Things To Do

EVENTS

Tom Watson Watermelon Festival

7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 7

Hickory Hill Museum, 502 Hickory Hill Drive, Thomson

(706) 595-7777

14th annual Fried Green Tomato Festival

1 p.m. Aug. 7

Iron Horse Bar and Grill, 2510 Storm Branch Road, Beech Island

$5 cars, $2 bikes; vintage car and bike show, live entertainment; proceeds benefit the Make A Wish Foundation; (803) 867-2388; ironhorsebarandgrill.net

The Ties That Bind

7-10 p.m. Aug. 14

Augusta Common

Outdoor film screenings of Britton Bagwell's The Augusta Commons and Mark Albertin's Augusta Remembers; music by My Instant Lunch, Electric VooDoo and Jim Perkins

free;

Paddlefest

9:30 a.m. Aug. 21

Savannah Rapids Pavilion, 3300 Evans to Locks Road

(706) 826-8991; savannahriverkeeper.org/paddlefest

USCA Baseball presents PBR Professional Bull Riders

8 p.m. Aug. 27-28

USC Aiken Convocation Center, 471 University Parkway

$15-$25; (866) 722-8877, georgialinatix.com

Aiken's Makin' Festival

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 10 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 11

Park Avenue at Chesterfield Street

(803) 649-1200, aikenchamber.net

Westobou Festival

Sept. 16-25

Venues across Augusta

(706) 755-2878, westoboufestival.com

Arts in the Heart Festival

5-9 p.m. Sept. 17, 11-9 p.m. Sept 18 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 19

Augusta Common, 836 Reynolds St.

(706) 826-4702, artsintheheart.com

ONSTAGE

The Augusta Players present Miss Saigon

8 p.m. Sept. 17-18

Imperial Theatre, 749 Broad St.

(706) 722-8341, imperialtheatre.com

The Art Factory presents The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange production of Drift

7 p.m. Sept. 25

Imperial Theatre, 749 Broad St.

$20; (706) 722-8341, imperialtheatre.com

AUDITIONS

The Odd Couple by Neil Simon

3 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday

URS Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St., Aiken

(803) 648-1438, aikencommunityplayhouse.com

MUSIC

Augusta Youth Chorale

4-5:30 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 15

Christ Church Presbyterian, 4021 Southern Pines Drive, Evans

(706) 210-9090

Christian Concert Series: Bill Steely

7 p.m. Aug. 6

Columbia County Amphitheater

$5; (706) 312-7192

Christian Concert Series: Bone Prophet

7 p.m. Aug. 13

Columbia County Amphitheater

$5; (706) 312-7192

Christian Concert Series: Warren Barfield

7 p.m. Aug. 20

Columbia County Amphitheater

$5; (706) 312-7192

Candlelight Jazz Series

8 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 5

Eighth Street bulkhead

$6; (706) 495-6238

Sunday, Mike Frost Trio

Music at the Morris: Music of the Baroque Period

2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Aug. 29

Members of the Augusta State University faculty, music of the 17th and 18th centuries

Morris Museum of Art, 1 10th St.

(706) 184-7501, themorris.org

Hopelands Summer Concert Series

7 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 30

Hopelands Gardens, 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken

Fort Gordon Dixieland Band free; cityofaikensc.gov

CSRA Jazz Festival

8 p.m. Saturday

Bell Auditorium, 712 Telfair St.

$24-$52; (877) 428-4849, augustaentertainmentcomplex.com

Creative Impressions

4 p.m. Aug. 15

St. Augustine Episcopal Church, 3321 Wheeler Road

$5 in advance, $6 at the door; reservations suggested

(706) 738-6676

Deftones, Baroness

8 p.m. Aug. 28

Jessye Norman Amphitheater at Riverwalk Augusta;

$32; 95rock.com

FILMS

Silent movie night featuring Our Dancing Daughters

7:30 p.m. Sept. 17

Sacred Heart Cultural Center, 1301 Greene St.

$15 general seating, $35 VIP seating; westoboufestival.com

LITERARY LIFE

Book signing: Dr. Betty Jean Craige's Conversations With Cosmo

Books-A-Million, 2834 Washington Road

3 p.m., Saturday; (706) 481-9090

Book Signing: Carole H. Camak's There Came a Lion

10 a.m. Aug. 7

The Grove Bookstore at The Sanctuary Church; 302 Byrd Road; (706) 364-8284

Monday Night Book Discussion, The Girl Who Played with Fire , by Stieg Larsson

6:30 p.m. Aug. 16

Columbia County Library, 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.

(706) 863-1946

Brown Bag Book Discussion, Her Fearful Symmetry , by A. Niffenegger

11:30 a.m. Aug. 19

Columbia County Library, 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.

(706) 863-1946

Harlem Library Book Discussion, A New Earth , by Eckhart Tolle

4 p.m. Aug. 19

Harlem Library, 375 N. Louisville St.

(706) 556-9795

FUNDRAISERS

Augusta's Greatest for Augusta's Youth

4 p.m. Aug. 8

Sacred Heart Cultural Center, 1301 Greene St.

