VALDOSTA — Lowndes residents gathered on the lawn of the historic courthouse on Friday for the first installment of the Lunch on the Lawn Spring Concert Series, part of the county’s 200th Anniversary Bicentennial Celebration.

Local musicians Rob Evans, Zane Ally, and Leslie Smith set up their tent in front of the courthouse steps and played a playlist that spanned decades. From Phil Collins to Post Malone, the group had something for everybody in attendance. With Evans on guitar and vocals, Ally grooving on stand-up bass, and Smith keeping the beat on drums, the trio kept the crowd engaged.

County Manager Paige Dukes emphasized the importance of events like this to the community.

“We are better together. Anytime you can come together and share across all walks of life—young and old, and every part of the community—in one location is a good thing,” Dukes said.

With free ice cream on site, plenty of food, and space to relax, officials wanted the event to feel like a celebration of 200 years of Lowndes County and the people who call it home. Dukes reflected on the contrast between the event’s beautiful weather and the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, highlighting the county’s progress.

“We still have some challenges that we are going to face and some work that needs to be done, but there is an incredible amount of things that have already been accomplished, so this is a great opportunity to celebrate that,” Dukes said. 

The Spring Concert Series will continue on Friday, March 28, with a performance by the Kenji Bolden Trio. Once again, the event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to the public.