Dawgs and dogs: 16 things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend

People 2 People October 9, 2017

Looking for something family-friendly to do in Atlanta this weekend? As the weather turns to more fall-like temperatures, you'll find plenty of outdoor events celebrating the UGA Dawgs, your own dogs and more.

» RELATED: 10 Atlanta festivals you don't want to miss this October

And if you'd rather stay inside, you'll have your choice of activities including a sneaker convention and Chinese ribbon dance production.

Check out the following 16 things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend:

Cobb

HarvestFest. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Free. Glover Park at Historic Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square NE, Marietta. 770-794-5601. mariettaga.gov.

This annual festival features Scarecrows in the Square, arts and crafts, Touch-A-Truck, inflatables, a costume contest and more.

Owl-O-Ween Hot Air Balloon Festival. 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 and 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, 3200 George Busbee Parkway NW, Kennesaw. https://owl-o-ween.com/.

Bring your family to the 7th annual Owl-O-Ween Hot Air Balloon Festival, which features tethered balloon rides, hot air balloon glows, live entertainment, trick-or-treating, costume showdowns, a kids' zone and more.

Sneaker Con Atlanta. Noon-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. $25 plus fees. Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 770-955-8000. sneakercon.com.

Buy, sell or trade your kicks with other like-minded sneaker fans at Sneaker Con. You can also have your sneakers authenticated at the event.

Xfinity Movie Series. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. Free admission. The Battery Atlanta, 800 Battery Ave. SE, Atlanta. batteryatl.com.

The Xfinity Movie Series kicks off with a showing of "The Goonies." Bring a lawn chair or blanket if you'd like.

DeKalb

Dunwoody Community Tailgate. 1 p.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Free admission. Marlow's Tavern, 1317 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Suite 102, Dunwoody. https://www.facebook.com.

Watch UGA take on the Kentucky Wildcats on a big screen at the tree-lined lawn along the parkway. An on-site DJ will be featured during commercials, along with giveaways. You can buy tailgate-themed foods from Marlow's Tavern and play games such as cornhole and giant Jenga.

Scots or "Scots for the Day" will gather for the Stone Mountain Highland Games.

Credit: Photo: Jonathan Phillips/Special for the AJC

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Credit: Photo: Jonathan Phillips/Special for the AJC

Stone Mountain Highland Games. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20. $18-$20 adults per day, $5 for children age 4-12, plus $20 parking per vehicle per day. Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. 770-521-0228. stonemountainpark.com.

Scots or "Scots for the Day" will gather for the Stone Mountain Highland Games and activities including Highland dancing, athletic events and piping and drumming.

Brookhaven Arts Festival. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. Free parking and admission. Apply Valley Road, Brookhaven with parking behind the Brookhaven MARTA Station. https://www.brookhavenartsfestival.com/.

Over 120 artists from across the country will participate in the Brookhaven Arts Festival, which also features a new kids' section, music and food and drink as well as a classic car show from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Atlanta Audubon Society Field Trip. 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18. Free. Murphey Candler Park, 1551 W. Nancy Creek Drive NE, Atlanta. 404-308-6279. https://www.atlantaaudubon.org/field-trips.html.

Explore lake, wetlands and mixed woods habitats as you look for resident and migrant birds. The walk is suitable for people over 14 years old.

North Fulton

St. Mary of Egypt International Fall Festival. Noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20. $1 admission, children 12 and under free. St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church, 1765 Woodstock Road, Roswell. stmaryofegypt.org.

Try exotic homemade foods and desserts, browse and buy from diverse vendors and artisans and enjoy musical entertainment and children's events.

The Johns Creek Arts Festival will feature work from 130 artisans.

Credit: Photo: From spashfestivals.com

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Credit: Photo: From spashfestivals.com

Johns Creek Arts Festival. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. Green space across from Atlanta Athletic Club, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive, Johns Creek. splashfestivals.com.

The 8th annual Johns Creek Arts Festival will feature 130 artisans and their paintings, pottery, metalwork, folk art, jewelry, glass and more. You'll also find a kids' zone and will be able to listen to varied live music.

Milton Haunted House on the Hill. From sundown to 10:30 p.m. nightly in October. 820 Dockbridge Way, Milton. https://www.facebook.com.

Michael Myers, the haunted forest and spooky spirits welcome you to drive by the annual Milton Haunted House on the Hill. If you'd like to find Pennywise, you'll have to get out of your car, but please stay off the yard. Props will be limited on rainy nights.

Music Under the Pines. 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. $27. Matilda's, 850 Hickory Flat Road, Milton. 678-480-6932. https://www.matildasmusicvenue.com/music.

Enjoy music from Granville Automatic, a duo of Nashville songwriters influenced by The Smiths, Emmylou Harris and Simon & Garfunkel. Bring your own food and drink and come by on the day of the concert if you want to put your name on a table to reserve it. Otherwise, it's first-come, first-served, so you may want to bring your own table and chairs.

Gwinnett

PAWFest. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Free, with some activities extra. Praise Community Church, 329 Grayson Highway, Lawrenceville. https://gwinnetthumane.wixsite.com/pawfest.

Bring your leashed dogs to the Gwinnett Humane Society's PAWFest for activities such as lure chasing, a parade, disc dog demos, silent auction, carnival games, $5 nail trims and $12 rabies shots. Dogs will be available for adoption, and you can watch football games at the DAWG-Zone.

AutumnFest. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Main Street, downtown Logainville. loganville-ga.gov.

Officially welcome fall with craft and food vendors, live entertainment and plenty of kids' activities.

The Ribbon Dance of Empowerment intertwines Chinese dance, history, culture and personal story-telling.

Credit: Photo: From infiniteenergycenter.com

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Credit: Photo: From infiniteenergycenter.com

Ribbon Dance of Empowerment. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. $17-$24. Infinite Energy Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770-626-2464. infiniteenergycenter.com.

This educational, entertaining production intertwines Chinese dance, history, culture and personal story telling. An original mini dance-drama also tells the story of Chinese-Americans growing up in the South.

Sugar Rush. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. 5039 West Broad St., Sugar Hill. cityofsugarhill.com.

Join in the fun at Sugar Rush, an arts festival celebrating performing, visual and culinary arts. Artist vendors, a juried art show, inflatables, an arcade, arts and crafts and more are featured.

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