Lamar County: History, Art, and Festivals

Lamar County is in west-central Georgia, between Atlanta and Macon. Barnesville is a focal point for festival traditions, historic buildings, museums, and arts offerings, and is about a 15-minute drive west of Interstate 75. The county’s location and Barnesville’s connection to the highway provide two distinct points of reference for planning a stay.

Annual Events and Regional Routes

The annual BBQ & Blues Music Festival is a one-day event in Barnesville. It draws more than 8,000 visitors from across the region; attendance can vary from year to year. At Taster’s Alley, visitors sample barbecue dishes from competing teams and vote for their favorites. Live blues music accompanies the festival throughout the day, though the program may change each year. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the date and program in advance.

Buggy Days is also held annually in Barnesville, in September. The exact date changes from year to year. Peaches to the Beaches is an annual tradition along Highway 341: it stretches from Barnesville for more than 200 miles to the Georgia coast, and its dates also vary. The formats are therefore quite different: the BBQ & Blues Music Festival is a one-day event centered on Barnesville, while Peaches to the Beaches covers a long route to the coast.

History in Barnesville

The Barnesville Commercial Historic District is a historic central business district in Lamar County. The Barnesville Walking Tour takes visitors past Victorian homes, charming shops, and picturesque residential neighborhoods; some houses along the tour date back to the 19th century. This places a named business district and a tour of homes and neighborhoods side by side as distinct perspectives on local history.

At the height of its prosperity, Barnesville was known as the “Buggy Capital of the South” and even made carriages for presidents. The Lamar County Courthouse is a Neoclassical building constructed in Barnesville in 1931. The Old Jail Museum is housed in the former Lamar County jail and presents local history; it also serves as a regional genealogical research center.

Archives and Genealogical Research

The Barnesville-Lamar County Historical Society can help you search for ancestors who lived in Barnesville and Lamar County. The Graveyard Alley Archives in Barnesville preserve organized, searchable historical documents and photographs. The archives are open Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Old Jail Museum is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Wednesdays, the listed hours overlap from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; check opening hours before you travel.

Art and Tours

Lamar Arts is the sole occupant of the historic Barnesville Depot and operates a free, accessible arts center with a gallery there. Offerings include public exhibitions of visual art and arts education. New exhibitions are generally added every two months; Lamar Arts also hosts workshops and poetry readings. The frequency of exhibitions may change.

Cara Studios features paintings, poetry, artifacts, and a sculpture garden. Historical tours and garden tours at Cara Studios are available by appointment; confirm availability before your trip.

Wetlands and Events

Lamar County has a wetlands trail next to the elementary school. The Barnesville Expo Center also has a wetlands trail and an open arena. There, wetlands sit alongside facilities for fairs, educational programs, and livestock events. The Expo Center thus combines natural areas with different event uses, while the wetlands trail next to the elementary school serves as a distinct point of reference in the county.

Explore more destinations: Barnesville, Fayette, Clarke County, Decatur County, Camden, Mitchell County, Chatham, Coffee County.

For the broader travel overview: Georgia.