Shining the Light on Andalusia Farm

New evening hours and monthly open mics make Flannery O’Connor’s Milledgeville home more accessible. 

“Andalusia in the evening is particularly beautiful. The waning light casts a magical spell on the landscape,” says Andalusia Executive Director Elizabeth Wylie. Since accepting her position in 2015, Wylie has continued to increase event offerings at Andalusia in order to encourage repeat visitation and explore how the farm’s landscape influenced O’Connor’s work.

The light at a farm such as Andalusia is referenced frequently by O’Connor in her writing:

“…looking at the sun which was going down in front of them, almost on top of the tree line. It was swollen and flame-colored and hung in a net of ragged cloud as if it might burn through any second and fall into the woods.” – “A Circle in the Fire” by Flannery O’Connor

This summer, visitors have more chances to experience Andalusia — this time under the setting sun. Andalusia Farm launched extended evening hours and is hosting Thursdalusia!, an open mic program every third Thursday. The drop-in evening is moderated by Milledgeville, Georgia’s own Daniel Wilkinson, local actor, teacher and Andalusia’s resident bon vivant. Anyone who wishes to present anything will have five minutes on the back yard deck at the farm, which consists of 500-plus acres on U.S. 441, four miles north of downtown Milledgeville.

O’Connor wrote most of the work that established her as one of the world’s foremost 20th century writers here, and new seasonal hours make it possible for visitors to experience the sunsets as O’Connor once did. Through September, the farm will be open for free every Thursday until sunset or about 8:30 p.m.

Visitors can also tour the house, shop in the Andalusia store, visit with the resident peafowl and generally enjoy the property, which has indoor and outdoor seating. A mile-long nature trail loops through the woods along the Tobler Creek, and picnics are welcome. Multiple volumes of O’Connor’s books are scattered about for visitors to read a short story in the place it was written.

Thursdalusia! open mic starts at 6 p.m. and goes until sunset. The program takes place on the Nail House Deck, an open air platform in the footprint of the old Nail House, or garage, in the back yard behind the main house where O’Connor lived with her mother from 1951 until her death in 1964 at age 39. Refreshments include Wise Blood IPA from Wild Heaven Craft Beers.

Remaining 2016 Thursdalusia! dates are:

July 21
August 18
September 15