Eagle Eye Digest
The Weekend Eye
25 Years Since 9/11, A Taste for a Cause & Two Days of Horsepower
HENRY COUNTY: Today is 25 years since September 11, and McDonough marks it with Prayer on the Square at noon, followed by the Tunnel to Towers 5K Saturday morning. Taste of Henry brings 55-plus restaurants to Southern Belle Farm tonight, and NOPI Nationals takes over EchoPark Speedway all weekend. Quieter picks (a farmers market, live music, archery, a twilight paddle in Conyers) round things out. Here's everything worth knowing.
This Weekend
Events: September 11–13
Friday, September 11
Locust Grove
Quick craft hour for the comic-loving kids — make your own bookmarks before dinner.
Friday Spotlight
McDonough Square, By the Fountain
Prayer on the Square: McDonough United in Prayer
Today marks 25 years since September 11, 2001. The City of McDonough is hosting a community gathering on the square to pray in remembrance, honor, unity, and hope — open to all, no registration, no cost. If you only make it to one thing this weekend, this is the one that won't repeat next year.
📅 Friday, September 11 — 25th Anniversary
🕐 12:00 Noon
📍 McDonough Square, by the fountain
FREE — All Welcome
Sourced from the City of McDonough's own flyer/social post — no independent ticketing or city-calendar link to cite, since this is a city-run gathering, not a ticketed event. Worth linking to the City of McDonough Facebook page if there's no dedicated event page.
Friday Feature
McDonough
The signature fundraiser for A Friend's House — a local nonprofit that provides a home for children in foster care — returns for another year, now expanded at Southern Belle Farm. More than 55 local restaurants and food vendors (zero vendor fees) set up around the farm for unlimited tasting-size portions, plus games, live music, and giveaways. Every dollar raised goes straight to the kids the nonprofit serves.
Hampton
Solo timed laps in an actual NASCAR race car on the 1.54-mile quad-oval — no instructor, just a spotter over in-car radio. This is a recurring paid ride/drive experience, not a spectator event.
New Pink Floyd tribute act with a full light and laser show — if you're out late after Taste of Henry, this is right down the street.
Saturday, September 12
Saturday Feature
McDonough
Now in its 4th year in McDonough, this run and walk honors FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in full gear to reach the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. First responders and military members running in gear get special recognition at the finish. Runners, walkers, and kids 12 and under are all welcome — parking's in the deck across the street.
Locust Grove
Hosted by the Main Street/Downtown Development Authority — seasonal produce, baked goods, and local makers to kick off the day.
Saturday Feature
One of the largest automotive events in the country lands in Henry County for two days — import, domestic, and custom car shows, drag racing, drifting, and a full swap meet. Built for car enthusiasts more than a casual family stroll, but it's a genuinely big deal if that's your crowd.
McDonough
Musicians who've toured with the Allman Brothers, KISS, and Collective Soul run through Skynyrd's first five studio albums — Freebird included.
Panola Mountain
Rangers provide all the equipment, no experience needed. Call the Nature Center at 770-389-7801 to register — these fill up about two weeks out. Every vehicle needs a valid GA State Park parking pass on top of the session fee.
NASCAR Driving Experience — Day Two
Hampton
Second day of the ride/drive experience. See Friday's listing for the full rundown.
Sunday, September 13
NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow — Day Two
Hampton
Second and final day — see Saturday's feature for the full rundown.
Panola Mountain
Same class as Saturday — one more shot at it before the weekend wraps. Call 770-389-7801 to register.
Sunday Spotlight
Downtown Locust Grove
Eight local spots kick off a week of specials today: Black Rose Cafe & Bar, Crumbles by Nicole, It's Alright BBQ, Linkz, Lovin' Oven Pizzeria, Sabrosos, Shorty's BBQ, and T & T Meats. Visit three or more, scan the QR code at each for a verified check-in, and earn entries toward one of four prize packs (a $50 gift card plus a swag bag, worth about $75 each). Winners announced September 23.
📅 September 13–19
📍 Downtown Locust Grove
Free to participate
A Little Further Out
Worth the Trip
Saturday, September 12 — Griffin
Twelfth year for this free, family-friendly festival honoring Griffin's most famous former resident — three OK Corral shootout reenactments through the day, a 30-plus team BBQ competition sanctioned by the Georgia Barbecue Association, and proceeds benefiting the Spalding Collaborative for Families and Children. This is the strongest family pick of the whole weekend if you don't mind the short drive.
Saturday, September 12 — Conyers
Conyers
A different kind of pick this week: paddle the nature center's wetlands as the sun sets, past water lilies and wildlife as the light changes. Family-friendly, but kids under 12 must be accompanied by a parent. This one's BYO: bring your own kayak or canoe, paddle, and PFD (none provided on site), and wear water shoes if you've got them. Meet at the floating dock launch, a short walk from parking.
Sunday, September 13 — Conyers
Conyers
A quieter close to the weekend — the Georgia Author of the Year winner and Clark Atlanta professor (The Coming, Don't Cry for Me) sits down for conversation and behind-the-scenes stories at this Black woman-owned indie bookstore in Olde Town Conyers.
Through Sunday, September 13 — Atlanta & Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain
One of the Southeast's biggest arts and crafts shows — 400-plus juried vendors, live music, a kids' zone, and the yellow daisy bloom the festival's named for. Wraps up Sunday, so this is your last shot.
Atlanta
Over 200 chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists across four days of tasting tents and live demos. If you're already in a food-festival mood after Friday's Taste of Henry, this is the bigger, pricier version.
Budget-Friendly
Free and Almost Free
Free
Locust Grove
Craft hour for the kids — make your own comic bookmarks.
Locust Grove
Seasonal produce, baked goods, and local makers.
Reenactments, BBQ competition, and family activities — just outside the county line.
Almost Free
Panola Mountain
Equipment included — register ahead, these book up.
🎥
“25 years later, McDonough still gathers to remember. From there, a run to honor Saturday morning, tasting for a cause Friday night, two days of horsepower at EchoPark — and if Henry County runs quiet, Griffin, Conyers, Stone Mountain, and Atlanta all have you covered. Get out there.”
The Eagle Eye Digest. Henry County’s weekend guide since day one.