Brer Rabbit knows how to have fun — this is a fellow with his own Laughing Place after all — and he’ll be kicking up his heels this weekend.
The Wren’s Nest, the West End home of Joel Chandler Harris, who created the stories of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Uncle Remus, will host a blues and barbecue festival 2-6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 6.
The Brer Rabbit Barbecue will feature blues and soul from the Tom Hill Band and jazz from saxophonist Kebbi Williams. The SweetWater Brewing Company will provide beer and DAS BBQ, a new restaurant in westside Atlanta, will provide the barbecue.
The Wren’s Nest serves as a house museum to celebrate the life of Harris, a former editorial writer for The Atlanta Constitution. Harris’ columns included reminiscences of African-American folktales he learned as a boy on a farm in Eatonton, stories that were eventually collected in enormously popular books featuring Brer Rabbit and friends.
Not just a museum, the Wren’s Nest also sponsors writing programs in local middle and high schools and publishes books and magazines of tales written by students.
The home occupies a 2.5-acre site with an outdoor stage in the backyard where the party will take place, rain or shine. Funds raised will go toward a master site plan and landscaping improvements with the goal of hosting more special events and increasing visitor traffic.
Tickets are $40 for adults (including lunch, two beers and a house tour), $25 for students and $20 for children. The Wren’s Nest is at 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. S.W., near the Beltline in West End.
Visit the Wren's Nest web site for information or contact Davar Irvani at dirvani@gmail.com, or at 404-271-9326.
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