Forests and Wiregrass grasslands shape the landscape of Toombs County. At the same time, the travel experience ranges from Vidalia onion culture to activities on the Ohoopee River. If you’re looking for hotels in Toombs, you can tailor your search to your interests: Are you planning to visit for the annual Onion Festival, are you interested in local history, or would you like to focus on river activities?
Vidalia Onions and Events
The Sweet Vidalia Onion draws visitors to Toombs County for the annual Vidalia Onion Festival. This family-friendly festival combines live music, carnival rides and arts and crafts with dishes made using creative Vidalia onion recipes. If you’re traveling specifically for the festival, check the dates for your travel year before planning your trip.
The Vidalia Onion Museum features educational exhibits about the economic, cultural and culinary significance of the sweet onion. The museum also offers a historical experience focused on the Vidalia onion. During the growing season, visitors can see real onions growing outside the building—a distinct, seasonal perspective on the subject alongside the exhibits inside.
The Onion Fountain also celebrates the local onion culture. The six-foot-tall stainless-steel structure was designed and built by Ruth Williams English, a local artist and welder. At night, multicolored lights, dancing water and music come together in the park. The two-day Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival, which began in 2010, offers a different kind of event. The annual Kiwanis Onion Run features 5K and 10K runs and walks, as well as a one-mile fun run and walk.
Ohoopee River and Outdoor Activities
The Ohoopee River borders Toombs and Tattnall counties and is considered a popular recreation area for anglers, hunters and water sports enthusiasts. River activities in Toombs County include kayaking and canoeing, as well as camping, fishing and hunting. This offers a choice of both trips on the water and other forms of riverside recreation; you can choose what suits your interests based on the kind of activity you have planned.
Ohoopee River RV & Camp Resort in Lyons offers kayak rentals and a shuttle service for river activities. Because these are commercial services, it’s advisable to confirm their availability before your trip. South of Lyons, Doodle Hill Farm brings traditional farming to life through living-history demonstrations featuring mules, draft horses and antique equipment.
Lyons, Vidalia and Their Local History
Lyons and Vidalia Regional Airport are useful reference points for planning your arrival: Lyons is 15 miles from Interstate 16, which connects with I-75 and I-95. The airport is a few minutes from Lyons. Its facilities include a lighted 6,000-foot runway and a secondary 5,000-foot runway. The distance and runway details offer different points of reference without specifying travel time between locations.
Lyons is home to the Altama Museum. Its collection is housed in the neoclassical Brazell House, built in 1911; the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is particularly known for the Libby Collection, which includes more than 260 pieces of 19th-century Staffordshire porcelain in 210 different patterns. The Shiplett Gallery focuses on the local history of the Girl Scouts.
Another historical focus is the Altamaha Heritage Center, which preserves the history of the wider Altamaha River watershed. Its exhibits cover Indigenous peoples, moonshining, turpentine, settler farms, transportation, agricultural equipment and a barn loom. Visits are available by appointment only. Listed hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For family and state history, the Ladson Genealogical Library contains books and other materials primarily intended for research in those areas.
The PAL Theatre in Vidalia also has a long cultural history: its history as a movie theater and performing arts venue dates back to 1927. In Lyons, a new experience based on selected stories is presented every April at the Blue Marquee Theater. These offerings have different focuses—from collections and local history to theater and living-history interpretation.
More Destinations
Explore more destinations: Lyons, Vidalia, Lowndes, Effingham County, Macon County, Butts, Charlton County and Catoosa.
For the broader travel overview: Georgia.
