Quick Answer: What Are Some of the Best Things to Do in Perry GA?
Some of the best things to do in Perry GA include exploring Historic Downtown Perry, visiting the Go Fish Education Center, checking the event calendar at the Georgia National Fairgrounds, walking the Big Indian Creek trails, spending an afternoon at Creekwood or Rozar Park, seeing a show at Perry Players Community Theatre, or trying something completely different at Big Indian Paintball. Perry also has festivals, concerts, markets, and community events throughout the year, so what’s available can change depending on when you visit.
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If you’re looking for things to do in Perry GA, there’s a lot more here than you might expect from a smaller Middle Georgia town.
Perry has grown quite a bit over the years, but it still has that easygoing feel that makes it simple to spend an afternoon downtown, take the kids somewhere to burn off some energy, find a trail to walk, or head to one of the many events happening throughout the year.
And as someone who lives and works in Perry, these are the kinds of places I’m always paying attention to. Some are great when you have kids with you, while others work just as well for a date, an afternoon with friends, or something different to do on the weekend.
1. Explore Historic Downtown Perry
Historic Downtown Perry is one of the easiest places to start, especially if you don’t have a specific plan.
Carroll Street and the surrounding blocks are filled with locally owned shops, restaurants, and small businesses, and downtown is compact enough that you can park and walk around without needing to move your car every five minutes.
Depending on the day, you could grab lunch, browse a few shops, stop for coffee or something sweet, and make an afternoon out of it.
Downtown is also where many of Perry’s community events happen throughout the year, so it’s worth checking the event calendar before you go.
Good for: Shopping, food, couples, families and an easy afternoon out
Explore Historic Downtown Perry →
2. Visit the Go Fish Education Center
If you’ve lived around Perry for a while but have never actually been to the Go Fish Education Center, this is one of those local places that is easy to overlook.
The center focuses on Georgia’s aquatic wildlife and waterways, with freshwater aquariums, alligators, turtles, interactive exhibits, fishing and boating simulators, and a stocked pond where visitors can try catch-and-release fishing. Fishing poles and bait are included with admission.
It works especially well when you need something indoors for part of the day but still want the kids to have something hands-on to do.
Go Fish also offers educational programs, workshops, and fishing camps throughout the year.
Location: 1255 Perry Parkway, Perry, GA
Good for: Families, kids, fishing enthusiasts and rainy or really hot days
Visit the Go Fish Education Center →
3. Check What’s Happening at the Georgia National Fairgrounds
The Georgia National Fair may be what everyone immediately thinks of, but the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter stays busy throughout the year.
Horse shows, livestock events, rodeos, competitions, expos, conventions, agricultural events, and other public events regularly come through the fairgrounds.
That means this is one of those places where the answer to “What is there to do this weekend?” can change completely from one week to the next.
Before assuming nothing is happening, check their current event calendar. You might find something you had no idea was coming to Perry.
And, of course, every October brings the Georgia National Fair, which is basically its own category of Perry activities.
Location: 401 Larry Walker Parkway, Perry, GA
Good for: Events, fairs, rodeos, shows and seasonal activities
See the Georgia National Fairgrounds event calendar →
4. Walk the Big Indian Creek Waterway Trails
For something quieter and free, head over to Rotary Centennial Park and the Big Indian Creek Waterway Trails.
The trail system follows Big Indian Creek and winds through wooded areas, wetlands, and botanical areas. Much of it is paved, which makes this a nice option when you want to get outside without committing to an actual hike.
You can start at Rotary Centennial Park, where you’ll also find open green space, shaded areas, and places for a picnic.
This is especially nice during the cooler months when Georgia finally decides we’ve suffered through enough humidity.
Location: Rotary Centennial Park, 650 General Courtney Hodges Boulevard
Good for: Walking, nature, families, exercise and a quieter afternoon
Learn more about Rotary Centennial Park →
It’s a good idea to check current City of Perry updates before planning a longer trail walk since construction can occasionally affect sections of the trail system.
5. Spend the Afternoon at Creekwood Park & Splashpad
If you have kids and it’s summer in Georgia, Creekwood is one of the easiest answers when everybody needs to get out of the house.
The 30-acre park has a playground, picnic pavilion, basketball court, pickleball courts, sports fields, and access to the White Tail Trail.
The big attraction during the warmer months is the Creekwood Splashpad. It’s seasonal and free to use, which makes it a pretty easy way to fill a summer morning or afternoon without spending much money.
Pack towels, sunscreen, snacks, and probably a change of clothes unless you enjoy putting soaking wet children into your car.
Location: 110 Ida Lasseter Circle, Perry, GA
Good for: Kids, summer days, playground time, picnics and outdoor activities
Creekwood Park & Splashpad information →
6. Try Big Indian Paintball & Airsoft
For something with a little more action, Big Indian Paintball is another Perry option that a lot of people don’t realize is right here.
The property covers 82 acres and includes multiple playing areas, trails, bases, a large town-style playing area, a two-story castle, and speedball fields.
And it isn’t only standard paintball.
