Events and Recreation
Looking for a better quality of life away from the crowds, traffic, and excessive development often associated with life in major cities?
Located just outside of Augusta and a little over an hour’s drive from Atlanta and Athens, Thomson-McDuffie is quintessentially Southern in all aspects, comprised of a breath-taking landscape complete with sweeping fields of golden-hued grass dotted with picturesque farmsteads and accented with groves of pecan trees. A feast for the eyes, Thomson-McDuffie welcomes guests from near and far the first Saturday of November for the Belle Meade Hunt, a traditional fox hunt punctuated with just enough pomp and circumstance to make participants feel a part of something truly special. Tour a lavender farm at White Hills Herb Farm, an 1890s restored farmhouse. Shop for hidden treasure at Aunt Tique’s and Uncle Junks or call out the winning bid at Sunset Auctions. The area's year-round mild climate makes it an ideal locale for outdoor activities from boating and fishing all 70,000 acres of Clarks Hill Lake – the largest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project east of the Mississippi River and one of the largest inland bodies of water in the South – to hiking and golfing. Festivals, such as the annual Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival, and special events provide endless opportunity for down-home revelry while historic points of interest such as the Wrightsboro Cemetery, where several veterans of the Revolutionary War are buried, root visitors firmly in the importance of the area. Local boutiques offer one-of-a-kind finds with a Southern twist while area restaurants satisfy the pickiest of palates. This is a slice of Southern heaven. This is Thomson-McDuffie.
Living in McDuffie County
McDuffie County is known for its rich history, natural beauty and the ease and security of a small town. It is a close knit community well known for its southern hospitality and is conveniently located near Augusta, Georgia and Clarks Hill Lake.
Augusta, Ga, home of the Masters Golf Tournament, is only a 25 minute drive down I-20 and also offers theater, symphony, museums and a beautiful river walk. Clarks Hill Lake is open all year and offers many activities for recreation and vacationing, from boating and fishing to jet-skiing and camping.
The Blind Willie Blues Festival is held annually in May, in honor of William Samuel “Blind Willie” McTell who was born in McDuffie County in 1901. He is considered one of the greatest twelve-string players of all time. Begun in 1993, this event has attracted top-notch performers and upwards of 2000 attendees each year.
The annual Belle Meade Hunt has been a tradition since 1966. The opening meet, featuring the “Blessing of the Hounds” is held on the first Saturday in November. This marks the opening of the hunt season which runs through March. Scarlet-coated riders recreate the old English fox hunt, following their hounds through 20,000 acres of woodlands in pursuit of the fox.
