MACON, Ga. — With Election Day less than a month away, President Trump is making a stop in Macon for a Make America Great Again rally.
He will be at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport on Friday night to greet his supporters.
If you’re planning on attending President Trump’s Macon rally, or will at least be in the area around the airport, there is important information you’ll need to know:
TRAFFIC
Traffic around the Middle Georgia Regional Airport will be affected from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday. Drivers are urged to avoid Avondale Mill Road, because it will be closed. Ticketholders or commuters are being asked to prepare for traffic delays along Highway 247 and Industrial Highway during the event time. Remember, doors open at 4 p.m. and the rally starts at 7 p.m.
If you are planning on attending the rally, you should enter the assigned parking areas from Industrial Highway to Grace Road. Once parked, shuttle buses will take ticketholders to the event. Any vehicles parked outside of the assigned areas are subject to be towed.
TICKETHOLDERS
Security will be heightened for people planning on attending the rally. No weapons of any kind will be permitted inside the event space. There will be metal detectors and a bag check.
The Middle Georgia Regional Airport says folks who registered for the event, but didn't get a ticket sent to their email can show their confirmation code at the door to get in.
An operator at the airport says this can be a screenshot of the confirmation page.
PROTESTERS
Anyone who is protesting outside the airport will see a heavy law enforcement presence to ensure safety for everyone in the area. The sheriff’s office says anyone at the rally or protesting outside should obey the law.
You can get your ticket for the event here.
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Bibb County GOP Chairman Calvin Palmer says he will be there.
"We're loving it. I mean, we're getting people to sign up to volunteer, people are getting their tickets to go and it looks like its going to be a great event," he said.
Doors open at 4 p.m. and the president is set to take the stage at 7 p.m.
Chair of the Bibb County Democratic Party Dr. Anissa Jones says she thinks having the rally while the county is still dealing with the pandemic is a bad idea.
"It's irresponsible," she said. "We may disagree on some fundamental values and things like that, but that doesn't mean that I want people to get COVID. I don't. I am very worried about those that are making the decision to put themselves in that situation, even if it's not from Trump, but others that they don't know."
When President Trump visited the Macon airport back in 2018, there were about 12,500 people inside the event and around 6,000 outside.
"Donald Trump really loves Bibb County. He's been here several times and of course Bibb County really loves Donald Trump, so we love to see it when he comes," Palmer said.
He says he is not too worried about potentially being exposed to COVID-19 at the rally.
"I think people should do what they think is the wise thing to do in this. I think people are smart enough to know what's the best avenue to take and if you need to wear a mask, you wear a mask," he said.
Jones says because of the COVID-19 safety concerns, she doesn't understand why candidates can't stick to virtual rallies to keep people safe.
"We use all forms of media, technology that we have at our disposal to be able to communicate," she said. "But we're still getting the same message across. It's gonna have the same energy and enthusiasm and effectiveness."
She says she would have the same concerns if it was Presidential candidate Joe Biden coming to town.
"I don't want to put myself in a position where I could be hurting someone else and we all should be thinking about that for our community, because we still have to be here when he's gone."