Summer is officially showing off.

This weekend brings everything from waterfront wine tastings and sunset cruises to community fundraisers, live music on nearly every corner, and enough local events to keep your calendar completely full. Whether you're in the mood for a laid-back afternoon on Jekyll, a night out in downtown Brunswick, or a spontaneous adventure you didn't know existed until five minutes ago, we've rounded up the best ways to make the most of the weekend across the Golden Isles.

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Thinking about picking up tennis but not sure where to start? Golden Isles Tennis is launching a beginner-friendly tennis program at the College of Coastal Georgia that makes getting into the sport easier than ever.

The six-week program is taught by Courtney Rutherford, Head Tennis Coach at the College of Coastal Georgia, and includes six one-hour lessons for just $60. Even better, participants receive a free tennis racket, free league registration, and a free USTA membership.

Classes begin Saturday, May 30 and run from 9–10 a.m. at the College of Coastal Georgia Tennis Courts in Brunswick.

Whether you're looking for a new hobby, a fun way to get active — this is a pretty affordable way to get started.

To register, text your email address and any questions to Patrick Anderson at (912) 223-3263. You'll receive registration instructions by reply.

🕰️ Saturdays, 9–10 a.m. beginning May 30
🎯 College of Coastal Georgia Tennis Courts, Brunswick
💲 $60 for six lessons (includes free racket, league registration, and USTA membership)

Author Talk & Book Signing – Daniel Rood

🕰️ 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
🎯 St. Simons Casino Theater, SSI

Historian Dr. Daniel Rood discusses his newest book, In the Shadow of the Great House: A History of the Plantation in America, exploring how plantation systems shaped labor, inequality, and American history far beyond emancipation. One for the history lovers, deep thinkers, and people who enjoy events where everyone quietly nods while holding hardcover books.

Free for members. $10 for non-members. Seating is limited.

First Responders Appreciation & Award Luncheon

🕰️ 11:30 AM
🎯 Greater Works Ministries, Brunswick

A heartfelt community luncheon honoring Glynn County’s first responders and the people who show up when things go sideways. Expect stories, appreciation, awards, and a strong reminder that local heroes rarely get enough credit.

Paul McCartney “The Boys of Dungeon Lane” Release Party

🕰️ Starting at Noon
🎯 Lou’s Record Store, Brunswick

Lou’s is throwing a release party for Paul McCartney’s The Boys of Dungeon Lane with giveaways, postcards, tote bags, and a chance to win a canvas print while supplies last. Basically the exact type of niche music event that makes record stores magical in the first place.

Grand Opening Wine Festival

🕰️ Starting at 5 PM
🎯 Newcastle Wine Merchant, Brunswick

Newcastle Wine Merchant is officially celebrating its grand opening with a curated wine tasting event featuring over a dozen selections from Italy — from Tuscany to Sicily — poured by knowledgeable wine experts. Tickets are staggered in 5 PM, 6 PM, and 7 PM entry windows, making this one feel a little more upscale than your average Friday happy hour.

Food is not included, but Arte Pizza conveniently sits next door for those planning a full evening downtown.

Limited seating available.

Supper Club Dinner

🕰️ 5:30 PM – 8 PM
🎯 Jekyll Island Club Resort, Jekyll

A refined Friday-night dining experience in the Grand Dining Room featuring prime cuts, elevated sides, and classic supper club energy. This one leans more “dress nice and sip cocktails slowly” than “flip-flops and tacos,” but honestly the Golden Isles can do both.

Adults: $70+
Children (4–12): $50+
Kids 3 & under: Free

OGI Yacht Club Pop-Up Party

🕰️ 6 PM
🎯 Oak Grove Island Yacht Club, Brunswick

The Yacht Club may be under construction, but apparently the party schedule is not. This waterfront pop-up gathering features live music from Braedon Harris, complimentary pizza, cornhole, marina sunset views, and BYOB energy. Sounds like one of those “just stopping by for a minute” nights that somehow turns into midnight.

Grumpy Monkey Live at La Playa Park

🕰️ 6 PM – 9 PM
🎯 La Playa Park, Brunswick

Classic rock, food vendors, local flavor, and a full Friday-evening hangout atmosphere at La Playa Park. Grumpy Monkey handles the soundtrack while vendors sling everything from spicy eats to sweet treats. Dogs welcome, full bar open late, and the whole thing feels built for people who don’t want summer weekends to end too early.

The Poets' Society Presents: Sizzle & Sayings

🕰️ 7 PM
🎯 Don Que’s Southern BBQ, Brunswick

An evening of spoken word, open mic performances, creativity, connection, and Southern BBQ all rolled into one. Whether you’re stepping up to the mic or just soaking it all in, this one leans artsy, expressive, and community-driven in the best possible way.

Limited seating available.

