Thomasville
Around Thomasville
Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Georgia · 72k people
Thomasville
“City of Roses”, “Rose City”
Where the roses bloom and the red hills roll.
Rose CrimsonRed Hills EarthPiney Woods Green
Welcome to Thomasville, the Rose City! Come enjoy our historic squares, sweet tea, and friendly folks. Whether you're here for the roses or the quail, you'll find a warm Southern welcome.
Clubs for Thomasville
No clubs for Thomasville yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Thomasville. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Thomasville. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Thomasville Rose Garden A public garden with thousands of rose bushes.
- Pebble Hill Plantation Historic plantation house with tours and grounds.
- Lapham-Patterson House Victorian-era house museum with unique architecture.
- The Big Oak A 300-year-old live oak in downtown Thomasville.
- Thomasville History Center Local history exhibits and archives.
- Thomasville Center for the Arts Performing arts and gallery space.
- Outdoors Stroll the Thomasville Rose Garden
- Outdoors Hike trails at Pebble Hill Plantation
- With kids Explore the Thomasville History Center
- With kids See the Big Oak
- Evenings Live music at downtown venues
- Evenings Ghost tours of historic homes
- Locals love Rose gardens
- Locals love Quail hunting plantations
Through the year
- Thomasville Rose Show and Festival April A spring celebration of the city's rose gardens with parades and exhibits.
- Thomasville Antiques Show March A prestigious antiques and fine arts market in the historic district.
- Pelham Wild Chicken Festival October A quirky local festival with food, music, and a chicken-themed parade.
- Cairo Fall Festival October A community harvest celebration with crafts, rides, and local food.
- Thomasville Christmas on the Square December Holiday lights, caroling, and a tree lighting in the historic downtown square.
Humid subtropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The best times to be out are spring and fall. Best: Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are perfect for being outside.
Talk like a local
- “The Square”
- Downtown Thomasville's historic center.
- “Rose City”
- Nickname for Thomasville, known for its roses.
- “Red Hills”
- The rolling, red-clay hill country around here.
- “The Big Oak”
- The famous old oak tree, a common meeting spot.
Getaways
- Moultrie Historic downtown and the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition.
- Tallahassee Florida's capital with museums, parks, and college sports.
- Bainbridge Lake Seminole for fishing and boating.
- Valdosta Wild Adventures theme park and shopping.
Local flavour
Rooting for Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks
Eat and drink
- Sweet tea Ubiquitous, served at every meal and gathering.
- Grits Creamy stone-ground grits, often with cheese or shrimp.
- Pecan pie Pecans are a local crop, and pie is a holiday staple.
- Boiled peanuts A roadside snack found throughout the South.
- Quail From the hunting plantations, served in upscale Southern restaurants.
Where people go
- Historic downtown squares Brick streets, old storefronts, and a courthouse at the center.
- Rose gardens Public gardens and private yards bursting with roses in spring.
- Quail hunting plantations Vast estates with longleaf pines, managed for bobwhite quail.
- Antebellum homes Historic houses with wide verandas and oak-lined drives.
- Small-town diners Family-run spots serving breakfast all day and meat-and-threes.
Heritage and traditions
Thomasville and its surrounding towns are proud of their deep Southern heritage, from the grand antebellum homes and rose gardens to the working pecan and quail hunting plantations, and the sweet small-town charm that has drawn visitors for over a century.
This time of year in Thomasville
- Pecan harvest fall Fall brings pecan picking and shelling, a local tradition.
- Cane syrup making fall In Cairo, cane grinding and syrup cooking happen in late fall.
- Cairo Fall Festival October A traditional fall celebration with crafts, food, and a parade in downtown Cairo.
- Cairo Syrup Festival October Honoring Cairo's syrup-making history with demonstrations, tastings, and a cane-grinding demonstration.
Say it like a local: “Fixin' to” — About to
Festivals
- Thomasville Rose Show and Festival April The city's signature event, celebrating its nickname as the City of Roses.
