From festivals to bicycle tours to water parks, there a lot of ways to have a good time — and maybe even stay cool — in greater Hotlanta this summer. Here are 25 suggestions that might just make you want to forsake the air-conditioning and get out of the house. …
1. Atlanta Street Food Festival. Try a spicy bloody mary popsicle by Ibiza Bites and the blue cheese fries by Fry Guy as you explore the South's culinary treasures. More than 40 food trucks from all over the Southeast will set up shop in Piedmont Park to tantalize your taste buds. 12-8 p.m. July 12. $10-$25. Piedmont Park, 400 Park Drive N.E., Atlanta. 404-875-7275, atlantastreetfoodfestival.com.
2. Attend an unveiling. An interactive installation, "Mi Casa, Your Casa," going up on Sifly Piazza outside the High Museum of Art, was created by Mexican designers Hector Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena. It will feature more than 35 mobile, three-dimensional open frames in the shape of houses, serving as settings for a profusion of free events this summer and fall. July 18-Nov. 2. Join the celebration as the High unveils "Mi Casa," 6-10 p.m. July 18. 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-4444, high.org.
3. Get zombified. Zombies are back, as if they ever left. This time, they're infesting bars and restaurants in Virginia-Highland. Get a zombie makeover by professional makeup artists and join the Atlanta Zombie Pub Crawl. 3-11 p.m. July 26. $15-$50. Ages 21 and up only. Diesel Filling Station, 870 N. Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-815-1820, atlantazombiecrawl.blogspot.com.
4. Summer is all about barbecue. Come out and taste the best Atlanta has to offer at the Atlanta BBQ Festival at Atlantic Station. Sample a selection of 20 top-shelf bourbons and enjoy live music and barbecue cooking demonstrations, all while filling your face. Watch 50 professional and backyard teams from across the region compete to win $16,500. 4-10 p.m. Aug. 15 and noon-8 p.m. Aug. 16. $6 advance; $10 day of event. Atlantic Station special event area behind Regal Cinemas, 1380 Atlantic Drive N.W., Atlanta. atlbbqfest.com.
5. DragonCon. From Power Rangers to Super Saiyan, DragonCon brings together the best of science fiction, fantasy and animation. Featured events include autograph sessions, wrestling shows, a late-night puppet slam and DragonCon night at the Georgia Aquarium. Get your costumes ready, the annual DragonCon parade begins at 10 a.m. Aug. 30. With many featured guests and performances at this four-day fest, there is much to do and see. 10 a.m. Aug. 29 through 5 p.m. Sept. 1. You have to be a member in order to attend. Membership rates: $115-$130. 404-669-0773, dragoncon.org.
6. Discover summer fun at the Rock Ranch. Pony rides, pedal carts, slide hill and the giant jumping pillow are among the attractions. Zip lines transport visitors at tree-top levels across a corn field and over two ponds at speeds of 30 mph. Park hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays through July 26. $10-$12.75. The Rock Ranch, 5020 Barnesville Highway, The Rock. 706-647-6374, therockranch.com.
7. Encounter hundreds of butterflies. The live butterfly exhibit at the Chattahoochee Nature Center runs through July 13. Bring your camera and learn how to attract native butterflies to your garden. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 12-4:30 p.m. Sundays. $6-$10. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Wileo Road, Roswell. 770-922-2055, chattnaturecenter.org.
8. Food Truck Tuesdays. Food trucks are available every Tuesday in July along with a different entertainment lineup each night. Food trucks participating include Freckled & Blue, Happy Belly, King of Pops, Blaxican and more. Walking, biking or car pooling is highly recommended. 5-9 p.m. July 8, 15, 22 and 29. Free, plus the cost of your food. Taylor-Brawner Park, 3180 Atlanta Road, Smyrna. 678-319-5397, smyrnacity.com.
9. Free family fun. From the shooting arcade to crafts, ice cream making and a BB shooting range, there will be plenty to enjoy next week at Bass Pro Shops. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. July 7-13. Free. Bass Pro Shops, 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville. 678-847-5500, basspro.com.
10. Reading and crafts at American Girl. Bring your American Girl doll to celebrate summer and decorate your own bookmark and summer reading log every Tuesday in July. Included is a doll-sized poster to take home. 4-6 p.m. July 8, 15, 22 and 29. Free. American Girl North Point Mall, 1000 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta. 877-247-5223, americangirl.com.
11. Sweet Auburn Curb Market. Stock up on everything from fresh fruit to salted pig's knuckles. The urban farmers market has fresh produce, meat, a full-service bakery and nine eateries. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Free to shop. Sweet Auburn Curb Market, 209 Edgewood Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-659-1665, thecurbmarket.com.