More info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1983981734776?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hibachi Cruise

🕰️ Evening departure
🎯 Anchor Excursions, SSI

This floating hibachi dinner aboard the Emmeline might quietly be one of the more unique date-night options of the summer. Cruise through the marshes between SSI and Jekyll while chefs grill dinner right on deck as dolphins, seabirds, and sunset colors do their thing in the background.

$95 per person.

Late Night Mack’s

🕰️ 9 PM – Midnight
🎯 Mack’s Bar-Be-Que, Brunswick

Pool tables are in, the music’s up, and Mack’s is officially making a play for Brunswick’s late-night crowd. Shoot some pool, grab a drink, and enjoy the rare local spot keeping things alive past bedtime on this side of town.

Glynn County Prep Rally

🕰️ 9 AM – 11:30 AM
🎯 Tractor Supply Co., Brunswick

This free preparedness rally brings together emergency managers, first responders, disaster experts, and community organizations for a practical, hands-on morning focused on storm prep and safety. Topics include evacuation planning, pet safety, food and water prep, insurance recovery resources, wildfire awareness, and more.

Not exactly a “party,” but definitely one of those events you’ll be glad you attended when hurricane season starts acting spicy.

Learn Tennis! First Lesson

🕰️ 9 AM – 10 AM
🎯 College of Coastal Georgia Tennis Courts, Brunswick

Golden Isles Tennis is launching beginner tennis lessons taught by Courtney Rutherford, Head Tennis Coach at the College of Coastal Georgia. Six one-hour lessons for $60 gets participants a free racket, free league registration, and even a free USTA membership.

To register: Text Patrick Anderson at (912) 223-3263

Brantley Strong Car & Bike Show

🕰️ 10 AM – 3 PM
🎯 Little Memorial Baptist Church, Hortense

Classic cars, motorcycles, music, food vendors, trophies, and a strong community cause all come together for this wildfire relief fundraiser benefiting families affected by the Brantley County fires. Expect everything from polished muscle cars to custom bikes, plus the kind of small-town community support event that Georgia honestly does really well.

Vehicle entry fee is $20, with proceeds supporting affected local families.

Layne’s Kingsland Grand Opening

🕰️ 10:30 AM – 2 PM
🎯 Layne’s Chicken Fingers, Kingsland

Chicken fingers, fries, sauce cups, and absolute grand-opening chaos. The first 50 dine-in guests receive free Layne’s for a year, which means somebody is absolutely planning to camp outside with lawn chairs and determination.

Silver Bluff Summer Music Series – Cliff Brandon

🕰️ 5 PM
🎯 Silver Bluff Brewing Company, Brunswick

Silver Bluff kicks off its summer concert series with Cliff Brandon bringing live music to the brewery’s open-air beer garden. Cold craft beer, laid-back downtown vibes, and one of those easy Brunswick evenings where nobody’s really in a hurry to leave.

Upcoming acts include Rambler Kane, Kirk Whalen, Pine Box Dwellers, The Long Stride Band, and Davis River Band throughout June.

Filo the Leader Karaoke

🕰️ 6 PM – 9 PM
🎯 Tipsy McSway’s, Brunswick

Karaoke chaos returns to downtown courtesy of DJ Filo. Power ballads, guilty pleasures, wildly overconfident rap performances, and at least one person attempting Journey after two drinks. In other words: exactly what karaoke is supposed to be.

LAST SUNDAY LUAU

🕰️ Noon – 6 PM
🎯 Glynn Place Mall, Brunswick

Summer vibes are going full throttle at Glynn Place Mall with DJs spinning all day, food trucks, vendors, bounce houses, games, and a “Best Dressed Summer Fit” contest kicking off at 3 PM. This one’s shaping up as a big family-friendly community hangout with a little bit of everything happening at once.

Free entry. Bring the kids, bring the cousins, bring your loudest tropical shirt.

This week’s Live Music Roundup is sponsored by Dreamweavers DJ — a father-and-son DJ team helping couples celebrate across Brunswick, SSI, Jekyll, Savannah, and Jacksonville.
https://dreamweaversdj.com

🎸 Willis Gore @ Coastal Cucina, Jekyll – 5-8pm
🎸 Gypsy Joe @ Founder's Social, Jekyll – 5-8pm
🎸 Amelia Blues Band @ Captain Stan's Smokehouse, Woodbine – 6:30pm
🎹 Jerry Gowen @ Georgia Sea Grill, SSI – 6:30-9:30pm
🎸 TacoCaT @ Fish Tales Pub & Grill, Brunswick – 6-9pm
🎸 Josh Nunn @ Shore Restaurant, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Triple Shot @ Tortuga Jack's, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Bluff 5 Band @ Tribuzio's Grille, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Frost Bros Band @ The Wharf, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎤 Brody Williams & Emma Mac @ The Firefly, St. Marys – 6-9pm
🎻 Acoustic Bluegrass/Gospel Jam @ Woodbine Opry, Woodbine – 7pm
🎸 Hot Banana Coffee @ Brogen's South, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Bill Lukitsch @ Ember/Mas Lounge, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Squirt Gun @ Gnat's Landing, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Mike McDaniel @ Rafters, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Last Call @ Tipsy McSway's, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🎸 Live Music @ Toucans Ale House, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🎤 Open Mic Night w/ DJ King & Rastar @ Live Oak Tavern, SSI – Time TBA
🎸 Side Piece @ Strand Bistro/Chophouse, Jesup – 7:30pm
🎸 Live Music @ Three Oaks Steak & Seafood, Brunswick – 7:30-10:30pm
🎸 Live Music @ Bar at Mallery, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Backbeat Boulevard @ Mullet Bay, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Brent Browning @ Village Inn & Pub, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Rider @ Bennie's Red Barn/Tree Bar, SSI – 9pm
🎸 Maple Street Band @ Reid's Apothecary/The Study, Brunswick – 9pm
🎸 Cody Marlowe Band @ Rafters, SSI – 11pm-2am

