Historic Midway landmark hosting community blues picnic this fall

MIDWAY, Ga. — Live blues, Southern picnics, and community history will come together this fall at one of Liberty County's most significant landmarks. The 'Picnic at Dorchester Academy' is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the historic grounds in Midway. Sponsored by Explore Liberty and the Hinesville Area Arts Council, the event invites attendees to pack a picnic, bring blankets or chairs, and enjoy an afternoon of live music. Grammy-nominated Georgia blues musician Jontavious Willis will headline the afternoon. Willis, celebrated for bringing traditional Delta, Piedmont, and Gospel blues to a new generation, will perform on the grounds of a site deeply rooted in African American education and the Civil Rights Movement. Founded after the Civil War to educate formerly enslaved African Americans, Dorchester Academy later became a vital training ground for citizenship and leadership during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Today, its Boys' Dormitory is a recognized site on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. In addition to the music, guests can participate in a Picnic Contest featuring creative tablescapes (registration required by Oct. 10) and a Dessert Auction of homemade treats. All proceeds from the auction will directly benefit the preservation of Dorchester Academy.