12. Barbecue and peaches. Chow down on smoke-cooked barbecue and sweet peach desserts at the Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival in Kennesaw. Enjoy live music, beverage vendors, crafts and family entertainment, including a kid zone with inflatables, a mechanical pig to ride and interactive games. 6-10 p.m. Aug. 22 and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 23. Adams Park, 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw. 770-422-9714, pigsandpeaches.com.
13. The Beach in Clayton County. New water slides are now open. Bring your gear and drop a line in the fishing lakes or grab a few friends for a game of volleyball where the world's greatest volleyball players competed during the 1996 Summer Olympics. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $9-$11. Clayton County International Park, 2300 Highway 138 S.E., Jonesboro. 770-477-3766, claytonparks.com.
14. Take a guided bike tour of Atlanta's historic sites. Bicycle Tours of Atlanta offers tours that span 8 to 10 miles and take about three hours. $49, including bike and helmet. Studioplex Lofts, 659 Auburn Ave., Atlanta. 404-273-2558, biketoursatl.com.
15. Commemorate the Battle of Atlanta. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War battle. Many Atlanta Cyclorama events are set for July 12-20 at the battlefield in southeast Atlanta. Included are Civil War to civil rights presentations, battlefield tours, music, storytelling and the 5K Double Quick Race. Also, take a look at what once was the largest painting in the world, an 1887 depiction of the battle, measuring 42 feet high and 358 feet long. $8-$10. Atlanta Cyclorama, 800 Cherokee Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-377-6148, batlevent.org.
16. Hurricane Harbor. It's the first summer for the water park located inside Six Flags Over Georgia. So, after a day of roller coaster thrills, take a dive in the wave pool at Calypso Bay and ride the four-foot waves or speed down the five-story drop and zero-gravity plunge of Tsunami Surge. Hurricane Harbor is included with your Six Flags admission. All summer long, regular park hours are noon-6 p.m. $41.99-$61.99. Six Flags Over Georgia, 275 Riverside Parkway S.W., Austell. 770-948-9290, sixflags.com/overgeorgia.
17. Summer learning fun for kids. School may be out for the summer, but there is always time to learn. Imagine It, the children's museum of Atlanta, has fun exhibits and programs specifically for kids. From Cooking With Colors to Fundamentally Food and Leaping into Learning. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays-Tuesdays. Closed on Wednesdays. $12.75. 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive N.W., Atlanta. 404-659-5437, childrensmuseumatlanta.org.
18. Grant Park Summer Shade Festival. Festivities include two stages of live music, a kid zone full of family-friendly activities and the festival kicks off with the Adams Realtor 5K Run for the Park. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 23 and 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Aug. 24. Free. Grant Park, 840 Cherokee Ave. S.E., Atlanta. summershadefestival.org.
19. Stone Mountain Park. Family-friendly attractions include Summit Skyride, Geyser Towers, SkyHike, adventure golf and the Great Barn. Park gates are open daily, 6 a.m. to midnight. Attraction hours vary. $10 per vehicle. 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, stonemountainpark.com.
20. Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at the Fox Theatre. There are 14 films scheduled, ranging from "Mamma Mia!" to "Gone With the Wind." Movie times vary. July 24-Aug. 21. $5-$20. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St., N.E., Atlanta. 855-285-8499, foxtheatre.org.
21. Get zippy. Swing through the air on zip lines and sky bridges as part of the Lake Lanier Canopy Tour. Tours are available day and night or check out the special full-moon tour. Weight limits and restrictions apply. $60-$100 plus $10 admission to Lake Lanier Island Resort. 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford. 678-828-7654, lakelaniercanopytours.com.
22. AJC Decatur Book Festival. Festivities at the largest independent book festival in the country include an interactive children's area, live music, book signings, author readings, poetry slams and panel discussions. Aug. 29-31. Free. Decatur Square, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur. 404-471-5769, decaturbookfestival.com.
23. National Black Arts Festival. The NBAF showcases performing arts, literature and visual arts produced by African-Americans. Many of the events are free and open to the public; prices for ticketed events vary. Events are held at various metro Atlanta venues through Sept. 27. 404-730-7315, nbaf.org.
24. Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival. More than 50 of the South's top chefs, 19 skilled mixologists and more than 30 farmers are teaming up to create the tastiest tomato concoctions. 1-5 p.m. July 20. $50-$70. The Goat Farm Arts Center, 1200 Foster St. N.W., Atlanta. killertomatofest.tumblr.com.
25. Festival Peachtree Latino. Festivities include outdoor exhibits, concerts and family activities to recognize the Latino community in Atlanta. The international food pavilion represents more than 25 different cultures. 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Aug. 24. Free. Piedmont Park, 400 Park Drive N.E., Atlanta. 678-966-7026, festivalpeachtreelatino.com.
