Editing Valdosta, Georgia (section)

==Arts and culture==
=== Public libraries ===
[[File:Willis L. Miller Library Grand Opening 5.jpg|thumb|Valdosta Lowndes County Library]]

The [[South Georgia Regional Library]] operates two libraries in Valdosta: Valdosta Lowndes County Library and Mae Wisenbaker McMullen Memorial Southside Library. Valdosta Lowndes County Library, with over {{convert|32000|sqft|sqm}} of space, houses the administrative offices of the library system. Built for $450,000, it first opened in 1968.<ref>"[http://www.sgrl.org/index.php/find-a-branch/valdosta-lowndes-county-library Valdosta Lowndes County Library]." [[South Georgia Regional Library]]. Retrieved on May 14, 2017.</ref> The Mae Wisenbaker McMullen Memorial Southside Library opened on May 31, 1992. An area businessperson, J.C. McMullen, donated the land used for the Southside Library, which was built as part of a larger library construction program; it was named after Mae Wisenbaker McMullen, the mother of J.C. McMullen.<ref name=McMullen>"[http://www.sgrl.org/index.php/find-a-branch/mcmullen-southside-library McMullen Southside Library ]." [[South Georgia Regional Library]]. Retrieved on May 14, 2017.</ref>

The first library for African-Americans in Lowndes County began operations in the Walton Building on January 21, 1935, closed in February 1939, and reopened in 1955. In 1963, all libraries became available to patrons of all races.<ref name=McMullen/>

===Museum===
[[File:Valdosta GA Carnegie Library01.jpg|thumb|Lowndes County Historical Society & Museum in the former Carnegie Library]]

The Lowndes County Historical Society & Museum is located at the [[Carnegie Library of Valdosta]], a National Register of Historic Places listed building and [[Carnegie library]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.valdostamuseum.org/ |title=Valdosta Museum and Lowndes County Historical Society |publisher=Valdostamuseum.org |access-date=September 6, 2012}}</ref> one of [[List of Carnegie libraries in Georgia|24 Carnegie libraries in Georgia]].

===Civic center===
The Lowndes County Civic Center is a 120-seat multi-purpose arena that can be rented by the public and is often used to host community sporting events.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lowndes County Civic Center |url=https://www.visitvaldosta.org/Play/Recreation-Sports-and-Outdoors/lowndes-county-civic-center |website=Visit Valdosta |access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> The arena was also an occasional venue for [[Southern Championship Wrestling]] and Spinebusters Championship Wrestling.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tifton native to highlight Valdosta wrestling card |url=https://www.tiftongazette.com/sports/tifton-native-to-highlight-valdosta-wrestling-card/article_ee141757-27a5-54ed-ba1d-900f58c32e81.html |access-date=December 16, 2019 |work=The Tifton Gazette |date=December 7, 2005}}</ref>

===LGBT pride===

The South Georgia [[Gay pride|Pride Festival]] is held every third Saturday in September. The first festival was held in 2008 on the front lawn of Valdosta State University. In 2009, the festival became South Georgia Pride and held its festival at the John W. Saunders Park in Valdosta in 2010. Valdosta Mayor John J. Fretti proclaimed September 17, 2011, as South Georgia Pride Day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Valdosta Mayor Proclaims Sept. 17 as "South Georgia Pride Day" |url=http://thegavoice.com/valdosta-mayor-proclaims-sept-17-as-south-georgia-pride-day/ |publisher=Georgia Voice |date=September 16, 2011}}</ref>  Since 2010, the festival has grown to over 3,000 people attending. In July 2012, Mayor John Gayle refused to give a proclamation to South Georgia Pride, the only one he has refused.<ref>{{cite news |title=Valdosta mayor refuses to sign South Georgia Pride proclamation |url=http://thegavoice.com/valdosta-mayor-proclaims-sept-17-as-south-georgia-pride-day/ |publisher=Georgia Voice |date=July 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pride denied: Valdosta mayor denies LGBT event proclamation |url=http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/local_news/pride-denied-valdosta-mayor-denies-lgbt-event-proclamation/article_c7a9725e-fa40-536f-815a-d9b37e9a5690.html |publisher=Valdosta Daily Times |date=July 27, 2012}}</ref>