Historic St. Marys Tours (Georgia)

Spring weather is here and it's a great time to be outside!  Consider a stroll of downtown St. Marys.   Also, historic "doodlebug" trolley tours are offered Monday - Saturday at 11am and 2pm & Sundays at 1pm for only $5 per person.  Tours are dependent upon docent availability and are a perfect way to see the downtown area.

 

Oak Grove Cemetery's honored Acadians

Oak Grove Cemetery’s TOMB OF ACADIANS reads:

“Acadians deported from Grand Pre, Nova Scotia first found refuge in St. Domingo.  Later, insurrection of natives drove them to St. Marys.  Evangeline’s friend buried here.”

 

Many Acadians displaced during the Great Upheaval of 1754 – 1763 made their way to Santo Dominigo where they were mistreated.  They sought the refuge of the Southeast United States, including St. Marys , Georgia beginning in the 1790’s.  You can visit the Acadians at St. Marys historic Oak Grove Cemetery. 

 

 

Mardi Gras 2011

St. Marys Annual Mardi Gras 2011 is in full swing!  Fabulous parade this year with the best one I’ve seen yet. 

Come on down and catch the fun and the shopping with the mechanical bull, water walker, Live Music, lots of vendor booths and more…

 

Chack out some of the great pictures under the “mulimedia” tab for photo’s from the parade!

 

Mardi Gras

Don’t miss the chance to get your Tickets for the March 5 Mardi Gras Ball. This year's theme, "Puttin' on the Ritz," promises to make it a night of glitz and glamour. The Ball is being held at the new Southern Junction. For those of you who attended the Film Gala, you know what a great venue this is. And for those who didn't, just ask someone who did. The St. Marys Downtown Merchants Association will be pulling out all the stops to make this year's Mardi Gras Ball the best ever. Only 200 tickets will be sold, and they're only $40 per person. You can purchase your tickets at Once Upon a Bookseller or at the St. Marys Welcome Center  111 Osborne Street.  Hurry and get your Mardi Gras Ball tickets soon so you can enjoy the festivities. See you there!

 

 

 

Spirit of 1812/ Saturday, March 5th

Visit at Orange Hall on Osborne Street in St. Marys, Georgia to learn about the impact of the War of 1812 on Cumberland Island, St. Marys and surrounding Camden County. The National Park Service will provide an exhibit with artifacts from the War and this era.  This event is from 11am-4pm during the Annual Mardi Gras Celebration.

Step back in time with living historian, Scott Hodges, as he embodies Dr. William Dalzell. The history of medicine from the 1800s comes to life with authentic remedies and a display of surgical instruments. This program is not recommended for children under the age of ten.

Enjoy some art activities that educate about the 1800s era and depict aspects of the War of 1812 in Camden County.

 

This event is sponsored by: Arts Camden, St. Marys Downtown Development Authority, Camden County War of 1812 Historical Commission, Camden Community Alliance & Resources, Inc., and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health.

 

 

 

Mardi Gras 2011

 

17^th ANNUAL MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL & PARADE

IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

Family friendly Mardi Gras tradition continues with March 5, 2011 celebration

 

Presented by the St. Marys Downtown Merchants Association, this year’s, March 5^th, festival and parade will feature decorated floats and impressive costumes centered around the 2011 theme “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” 

 

Downtown St. Marys is rich in history and tradition and this event has become a family favorite for locals and tourists alike.  The celebration is a quality family-oriented event that showcases exciting activities, a fabulous parade, and over eighty vendors offering food, art, and miscellaneous items. 

 

The charming waterfront park will be bursting with entertainment throughout the afternoon including The Great Camden County Chili Cook-Off to benefit Habitat for Humanity.  The cook-off is sponsored by W.H. Gross Construction Company, Ameris Bank, and Money Pages along with the Downtown Merchants Association who are each pleased to present Marshall Rowland and the Hit Kickers as the featured performer.

 

When the sun goes down and the lights come up, adults will continue the celebration at the Southern Junction for the Mardi Gras Ball where a new King and Queen are chosen each year.  Prizes will be awarded for costumes that best depict the “Puttin’ on the Ritz” theme, and dance music will be provided by one of the region’s most sought after bands, A Touch of Grey.

 

9am-5pm             Street festival with amusements such as a water walker, mechanical bull, inflatable slide, bungee jumping, climbing wall, trackless train, and numerous arts and crafts displays

 

10am                     Parade with lots of floats, costumes, and bead throwing

 

11am-2pm          The Great Camden County Chili Cook-Off

 

12 noon                All-day entertainment begins at waterfront stage

 

1pm                       Pet Costume Parade

 

7pm                       Mardi Gras Ball at the Southern Junction

 

Tickets for the ball are available at the St. Marys Welcome Center and Once Upon A Bookseller in downtown St. Marys.  Beads are also available at the bookstore on days leading up to the festival.

For more information on the Mardi Gras Festival contact 912.882.7350 or 912.552.0072.  For more on The Great Camden County Chili Cook-Off contact 729.4393 or www.teamchili.org