Things to Do in Columbia County, GA: August 17–23, 2026
A Taylor Swift tribute under the stars, India Day, splash pads, lake days, and more fun in Evans, Grovetown, Martinez, and Appling this week.
Summer is winding down, but Columbia County is not slowing down one bit. This week brings live music at Evans Towne Center Park, a colorful cultural celebration, and plenty of ways to cool off outside. Here's your simple guide to things to do in Columbia County, GA from Monday, August 17 through Sunday, August 23.
Pizza Night for a Good Cause at Your Pie Grovetown
Start the week with dinner that gives back. On Monday, August 17, Your Pie Grovetown (9592 Bentley Drive, Grovetown) hosts a Raising Dough Community Night to support the Steiner Branch Family YMCA. Order your favorite handcrafted pizza, and part of the proceeds helps the Y serve local kids and families. It's an easy way to skip cooking and do some good at the same time. Check Your Pie Grovetown's page for that day's hours before you go.
"Are You Ready For It?" — A Taylor Experience at Evans Towne Center Park
Calling all Swifties! On Thursday, August 20, Evans Towne Center Park (7016 Evans Town Center Blvd, Evans) hosts "Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience." Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m. General admission is just $10, and VIP tickets are $50 with early entry, premium seating and parking, and free snacks and drinks. Vocalist Traci Marie leads a live band with dancers, costume changes, and big sing-along moments from every era of Taylor Swift's music. It's built to be family friendly, so bring the kids, a blanket or lawn chairs, and sing your heart out. Tickets are on Ticketmaster or at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center box office.
IACA of Augusta's India Day 2026
On Saturday, August 22, the Columbia County Performing Arts Center (1000 Market Street, Evans) fills with music, color, and culture for India Day 2026, hosted by the India Association of the CSRA. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 through Ticketmaster or the box office. Expect vibrant costumes, dance, and music celebrating India's rich traditions right here in Evans. It's a wonderful way to experience a different culture without leaving the county.
Walk or Bike the Reopened Towpath at Savannah Rapids Park
Great news for trail lovers: the first stretch of the Augusta Canal towpath is open again. Head to Savannah Rapids Park in Martinez (3300 Evans to Locks Road) and enjoy about 1.5 miles of flat, scenic trail from the historic headgates to the I-20 bridge. Watch kayakers on the canal, spot herons along the water, and take in the view where the rapids rush by. The park and trail are free. Mornings and evenings are best this time of year — bring water and go before the midday heat.
Cool Off at the Evans Towne Center Park Splash Pad
Hot August afternoon? The splash pad at Evans Towne Center Park (7016 Evans Town Center Blvd, Evans) is a free favorite for local families. Kids can run through the fountains while parents relax nearby, and the playground is right there for round two. Pack towels, sunscreen, and a picnic, and you've got an easy afternoon out that costs nothing.
Make It a Lake Day at Mistletoe State Park
Out in Appling, Mistletoe State Park (3725 Mistletoe Road) sits right on Clarks Hill Lake, one of the biggest lakes in the Southeast. Swim at the beach area, fish for bass, rent a paddle craft, or hike the shady lakeside trails. Parking is $5 per vehicle for the day. It's open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. A cooler, some floats, and a few friends make this the perfect late-summer Saturday.
Explore Wildwood Park in Appling
Also on Clarks Hill Lake, Wildwood Park (3780 Dogwood Lane, Appling) is home to boat ramps, a beach area, lakeside camping, picnic spots, and the International Disc Golf Center — a bucket-list stop for disc golf fans. Entry is just $3 per car. Bring your discs and play where the pros play, or just find a quiet spot by the water and watch the boats go by. It's a low-key, beautiful corner of Columbia County that many locals still haven't discovered.
Your Week, Your Community
That's the lineup — concerts, culture, splash pads, and lake days, all close to home. Whether you're in Evans, Grovetown, Martinez, Harlem, or Appling, there's something this week for every age and every budget.
And if all this fun has you thinking you'd like to call Columbia County home — or you're a local ready for your next move — the Ehrin Fairey Team is here to help. We live here, we serve here, and we give back here. Reach out anytime for friendly, no-pressure answers to your real estate questions.
FAQ
What is there to do in Evans, GA this weekend? This weekend (August 22–23), catch India Day 2026 at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center on Saturday evening, cool off at the Evans Towne Center Park splash pad, or spend a lake day at Mistletoe State Park or Wildwood Park in Appling.
Is the Savannah Rapids trail open? Yes — about 1.5 miles of the Augusta Canal towpath, from the headgates at Savannah Rapids Park to the I-20 bridge, has reopened. Sections beyond that are still being restored.
Are there free things to do in Columbia County, GA this week? Yes! The Evans Towne Center Park splash pad, the Savannah Rapids towpath, and playgrounds and green spaces across Evans, Grovetown, and Martinez are all free. The Taylor Swift tribute on August 20 is nearly free at just $10.
