This Weekend in the Village: Fairburn's Fall Festival Is Today & Bainbridge Theatre Turns 50
Pull up a chair, neighbor — because this weekend around the village is one for the books. Whether you're lacing up your walking shoes in South Fulton County or planning a road trip down to Southwest Georgia, the next few days are packed with free family fun, live music, community pride, and a golden anniversary worth celebrating.
What's Happening Around the Village
🎺 Fairburn Fall Festival & Parade — TODAY, October 3
If you live in or near Fairburn, South Fulton, College Park, or anywhere in the Atlanta metro area — drop what you're doing and head Downtown Fairburn right now. The 2026 Fairburn Fall Festival & Parade is happening today, Saturday, October 3, and it's completely FREE and open to the public.
The community parade kicks off at 9:00 AM, followed by the main festival beginning at 11:30 AM at the Frankie Arnold Stage & Courtyard, 15 W. Broad Street, Fairburn, GA 30213. The festival runs until 4:00 PM.
Here's what you can expect today:
🎤 Live performances by Kut Klose, K Camp, and RL
🍽️ Delicious food vendors with a wide variety of flavors
🎡 Rides and games for the whole family
🎺 A community parade starting at 9:00 AM sharp
🛍️ Local vendors and community organizations
This is Fairburn's biggest event of the year, and the city has been counting down the days. As the City of Fairburn puts it: "Get ready for Fairburn's biggest event of the year!" Don't miss it.
🎭 Bainbridge Little Theatre Celebrates 50 Years — Last Chance to See Shrek the Musical
Down in Southwest Georgia, a beloved community institution is celebrating a remarkable milestone. The Bainbridge Little Theatre is opening its 50th Anniversary Season with a production of Shrek the Musical — and today, Saturday October 3, at 7:00 PM is one of the final performances. One more showing remains: Sunday, October 4 at 2:30 PM. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
This is no small production. Forty-two cast members and six crew members have been rehearsing three nights a week since August. Stage director Krystal Apke said the 50th anniversary season was designed to celebrate both the theatre's rich history and its bright future — by bringing back the joy, the songs, and the memories that have kept community theatre alive in Bainbridge for half a century.
"Because we're a smaller town, a lot of people know everybody, and we kind of all know one another, and we want to see people thrive just as much as we want to thrive." — Katelyn Purvis, Bainbridge business owner and theatre supporter
That spirit — neighbors lifting each other up — is exactly what community theatre is built on. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children. You can purchase them online at bainbridgelittletheatre.org or at the door.
And if you miss Shrek, the theatre's full 50th anniversary season is just getting started. Coming up: A Christmas Carol, Noises Off, The Sound of Music, and Disney's The Lion King JR. for young performers. Season ticket packages are available now.
Why It Matters
Let's take a walk around the village and think about what makes these two events special.
Free community festivals like Fairburn's are more than just a good time — they are the glue that holds neighborhoods together. When families gather in a shared space to laugh, eat, and listen to music, something important happens: neighbors become neighbors. People who only wave from across the street start real conversations. Local businesses get discovered. Community organizations find new volunteers. Children grow up knowing their hometown as a place that celebrates itself.
And community theatre — especially a theatre that has survived for 50 years in a smaller city like Bainbridge — tells the story of a community's heart. The Bainbridge Little Theatre has outlasted trends, economic shifts, and the rise of streaming entertainment because its people refused to let it die. That's a story worth driving to see.
How This Impacts Our Community
Events like these ripple out in ways we sometimes don't notice in the moment. Here's who benefits:
Families get a free or affordable day out that creates lasting memories without breaking the budget.
Local vendors and food trucks earn revenue that stays in the community.
Young performers and artists gain a platform, confidence, and a community that believes in them.
Downtown business districts see increased foot traffic and visibility.
The next generation grows up seeing what a thriving, proud community looks like — and they carry that forward.
How You Can Get Involved
Here's what's happening nearby — and how you can be part of it:
Head to Downtown Fairburn TODAY — 9 AM for the parade, 11:30 AM for the festival at 15 W. Broad Street. It's free!
Catch the final showing of Shrek the Musical at Bainbridge Little Theatre — TODAY at 7 PM or Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2:30 PM. Tickets at bainbridgelittletheatre.org or at the door ($20 adults / $15 children).
Consider buying a season ticket package for Bainbridge Little Theatre's full 50th Anniversary Season — it's the best way to support local arts all year long.
Share this article with friends and family in the Fairburn, South Fulton, Bainbridge, and Decatur County areas. The more neighbors who show up, the stronger the village.
Support the local businesses, food vendors, and artisans at today's Fairburn festival. Spending local keeps your community strong.
If you're in the Bainbridge area, follow the Bainbridge Little Theatre on social media and spread the word about the upcoming 50th anniversary season shows.
Around the Village Calendar
TODAY — Sat., Oct. 3 | Fairburn Fall Festival & Parade | 9 AM–4 PM | 15 W. Broad St., Downtown Fairburn, GA | FREE
TODAY — Sat., Oct. 3 | Shrek the Musical | 7:00 PM | Bainbridge Little Theatre, Downtown Bainbridge, GA | $20 Adults / $15 Children
Sun., Oct. 4 | Shrek the Musical — FINAL SHOW | 2:30 PM | Bainbridge Little Theatre, Downtown Bainbridge, GA | $20 Adults / $15 Children
Mon., Oct. 26 | Allendale County HEALing Partners Monthly Coalition Meeting | 11:30 AM (In-Person & Online) | Allendale County Library, 297 Main St. N., Allendale, SC | Open to the public — email info@allendale.health for info
Coming Up | Bainbridge Little Theatre 50th Anniversary Season | A Christmas Carol • Noises Off • The Sound of Music • Disney's The Lion King JR. | bainbridgelittletheatre.org
Sophie's Suggestions
Heading out to a fall festival or a theatre show this weekend? Here are a few things from Sophie's Mart that might come in handy:
🎭 Kids Pirate Costume Set | Boys Halloween Cosplay Outfit ($39.99) — With Halloween just around the corner and Shrek the Musical inspiring the whole family's imagination, why not let the kids come dressed up? This fun pirate costume is perfect for festival fun and trick-or-treating season. Shop it here: sophiesmart.com/product-page/halloween-costumes-for-children-pirate-costume-cosplay
☕ Moses & Burke Abstract Signature Tumbler ($20.00) — Stay hydrated at the Fairburn Fall Festival with this stylish tumbler. Perfect for keeping your drink cold at outdoor events all afternoon. Shop it here: sophiesmart.com/product-page/moses-burke-abstract-signature-tumbler
👜 Love a Latte Canvas Shoulder Bag ($18.00) — A comfortable, roomy tote bag is a festival essential. Carry your sunscreen, snacks, phone, and everything you need for a full day outdoors in style. Shop it here: sophiesmart.com/product-page/love-a-latte-canvas-shoulder-bag-cute-school-tote-coffee-lover-gift
Around the Village Takeaway
The village grows stronger when neighbors show up for each other — so whether you're cheering at a parade in Fairburn or applauding a 50-year-old theatre company in Bainbridge, know that your presence is the most powerful act of community there is.
Want more stories like this? Browse Around The Village for the latest community news from Allendale, SC, the Atlanta metro area, and Bainbridge, GA.
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