Subscribe | Get featured

Rise and shine, Augusta!

In today’s planning-your-week edition: St. Patrick’s Day parade, a gem and fossil show, and PokeKon Fest + all our favorite events happening over the next seven days.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Augusta protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Infrastructure funding plan advances: Aiken City Council gave initial approval to wastewater impact fees for new development, including $3,000 per new home. The final vote is March 9, prioritizing city needs before outside areas — get all the details.

Downtown festivities take shape: Organizers announced the final route for Augusta’s 49th St. Patrick’s Day parade, about 1.73 miles from the James Brown Arena lot to Broad Street, with around 40,000 spectators expected downtown — see the complete parade route.

Enhanced amenities for caregivers: A new cafeteria at Augusta’s Joseph M. Still Burn Center opened as part of a $4.5 million renovation, giving staff and patients’ families a brighter space during the facility’s revitalization — read the full story.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Run to support Ryan Clark scholarships
• Explore where faith meets mental health
• Eat pizza to support Grovetown YMCA
• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• A home warranty that actually pays is 50% off right now

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 We got your back

Slurp-worthy comforts: Pho Augusta keeps it simple and deeply satisfying, with aromatic broth, tender noodles, and crisp herbs, plus crunchy bánh mì and smoky grilled plates when you want something heartier. Slide it into your weekly rotation for low-fuss lunch or dinner that resets the day.

Thread therapy, anyone? Hunting yardage for a quilt, fabric that behaves, or a quick machine fix? Augusta Sewing Center quietly delivers with well-stocked shelves, smart classes, and practical advice. It’s surprisingly easy to finally start, or finish, that project this week.

Morning comfort, no frills: Need an easy win this week? Sunrise Grill serves classic diner comfort: fluffy pancakes, buttery grits, and eggs any way you like, plus hearty lunch plates for late arrivals. Bottomless-feeling coffee keeps appearing, and somehow your to-do list feels lighter.

What doctors wish every 65+ adult had at home: Physicians call it “long-lie,” and it’s the real reason falls are so dangerous for older adults. It’s not a broken bone… it’s lying on the floor for hours waiting for someone to notice. We dug into the options that actually solve this problem, and one stood out. See which one →

📆 Our favorite events this week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

💎 Augusta-Aiken Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show @ Julian Smith Casino | Friday (3/13) at 10:00 AM – The 38th annual gem, mineral, and fossil show is back, turning the CSRA into a rockhound playground the grandkids will brag about. Shop crystals, fossils, jewelry, and meteorites, watch geodes get cracked, and let kids dig for treasure. Bring cash, curiosity, and your inner magpie.

💉 VA Blood Drive @ Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center | Friday (3/13) at 10:00 AM – Roll up your sleeve and swing by the downtown VA campus as Shepeard Blood and VA Augusta team up to save lives. Quick in, quick out, and your pint helps a neighbor, not an algorithm. At 950 15th Street, downtown’s least complicated good deed.

🍵 Make Your Own Tea: Tea Blending Workshop @ Royal Tea on Reynolds | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Reynolds Street is brewing some calm with a hands-on tea blending workshop led by Spill The Tea Blends’ owner. Sip a flight of teas, enjoy light bites, and craft custom loose-leaf blends to take home, because your pantry deserves better than dusty grocery-store chamomile.

💃 Let the Light Pour In @ Imperial Theatre | Friday (3/13) at 7:00 PM – Colton Ballet brings Lemn Sissay’s poetry to life in a story ballet where a child, the Sun, and the Moon wander a day with birds, wildflowers, and lightning bugs. It’s tender, imaginative, and screen-free, the rare all-ages show that won’t have you checking your watch.

🚶 MS Walk @ Lady Antebellum Pavilion & Evans Towne Center Park | Saturday (3/14) at 8:00 AM – Nothing beats racking up steps with the neighborhood when it helps people. Join Fatimah Tedford’s Can’t MS With Us! team at MS Walk Augusta, chip in, snag team gear, and if you donate $100 or more, MSAA hands you a t-shirt, because, swag.

👸 Cinderella Day @ Augusta Dream Center | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Remember prom sticker shock? Augusta Dream Center is crowning CSRA high school girls with free prom dresses, makeovers, glamour shots, and confidence workshops. It’s community magic, not a fairy godmother. Send a teen to CinderellaDay.com/rsvp, or pitch in at CinderellaDay.com/volunteer.

🎮 PokeKon Fest @ DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Augusta | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – PokeKon Fest hits the Columbia County Exhibition Center with voice actors, artists, vendors, panels, and more cosplay than your closet can handle. Expect trivia, retro and video game contests, and a family crowd that actually behaves. Nostalgia, selfies, and sensible shoes encouraged.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/11 Jazz Night @ The Fox’s Lair at Olde Town Inn – 8:00 PM
• 3/12 Music Bingo @ Top Dawg Tavern – Augusta – 7:00 PM
• 3/12 Raheem DeVaughn @ Miller Theater – 7:30 PM
• 3/13 Keith Clark Band @ City of Grovetown-Clerk of Court – 6:00 PM
• 3/13 Friday Night Karaoke @ Mi Rancho Grovetown – 6:30 PM
• 3/14 Justice on Trial Reloaded @ Hardin Auditorium (Evans) – 6:00 PM
• 3/14 A Diamond Jubilee @ Sacred Heart Cultural Center – 7:30 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• This free tool makes it easy to find a financial advisor
• Got debt? See if you qualify to pay up to 45% less
• See if you can get a lower car insurance rate
• Protect your pet (and your wallet) with Spot

📻 Augusta report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 82°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 12%

Patchy fog before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. West wind 0 to 7 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 1 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

—

Tomorrow – High: 85°F – Low: 63°F – Precip: 36%

A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 1 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Access cash without selling your home 🏠

A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your house.

Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much tax-free cash your home equity’s worth, with no commitment required.

This house is wild

Custom Brad Bennett patio home, meticulously maintained and first time offered. Hardwood floors and high ceilings lead to an oversized great room with gas log fireplace, built-ins, vaulted ceiling, wet bar, and natural light. A chef’s eat-in kitchen and main-level suite with hidden closets stand out. Flex room, deck, fenced yard, walk-out attic, new roof, near I-20, shopping, and dining.

Take a peek inside →