DULUTH
Duluth Fall Festival at Duluth Town Green
Downtown Duluth sets aside two days for this seasonal shindig. It launches Saturday morning as the streets close for a parade, which begins rolling at 10. Small town charm shimmers with fire trucks, classic cars and high school bands among the celebratory convoy. More than 100 soldiers from Fort Benning, many fresh from Iraq, are set to march, too. Festivities continue with a multitude of arts and crafts booths, and food vendors. Saturday’s live music shuffles with diversity as the strains of Celtic harps intermingle with the hunka-hunka burning love of an Elvis tribute artist and a hodgepodge of other sounds. The action continues Sunday with a 5K road race and a non-denominational church service. Dancers and an assortment of live music follow.
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 25; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 26. Duluth Town Green, 3578 W. Lawrenceville St., Duluth. 770-476-0240, www.duluthfallfestival.org.
SANDY SPRINGS
Sandy Springs Festival at Heritage Green
Organizers say this annual event has transformed from an intimate picnic to a big-time area affair with more than 20,000 guests expected. It serves as the main fundraiser for Heritage Sandy Springs, a nonprofit that works to preserve and promote the history and culture of Sandy Springs. They’ll be ringing in the fest’s 25th anniversary with oodles of activities including a collector’s car show, live music, a kiddie area, a pet parade, and juried artist market. But it all begins Saturday morning . The Doug Kessler 5K Race begins at 7:30 a.m., and a 10K race follows at 8 a.m.
9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 25; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 26. $5; $7 two-day pass; $2 ages 6-17; $3 ages 6-17 for two-day pass. Heritage Green, 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs. 404-851-9111, www.sandyspringsfestival.com.
PEACHTREE CITY
“The Rat Pack is Back” at Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater
Few can say they actually experienced the Rat Pack’s Vegas act in all of its martini-swilling, finger-snapping glory. For those who missed the swing and ring-a-ding, the Fred becomes a virtual substitute for the Sands Hotel Copa Room as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop impersonators attempt to recreate the magic. (What, no Peter Lawford?) A jazz act warms up the audience before the bow-tied quartet hits the stage dishing out lounge standards backed by a 12-piece big band. Expect plenty of between-song banter ending in “babe.”
8 p.m. Sept. 24. $20-$25. Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City. 770-631-0630, www.amphitheater.org.