🎸 Coastal Highway Band @ The Galley Food Truck Park, Brunswick – 12-3pm
🎸 Ashton Rowland @ King City Kitchen, SSI – 12-4pm
🎸 TacoCaT @ Tortuga Jack's, Jekyll – 1-4pm
🎸 Rider Trio @ Founder's Social, Jekyll – 1-4pm
🎸 Cody Marlowe & Friends @ Over Yonder, Savannah – 3pm
🎸 Ted Stuckey @ 24 Coastal Grill, Jekyll – 5-8pm
🎸 Eric Britt @ Coastal Cucina, Jekyll – 5-8pm
🎸 Cliff Bragdon @ Silver Bluff Brewing Co., Brunswick – 5-8pm
🎸 Live Music @ Bubba's at Mary Ross Park, Brunswick – 6-9pm
🎸 Altamaha Sound @ Captain Stan's Smokehouse, Woodbine – 6:30pm
🎹 Jerry Gowen @ Georgia Sea Grill, SSI – 6:30-9:30pm
🎸 Roy Gentry @ The Hangout Bar & Grill, Brunswick – 6-9pm
🎸 Grumpy Monkey @ La Playa Park, Brunswick – 6-9pm
🎸 Mark Dennison @ Shore Restaurant, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Common Ground @ Tribuzio's Grille, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Backbeat Boulevard @ The Wharf, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Sunset Lounge w/ Rastar @ Wine Body & Soul, SSI – 6-10pm
🎻 Electric Dance Band Show @ Woodbine Opry, Woodbine – 7pm
🎸 Rider @ Gnat's Landing, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Live Music @ Brogen's South, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Live Music @ Toucans Ale House, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🎸 Your Mom's Favorite Band @ Three Oaks Steak & Seafood, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🎸 Page Brothers Band @ Boondox Tavern, Brunswick – 7-11pm
🎸 Hot Banana Coffee @ Bar at Mallery, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Squirt Gun @ Mullet Bay, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Brent Browning @ Village Inn & Pub, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Side Piece @ Tigre Island Room, Fernandina – 8pm
🎸 Sidetone @ Bennie's Red Barn/Tree Bar, SSI – 9pm
🎸 Thunderbird @ Reid's Apothecary/The Study, Brunswick – 9pm
🎸 Giant Deniro @ Rafters, SSI – 11pm-2am

🎸 Live Music @ La Playa Park, Brunswick – 11am-2pm
🎸 Jamie Walker @ Bubba Garcia's, SSI – 12-3pm
🎸 Rider Duo @ Coastal Kitchen, SSI – 12-3pm
🎸 Josh Nunn @ Bubba's at Mary Ross Park, Brunswick – 12-3pm
🎸 Jordan Franklin Edwards @ Hootenanny's BBQ, Brunswick – 12-3pm
🎸 Brody Williams & Emma Mac @ Founder's Social, Jekyll – 1-4pm
🎸 Pier Pressure @ Tortuga Jack's, Jekyll – 1-4pm
🎸 Mike McDaniel @ Captain Stan's Smokehouse, Woodbine – 3-6pm
🎸 Live Music @ Uptown Tap & Cigar, SSI – 3-6pm
🎸 Cody Marlowe @ Beachcomber BBQ, SSI – 5-8pm
🎸 Live Music @ Mullet Bay, SSI – 5-8pm
🎤 Brody Williams & Emma Mac @ Southern Riverwalk, St. Marys – 6pm
🎸 Last Call @ Gnat's Landing, SSI – 6-9pm
🎸 Bill Lukitsch @ Village Inn & Pub, SSI – 7-10pm

The Golden Isles Lantern continues to grow, and we’re opening a few spots for local sponsors who want to reach an engaged audience across Brunswick, St. Simons, Jekyll, and the surrounding area.

If you run a local business and would like to get in front of Lantern readers each week, I’d love to talk. Sponsorships help keep the newsletter free while supporting more local coverage, events, and community conversations.

Interested?
Email: [email protected]

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