Looking for something cool to do? Here is some fun, indoor Augusta-area entertainment

Miguel Legoas, Augusta Chronicle
Updated ·6 min read

The southern summer is taking a toll and giving the Augusta area some very warm mornings, scorching days and muggy nights. The weather has been hovering at or around 100 degrees for several days this past month. However, during the weekends and what’s left of summer vacation, families are still looking for things to do.

This makes indoor entertainment very desirable, and there’s plenty of it on this month’s calendar from concerts and special movie nights to trivia competitions and enriching galleries. Here’s a look at these and other happenings for Augusta-area residents looking to beat the heat and have some fun:

FILE - Moon Taxi plays Mempho Music Festival at Radians Amphitheater inside the Memphis Botanic Garden on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. The alternative rock band will perform at Imperial Theatre in Augusta on Saturday.
FILE - Moon Taxi plays Mempho Music Festival at Radians Amphitheater inside the Memphis Botanic Garden on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. The alternative rock band will perform at Imperial Theatre in Augusta on Saturday.

Indoor performances, exhibitions

Moon Taxis and the Stews will come together in a "Friends with Benefits Event" 7 p.m. Saturday at the Imperial Theatre in downtown Augusta at 745 Broad St. Tickets cost $35 and are available at imperialtheatre.com.

Miller Theater presents songs from across the pond with Goin' British at 8 p.m. Saturday in downtown Augusta at 708 Broad St. Tickets start at $25.50 and are available at millertheateraugusta.com.

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Columbia County Performing Arts Center will showcase a double-feature act at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 including Journey tribute band Departure and Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band Swamp Music in Evans at 1000 Market St. Limited tickets are still available for $35 at ticketmaster.com.

FILE - Savannah River Brewing Co. head brewer Adam Fulmer pours beer from one of their eight fermenters. His is one of many breweries featured at Augusta Beerfest.
FILE - Savannah River Brewing Co. head brewer Adam Fulmer pours beer from one of their eight fermenters. His is one of many breweries featured at Augusta Beerfest.

The 9th annual Augusta Beer Fest is 3-6 p.m. Saturday at the James Brown Arena in downtown Augusta. Over 100 different beers from breweries across the nation will be featured. General admission is $40 in advance, $50 day-of and gives each guest a souvenir tasting cup with which they can sample a bouquet of brews. Free designated drivers tickets are available at the box office.

James Brown Arena is also featuring "Paw Patrol Live" Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets start at $45.

The arena is located at 601 7th St. More information and ticket purchases for all three events are available at augustaentertainmentcomplex.com.

Movie nights

The 9th annual Black Cat Picture Show is Aug. 17-20 at Le Chat Noir in downtown Augusta at 304 8th St. Dozens of different movies from around the world will be screened through out the weekend, and awards will be distributed at the end of the film festival. There will also be a brunch on Sunday. Only full weekend passes are available for $70 and are available at simpletix.com.

Movies at the Miller is a special, monthly movie event at the Miller Theater featuring free screenings and snack sales including cocktails. The next one will present John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John's hit musical "Grease" at 4 p.m. Aug. 20. The Miller is located in downtown Augusta at 708 Broad St.

Grovetown Library's next Family Movie Night will screen this year's blockbuster animation "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 21 inside the library at 105 Old Wrightsboro Rd. Families are invited to bring blankets to watch from the floor. Popcorn and lemonade will be provided.

Test your knowledge

"Trivia with Mike Sleeper" takes place at multiple pubs and bars across the Augusta area every week, 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday. While most are general knowledge, some are themed around topics like "Stars Wars" and "Ted Lasso." More details can be found on the business' social media platforms, but here is the general schedule of dates and locations:

  • Mondays at Draft Society in Augusta and Pizza Joint in Aiken.

  • Tuesdays at Farmhaus in Augusta and Doc's Porchside in Grovetown.

  • Wednesdays at Pizza Joint in Evans and Alley Taproom in Aiken.

  • Thursdays at Doc's Porchside and Pizza Joint in Augusta.

World of Beer's Trivia Night is every Wednesday 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Augusta gastropub at 2819 Washington Rd. There will be prizes for the top three participants. WOB also offers Music Bingo Nights every Tuesday 7-9 p.m. Players are given BINGO cards, but instead of letters and numbers, each space has a song title and the space is marked out if that song is played on the speakers. Participants are allowed to use their phones for music bingo, but those feeling extra competitive are encouraged to go without.

Fridays are Booze Clues 4-7 p.m. at the Frog and the Hen in Augusta at 466 Flowing Wells Rd. General admission of $40 gives players dinner, trivia and mystery game play, and alcoholic drinks. RSVP's can be made at eventbrite.com.

Trivia with DJ Kris Fisher is every Tuesday 6-8 p.m. at Laziza Mediterranean Grill and every Thursday 8-10 p.m. at Vance's Bakery Bar, both of which are in downtown Augusta.

FILE - The "Splatoon" character Inkling attacks other players in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate." It's one of multiple Nintendo Switch games available to play at the Nancy Carson Library Game Night in North Augusta on Aug. 31.
FILE - The "Splatoon" character Inkling attacks other players in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate." It's one of multiple Nintendo Switch games available to play at the Nancy Carson Library Game Night in North Augusta on Aug. 31.

More indoor entertainment

Savannah River Brewing Co. has plenty to offer every week from trivia on Wednesdays to Beer Yoga on Saturday mornings, all of which can be enjoyed with a pint brewed on site. The full schedule can be found at savannahriverbrew.com.

For some enriching entertainment, Augusta Museum of History is having its own "Night at the Museum" Thursday. Guests select a 6 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. time slot, during which they enjoy drinks and light hors d'oeuvres as voices from the past take them on a unique tour through local history. The museum is also offering an "Old Fashion Fun Day" at 1 p.m. Aug. 20. Classic scavenger hunts, games and crafts will be provided. The full fun day's schedule can be found on the event's Facebook page. The museum is located in downtown Augusta at 560 Reynolds St.

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Nancy Carson Library's Game Night is the last Thursday of every month at the North Augusta library at 135 Edgefield Rd. There will be a Nintendo Switch on site with plenty of games alongside several board and card games. Popcorn will also be available. All ages are welcome, but there are not many toddler games.

For an extra classy night, Augusta Cigar Club is hosting "Harlem Nights: Party Like It's 1918" at 7 p.m. Saturday at the club in downtown Augusta at 722 Broad St. Guests will dress to impress for an evening of live jazz and a screening of Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor's crime comedy-drama "Harlem Nights."

The Hub for Community Innovation Augusta is another popular venue, especially for Augusta Locally Grown. Among their events are the Veggie Park Indoor Farmer's Market 4-7 p.m. every Thursday. The Hub is located at 631 Chafee Ave. For more information on these and other upcoming events, go to augustalocallygrown.org.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta-area indoor things-to-do to avoid the heat this summer