Big Indian also offers airsoft, GellyBall, Junior League low-impact paintball, and NERF options. Their Junior League option is geared toward ages 8 and older, which gives families with older kids another activity beyond playgrounds and indoor play spaces.
Paintball walk-ins are welcome, while private groups and some of the other activities require reservations.
Location: 301 Valley Drive, Perry, GA
Good for: Older kids, teens, adults, birthdays, youth groups and group outings
7. Spend Some Time at Rozar Park
Creekwood tends to get a lot of attention because of the splash pad, but Rozar Park is another good outdoor option in Perry.
There’s an 18-hole disc golf course, playgrounds, soccer and baseball fields, an outdoor basketball court, fishing ponds, a walking trail, and picnic areas.
It’s particularly worth remembering if you have kids who need room to move or you want an outdoor activity that doesn’t require buying tickets or planning very far ahead.
Bring your own discs if you want to try the disc golf course, or fishing gear if you’re planning to spend some time around the ponds.
Location: 1060 Keith Drive, Perry, GA
Good for: Disc golf, fishing, kids, walking and free outdoor activities
8. See a Show at Perry Players Community Theatre
Perry Players Community Theatre is one of those places that adds a little something different to downtown Perry.
The volunteer-run nonprofit theatre puts on plays and musicals throughout the year, along with youth productions and programming.
Instead of waiting until you hear about a particular production, check the upcoming schedule every so often. It can make for a fun date night, an outing with friends, or a different family activity depending on the show.
Location: 909 Main Street, Perry, GA
Good for: Date nights, theatre, families and supporting local arts
Perry Players Community Theatre →
9. Visit the Perry Farmers Market
Saturday morning is a good time to head downtown when the Perry Farmers Market is open.
You’ll find a rotating mix of local vendors with things like produce, baked goods, flowers, handmade items, and other locally produced goods.
The market is small enough that you don’t need to dedicate your entire morning to it, which is actually part of what makes it nice. Stop by the market and then walk around downtown, grab breakfast or lunch, or browse some of the nearby shops.
Vendor availability can vary from week to week, so no two Saturdays are necessarily exactly the same.
Location: Historic Downtown Perry
Good for: Saturday mornings, local shopping, food and families
Find current Perry Farmers Market information →
10. Visit Heritage Oaks Park
Heritage Oaks Park is a newer 20-acre green space in Perry with large oak trees, an open amphitheater lawn, and a stage area.
It isn’t a playground-heavy park like Creekwood. This one is more about having room to spread out, bring a picnic, throw a Frisbee, or enjoy one of the community events held there.
The park is also home to Perry Presents, the city’s outdoor concert series, so it’s worth watching the calendar for events rather than only thinking of it as somewhere to visit during the day.
Location: 2021 Sam Nunn Boulevard, Perry, GA
Good for: Picnics, concerts, open space and community events
11. Go Fishing at Flat Creek Public Fishing Area
If you’d rather actually go fishing than learn about it at Go Fish, Flat Creek Public Fishing Area is just south of town.
The area is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and gives anglers another outdoor option close to Perry without needing to drive very far.
Before heading out, check Georgia DNR’s current fishing license, access, and area regulations, especially if you’re bringing your own boat or planning to fish for the day.
Good for: Fishing, quiet outdoor time and nature
Georgia DNR fishing information →
Don’t Forget About Perry’s Events
One of the biggest reasons a list of things to do in Perry can never really be finished is that there are events happening throughout the year.
Depending on the season, you might find downtown festivals, outdoor concerts, food events, holiday celebrations, markets, or activities at the Georgia National Fairgrounds.
Some of the recurring Perry events to watch for include:
- Georgia National Fair
- Perry Dogwood Festival
- Perry International Festival
- Perry Presents
- Summer Breeze
- Juneteenth Freedom Day Festival
- Downtown seasonal and holiday events
- Farmers markets and pop-up events
Dates and details can change each year, so I would always check the current calendar before making plans.
Looking for Things to Do in Perry GA With Kids?
If you landed here specifically because you have kids to entertain, I have a separate guide for that.
My Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Perry GA guide focuses more heavily on places and activities that work well when you’re planning around younger kids and family outings.
Read: Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Perry GA →
You can also find more ideas throughout Middle Georgia here:
Things to Do in Warner Robins GA With Kids →
Finding More Things to Do Around Perry
One of the things I like about living in Perry is that you don’t necessarily need an elaborate plan to find something to do.
You can spend Saturday morning downtown, take the kids to a park, walk the trails when the weather cooperates, catch a community event, or see what happens to be going on at the fairgrounds that weekend. And when you want more options, Macon and Warner Robins are both close enough to add plenty more without turning it into a full road trip.
I keep sharing local places, activities, and resources here because this is home for me too. I’m Melissa, the photographer behind Fire Family Photography, based right here in Perry and photographing families throughout Middle Georgia.
I specialize in family, maternity, newborn, and motherhood photography with a relaxed, kid-led approach that leaves room for real personalities and the way your family actually interacts.
If family photos have also been sitting somewhere on your “we really need to do that” list, you can see more about working with me here:
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