Known around the world for sweet onions, the Vidalia area is full of local flavor - and we don't just mean on your dinner plate! Visit the Vidalia area and see for yourself. Our cities offer unique shopping, dinning, historical sight-seeing, one of the South's largest genealogical research libraries, visual and performing arts, scenic drives and outdoor adventures. Stop by and check us out...you're in the neighborhood if you're traveling along I-16, Highway 280 or US Highway 1.

Vidalia Onions:
Now world famous and in constant demand by cooks and chefs, the Vidalia® Sweet Onion is the most recognized regional crop. Exclusively grown in Georgia,  Vidalia® Onions can only be grown in a 20-county region in the Southeast part of the state. Click Here for a list of Growers and Shippers. The Vidalia Onion Committee established by USDA as a way for producers to fund marketing and research for the Vidalia® Onion.

Vidalia Onion Festival:
In the spring, when the Vidalia® onions are ready to harvest, the community comes together to celebrate the crop. Events begin mid-week with cooking competitions, cooking schools, a children's parade and other sanctioned events. The weekend kicks off with the Opening Ceremonies, followed by a full weekend of activities including an award winning air show, arts and crafts festival, antique automobile show and plenty of good eating!

Tales From the Altamaha:
Each Spring, the Lyons Better Hometown Program and nearly 100 actors and supporters take on the role of those who may - or may not - have helped carve the area into what it is today. Based on the writing of the late Col. T. Ross Sharpe that were published in the local weekly newspaper, Tales From the Altamaha weaves the stories of truth, legends and just plain ol' gossip. Click here to go to Official Website for more details.

Southeast Georgia Soapbox Derby:
After the chill of winter subsides, a full day of racing is devoted to the youth of the area in Lyons. Participants race down Derby Hill competing for the opportunity to claim the trophy in the Soapbox Derby. The winner competes at the national competition held during the summer in Akron, Ohio. The Lyons Merchants Association sponsors the event.

Uvalda Ole Time Farm Festival:
As the cooler temperatures of autumn cause foliage to change to vivid red and golden colors, the citizens of Uvalda and the surrounding area don their duds for an "Ole Time Farm Festival." Like most South Georgia festivals, this event draws a large gathering to events from beauty pageants to street dances. The festival allows those who attend to reflect on the ways of the past and see "how it used to be."

Rivers:
Natural wonders are the order of the day in Southeast Georgia. Where the Oconee, Ocmulgee and Altamaha Rivers meet, nature's outdoor playground awaits. The Altamaha, the largest river east of the Mississippi, runs through more than two million acres of forestland. The Oconee provides 24.5 miles of hunting and fishing area with public docking access. These waters are home to 15 sporting and edible species of fish. Each year many area residents anticipate hunting seasons for a variety of species. A fourth river, the Ohoopee, borders the counties of Toombs and Tattnall and is a favorite recreational site for anglers, hunters and water enthusiasts.

Bike Trail:
Bicycling enthusiasts will enjoy the 27-mile Yamassee Trail which begins and ends at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Mount Vernon. It runs parallel to the Oconee winding past scenic farms and churches. Take a break at Long Pond Community home of Confederate war hero Peter Johnson's colonial-style home built in 1882.

Agritourism:
If you want to see first-hand life on the farm, visit the Pecan Orchard Plantation. They offer a variety of seasonal activities. For more information. call (912) 594-1805.

Golf:
This area offers two public golf courses. Rocky Creek Golf Course, named by Golf Digest as one of the top 100 public courses in the United States, is an 18-hole golf course and features a practice range and putting green. Hawk's Point Golf Club is the area's newest 18-hole course.

Recreational Vehicle Parks:
A new addition for whose who like to go RV'ing, is the newly completed recreational vehicle park near the Vidalia Regional Airport. The sites offer full hook-ups and are near several restaurants and shopping areas. For more information, call (912) 537-7661.  For those visiting Montgomery County, Brewton-Parker College has a park for RV's. For reservations, call the school at (912) 583-2241.

Ohoopee Regional Council for the Arts:
The Ohoopee Regional Council for the Arts (ORCA) is an all-inclusive organization that promotes the fine arts. Staffed with an Executive Director, ORCA has a volunteer Board of Directors who coordinates a season of the finest entertainers in the Performing Arts Series. ORCA, also, sponsors RAP (Really Awesome Performances) geared specifically for younger audiences. A summer drama camp for the youth is held during the break from school.

Vidalia's Historic Pal:
Vidalia's Historic Pal Theatre, located in downtown Vidalia, was built in 1927 by Pete Brice and provided entertainment for our community for years until its doors closed in 2004. Since then, the theatre has been renovated and is a place to watch second run movies and community theatrical events. A museum, celebrating more than 75 years of movie going, is in the future plans.

Ladson Genealogical Library:
The Ladson Genealogical Library is nestled in downtown Vidalia on Church Street. This wonderful library is an incredible treasure of national importance, not just a library, but a private genealogical library containing one of the most extensive and valuable collections in the country. Visitors from 38 states have discovered the valuable asset of the library made available to the public in 1981. The library is a part of the public library system.

The Altama Museum of Art and History:
The Altama Museum of Art and History is housed in a stately historic home near downtown Vidalia. Outside, the multi-storied building is marked with enormous columns and inviting porches. Inside is an array of 20th centry paintings, antique prints & furniture and an important collection of Staffordshire porcelain. The building is on The National Register of Historic Places. The museum is closed from mid-June to mid September and mid-December to mid-January. During the rest of the year, it is open to the public and offers several showings and exhibits annually.