What’s Coming Up in Perry in 2026
- Visit Perry
- Jan 2
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 5
A snapshot of the events people are already talking about
The year is just getting started, and Perry’s calendar is already full. Familiar favorites are back, some events are growing, and a few brand-new ones are joining the mix—all easy to enjoy and open to everyone.
Here’s a preview of what’s ahead.
Things get rolling with the Bourbon Street Bash on February 13. Downtown will take on a Mardi Gras feel, with live New Orleans jazz, blues, and brass filling the streets. Wear your favorite Mardi Gras costumes, masks, and beads, grab your umbrella, and jump in the second line parade. New for 2026 is a Krewe Competition, with prizes. Stay tuned for more details on that. Autumn Cameron, the City of Perry’s Special Events Administrator, says, “Bourbon Street Bash is one of my favorite ways to kick off the event season. It brings energy to downtown during the winter months and sets the tone for a year full of fun community experiences.”
The Perry International Festival, March 7, is one of the largest events of the year. Downtown streets fill with international food vendors, retail booths, and performance areas, and it’s easy to spend the entire day moving from one country to the next. Each year brings something different, and in 2026, visitors can explore cultural zones representing Italian, Irish/Celtic, Polynesian, Asian, Latin, and African traditions. You might see someone selling hand-painted Polish eggs at one booth and personalized Chinese umbrellas at another.
Perry Presents is an outdoor concert series held at Heritage Oaks Park. These concerts are about relaxing and enjoying time together. Families bring chairs and blankets, kids with painted faces run and dance near the stage, and you’ll see grandparents and teenagers singing some of the same songs.
On March 27, Perry Presents: Mixtape Madness brings high-energy, genre-blending live music with a cover band performing hits from across the decades. New for 2026, the event adds a costume contest—so come dressed as your favorite musician or music icon from any era. Prizes will be awarded for Best Dressed, Most Creative, and Best Dressed Pet.
Throughout April and May, Best of the Nest, will take over downtown with decorated birdhouses displayed throughout the district. Much like Scarecrow Fest, it gives people a reason to enjoy a leisurely walk downtown and to stop, look, and vote for their favorites. Keep an eye on the Historic Downtown Perry facebook page for more details as spring approaches.
April in Perry is not complete without the Perry Dogwood Festival. The 2026 Dogwood weekend kicks off with a new event: the Dogwood Dash 5K This race brings runners and walkers together early in the day, before the festival gets fully underway, and launches a busy, energetic weekend of crafters, food, and live music in downtown Perry.
On May 2, Visit Perry will host a Spring Travel Showcase alongside the Perry Farmers Market. Local attractions, nearby destinations, and travel partners from around Georgia will be set up outdoors, ready to answer questions and share ideas -especially for people who are new to Perry or new to Georgia and trying to figure out where to explore next.
Visit Perry Executive Director Anya Turpin says, “I’m really excited about our Spring Travel Showcase because it brings some of the best that Georgia has to offer together in one event. Perry has welcomed so many new residents recently, and a lot of them aren’t just new to Perry or Georgia, they’re new to the Southeast altogether. This free, outdoor event is a fun, easy way for residents and visitors to start exploring, ask questions, and gather inspiration for their next adventure. Celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week by showcasing Perry alongside our friends from destinations across the state reminds us just how special Georgia is and why it’s such a great place to call home and to visit.”
On May 15, the new Summer Breeze Block Party kicks off summer. The party takes over downtown with live music, food trucks, interactive games, and water activities under Perry's warm skies. Autumn Cameron says, “Summer Breeze is the perfect way to welcome warmer weather, featuring water activities and tons of fun for families to kick off summer and celebrate the end of the school year."
On June 12, the City of Perry's Juneteenth Freedom Day Festival brings the community together for an evening centered on music, food, education, and cultural pride. New for 2026, Juneteenth will take place in downtown Perry.
Historic Downtown Perry is also planning something new: Dog Days of Summer on June 13, a laid-back stroll designed for people who like to bring their dogs along. Shops set up sidewalk racks so you can browse with your pup, while water stations and pet-themed treats and giveaways keep their tails wagging. There’s also a “pup-arazzi” photo spot planned for quick snapshots.
The Perry Bites & Beats Festival on September 12 is a brand new event with two live music stages. Food trucks, local restaurants, and chefs will line the streets offering limited-edition dishes created specifically for the festival. You’ll find a wide range of flavors—from familiar Southern favorites to creative, music-inspired specials you won’t see on regular menus.
At the new Perry Pajama Holiday Bash on December 11, you’ll see families downtown in Christmas pajamas, moving between food trucks, live music, and retailers that stay open late for holiday shopping. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there for meet-and-greets, along with holiday characters moving through the crowd. Autumn Cameron says, "This event is all about joy and connection. The City of Perry is working together with our Main Street Association to bring this event to life featuring only City of Perry businesses."
This post is just a preview of what’s new and noteworthy in 2026. Perry’s full calendar includes dozens of events throughout the year -some large, some intentionally small -that don’t all fit into a single post. For dates, details, and the most up-to-date information, go to visitperry.com/events or check out Visit Perry’s Facebook Events page.
If you like having all of this at a glance, Visit Perry’s 2026 Event Calendar Magnet is now available. We print thousands each year, and they remain one of the most requested items we offer. It’s free, and it’s the easiest way to keep track of what’s coming up.
You can grab one Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. –5:00 p.m. at the Perry Welcome Center, located inside Perry City Hall at 808 Carroll Street.
