Celebrate the Start of Summer at Callaway Gardens’ Memorial Day Weekend Festival

May 15, 2012 - PRLog -- PINE MOUNTAIN, GA – It’s time celebrate the arrival of Summer at Callaway Gardens’ Memorial Day Weekend Festival, May 25-28, 2012. Catch a few rays, kick up a little sand, enjoy a variety of music and watch world champions compete at the 53rd Annual Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament®.

As is tradition at Callaway Gardens, Memorial Day Weekend is full of championship waterskiing and wakeboarding on Robin Lake, as well as the brand new sport of wakeskating.  Watch dozens of the world’s finest water sports athletes representing more than 14 countries compete for more than $110,000 in cash and prizes in the Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament.  Competition events include tricks, slalom, jump, wakeboard and wakeskating. The Junior Masters elimination rounds and finals will be Friday, May 25, at 8 a.m. The Masters elimination rounds will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday.  Sunday will start with Opening Ceremonies at 10 a.m. and finals at 11 a.m. with participants competing for the coveted title of Masters Champion.

Special tournament activities on Robin Lake Beach will include water sports exhibitors, concessions and other festivities for spectators to enjoy throughout the event.  

Growing the festivities for Memorial Day Weekend in 2012, Callaway Gardens has planned tons of fun following the competition each day as well as impressive car show, live music, an array of food vendors and the Callaway Gardens Farmers Market, an opportunity to purchase locally grown produce and products. A special exhibition by the U. S. Army Silver Wings Night Pyrotechnic Sky Diving Team performing Robin Lake on Sunday.

Memorial Day Weekend opens Robin Lake Beach for the Summer – with lots of exciting activities for 2012, including Light Striker Laser Tag*, Blaster Boats* and Aqua Island*, an expansive floating playground.  Robin Lake Beach also will continue to offer its traditional activities of swimming, shuffleboard, table tennis, miniature golf and sneak peak performances of the Summer shows by The FSU Flying High Circus.

Inside the Gardens, guests can add some adrenaline to their day on Callaway Gardens’ newest year-round attraction, TreeTop Adventure*, which features 24 aerial challenges and zip lines. Reservations are suggested.  Guests also can enjoy the many attractions unique to Callaway Gardens including the Birds of Prey show featuring free-flight hawks, owls and falcons; butterflies flying about in the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center; beautiful horticultural displays in the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center; and a bounty of growing vegetables and flowers in Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden.  The 10-mile Discovery Bicycle Trail takes guests on a leisurely ride by all of these great attractions.  A tennis match, round of golf, or time spent fishing by boat are enjoyable ways to begin or end a great day at Callaway.

Admission to this special event Memorial Day Weekend is $25/adult and $12.50/child (age 6 to 12).  Children 5 and younger are admitted for free.  Admission can be upgraded to Pavilion Passes on a limited, first-come basis. Callaway Gardens Annual Passholders receive half-price admission.  For this special holiday event, military personnel receive free admission for themselves and up to five guests in the same vehicle with presentation of active or retired military identification.
Make this experience a weekend getaway.  Stay for the weekend and enjoy the new TreeTop Adventure and Callaway Gardens’ array of facilities, attractions and special events on a special Memorial Day Weekend overnight package.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit www.callawaygardens.com.

Make this Memorial Day Weekend one to remember for a lifetime!

*Fee charged

About Callaway Gardens
For 60 years, Callaway Gardens has provided “a place of relaxation, inspiration and a better understanding of the living world” for millions of visitors.  Owned and operated by the non-profit Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, Callaway Gardens includes a garden, resort, preserve and residential community on 13,000 acres in Pine Mountain, Georgia.  Highlights include a butterfly conservatory, horticultural center, discovery center, chapel, inland beach, nature trails and special events throughout the year.

In addition, Callaway Gardens offers nearly 80,000 square feet of meeting space, 685 guest rooms, restaurants, shops, golf, tennis, fishing and more.

Five unique, close-knit residential communities--with custom home sites, lakefront properties and cottages on the golf course – offer an ideal home away from home or full-time residence.

Callaway Gardens is home to a 4,610-acre forest preserve which is under conservation easement.  This conserved, sustainably-managed land is used for biological studies and environmental education programs.

Note to Editors: A weekend schedule of events is below.  Images, interviews and visits to the event can be arranged.  Thank you.

Memorial Day Weekend Festival Schedule of Events
Friday, May 25, 2012
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.  Junior Masters (Semifinal/Final Rounds)
10 a.m.-7 p.m.  Recreation Activities: Aqua Island*, Blaster Boats*, Light Striker Laser Tag*, Miniature Golf, Table Tennis, Shuffleboard
11 a.m.-7 p.m.  Kids Zone: Waterslide*, Rock Climbing Wall*, Spider Jump*
4 p.m.-7 p.m.  Farmers Market
9 p.m.-1 a.m.  Nightclub Party with DJ Suspense at Mountain Creek Inn Ballroom

Saturday, May 26, 2012
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.  Masters (Semifinal Rounds)
10 a.m.-6 p.m.  LowLine Customs Car Show
10 a.m.-7 p.m.  Recreation Activities: Aqua Island*, Blaster Boats*, Light Striker Laser Tag*, Miniature Golf, Table Tennis, Shuffleboard
11 a.m.-7 p.m.  Kids Zone: Waterslide*, Rock Climbing Wall*, Spider Jump*
11 a.m.-9 p.m.  Specialty Food Vendors
4 p.m.-9 p.m.  Live Music
9 p.m.-1 a.m.  Nightclub Party with DJ Suspense at Mountain Creek Inn Ballroom

Sunday, May 27, 2012
10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.  Masters Opening Ceremonies
10 a.m.-6 p.m.  LowLine Customs Car Show
10 a.m.-7 p.m.  Recreation Activities: Aqua Island*, Blaster Boats*, Light Striker Laser Tag*, Miniature Golf, Table Tennis, Shuffleboard
10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Masters (Final Rounds)
11 a.m.-7 p.m.  Kids Zone: Waterslide*, Rock Climbing Wall*, Spider Jump*
11 a.m.-9 p.m.  Specialty Food Vendors
4 p.m.-9 p.m.    Live Music
6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Masters Awards Ceremony at Mountain Creek Inn Ballroom
8:45 p.m.  Pyrotechnic Night Jump by U.S. Army Silver Wings Parachute Team
9 p.m.-1 a.m.  Nightclub Party with DJ Suspense at Mountain Creek Inn Ballroom

Monday, May 28, 2012
10 a.m.-6 p.m.  Recreation Activities: Aqua Island*, Blaster Boats*, Light Striker Laser Tag*, Miniature Golf, Table Tennis, Shuffleboard
11 a.m.-11:45 a.m.  Sneak Peak of 2012 FSU Flying High Circus
2 p.m.-2:45 p.m.  Sneak Peak of 2012 FSU Flying High Circus

All events are at Robin Lake Beach area unless otherwise noted.

*Additional fee