12 Unique Things to Do in Thomson, Georgia

Thomson, GA is such a unique small town with everything from a blues festival to Highland Cows to an artful downtown. Check out the best things to do in Thomson here.

Known for being the birthplace of the legendary blues musician Blind Willie McTell, Thomson is a hidden gem for music lovers. But there’s so much more to Thomson beyond the music that you should also explore!

Here are my favorite things to do in Thomson, Georgia.

A special thanks to Visit Thomson, GA for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own.

Best Things to Do in Thomson

1. Stay with Highland Cows at Crawford’s Double O Farm

Crawford’s Double O Farm is a small family-owned farm with unique animals for Georgia, like the adorable Scottish Highland Cows, alpacas, and Valais Sheep.

You can even stay at the farm in a luxury RV right in the middle of the Highland Cow pasture. Plus, they have glamping tents in the works. This is a great place to spend the weekend in Thomson!

The farm is situated on 32 acres surrounded by woods, so you’re in a serene escape that’s just 20 minutes from downtown.

Even if you don’t want to stay the night, you can still visit Crawford’s Double O Farm if you want to book a photography session with the cows, have a birthday party, or rent space on the farm for another fun event.

2. Listen to live music at the Blind Willie McTell Music Festival

The Blind Willie McTell Music Festival celebrates blues and roots music and the legacy of Blind Willie McTell.

Blind Willie McTell, born William Samuel McTier, was a country blues musician who was known for playing the 12-string guitar. He was blind since birth and learned to play the guitar as a teenager.

His song “Statesboro Blues” was popularized by musicians like the Allman Brothers Band, and Bob Dylan recorded a tribute song called “Blind Willie McTell“.

The Blind Willie McTell Music Festival is held annually in September. It’s a one-day event, with bonus preview concert the night before that’s completely free.

The festival is full of music, food trucks, and local vendors. The festival hosts artists across all genres like blues, ragtime, Dixieland, Cajun, Zydeco, swamp rock, jazz, soul, funk, big band swing, and roots-rock. You can bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating.

3. Learn history at the McDuffie Museum

The McDuffie Museum is a free history museum in Downtown Thomson. It’s the perfect place to learn all about the history of McDuffie County.

You’ll learn about everything from the county’s Native American tribes to its Quaker colony of Wrightsboro to its famous musicians and artists. There are treasures of all kinds detailing Thomson’s railroad history, Blind Willie McTell’s rise to fame, and even the town’s iconic Belle Meade fox hunt.

4. Get fresh lavender at White Hills Farm

White Hills Farm is a small boutique lavender and herb farm that cultivates 14 varieties of lavender, as well as rosemary, thyme, basil, and calamint.

During lavender season (June-July), you can pick the lavender for yourself. During growing season and non-growing season, you can visit the farm shop to buy lavender bath products, teas, essential oils, and more.

When it’s non-growing season, you can still visit the farm on weekends to take a farm tour, shop the store, take a baking class, make your own spa-grade beauty products, and attend yoga retreats.

5. Walk along the 12 String Strut

The 12 String Strut is a public art project made up of more than a dozen 7-foot-tall hand-painted Stella guitar replicas designed by local artists.

The project honors the legacy of Blind Willie McTell, who was famous for his blues music played on a 12-string guitar.

6. Take a Downtown Walking Tour

The Downtown Thomson Walking Tour is a 1.35 mile self-guided tour that gives you a look at the historic buildings, architecture, and important people of Thomson. The tour begins and ends at the Thomson Depot.

Along the way, you’ll see important sites like the Thomson Depot, the Historic McDuffie County Courthouse, Thomson Memorial Cemetery, the Tom Watson Birth Cabin, and the Bank of Thomson Building.

This is the best way to get to know Thomson’s history!

7. Find the unique murals

Thomson has several unique murals in Downtown and beyond that highlight the city’s history.

Find murals near the Thomson Depot that depict the city’s railroad history, a mural on the side of Emma’s Breakfast Cafe that commemorates the building’s previous tenant, an old Coca-Cola mural, a Blind Willie mural, and more.

8. Stroll through the Thomson Memorial Cemetery

The Thomson Memorial Cemetery was established in 1854, and the earliest marked grave is that of Mary Sutton who died on June 5, 1855.

The cemetery was part of the 19th century Rural Cemetery Movement that made cemeteries into a more park-like setting. There are a couple benches in the cemetery where you can sit and relax, and next to the benches is an audiobox with information about the cemetery’s history.

Notable graves to see within the cemetery include Thomas Edward Watson, the founder of Georgia’s People’s Party; John Lewis King Holtzendorf, the first Mayor of Thomson in 1889; and Clara Elizabeth Stovall, co-author of the book History of McDuffie County, which was responsible for the preservation of much of the county’s history.

9. Visit the Wrightsboro Church and Historic District

The Wrightsboro Church and Historic District were the southernmost point of Quaker migration in North America. Wrightsboro was settled in 1768 and became a community of homes, gristmills, and meetinghouses.

Wrightsboro Church is the focal point of what’s left of the settlement of Whightsboro. It was built in 1810 as a house of worship for all Christian denominations. In 1877, the church was deeded to the Methodist Church. Surrounding the church is an old graveyard where many ancestors of prominent Georgia families are buried.

You’ll also find information about the Wrightsboro community in small pull-offs along this road. You can make a quick stop to read the historical plaques and learn all about McDuffie County’s first community.

10. Visit Blind Willie McTell’s grave site

Blind Willie’s grave is located at Jones Grove Baptist Church in an area known as Happy Valley. The grave is easy to find: it’s the big one with a guitar on it just a couple rows back from the church.

This isn’t the original headstone for Blind Willie — that’s actually at the McDuffie Museum! So be sure to look for that when you visit the museum.

11. Get some retail therapy downtown

If you’re in need of a little retail therapy, Downtown Thomson has some great places, from antique shops to clothing boutiques. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Aunt Tique & Uncle Junk’s — antiques, curated regularly
• Southern Magnolia Farmhouse Boutique — clothes and decor
• White Oak Market — house plants and gifts
• MariBeth’s Books — new and used bookstore

12. Eat your way around town

Get a taste of Thomson! There are so many great restaurants to try for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Fernanda’s Grill & Pizzeria — Italian classics
• Emma’s Breakfast Cafe — breakfast classics
• Tuff Luck Cafe — to-go wings and chicken tenders
• Hogie Joe’s Sports Grill — award-winning burgers
• Camellia City Cafe — breakfast and brunch

Thomson Activities Map

Ready to explore Thomson, Georgia? Use the map below to find all the fun things to do in Thomas listed here.

I hope you have an amazing time experiencing these Thomson activities!

Thomson, GA FAQ

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Ready to visit Thomson, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Thomson using Booking.com.
• Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.

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Cheers!

Paige

What are your favorite things to do in Thomson, Georgia? Let me know in the comments!