About

The historic Thomas Cotton Gin on Greensboro Highway was built in 1875 and remains Oconee County’s last operational cotton gin, preserved in its original working condition. Once a bustling hub of cotton processing, today it serves as a unique venue for weddings, gatherings, and community celebrations. With its authentic warehouse charm and scenic agricultural backdrop, the Gin offers the perfect setting for an evening that celebrates both heritage and harvest.

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Imagine arriving at 3783 Greensboro Hwy in Watkinsville on a crisp autumn afternoon. The sun dips low, casting golden light across the fields, and the air carries the earthy scent of the season’s harvest. Friends, neighbors, and farmers gather together—ready for a night that promises more than a meal: it promises connection, community, and celebration.
 

🌾 The Evening Experience
 

• 4:00–5:30 PM | Community Gathering / 🎶 Live Music
  The evening opens with friends and neighbors coming together in support of our local farmers and artisans. Guests will enjoy the soulful jazz and funk stylings of Art Grider, whose tenor sax and electronic wind instruments bring an eclectic sound inspired by Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, and other greats., while sharing in the anticipation of the farm-to-table meal yet to come and the joy of community connection.

• 5:30–7:00 PM | Live Music with The Solstice Sisters
  As the evening unfolds, the celebration continues with the lively harmonies of The Solstice Sisters. This acoustic trio—featuring Athens musicians Susan Staley, Anna Durden (or Anna Hiers), and Maggie Hunter. They are known for their three-part harmonies, singing old-time country ballads, traditional folk, and '40s-style swing music. 

• 5:30–7:00 PM | Farm-to-Table Dinner
  As twilight settles, long tables are set with warmth and care in the Gin’s authentic warehouse space. Guests will savor a dinner prepared by Chef José Zambrano and Chef Sage Patterson, crafted with the freshest local ingredients. Every dish tells the story of Oconee’s soil, hardworking hands, and the community’s commitment to sustainability.

• Silent Auction, Raffles & Vendor Showcase
  Throughout the evening, explore a showcase of farmers’ and artisans’ goods, and bid on silent auction and raffle items generously donated by community partners. Each item carries a story, and every contribution helps sustain the work of local farms and nonprofits.
   

🌟 Purpose
 

At the heart of the event lies our mission: raising funds to strengthen Oconee County. Proceeds will support:

• Oconee Farmers Market – sustaining a weekly market that empowers farmers and entrepreneurs by providing a vibrant space to grow their businesses, connect with neighbors, and strengthen the local economy.

• Little Rose Organics – a family farm rooted in organic practices, nourishing families with fresh, chemical-free produce while fostering education and sustainability.

• Rotary Club of Oconee County – honoring the memory of Melissa Norris and Karen Nasworthy through the M & K Foundation, providing scholarships and serving the community through youth support, accessibility projects, disaster relief, and global polio eradication.
   

When you join us at the Thomas Cotton Gin, you step into history while supporting the future. This is more than a dinner—it’s a story of farms and families, of food and fellowship, of neighbors coming together to lift one another up.
 

🌿 An unforgettable night where farm meets table, and community grows. 🌿