- Thomasville Antiques Show March A prestigious antiques and fine arts show held in the historic downtown.
- Pelham Wild Chicken Festival April A quirky celebration of the town's wild chicken population, with food, music, and a chicken drop.
- Cairo Fall Festival October A traditional fall celebration with crafts, food, and a parade in downtown Cairo.
- Cairo Syrup Festival October Honoring Cairo's syrup-making history with demonstrations, tastings, and a cane-grinding demonstration.
- Camilla Peanut Festival October Celebrating the peanut harvest with a parade, contests, and peanut-themed treats.
Landmarks with a story
- Pebble Hill Plantation A former winter home of a northern industrialist, now a museum with gardens and a hunting lodge.
- Lapham-Patterson House A Victorian-era house known for its unique architecture and secret passages.
- Thomasville Rose Garden A public garden with over 1,500 rose bushes, a symbol of the city's rose heritage.
- The Big Oak A massive live oak tree estimated to be over 300 years old, a beloved local icon.
- Thomasville History Center A local history museum housed in a former Carnegie library.
- Cairo Commercial Historic District A well-preserved downtown with early 20th-century storefronts, including the syrup-era buildings.
Food traditions
- Sweet tea A staple in every home and restaurant, served over ice with lemon.
- Grits A breakfast and dinner side, often served with shrimp or cheese.
- Pecan pie A dessert made from locally grown pecans, a major crop in the region.
- Boiled peanuts A roadside snack, simmered in salted water, often eaten at ballgames.
- Quail A delicacy from the region's hunting plantations, often fried or grilled.
Music and arts
- Southern gospel music Churches and community groups often host gospel singings.
- Country music Local venues feature country and bluegrass acts.
- Folk art and crafts Quilting, woodworking, and pottery are traditional crafts.
- Thomasville Center for the Arts A hub for visual and performing arts, hosting exhibitions and concerts.
A little history
- 1880s-1900s Thomasville as a winter resort
- early 1900s Cairo's syrup industry
- early 1900s Quail hunting plantations
- 1919 Jackie Robinson born in Cairo
- 1921 The Rose Show begins
Rivalries
- Thomasville High vs Cairo High Football rivalry that packs the stands.
- Thomasville vs Pelham Basketball games get heated.
- Georgia Bulldogs vs Florida Gators College football rivalry fans argue about.
- Game day High school football
- Game day Quail hunting
- Outdoors Stroll the Thomasville Rose Garden
- Outdoors Hike trails at Pebble Hill Plantation
- With kids See the Big Oak
- With kids Visit the Rose Garden
The local accent is a classic Southern drawl, with a relaxed, slow pace. Common phrases include 'y'all' for 'you all', 'fixin' to' for 'about to', and 'bless your heart' for a gentle rebuke.
Only here
- The Big Oak, a 300-year-old live oak in the center of town.
- The Rose Garden, one of the largest public rose gardens in the country.
- Quail hunting plantations that offer guided hunts, a tradition since the 1900s.
- Cairo Syrup, the town's famous cane syrup, a taste of old South.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the slower pace of life and take time to chat with neighbors.
- Try sweet tea and boiled peanuts at a local diner.
- Visit the Rose Garden in April for the festival.
- Learn about the plantation history at Pebble Hill.
- Be prepared for hot, humid summers and mild winters.
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Nearby
Every areaMoultrieGeorgiaHome of the Packers and the sweetest tea.CamillaGeorgiaWhere the peanut fields meet the Flint RiverTallahasseeFloridaWhere the oaks meet the Gulf breezeBainbridgeGeorgiaWhere the Flint River meets southern charmAdelGeorgiaSmall towns, big skies, and sweet tea.ValdostaGeorgiaWhere azaleas bloom and the pines whisperTiftonGeorgiaWhere the fields are green and the welcome is warmer.AlbanyGeorgiaWhere the Flint River winds through pecan groves.
Thomasville, GA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.