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Pulaski County's affair with harness racing began in 1894. Since that time, several world champions have been trained on the Hawkinsville tracks. The Georgia red clay and mild climate make an excellent combination for conditioning young horses. For more than thirty years, Pulaski County has celebrated its enduring bond to harness racing with the Annual Harness Horse Festival. The festival prides itself on an outstanding facility, community spirit, and fantastic entertainment. So follow the picturesque Ocmulgee River right into the heart of downtown Hawkinsville, and be prepared to experience Southern small-town living at its best.

 

Just check out some of the events that we offer every year at the festival:

• Harness Races
• Harness the Country Concert
• Festival Queen
• Harness Festival Golf Tournament
• Arts and Crafts
• Carnival and Rides
• Festival Dance
• Fireworks
• Reptile show, clowns, magic, rides for kids
• Battle of the Bands
• Educational hayrides
• R.V. Camping
• 'Fair-style' food
• & much more!

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Located in Georgia's Magnolia Midlands, Hawkinsville is known as the "Harness Horse Capital" of Georgia, and has been a winter home for harness horse training since 1926, serving horsemen from the northern United States and Canada. Pulaski County's affair with harness racing began in 1894, when the Pulaski County Fair Association held the first official races.

Hawkinsville is located in central Georgia, 120 miles south of Atlanta. The Golden Isles Parkway, U.S. 341, links Hawkinsville to major interstates, I-75 to Atlanta and I-95 to Brunswick and Georgia's Coast. Hawkinsville is almost equal distance between Interstate 75 (19 minutes) and Interstate 16 (30 minutes).

The festival welcomes groups of all sizes. Weekend packages and passes are available. The racing facility is open to the public. Trainers welcome you to witness their training and visit the barn to learn more about the sport.