The Springer Opera House and Columbus State University’s new Theatre on Park.  Nearly 200 Downtown Development professionals will come and experience Uptown Columbus while attending fantastic educational sessions, tours, and networking events. 

Spooktacular

The Columbus Business Improvement District and Columbus State University Student Government Association host the sixth annual “SPOOKTACULAR”.  The “Spooktacular” Halloween Festival will be held Saturday, October 27^th, from 6pm-8pm in the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Broadway.  Children 12 and under, accompanied by their parents, will enjoy an evening of family fun by attending this year’s “Spooktacular” Halloween Festival

The fair features trick or treating, and over 40 activities, including pumpkin painting, duck pond, spooky spider fishing, a candy walk and much, much more.  “Spooktacular” provides a SAFE ENVIRONMENT for the children of Columbus to enjoy the holiday. So wear your best costume and come to “Spooktacular” for a haunting night of ghosts and goblins, spooky activities, candy and lots of fun!!!

The entrance fee will be $1 per child.  This fee is for a wristband granting each child access to all of the activities and candy.  The first 3,000 kids will receive a free trick or treat bag provided by Archway Broadcasting and other sponsors identified on the back of the bags.