Things To Do in Augusta This Weekend: May 8-May 10

Mother's Day weekend in Augusta is shaping up to be one worth celebrating beyond the brunch table. The Augusta Players brings a beloved musical to the Imperial Theatre, the Augusta Symphony closes out its season in style, and Phinizy Swamp Nature Park offers a hands-on morning of real field science. Sprinkle in a community brunch, a riverfront market, and free admission to one of the city's finest art museums, and you've got a weekend that has something for just about everyone, whether you're treating mom or just treating yourself.

The Augusta Players presents "Once Upon a Mattress," May 8-10, 2026, at the Imperial Theatre, just in time for Mother's Day weekend. The family-friendly musical puts a comedic spin on "The Princess and the Pea," combining romance and raucous humor across a roughly two-hour runtime with one intermission. Rated for general audiences, the show carries advisories for theatrical haze and sound effects. Tickets are available through the Augusta Players box office or online.

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park's Eco Explorers program invites adults to spend a morning doing real field science. Participants pull on waders and collect, assess, and analyze water samples to gauge quality and health — the same work that helps protect Augusta's water supply. The mostly outdoor experience runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Registration is required at phinizycenter.org.

The Augusta Symphony closes its 71st season with "Symphonic Dances" at Miller Theater on May 9, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Music Director Dirk Meyer leads the orchestra through works by Glazunov, Strauss, and Rachmaninoff, with guest artist Evelyn Fuentes, the 2025 Youth Concerto Competition winner, performing the Glazunov Saxophone Concerto.

The weekend offers a little something for everyone. Gather for a community brunch, browse local vendors along the river, or spend Mother's Day afternoon exploring art, all without straying far from home.

When the workweek hits its stride, the Augusta area knows how to keep things interesting. From craft beer and board games to bar trivia and a country legend taking the Bell Auditorium stage, there's plenty to pull you off the couch this week.