It’s the Sweetest Time of the Year!
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Vidalia is always the sweetest place to live, but this week marks the sweetest time of the year, as the 48th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival comes to town.
This year’s festival will feature events across the city, as both the downtown and airport areas celebrate the sweet onion crop. Festivities began on Tuesday, April 22, and will end on Sunday, April 28; this year’s festival is sure to have something that everyone will love.
Tuesday
The festival kicked off on Tuesday, April 22, as local entertainment and the “Movie Under the Stars” captivated audiences at Ronnie A. Dixon City Park. The J.D. Dickerson Pom-Pom Girls, Patricia’s Twirling Stars, Love 2 Dance Dancers, and Sassy Sisters Dance Studio Dancers all took the stage with stellar performances while Luca was shown for all to enjoy.
At the Dahlia, renown chef Vera Stewart demonstrated her skills at the Vidalia Cooking Experience, where attendees were able to learn from Stewart’s methods and taste her dishes, which spotlighted the Vidalia Onion.
Wednesday
High school students from across the area decorated the downtown sidewalks with chalk for the annual Vidalia Onion Chalk Walk. The annual Vidalia Onion Festival Carnival also arrived and opened to patrons. The carnival is located on Airport Rd and will be open through Sunday, April 27.
Thursday
The Downtown Vidalia Association will be selling onion rings, hot dogs, and fresh pork skins at the annual Sweet Onion Rings & Things event at the corner of Highway 280 and East Jackson Streets from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Live music will also entertain the customers.
Downtown vendors will be set up for the public to peruse beginning at 12 p.m. Several downtown stores will also be available for shopping.
At 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, the Historic Pal Theatre, located at 122 Church Street, invites festival patrons to learn more about the building’s history through the showing of the facility’s documentary.
G Clef & The Playlist will take the stage at Ronnie A. Dixon City Park for the annual street dance. Gates will open for this event at 5:30 p.m., music will begin at 6:00 p.m. The fireworks show will occur at dark. Opening Ceremonies will also be held during this event.
The Tales From the Altamaha folk-life play will debut this year’s show, “Murder, Mayhem, and Stranger Things,” which is sure to keep audiences laughing. The performance will be held at 7 p.m. at the Blue Marquee Theatre, located at 121 N. State Street in Lyons. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Lyons Main Street Office on Highway 292.
The Sweet Onion Showdown rodeo will begin at 8 p.m. at the Toombs County Ag Complex, located at 529 Quint Shrine Road in Lyons. Gates open at 6 p.m.
The Vidalia Onion Festival Carnival will be open from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. along Airport Road.
Friday
The Downtown Vidalia Association will be selling onion rings, hot dogs, and fresh pork skins at the annual Sweet Onion Rings & Things event at the corner of Highway 280 and East Jackson Streets from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Live music will also entertain patrons at this area.
The public is invited to “paint and sip” at the Mimosa’s and Onion Art events, which will be held at The Pal Theatre at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; limited spots are available for this event, so contact the Vidalia Convention and Visitors Bureau to secure your seat.
Downtown business merchants will be offering sales and special Vidalia Onion merchandise as a part of the Sweet Shopping event, which will occur from 10 a.m. until the end of the concert within the Historic District.
ERNEST, Josh Ross, and Kaleb Sanders will take the stage at the Vidalia Regional Airport for the first night of concerts. Gates open at 5 p.m.; music begins at 6 p.m.
Tethered hot air balloon rides will be available to all with a concert ticket for $20 per person from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The Tales From the Altamaha folk-life play will perform at 7 p.m. at the Blue Marquee Theatre.
The Sweet Onion Showdown rodeo will begin at 8 p.m. at the Toombs County Ag Complex, located at 529 Quint Shrine Road in Lyons. Gates open at 6 p.m. The Vidalia Onion Festival Carnival will be open from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. along Airport Road.
Saturday
Saturday’s festivities begin early, as the annual Vidalia Onion Run begins at 7 a.m. at 107 East 2nd Street. The Run offers three race options: a One Mile Fun Run, a 5K, and a Half Marathon. Races will begin at the corner of Church Street and 2nd Street in Downtown Vidalia. Overall winners and age-division winners will be named for each race. The Arts and Crafts Festival will open to the public at 9 a.m. on Saturday, at Airport Road off of Highway 280 East in Vidalia (across from the Vidalia Community Center), and will be open until 6 p.m. The Festival will feature a Vidalia Onion Eating Contest, which will occur at 4 p.m. on the Arts and Crafts Festival grounds.
Downtown business merchants will be offering sales and special Vidalia Onion merchandise as a part of the Sweet Shopping event, which will occur from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. within the Historic District.
The Onion Recipe Contest and Public Tasting will be held at the Vidalia Community Center, located at 107 Old Airport Road. The public tasting will begin at 11:30 a.m. and costs $5 for entry.
Tales From the Altamaha will perform twice – once at 2 p.m., and once at 7 p.m.
The Sweet Onion Showdown rodeo will begin at 8 p.m. at the Toombs County Ag Complex, located at 529 Quint Shrine Road in Lyons. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Clint Black will headline the second night of concerts at the Vidalia Regional Airport. Will Moseley, Lauren Watkins, Cade Beecher, and Blaine Craft will also be performing. Gates open at 2 p.m. Music begins at 3:30 p.m.
Tethered hot air balloon rides will be available to all with a concert ticket for $20 per person from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The Vidalia Onion Festival Carnival will be open from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. along Airport Road.
Sunday
The Arts and Crafts Show will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The Vidalia Onion Festival Carnival will be open from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. along Airport Road.
