Big news, Columbia County: fall is actually coming this week. After a hot, humid start — highs near 92 Monday and Tuesday — a line of storms moves through Tuesday night and Wednesday, and then the air changes. Thursday and Friday land in the mid-to-upper 70s, the weekend sits right around 81 with sunshine, and mornings drop into the upper 50s. That's perfect weather for being outside. Here are the best things to do in Columbia County GA this week, September 21–27, 2026.
The Evans Market on Saturday Morning
Start your Saturday the local way. The Evans Market runs Saturday, September 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at The Market (1005 Market St., Evans). Entry is free.
More than 50 season vendors — farmers, bakers, makers, and crafters — rotate through, plus food trucks, so there's something new every week. This Saturday's forecast is a dream: sunny skies, a 57-degree start, and 70s by mid-morning. Grab a coffee, fill your basket with fall produce, and stay a while. The fall market continues every Saturday through November 28.
Barks N' Brews, Friday Evening in Evans
Bring the dog. Barks N' Brews takes over The Market (1005 Market St., Evans) on Friday, September 25, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. — right in that first stretch of genuinely pleasant evening air, with a low near 58 that night.
BMX Nationals at Blanchard Woods Park
Columbia County hosts the USA BMX Southeast Gold Cup Championship Finals from Friday, September 25, through Sunday, September 27, at Blanchard Woods Park (4600 Blanchard Woods Dr., Evans). Riders come in from across the Southeast, and it's a genuinely fun spectator weekend even if you've never watched BMX before.
Walk the Towpath at Savannah Rapids Park
This is THE week to get back on the trail. Savannah Rapids Park in Martinez (3300 Evans to Locks Rd.) is free and open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with the seven-mile towpath running along the historic Augusta Canal beside the Savannah River.
With highs in the upper 70s and cool mornings from Thursday on, the trail feels brand new. Watch the water rush over the rapids, look for herons and turtles, and soak up the first golden light of fall. Bring your bike or just your walking shoes. The Columbia County Visitors Center sits inside the park, open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Bonus for families: Create by the Creek runs Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the park.
Fall Hiking (and One Last Swim?) at Mistletoe State Park
Mistletoe State Park in Appling (3725 Mistletoe Rd.) sits on giant Clarks Hill Lake. A daily ParkPass is $10 per vehicle — Georgia raised the rate in January 2026 — and an annual pass is $70. The park is open daily 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Early in the week it's still hot enough for a lake dip. By the weekend, it's hiking weather — miles of shaded trails, quiet coves, and cooler air. Pack a picnic and celebrate the first official weekend of fall by the water.
Play a Round at Wildwood Park
Also in Appling, Wildwood Park (3780 Dogwood Ln.) sits right on Clarks Hill Lake and is home to the PDGA International Disc Golf Center — three championship 18-hole courses and the sport's Hall of Fame, right here in our county.
Entry is $3 per car, truck, or motorcycle, or $6 with a boat or horse trailer, and an annual vehicle pass is $30. Disc golf greens fees run $3 for Columbia County residents, military, and PDGA members, and $5 for everyone else. There's also a beach, picnic pavilions, and a big boat ramp — so bring a frisbee, a fishing rod, or just a camp chair. With the cooler air rolling in Thursday and Friday, an after-work hour at Wildwood feels like a mini vacation.
Date Night: Augusta Symphony at the Miller
Want a fancy night out without a long drive? The Augusta Symphony opens its 72nd season with "Raise the Roof" on Friday, September 25 — doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. — at the beautiful Miller Theater (708 Broad St., Augusta), about 20 minutes from Evans.
Part of the Piedmont Augusta Masterworks Series, the program pairs Liszt's thrilling "Mazeppa" with Michael Daugherty's "Raise the Roof," a timpani concerto featuring the symphony's own principal timpanist, Denis Petrunin. Dress up a little, grab dinner first, and let a live orchestra blow you away in one of the prettiest theaters in Georgia. Tickets are available through the Miller Theater box office.
Free Fun: The Laurel & Hardy Museum in Harlem
Columbia County's own slice of Hollywood history. The Harlem Museum and Welcome Center, home of the Laurel & Hardy Museum of Georgia (135 N. Louisville St., Harlem), is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — closed Sunday and Monday. Admission is free; donations are appreciated. Hours can shift at a small museum, so it's worth a quick call to (706) 556-0401 before you drive out.
Comedy legend Oliver Hardy was born right here in Harlem. See classic posters and memorabilia, watch a short in the theater room, then stroll the charming downtown. It's an easy, sweet outing with kids or grandparents.
Picnic Week at Evans Towne Center Park
Sometimes the best plan is the simplest one. Evans Towne Center Park (7016 Evans Town Center Blvd.) has big lawns, walking paths, and a playground — and this week's cool-down makes it prime picnic territory.
Pack sandwiches, bring a ball, and enjoy the first real fall evenings of the year. Thursday and Friday nights, with lows near 58, will feel amazing. The Evans Library next door (7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.) also runs free storytimes, book clubs, and maker programs all week.
Ready to Call Columbia County Home?
Weeks like this — market mornings in Evans, golden trails in Martinez, lake sunsets in Appling — are why we love living here. If buying or selling a home in Columbia County is on your mind, the Ehrin Fairey Team is here to help. We live here, we serve here, and we give back here, with special care for military families. Reach out anytime at ehrinfairey.com.
FAQ: This Week in Columbia County
What is there to do in Evans, GA this weekend?
Shop the Evans Market on Saturday morning (September 26, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at 1005 Market St.), catch the USA BMX Southeast Gold Cup Finals at Blanchard Woods Park, and enjoy the first weekend of fall at Savannah Rapids Park or Mistletoe State Park. On Friday, there's Barks N' Brews in Evans and the Augusta Symphony at the Miller Theater nearby.
When does fall weather arrive in Columbia County?
This very week. After highs near 92 Monday and Tuesday, storms move through Tuesday night and Wednesday, then Thursday and Friday settle into the mid-to-upper 70s with upper-50s mornings, and the weekend stays sunny near 81.
What are free things to do in Columbia County, GA this week?
The Evans Market, Savannah Rapids Park and its Create by the Creek event, Evans Towne Center Park, the county libraries' programs, and the Laurel & Hardy Museum in Harlem are all free. Note that Wildwood Park charges $3 per vehicle and Mistletoe State Park charges $10.
