Concert series will kick off North Augusta's Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee this October

Samantha Winn, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Sep. 28—A familiar face from TV will be visiting the CSRA.

Drake Milligan, best known for placing third in the most recent season of the reality competition show "America's Got Talent," will perform a free concert next month prior to the Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee in North Augusta.

Milligan will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Sharon Jones Amphitheater, 1009 Center St., North Augusta. Local band Whiskey Run will open for the country music artist at 6 p.m.

North Augusta Parks and Recreation Director Rick Meyer said he saw something exciting in Milligan during his run on "America's Got Talent."

"I just felt like we needed to jump on something like that," he said. "When you get an opportunity like that, you have to grab somebody."

During the planning phase, Friends with Benefits Productions CEO George Claussen wanted to celebrate the lead up to the main Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee festival.

This also will be the first time the jubilee will be held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and both Meyer and Claussen are exicted for its return.

"I think that it (the Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee) is important to North Augusta ... it's their main event for the year," Claussen said. "We are extremely excited that it is back, and I think that it is going to be one of the best years ever."

Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee will be held in downtown North Augusta on Georgia Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 29. In previous years, approximately 150 craft vendors, 25 food vendors, kids rides and more are available during the all day event.

"We haven't had a Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee since 2019, so we wanted to add as much to it as we could without overworking staff ... I just hope that we have great weather," said Meyer. "I think that it is a great way to return like this and get some action going at the amphitheater, as well. COVID not only kept us from doing the downtown festival, but it kept us from being in the concert business and the Sharon Jones Amphitheater, so we are excited to mesh that together and make for a Wednesday through Saturday celebration."

Country music artist Joe Nichols will headline the Saturday night concert. Nichols captured a CMA Award, ACM trophy and is a three-time Grammy nominee. Cody Webb, Forest Colter, Micheal Hitchcock and Garret Hicks are also slated to perform on Saturday.

Samantha Winn covers the cities of North Augusta and Augusta, with a focus on community oriented business and events. Follow her on Twitter: @samanthamwinn and on Facebook and Instagram: @swinnnews.