Warm up the family's February, Atlanta parents.
The month may be shorter than the others, but you'll still have plenty of time to shake off cabin fever, celebrate Valentine's Day and hail the month's historical significance to black trailblazers.
Here are nine can't-miss events for Atlanta families:
Credit: Contributed by Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament
Credit: Contributed by Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament
Fill the Pantry Food Drive at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 3-4
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy #517, Lawrenceville
www.medievaltimes.com
If you've always wanted to catch the two-hour jousting tournament with four-course meal, try this budget-friendly weekend. The show is offering all seats for $34 (usually starting at $54 for adults and $36 for kids) with any two non-perishable food items donated per admission. Atlanta Community Food Bank will benefit. Use code FOOD17.
More things to do near Atlanta:
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Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival
5 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3; 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5
Admission to daily happenings free to the public; $10 tickets to nighttime cabaret
Yaarab Shrine Center Recreation Building
400 Ponce de Leon Ave.
www.atlantajugglers.org/festivals/upcoming-festival
No matter what the groundhog has to say about the weather, everyone will say "awesome" about this rollicking festival. Jugglers, unicyclists and hoopers abound, along with live music. Don't miss the juggling competition for the famous PHIL award 2 p.m. Saturday. And if you're looking for ways to get the kids off the coach the rest of the month, the sponsor organization, Atlanta Jugglers, is happy to provide a free juggling lesson during the fete.
8 p.m., Saturday, Feb 4, various showtimes, Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Saturdays, Feb. 5-26; Admission: $42 for adults; $10 for teenagers 13-19.
Hertz Stage, Alliance Theatre at Woodruff
1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta
For showtimes, visit Alliance Theatre's website.
This play follows the story of two young couples in rural Tennessee at the height of the Civil Rights Movement struggling to understand justice, love and their own responsibilities. The riveting play was written by Jiréh Breon Holder, a Morehouse College and Yale University graduate. Breon is also the 2017 winner of the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition. The plot has strong adult themes, so the show is suggested for youth 13 and older.
Marietta Museum of History: Murray & Etta's Dance Party
10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8
$5 per family of one adult and up to three children; additional adults and kids $5 each
Reserve a spot by calling the museum office Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 770-794-5710.
Marietta Museum of History
1 Depot St #200, Marietta. 770-794-5710
http://www.mariettahistory.org/
The MMOH is making wee visitors feel welcome with new theme tours the second Wednesday of the month. The events are aimed at toddlers ages 3 to 5 and their parents. Museum mascots Murray and Etta, sweet cartoon mice, will assist in conveying the theme and stirring up some fun, including story time and crafts.
9th Annual Student and Instructor Jewelry Market
11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 12
Free admission
Spruill Center for the Arts
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody. 770-394-3447
http://www.spruillarts.org/jewelrymarket
A pick-me-up for winter weary preteens, teens and their parents, this fundraising showcase features beginners all the way up to old pro jewelry artists. The Valentine's gift potential is obvious, but the demos might also inspire your budding artisan to take a class at Spruill. For a splurge, you or a responsible young person can also take a hot glass workshop ($75) during the event and leave with your own glass heart or flower.
To register for the hot-glass workshop, click here.
Black History Quiz Bowl
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9
Free admission but call ahead to register
South Clayton Recreation Center
1837 McDonough Road, Hampton. 770-347-0200
Gather the gang to test your knowledge of black history and enjoy food and prizes. Come enjoy food, prizes and much more. Families of all ages will enjoy the quiz. It's also a great chance to preview the active-family offerings at the center, including fitness and dance classes, a swimming pool, martial arts and game and dance rooms. Daily, monthly and three-month passes are available.
Family Free Day: Sprouting Valentines
12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12
Museum of Design Atlanta
1315 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA
http://www.museumofdesign.org/
The second Sunday of each month is always Family Free Day at MODA, but this one is particularly special! In addition to viewing the "Food by Design" exhibit, your family can design your own "plantable" seed paper valentines. Educators and volunteers will show you how it's done using 3D printed cookie cutters and other MODA design tools. The museum does request online registration for the free day so they know how many to expect.
Credit: Meghan McCarthy
Credit: Meghan McCarthy
Vanilla Sunday
1 p.m. Feb. 19
Free with admission: adult $21.95, children 3-12 $15.95, under 3 free
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave. NE. 404-876-5859
http://atlantabg.org/
As part of the Orchid Daze exhibit, which opens Feb. 11, the gardens go wild for vanilla. You and the kids can enjoy a lesson on how vanilla orchid beans become dessert flavoring and sample small sundaes or vanilla yogurt while they last.
Birds of Prey show at Callaway Gardens
12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Every day in February
Callaway Discovery Center
Garden admission $20 adults, $15 seniors 65+, $10 kids 6-12, 5 and under free
Callaway Gardens
17800 US-27, Pine Mountain
http://www.callawaygardens.com
Let your winter spirits soar with these birds that swoop through the show grounds and then rest on expert gloves for a close-up. The program covers all the environmental issues that are reality for these raptors, too. The garden's birds cannot be released into the wild, due to imprinting or injury and the program is presented with permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The daily show may become the reason you need to turn in your daily admission for a season pass.
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