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Hey Valdosta, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: A 2026 concert lineup with KANSAS, the Azalea Festival, and Free Cone Day + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Valdosta 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

Strategic hire signals progress: Valdosta Main Street has welcomed Cameron Harris as its new coordinator, tapping his Pelham development experience to boost downtown revitalization, strengthen partnerships with businesses, and grow community events and investment — get all the details.

Spotlight on student achievement: Farah & Farah has relaunched its Empowering Greatness Scholarship in Georgia, offering five laptops to Title 1 seniors, including in Valdosta. Winners will be announced in April and May 2026 — get eligibility and announcement details.

Fourteen acts, six genres: Wild Adventures in Valdosta has unveiled its 2026 LIVE! concert series, starting April 11 with KANSAS, then Tyler Hubbard, with ZZ Top, The Beach Boys, and more on the lineup — get all the details.

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.

Highlights this week:

• Marvel at classic cars and bikes
• Flow yoga with Meredith Crosby
• Paint a bunny with friends

🫶 We got your back

Lunch upgrade, anyone? Downtown favorite Jessie’s Restaurant and Catering rescues the midweek slump with hearty sandwiches, wraps, and salads that taste thoughtfully made. When you want a low-key place that simply nails it, this spot delivers, lunchtime after lunchtime.

Stretch your legs here: Freedom Park is a favorite reset spot, with a paved walking track, disc golf, a solid dog park, and a boundless playground by the Miracle Field. Shake off the wiggles, clear the brain fog, and let everyone burn energy… you, the kids, or both.

Tiny joys, big smiles: Little Goldie Finch stocks snuggly stuffed animals, books, and baby-and-toddler essentials for easy gifting and quick kiddo pick-me-ups. When you want something sweet and local without overthinking it, this charming spot keeps the thoughtful, smile-sparking finds coming.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

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.

🤳 10th Annual S.E.L.F.I.E Conference @ Valdosta State University – University Center | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Got a teen who thinks budgeting is fiction, or a college kid who perks up at free food? The 10th Annual S.E.L.F.I.E. Conference at VSU brings a budgeting reality fair, a professional clothing closet, and a laptop raffle for ages 16–25, free, so RSVP fast.

🌺 Azalea Festival @ Drexel Park | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Grab a lawn chair and hit Drexel Park for the Azalea Festival as 25,000 of your neighbors browse 250-plus arts and crafts vendors, six stages, classic cars, a 5K, frisbee dogs, falcons, lumberjacks, and Touch-A-Truck. Admission is free, the soaps and jams are not.

💃 Latin Dance Night Social with Intro Lesson @ Whiskey River Bar & Grill | Sunday (3/15) at 7:00 PM – Whether your bachata lives on YouTube or your hips still remember, Whiskey River hosts a Latin dance night with a beginner lesson, then a social to salsa, bachata, and merengue. No partner needed, the lesson’s five bucks, the social’s free, and grins are genuine.

🍦 Free Cone Day @ Dairy Queen Grill & Chill (Lake Park) | Thursday (3/19) at 11:00 AM – Swing by DQ for Free Cone Day, the day-before-spring tradition we can all get behind. Free soft-serve, all day, one per human, while supplies last. In-person is the move, and yes, you’re allowed to pretend it’s for the kids.

🏠 Homebuying Workshop @ Robert L Jenkins Community Center | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Whether you’re done funding your landlord’s boat or just want to decode escrow, this free first-home workshop covers it, in person in Valdosta, or online. Hear a lender, agent, and inspector map the steps, hosted by CCCS and Renasant. Register: https://www.cccsofsavannah.org/education/event-calendar/hybrid-homebuyer-class

🐰 Bunny Brunch @ Valdosta Mall | Saturday (3/28) at 10:00 AM – Whether your crew still believes in the Bunny, or you just want carbs and chaos, the Valdosta Mall’s Bunny Brunch serves both. Free photos on your phone, brunch while it lasts, and enough cheer to keep grandparents, toddlers, and caffeine levels happy. Hop in early.

🍲 Community Feeding @ Smith Park | Saturday (3/28) at 11:00 AM – Smith Park is serving up a community feeding that’s all about unity, full plates, and neighborly blessings. Swing by for real food, real people, and the kind of conversation you actually miss, then linger like it’s a backyard cookout with cousins you like.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Valdosta report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 88°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 4%

Patchy fog between 7am and 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear. Low around 60, with temperatures rising to around 63 overnight. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 89°F – Low: 63°F – Precip: 1%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South southwest wind 0 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Georgia but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This brick stunner claims a Kinderlou Forest perch with sweeping golf course and pond views. Sunlit interiors show tall ceilings, crown molding, and a fireplace. The main-level primary suite adds a fireplace, a spa bath, and custom closets. Up the spiral stair, a game room and deck await. Gated perks include pools, fitness, and pickleball, plus a climate-controlled flex garage.

Take a peek inside →