The 2025 MAC Party drew about 100 students from several of Macon's universities and college to downtown Macon Thursday night. While the turnout was slightly less than last year's, there was something to do and to sample for all attendees.
Since its revival following the COVID-19 pandemic, the MAC Party has taken a more proactive approach to introducing students to local restaurants, Erin Keller '08, NewTown Macon's vice president of development, said. Today, students go to the businesses' physical location instead of having the restaurants bring their products to one location for students to sample.
Among the local establishments that took part in the celebration, Shuster's Candy and Creamery, Longleaf Distilling Co. and Hello Boba Cafe offered students discounts and samples from 7-10 p.m.
Keller added that Macon's downtown was much different now than it was during her time at Mercer. "There are so many other other opportunities for students to not only have a really solid college experience but to also get off of campus," the former Mercer women's basketball player said.
Nathaniel Jordan '29 intends to major in Journalism at Mercer and hopes to work as an investigative journalist. His hobbies include poetry, photography and home cooking, and you can probably find him around Macon shopping or walking through local parks with his wife and son.
