To register, click HERE

Friday, March 28, 2025 10:00 AM
Hotel Block: TRU by Hilton ($159) 107 Providence Blvd. Macon, 31210. Call to reserve at 478-779-0116. Block name – Lafayette Tour. (If asked for a Code, give DO1812.)

Macon, Georgia, will offer a spectacular celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 tour, seamlessly woven into the city’s beloved Cherry Blossom Festival. The festivities will commence at 10:00 AM as a grand parade forms behind St. Joseph Catholic Church at 830 Poplar Street, proceeding to Macon City Hall with Lafayette himself arriving in a stately horse-drawn carriage.

Upon his 10:15 AM arrival at the City Hall portico, the Mayor of Macon will extend an official welcome, followed by an inspiring address from Lafayette. In a poignant moment, he will recognize in the crowd and honor James Armistead Lafayette, a formerly enslaved man who courageously served as a spy during the Revolutionary War, providing intelligence that proved crucial to American victory.

At noon, attendees who have registered in advance will gather for a ticketed buffet luncheon ($22), at the First Baptist Church of Christ, 511 High Place, where they will enjoy classic southern fried chicken while enjoying the elegant strains of chamber music performed by local musicians—an exquisite homage to the musical traditions of the early 19th century. Historical speeches and commemorative toasts will be offered by local dignitaries. The Atlanta Historic Dance Company will perform regency-style dancing and wear attire which were time appropriate to 1825 when Lafayette visited.

The event will culminate with the dedication of a Lafayette historical marker at 300 Mulberry Street, at 2:00 PM, ensuring that Macon’s role in Lafayette’s extraordinary journey is forever remembered.

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