Georgia Southern Homecoming & Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair 2025 | Statesboro Brief

Hello Statesboro!

Welcome to the very first edition of Statesboro Brief! We are so excited you're here.

This week is THE week to be in Bulloch County. Georgia Southern's Homecoming combines with the 63rd Annual Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair to create what might be the biggest celebration our community sees all year. We're talking 100,000+ visitors, a massive downtown parade tonight, six days of fair attractions, Eagle football, and True Blue pride everywhere you look.

Whether you're a longtime resident, a Georgia Southern student or alum, or new to our community, Statesboro Brief will be your weekly guide to everything happening right here. Every Monday morning, you'll get the local news that matters, the events you can't miss, and the inside scoop on what makes this place special. Let's dive into this incredible week ahead!

Statesboro's future just got a roadmap. On October 7, City Council unanimously approved (6-0) a comprehensive five-year strategic plan that tackles some of our community's biggest priorities.

What's in the plan? Major focus areas include expanding and improving our parks system, adding sidewalks and bike lanes throughout the city, and implementing new regulations for short-term rentals to help protect affordable housing. The plan represents months of community input and sets clear benchmarks for measuring progress.

"In the next five years, we have a lot of work to do," said Councilmember Justin Williams during the meeting.

Read the full strategic plan

Great news for our classrooms! The Bulloch County Foundation announced on October 9 that they're funding 16 innovative classroom projects this fall, distributing over $20,000 directly to teachers across Bulloch County Schools.

These grants support creative teaching initiatives that might not fit into regular school budgets (think hands-on science experiments, technology upgrades, literacy programs, and specialized learning materials). It's the kind of investment that makes a real difference in how our kids learn every day.

Learn more about the teacher grants

Friday night lights got extra bright at Womack Field last week when the Statesboro Blue Devils pulled off a stunning 28-21 upset over #10 ranked Brunswick. The win improves the Blue Devils to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in region play.

Coach Matt Dobson is building serious momentum with this program, and the energy around Blue Devil football is palpable. If you haven't caught a game this season, you're missing out on some exciting high school football.

Check out the game highlights

Mark your calendars for November 4. Voters will decide on renewing the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST VI). This one-cent sales tax has funded school facility projects and improvements for the past two decades without raising property taxes.

Also on the ballot is the FLOST (Fire/Law Enforcement Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) measure, which could provide property tax relief while funding public safety improvements. We'll dig deeper into both measures in next week's edition as Election Day approaches.

Read more about the ballot measures

Downtown Parade (TONIGHT!)
Monday, October 13 | 5:00 PM | Downtown Statesboro | FREE

The big kickoff is here! The joint Georgia Southern Homecoming & Kiwanis Fair Parade brings marching bands, floats, and True Blue energy to Main Street. The parade route starts at East Olliff & North Main, proceeds south through downtown, and ends at College Plaza. Georgia Southern will have grandstands set up at the Statesboro Visitors Center.

Can't make it in person? Watch the live stream on Grice Connect

63rd Annual Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair
Monday-Saturday, October 13-18 | 16942 GA Highway 67 South

"Farm Fresh Fun for Everyone!" Six full days of carnival rides, Heritage Village, the famous Pancake House, livestock shows, and live entertainment await. This is THE fall tradition in Bulloch County.

Hours:

Admission: $12 in advance online, $15 at the gate, FREE for kids 5 and under
SPECIAL: Tuesday is Senior Night (FREE admission for ages 65+ with ID!)

Click here to get your tickets

Doo-Dah Dance & Step Show
Thursday, October 16 | Doors at 5:30 PM | FREE & Open to Public

One of Georgia Southern's most beloved Homecoming traditions! Student organizations compete with choreographed dance and step routines, all centered around this year's "Eagle Island" theme. It's high-energy entertainment that's perfect for the whole family, and no ticket is required.

More info at Georgia Southern's Homecoming page

True Blue 5K & Abbie's Adventure Race
Saturday, October 18 | 8:00 AM | M.C. Anderson Park, GS Campus

Lace up for the "Treasure Island Dash" themed race! Abbie's Adventure kicks off at 8:00 AM, the 5K starts at 8:30 AM, and there's a FREE Kiddie Run for the little ones. Registration ranges from $25 to $40, and proceeds benefit the Abbie DeLoach Foundation, which has awarded an incredible $1.47 million in scholarships to date.

Pro tip: Use code TB5Kalumni25 for $5 off registration.

Click here to register for the race

Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Georgia State Panthers
Saturday, October 18 | 7:00 PM ET | Paulson Stadium

This is it. Homecoming football! The Eagles take on Georgia State in a Sun Belt Conference battle for the "Georgia Grown Cup" rivalry trophy. Gates open 1.5 hours before kickoff, and Eagle Walk happens 2 hours before game time.

Remember: clear bag policy is enforced at all games.

Click here to get your tickets or call 1-800-GSU-WINS

Senior Night at the Fair
Tuesday, October 14 | 4:00 PM to midnight | Free admission for 65+ with ID

Seniors get free entry all evening! While you're there, catch the Hog Show at 6:00 PM (free to watch).

Fair Livestock Shows

Watch local youth compete with their animals in the metal building to the left of the main entrance. Both shows are FREE to attend and showcase the agricultural heart of our community.

View the full fair schedule

The Statesboro-Bulloch County Library is packed with free activities this week:

Jack-O-Lantern in a Jar Activity
Monday, October 13 | 4:00 PM | All ages

Teen History Talk: Genealogy Program
Tuesday, October 14 | 4:30 PM | Ages 12+

STEM Vehicles Activity
Wednesday, October 15 | 4:00 PM | Ages 6-11

Horror Movie Trivia
Friday, October 17 | 4:00 PM | Ages 8+

Senior Bingo
Friday, October 17 | 11:00 AM | Ages 55+

Pokémon GO Activity
Saturday, October 18 | 2:00 PM | Ages 18+ (kids must be accompanied)

See all library events

You can't visit the Ogeechee Fair without experiencing the Kiwanis Pancake House. Locals swear these are "the best pancakes in the area," and they're not wrong. Get a full stack for just $8 ($6 for kids). Fair warning: it's CASH ONLY, so hit the ATM first.

This year's fair is dedicated to Earl Cashon, the Pancake House's longtime manager who helped make it an institution.

While you're exploring, don't miss Heritage Village and The Old Store, where you'll find penny candy, 10-cent Cokes, Moon Pies, and famous chocolate chip cookies (2 for a quarter!). You can also watch demonstrations of corn meal grinding, syrup making, and blacksmithing. It's like stepping back in time.

Plan your fair food adventure

Heads up: GA Highway 67 (Fair Road) will see heavy congestion all week, especially between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

Alternate routes to consider:

Plan for extra travel time if you're heading to that side of town!

Important: November 4 Election

Mark your calendars! In addition to the E-SPLOST VI and FLOST measures, we'll be voting for Mayor and City Council Seats 1 and 4. Early voting information and candidate profiles coming in next week's edition.

That's a wrap on the inaugural edition of Statesboro Brief! This is just the beginning of our journey covering the best community in Georgia. Next Monday, we'll recap the Homecoming weekend festivities, share fair highlights, and preview what's ahead.

Have an event, news tip, or story idea? Hit reply. We read every message and would love to hear from you.

See you next Monday!

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