$50 adults, $25 students under 21; (706) 877-0411

The American Cancer Society presents the third annual Boule on the Bayou

7-11 p.m. Aug. 27

Savannah Rapids Pavilion, 3300 Evans to Locks Road, Martinez

(706) 868-3349, bouleonthebayou.com

Tara Scheyer and the Mud Puppy Band

3 p.m., Aug. 29

Fort Discovery's Paul Simon Theater,

Superhero concert, wear a costume; $8, available at Fetch Dog Treats Aug. 2; (706) 262-2663

Paine College Golf Tournament

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 30

Jones Creek Golf Club, 777 Jones Creek

$100; (706) 821-8233

Historic Augusta's Benefit Auction, Perfectly Aged: Antiques and Wine

6:30 p.m. Sept. 9

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

605 Reynolds St.

(706) 724-0436, historicaugusta.org

COMMUNITY

University Hospital's Back to School Festival

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Evans Middle School, 4785 Hereford Farm Road

(706) 828-2397

Pen & Ink with Watercolor Washes

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Aiken Center for the Arts, 122 Laurens St. S.W., Aiken

$70; (803) 641-9094

Sewing necessities

10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Living History Park, 299 W. Spring Grove Ave., North Augusta

free; (803) 279-7560, www.colonialtimes.us

Essential Elements of Art: A Crash Course

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta

100 Georgia Ave.; covered topics will include space, line, texture, shape, form, value, using the elements in composition with contrast and unity, balance, rhythm, and depth and overlapping; $30; (803) 441-4380

Twisted Tuesday featuring Cyndy Epps

7-9 p.m., Tuesday

Twisted Fence Art Gallery, 214 N. Louisville St., Harlem

free, (706) 863-3170

Fresh Start Smoking Cessation Program

Tuesdays, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24

University Hospital Cafeteria Dining Room 4

1350 Walton Way

Registration required, (706) 774-8900

MCGHealth Moms Connection

1 p.m. Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

MCG Health Building 1010C, 1125 Walton Way

(706) 721-9351; mcghealth.org

Save Your Shoulder -- Causes, Prevention and Treatment of Shoulder Pain

Noon-1 p.m. Aug. 4

North Augusta Municipal Center, 100 Georgia Ave., fourth floor

free, lunch will be served, reservations required; (706) 828-2502, www.universityhealth.org/calendar

Something's Fishy

10-11 a.m. Aug. 4

Reed Creek Park; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez

For ages 5 and up; free for members, $2 per child for nonmembers

registration required; (706) 210-4027

All About Birds

10-11 a.m. Aug. 5

Reed Creek Park; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez

For ages 5 and up; free for members, $2 per child for nonmembers

registration required; (706) 210-4027

Cribs for Kids

5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 5

MCGHealth Office Building 1010C

Class teaches caregivers how to provide a safe sleep environment for children and what dangers to watch out for; (706) 721-7606; mcghealth.org/safekids

Huntington Disease Support Group

6:30 p.m. Aug. 5

MCG Health Marks Building, 1429 Harper St., Room 1122

(706) 721-4895

Insect Investigations

10-11 a.m. Aug. 6

Reed Creek Park; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez

For ages 5 and up; free for members, $2 per child for nonmembers

registration required; (706) 210-4027

Child Safety Seat Inspection

Call for appointment; Aug. 6

MCGHealth Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way

(706) 721-7606; mcghealth.org

MCGHealth Childbirth Tours

7-30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 3 and 10:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 7

MCGHealth Medical Center, Seventh Floor

(706) 721-9351

Back to School Bash

2-5 p.m. Aug. 6

Diamond Lakes Community Center, 103 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah

(706) 564-3387

Aiken County/Augusta Clemson Club

6 p.m. Aug. 6

Lake Olmstead Stadium, 78 Milledge Road

$20 includes buffet and GreenJackets game; (803) 642-7785, acothran@cityofaikensc.gov

Pond Exploration

10-11 a.m. Aug. 7 and 4:30-5:30 p.m. Aug. 20

Reed Creek Park; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez

For ages 5 and up; free for members, $2 per child for nonmembers

registration required; (706) 210-4027

Open House, Jessye Norman School of the Arts

2-4 p.m. Aug. 7

Parents interested in having their children attend the school can meet the director and learn more about the program; applications are also being accepted for the fall term for fifth- through seventh-graders; there is no charge for students accepted after auditions

739 Greene St., (706) 877-0411

Ty Cobb

3-5 p.m. Aug. 8

Aiken County Historical Museum, 433 Newberry St., Aiken

"Cobb" will speak about his storied career, and local major league All-Star Lou Brissie will sign his biography. The Corporal Was a Pitcher, by Ira Berkow; $5 adults, $1 children, free 6 and under; (803) 642-2015

Opening Reception: Silbert Dyer

3-5 p.m. Aug. 8

Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Conference Room

1116 Phillips St., $5 adults, $3 seniors/military, $2 students

(706) 724-3576

Creek Exploration

4:30-5:30 p.m. Aug. 10

Reed Creek Park; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez

For ages 5 and up; free for members, $2 per child for nonmembers

registration required; (706) 210-4027

Baby U: First Six Weeks of Infant Care

6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 10

University Hospital Dining Rooms 1-3, 1350 Walton Way

free, dinner will be served, reservations required; (706) 774-2825, www.universityhealth.org/calendar

