The sheer amount of fall festivals out there is often tougher to keep up with than your favorite football team's entire roster. This time, however, we did the legwork for you, wrangling together a list of events featuring a variety of sights, sounds and tastes as festival season falls into place.
Yellow Daisy Festival
It's remained a popular staple for the past 43 years. More than 400 artists and crafters from across the country are selected. Live entertainment, crafter demonstrations, festival food and a special Children's Corner keep guests busy.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 6-7; 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sept. 8; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 9. Free; $10 parking. Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Drive, Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, www.stonemountainpark.com.
Paws and Planes Festival
Check out historic military and commercial airplanes. Live music, festival grub, kiddie activities and pet adoptions pack the day. Helicopter rides will be available for a fee. It benefits the Homeless Pets Foundation and the Marietta Museum of History — Aviation Wing. Friendly dogs on leashes are welcome.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 8. $10; free ages 12 and younger. Marietta Museum of History — Aviation Wing, 550 Perrin Road, Marietta. 770-289-5008, www.pawsandplanes.blogspot.com.
Fair on the Square
This gathering features arts and crafts, a food court, kids zone, live entertainment, prizes and more. Guests are asked to donate school supplies to help the Central Gwinnett Cluster School Foundation.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 8. Free. Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 W. Crogan St., Lawrenceville. www.lawrencevillefallfestival.com.
Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival
Ten local barbecue restaurants serve up their specialties, and 50 cooking teams engage in competition. Participating teams offer $1 to $2 samples while supplies last. Additional food costs extra. Experience live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, kiddie activities and a classic car show. The TV show "BBQ Pitmasters" will be there.
4-10 p.m. Sept. 14; noon-8 p.m. Sept. 15. $6 advance; $10 at the door. Atlantic Station's special event area at 20th Street and Fowler Street, Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849, www.atlbbqfest.com.
Fall Festival on Ponce
As many as 175 artists and crafters line up in the chain of parks found along Ponce de Leon Avenue. A children's area, food vendors and trucks, and live acoustic music highlight the event. It benefits the Olmsted Linear Park Alliance and the Paideia School.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 15; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 16. Free. Oak Grove Park, 1451 Ponce De Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-845-0793, www.festivalonponce.com.
Marietta StreetFest
Take a gander at antiques and handcrafted arts around the Historic Marietta Square. Other features include a children's zone, jewelry row, the farmers market, live music and the Hubcaps and History Classic Car Show. It serves as a fundraiser for the Marietta Museum of History.
9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 15. Free. Glover Park, 50 N. Park Square, Marietta. 770-794-5710, www.mariettastreetfest.com.
East Atlanta Village Strut
Live music on four stages, a parade, an indoor comedy stage, artist market, circus acts, a classic car show and more bring this eclectic festival to life. A kids village has an "Alice in Wonderland" theme. Expect plenty of libations and festival food.
10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 15. Free. East Atlanta Village at Glenwood Avenue S.E. and Flat Shoals Avenue S.E., Atlanta. www.eastatlantastrut.com.
Taste of Chamblee
A total of 20 restaurants come together to spotlight their culinary creations. Art vendors, a car show, live music, a children's section and other aspects round out the event. Proceeds benefit the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, which provides vision and hearing services for uninsured Georgians.
Noon-8 p.m. Sept. 15. Free. Chamblee City Hall, 5468 Peachtree Road, Chamblee. 404-325-3630, www.thetasteofchamblee.com.
Sandy Springs Festival
Organizers promise a slew of options. Among them are arts and crafts vendors, the Kiwanis Pet Parade, 5K and 10K road races and live entertainment. The festival serves as the largest fundraiser for Heritage Sandy Springs, the nonprofit organization that funds and operates Heritage Green, its four-acre park.
9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 22; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 23. $2-$5; $3-$7 for two-day pass; free ages 5 and younger, and Heritage Sandy Springs members. Heritage Green, 6110 Bluestone Road, Sandy Springs. 404-851-9111, www.sandyspringsfestival.com.
Fall Folklife Festival
Southern traditions from crafts to food unite. Local chefs and farmers chat about farm-to-table scenarios and environmental sustainability. Live folk and bluegrass music treats the ears, while the sale of food and local beer tempt the taste buds. Events take place throughout the museum and onto the Smith Family Farm.
10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 22. $16.50; $13 students and seniors; $11 ages 4-12; free ages 3 and younger. Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Road , Atlanta. 404-814-4000, www.atlantahistorycenter.com/folklife.
Third Annual International Fall Festival
St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church helps you get cultured with Russian, Georgian and American food. A Russian tearoom, live music, children's activities, an outdoor market, art and jewelry vendors, and church tours will be available.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 29; 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 30. $1; free ages 12 and younger. St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church, 1765 Woodstock Road, Roswell. 770-640-1780, www.stmaryofegypt.org.
The Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off
Throngs of folks will be sampling chili from approximately 300 teams. They're going spoon-to-spoon to see who has the best chili, Brunswick stew and cornbread. Rock tribute bands perform, and wacky contests include the mullet flop and hot pepper eating. All of the profits benefit Camp Twin Lakes.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 29. $10; free ages 12 and younger. $10 parking. Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Drive, Stone Mountain. 678-309-4285, www.theatlantachilicookoff.com.
Fourth Annual Whole Hawg Happenin' BBQ & Music Fest
Sample barbecue, priced at 50 cents to $5, from area masters. Soak up live music, food demonstrations, a beer garden, a kids corner and more in Historic Marietta Square. Proceeds benefit the Earl Smith Strand Theatre, the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, the Gone With the Wind Museum and the Marietta Museum of History.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 30. Free. Glover Park, 50 N. Park Square, Marietta. 770-794-5601, www.wholehawgbbqfest.com.
Atlanta Greek Festival
It's all Greek to you at this Atlanta tradition starring Greek food, singing, dancing, music, shopping and more. New things this year include live cooking demos and a special drive-thru menu, which allows you to make a quick stop at the festival for some of its trademark tastes.
5-10 p.m. Oct. 4; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Oct. 5-6; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 7. $5; free ages 12 and younger. Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2500 Clairmont Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-633-5870, www.atlantagreekfestival.org.
11th Annual Taste of Atlanta
More than 80 local restaurants offer flavorful samples. Each ticket includes 10 taste coupons, and VIP tickets include 15. Additional coupons are sold in bundles of five ($5), 10 ($10) and 20 ($20). Demonstrations take place on three live cooking stages. The VIP experience offers wine, beer and cocktail tastings.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 6-7. $25 advance; $35 at the event. VIP tickets: $75 advance; $85 at the event. Technology Square at Spring Street and Fifth Street, Midtown. 404-875-4434, www.tasteofatlanta.com.
Pine Lake's LakeFest
This intimate event culls together approximately 40 arts vendors, live music and comedians, a pet show, kiddie activities and festival food. A sand sculpture contest takes place on Saturday, Oct. 6. A sidewalk chalk art contest, which is open to all, and the Floatzilla lake parade both happen on Sunday, Oct. 7.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 6; noon-5 p.m. Oct. 7. Free. Pine Lake Beach & Park, 4575 Lakeshore Drive, Pine Lake. 404-683-0597, www.pinelakefest.com.
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