Top 3 food events in Atlanta this weekend

Bring a basket, blanket and kick back at a festival. Swing by a best-of-brisket contest with top local chefs. This weekend, there's lots of fun, food events happening in Atlanta. Add one or all four events to your calendar and be prepared to eat, drink and have a grand ole time. Happy new month and cheers to weekend.

Fried chicken Fridays: Get your fixin' of fried chicken every Friday at Parish. Chef Stuart Tracy serves his special buttermilk and lemon brined fried chicken along with a veggie salad, Parkerhouse rolls and more for $17.

240 North Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-681-4434. www.parishatl.com.

Free festival: The Festival on Ponce will feature food trucks, beer, wine, art, crafts and more. This free spring event will be held from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, April 2 and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, April 3 at Olmsted Linear Park (1451 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta). Bring a blanket or a basket filled with your favorite goodies if you intend to kick back and relax on the grass.

Best brisket competition: Some of Atlanta's top restaurants and chefs will be "pitted" against each other in an attempt to create their best-barbecued brisket for a panel of experts and the public during the third annual Chef Thunderdome hosted by Smoke & Glory. Participating restaurants include BoccaLupo, Leon's Full Service, Rising Son, Farm Burger and many more. A variety of breweries will be on-site including Three Taverns, Second Self, Wild Heaven and more. The pit party will begin at 12 p.m. Sunday, April 3 at Steinbeck's (659 E. Lake Drive, Decatur). Tickets, which are $60, may be purchased here.

656 North Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 678-515-3550. www.sweetauburnbbq.com.