NORTH GEORGIA STATE FAIR
DATES: September 20- September 30 (CLICK HERE for the daily schedule of concerts and specials)
HOURS: Monday through Thursday 4 to 11 pm, Fridays 4 pm to midnight, Saturdays 10 am to midnight, and Sundays 12:30 to 10:00 pm
WHERE: Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Rd., Marietta, GA 30008
WEBSITE: northgeorgiastatefair.com
ABOUT:
As the largest fair in metro Atlanta, the North Georgia State Fair attracts nearly 300,000 people every year from North Georgia and neighboring states. The North Georgia State Fair features live music, free attractions and shows, farm animals, flower shows, blue ribbon competitions, local entertainment, and delicious fair foods. There are also games and rides on the Great James H. Drew Exposition midway – one of the largest carnival midways in the United States, featuring the Wildcat Rollercoaster. Free Concerts: A covered arena guarantees concerts rain or shine, including appearances by great country and contemporary Christian artists. Headlining the Georgia Lottery Concert Series this year are: Newsboys with Building 429 and Luminate on Friday, September 21; Casey James on Saturday, September 22; Sara Evans on Wednesday, September 26; Thompson Square on Thursday, September 27; Colt Ford on Friday, September 28; Mark Wills on Saturday, September 29. All concerts begin at 8 p.m. Concerts FREE with fair admission.
NEW FOR 2012
Horses, Horses, Horses! – Lisa Dufresne will delight and entertain the entire family. She has taken her life-long love and passion for animals and transformed it into a stunning show of animal mastery. She is traveling with three horses and nine American miniatures. Her horses perform five acts, including a comedy show.
Atlanta Puppet featuring Peter Hart – Enjoy the Atlanta Puppet show, featuring international marionettes and other puppetry styles performed by Master Puppeteer Peter Hart. Peter presents puppet programs that are superior entertainment for family audiences of all ages.
Al the Artist – Al the Artist travels about the fairgrounds in his brightly-colored, bicycle-powered “cartoon car” sketching patrons and drawing smiles. Roaming the fairgrounds for five hours daily.
ATTRACTIONS
Back again this year: Kachunga and the Alligator Show, Keith King Bike Stunt Show, Oscar the Robot, Brian Ruth the Master of the Chainsaw, Wit Carson’s Petting Zoo and Pony Rides, and the Local Entertainment Stage.
Vist the webiste for a full schedule of events, daily admission prices and ride specials!
ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER FALL FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL
DATE: September 22
HOURS: 10:30am to 4:30pm
WHERE: Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305-1366
COST: Free for members. $14.50 adults; $11 seniors & students; $9 youth 4-12; Kids under 4 FREE
WEBSITE: http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com
ABOUT:
Traditional crafts, southern foodways, and environmental sustainability are at the center of this year's Fall Folklife Festival. An assortment of scheduled and ongoing events occurs throughout the museum and onto the History Center's Smith Family Farm. Interact with local chefs and farmers as they discuss current culinary trends that focus on farm-to-table food practices and sustainability techniques. Enjoy the sounds of local musicians performing sets of folk and bluegrass music. Great food and local beers will be available for purchase.
Festival highlights include ongoing activities at Smith Family Farm such as blacksmithing, candle dipping, natural dyeing, cornhusk dolls, woodworking, petting zoo and more. Demonstrations include Phickles Pickles (learn about the art of pickling); storyteller Betty Ann Wylie and more. Schedule on website.
Food for sale includes Farm Cart, Yumbli Food Truck, WOW Food Truck, and Honeysuckle Gelato. Local craft beers available as well. Note: no ATM on site!
MUSIC MIDTOWN
DATES: September 21-September 22SCHEDULE: See website!
WHERE: The Meadow at Piedmont Park
TICKETS: Day of Show Tickets are $65. See website for all options including VIP and Two Day Passes.
WEBSITE: http://musicmidtown.com/
ABOUT:
I remember going to Music Midtown YEARS ago, in its original downtown location - seeing bands like Counting Crows and No Doubt. Then the festival went away - sadly - only to return last year to Piedmont Park with headliners Coldplay. This is a BIG concert event - and I personally wouldn't take my kids. But it sure would be fun to go if I had a babysitter. This year's lineup is fantastic - make sure to visit the website to see the schedule of acts. (Adam Ant and Pearl Jam make for an interesting combo)
FRIDAY: Van Hunt, T.I., Foo Fighters, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The Avett Brothers
SATURDAY: Civil Twilight, Garbage, Ludacris, Florence + the Machine, Pearl Jam, O’ Brother, LP, Adam Ant, Neon Trees, Girl Talk
SANDY SPRINGS FESTIVAL AT HERITAGE GREEN
DATES: September 22 - September 23HOURS: Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Heritage Green; 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
ADMISSION: Free for Heritage Green members; Adults $5; Kids 6-17 $2; Under 6 FREE
WEBSITE: https://www.sandyspringsfestival.com/ or more HERE
ABOUT:
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Juried Artists’ Market - Stroll through a large array of art booths and check out the hand-made jewelry, fine art, distinctive crafts and unique gifts.
Business & Civic Expo - Browse through booths from local businesses and civic organizations that showcase their goods and services.
Children’s Park - Kids will love the activities designed especially for younger children, including hands-on crafts, a petting zoo and pony rides.
Teen Territory - Enjoy the excitement of inflatable rides, bungee jumps and rock walls in this area geared toward teens.
The Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn & Stage - Enjoy a variety of local amateur and professional performers on the stage throughout the weekend.
Kiwanis Pet Parade - Pets of all shapes and sizes will parade through the Festival sporting creative and crazy costumes. Prizes are awarded in a variety of categories.
Heritage Sandy Springs Museum - “Roots of Sandy Springs,” at the HSS Museum will celebrate the heritage of our community through crafts, demonstrations and exhibits.
Health and Wellness Area - This area is designed to provide health screenings and educational resources, to Festival attendees.
Optech Family of Companies’ Food Court - Choose from a variety of tasty treats offered by local restaurants and regional vendors in addition to the new food trucks.
