BRAG rides into Perry

PERRY, Ga. — The Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) gets around quite a bit. According to BRAG’s website, the riders taking part in the weeklong tour of Georgia ride an average of 55 miles a day.

The trip started in Columbus. So far, they have made a stop in Thomaston, and on Monday, they made an overnight stop in Perry.

Monday, they rode about 70 miles. Around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon, bike riders stopped at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter to make camp. Then, in the evening, it was time to party.

To help do that, the City of Perry put on a free concert downtown. The city called it the “BRAG Welcome Concert.”

They closed off Carroll, Jernigan, and Ball streets Monday afternoon and started the concert at 6 p.m. The concert went on until 9 p.m. and was at risk of being rained out. But thankfully, the rain had cleared earlier that day, and the event went on as scheduled.

The entertainment set for the night, Company of Crows, was self-described as a “semi-local” band. They also described themselves as acoustic, organic and eclectic.

They frequent Perry often, previously playing at the Muse Theater and Food Truck Friday. They were ecstatic to be there and hyped up the city during their set.

“We’d like y’all to come back anytime,” Darin Curtis, their lead singer said.

The music was energetic and guests were lost in the sound, but the concert was not the only thing people could do that night. The event also offered games, food trucks, wine and beer, and many businesses kept their doors open so guests could shop and experience downtown Perry, something the city was striving for with this event.

Alicia Hartley, the downtown manager for the City of Perry, helped organize the event with the Promotions Committee of the Main Street Advisory Board. They were in charge of securing entertainment for the night and working with restaurants and stores to stay open later to accommodate those who attended the event.

Hartley said it is rare that businesses stay open that late — especially on a Monday evening — but many stores pulled together and stayed open to help make the event a success.

The city of Perry was approached by BRAG earlier this year, asking for an event.

“BRAG really encouraged for there to be some activities for these riders to do and their support staff to do after they came in,” Hartley said.

Speaking about the event, Hartley said the city strived for an atmosphere of exploration, wanting to make an impression on those who are passing through.

“Our goal here tonight is to have these BRAG riders and their support staff visit downtown Perry, enjoy the live music, visit the restaurants and the merchants, and then hopefully come back on a separate trip to visit,” Hartley said.

Hartley was honored that the city was chosen as a stop.

“We’re super excited to have BRAG here,” Hartley said. “It’s a great opportunity to reach new visitors, for the City of Perry, Downtown Perry and Houston County as a whole.”

After their stop in Perry, BRAG will make stops in Dublin, Hazlehurst and Jesup. They will reach the end of the road in Brunswick.

HHJ News