The Great Hahira Pick-In started as an expression of love for a musical form between a group of friends.

Wilby Coleman and Sandy Odom enjoyed playing bluegrass music. They enjoyed bluegrass festivals. They decided to create a South Georgia festival for bluegrass music. They found a plot of land in Hahira, assembled several friends and family to help them in the endeavor, and recruited bluegrass bands and musicians to create an amazing weekend of music.

The first Great Hahira Pick-In started in 1980. Those amazing weekends continued once annually through 1995. In between, the Pick-In became something of a legendary event, filled with camping, love found, stories, unexpected surprises, and always bluegrass music.

During the Pick-In’s time, bluegrass wasn’t as easy to find nor was it as well known as it is today. These were the years prior to the success of the movie “Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou,” the years prior to the rock-bluegrass mix of numerous college bands. The Pick-In ended about the time the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park began hosting the bluegrass-fusion of its American roots music festivals like the Suwannee SpringFest and the MagnoliaFest.

Still, the Pick-In regularly found an audience of bluegrass stalwarts while also introducing bluegrass music to hundreds of new listeners.

When organizers decided to end the Pick-In in the mid 1990s, its passing marked the conclusion of an era.

It’s been a long 14 years for folks who loved the Pick-In, but this year, they and likely many new folks will get a taste of Pick-Ins past.

The Great Hahira Pick-In site has been sold to Harveys for the purpose of building a new grocery store. Before construction begins, Harveys wanted to present a gift to the community by sponsoring one more Great Hahira Pick-In.

This last Pick-In will be this weekend. It will feature several bluegrass bands and musicians, including some who played past Pick-Ins. Admission is free, and the event lasts from early morning to late at night. (See the story in this edition of The Valdosta Daily Times for more details).

Harveys has done a fine thing restoring for one last go-round an event that was much-loved and well remembered by many folks in South Georgia.

The Great Hahira Pick-In was one expression of what has made and continues to make our region great.