Nurturing Nature Walks

10-11 a.m. Aug. 11 and 26

Reed Creek Park; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez

For ages 3-5; free for members, $2 per child for nonmembers

registration required; (706) 210-4027

Child Safety Seat Inspection

Call for appointment, Aug. 11

Columbia County Sheriff's Office Substation, 650 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans

(706) 541-3970

MCGHealth ALS Support Lunch and Learn

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 12

MCGHealth Medical Office Building, 1446 Harper St., fourth floor, Room 4306

(706) 721-2681

MCGHealth Breast Cancer Support Group

5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 12

MCGHealth Cancer Center, 1411 Laney-Walker Blvd., first floor

(706) 721-4109, mcghealth.org

MCGHealthChildren's Medical Center Car Seat Class

5:45-8 p.m. Aug. 12

MCGHealth Building 1010C, 1125 Walton Way

(706) 721-7606

Augusta Genealogical Society Homecoming

Aug. 13-15

Augusta Genealogical Society, 1109 Broad St.

A seminar will be held at Augusta State University, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14; The Adamson Library will be open for research Aug. 13 and Aug. 15;

(706) 722-4073, augustagensociety.org

Evolution: A New Sense of Style Fashion Extravaganza

6 p.m. Aug. 14

Fort Discovery, 1 Seventh St.

$15 in advance, $20 at the door; (706) 220-2555 or (706) 495-6050

bmwincorporated@yahoo.com

Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancers

6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 17

MCGHealth Cancer Center, 1411 Laney-Walker Blvd., first floor

(706) 721-0550; mcghealth.org

MCGHealth Breast Feeding Class

7-9 p.m. Aug. 17

MCGHealth Medical Office Building, 1446 Harper St., fourth floor, Room 4306

(706) 721-9351; mcghealth.org

MCGHealth Trauma Support Group

Noon-1 p.m. Aug. 18

MCGHealth Medical Center

(706) 721-4633, (706) 721-3264; mcghealth.org

MCGHealth Blood Cancer/Stem Cell Support Group

5:30-7 p.m. Aug. 19

MCGHealth Cancer Center, 1411 Laney-Walker Blvd., first floor

(706) 721-2752

Understanding and Controlling Your Blood Pressure

6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 24

Be My Guest Catering and Events, 4216 Washington Road

free, dinner will be served, reservations required; (706) 828-2502, www.univerityhealth.org/calendar

Simply Science

4:30-5:30 p.m. Aug. 24

Reed Creek Park; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez

For ages 5 and up; free for members, $2 per child for nonmembers

registration required; (706) 210-4027

MCGHealth A.W.A.K.E. Sleep Apnea Support Group

7-9 p.m. Aug. 26

MCGHealth Children's Medical Center, resource library, first floor

(706) 721-0793; mcghealth.org

Turtles are Terrific

11 a.m. to noon Aug. 28

Reed Creek Park; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez

free; registration required; (706) 210-4027

MCGHealth Multiple Sclerosis Support Group

6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 30

Augusta MS Center at MCG Health Medical Center, sixth floor

(706) 721-7239; mcghealth.org

Hog Wild For Art Hog Auction

Through Aug. 31

Aiken Center for the Arts; 122 Laurens Street S.W.;

Silent auction of watering cans decorated as hogs; each hog has a buy-it-now price of $135, bidding starts at $35; auction will end at 1 p.m. Aug. 21; (803) 641-9094

2010 Grassroots Regional Meeting

9-11 a.m. Aug. 31

North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave.

(803) 279-2323

Prostate Specific Antigen Test

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 11

Doubletree Hotel, 2651 Perimeter Parkway

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 25

North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Drive

free, no registration required; (706) 828-2522

Patriot Boat Tour

9 a.m. daily, 1:30 and 3 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sunday; sunset tours

Behind the Marriott Hotel & Suites, 2 10th St.

$12 adults, $6 children; Sunset Tour: $20 adult, $6 children; patriottourboat.com, (803) 730-9739

International Folk Dancing

7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays

Augusta Ballet, 2941 Walton Way Extension

No partner needed; (706) 394-5535

Augusta Market on the River

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays

Eighth and Reynolds streets

free; produce, entertainment, arts and crafts; theaugustamarket.com

Brickyard Market

5 p.m. until dusk Fridays

Boeckh Park, Hammond's Ferry, North Augusta

free, produce, live music, arts and crafts, art, seasonal plants and flowers;

Ga-Lina Christian Singles

7-11 p.m. Saturdays; dance lesson offered 7-8 p.m.

The Social Inc., 3157 Washington Road

$8 members, $10 others; (706) 863-1214, www.ga-linasingles.com

Singles Dance

7 p.m. Saturdays; lessons 7-8 p.m.

The Ballroom Dance Center, 525 Grand Slam Drive, Evans

$8 members, $10 others; held by the Christian Social Organization for Single Adults; christiandances.org