The Deep Roots Festival is back for its 21st edition! On Saturday, October 19, 2024, the streets of downtown Milledgeville are the place to be with an antique car show, live entertainment ranging from magicians to rock-and-roll, an artist market, food trucks, and a KidZone. Whether you are a festival veteran or this is your first rodeo, here are a few of our favorite things to enjoy. Check back for festival updates! 

Remember, ticketing for the event works differently now, entry to the festival area is FREE! This includes access to arts & crafts booths, the car show, the local stage, downtown businesses, food trucks, and more.

See Yourself There!

 

Arts & Crafts

One of the most enjoyable parts of Deep Roots is walking around in the fall air and seeing all of the unique, local creations on display. Regional artists will have their work and products for you to browse and purchase from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. There’s so much to look at, it’s easy to spend your entire day in the market. 

In addition, our downtown merchants will be open offering an abundance of shopping from specialty and antique shops to the newest clothing and gift boutiques. The holidays are right around the corner after Deep Roots and shopping local never goes out of style.

Locals Only

If there is one thing that is certain about Deep Roots, it’s that the day is full of non-stop entertainment. Round up the family and head to the Community Stage! From musicians to local dance performances, this stage delivers all day entertainment designed for all ages and family fun. 

2023 Lineup: 

The Scott Little Band

Smokey Jones & The $3 Pistols

Bella

GCSU Jazz Spotlight

Oak Hill Chorus & Dance

Lake Country Gymnastics

The Vibe 

(Insider tip: you may bring in your own chair to watch the performances!)

KidZone

The Deep Roots Festival really has something for everyone, even the littles! KidZone is the kid-friendly play area of the Deep Roots Festival. This playland features the best collection of inflatables, rock climbing walls, Velcro walls, zip lines, and other featured rides. An unlimited KidZone pass must be purchased for activities, passes are $10 for kids 6 and under, and $15 for kids 7 & up, and will be valid all day from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The KidZone unlimited pass will be sold the day of the Deep Roots festival in the KidZone located between the parking lot between Milledgeville City Hall and Mary Vinson Memorial Library.

Car Show

In addition to all the food, shopping, and music, there are also a number of activities going on throughout the day to keep you busy. Head to the Old Capital Car Club’s Open Car Show to see over 100 beautiful examples of engineering and vintage treasures. An annual tradition, the car show includes some of the areas coolest rides that have been restored to their original charm or altered to be faster or shinier. The best cars will even receive awards at 3 pm! 

Food & Drink

What’s a good festival without food trucks? Whether your favorite festival fix is Polish sausage, funnel cake, or street tacos, we have you covered! In addition to food trucks, the downtown also has plenty of food options with over 18 restaurants in town. Try The Brick or Amici for some tasty wings and pizza or pop in Cravings, or Barberitos for a quick bite. Downtown businesses will be open and ready for you to get a taste of just about everything!

Steak Cookoff

Do you cook the best steak in the neighborhood? Deep Roots has partnered with the Steak Cookoff Association to offer over $3,000 in cash prizes for the best steak, peach dessert, and bloody mary! We provide the steaks, you provide the grill and mad chef skills.

Concert Stage

The Deep Roots evening concerts are the most attended part of the festival. The lineup for this year is set and festivalgoers will have a sure-fire way to speed things up...

Kicking off the concerts is a long-time regional favorite, Richard Martin. Along with booking talent for local establishments, hosting open mic nights, coordinating festivals, and promoting artists and live events, Richard has also made a name for himself by performing his own music with various bands including Play Ok and Free Lance Ruckus. With it being the 20th anniversary of The Deep Roots Festival, Richard has gathered together a special group of such friends, all of which have strong ties to the area and love representing the soul of Milledgeville through the power of music.

Next up is a head-turning, fiery, and passionate performer, Vanessa Collier. As a master musician and multi-instrumentalist, Vanessa, weaves funk, soul, rock, and blues into every powerful performance and she is downright impressive. With soulful vocals, searing saxophone, and witty songwriting, Vanessa is blazing a trail, racking up an impressive arsenal of honors, and has already singled herself out as an artist of distinction and one we would all do well to watch.

Ending the night is a band with 14 studio albums and counting, four of which have gone gold, three platinum, and one six-times platinum- selling more than 10 million combined units worldwide. Over an illustrious career, Blues Traveler has played over 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people, and, in “Run-Around,” had the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history, which earned them a Grammy® for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. We ain't tellin' you no lie, Blues Traveler is headlining Deep Roots 2023.

The evening concert stage is a ticketed event. Tickets are available at DeepRootsFestival.com. Tickets are $30 and will remain on sale until they sell out. Due to the limited capacity for the concert stage, these tickets will most likely sell out prior to the day of the event. The stage area will fill up fast on the evening of the event so find your spot early. 

Downtown Milledgeville will be alive with music and dancing on October 21, 2023 and we cannot wait to see you there! Remember Deep Roots Festival blocks off Hancock, Wayne, Greene and Jefferson Streets.

See y'owl there! 

Deep Roots Festival 2023 is free to enter. Free admission includes the Artist Market, Open Car Show, Locals Only Stage, Commercial Corridor, Food Truck Row, Tiny Tot Land, Kid Zone Vending Area, and Pop-up Performances. The evening Concert Stage ($30) and KidZone Unlimited Pass ($10-$15) will require purchase. The Concert Stage will be sold in advance and will most likely sell out due to limited capacity. The KidZone Unlimited Pass will be sold the day of Deep Roots Festival in the KidZone.

Deep Roots began in 2003 and is organized by the Milledgeville Main Street Organization.