What to do in Atlanta | April 22-29
Festivals abound in Atlanta this weekend, and that will continue as we move deeper into spring. Check out fests in Inman Park, Roswell and East Point. For the arts-minded, don't miss the Alliance Theatre's 20th anniversary revival of Pearl Cleage's "Blues for an Alabama Sky." For something on the lighter side, try Dad's Garage's musical take on the career of Atlanta's own frozen-treat entrepreneur, the King of Pops.
FAIRS, FESTIVALS, ETC.
You'll find our annual guide to spring festivals here.
Atlanta Blooms. 300,000 bulbs explode with glorious hues of pink, yellow, purple and red. That's 44,000 more bulbs than last year. Peak times vary and are expected to last through April. atlantabg.org.
Georgia Renaissance Festival. April 18-June 7. $22; $10 ages 6-12; $20 ages 60 and older; free ages 5 and younger. 6905 Virlyn B. Smith Road, Fairburn. garenfest.com.
Atlanta Symphony Decorators' Show House & Gardens. Through May 10. $30. Chateau Soleil, 4701 Northside Drive N.W., Atlanta. decoratorsshowhouse.org.
An Evening with Ann Coulter. 7 p.m. April 22. Free, but tickets required (www.kennesaw.edu/anncoultertickets). Bailey Performance Center, Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw. www.kennesaw.edu.
North Georgia Flintknappers & Primitive Arts Festival. April 24-25. Gatewood Park, 224 Bartow Beach Road, Cartersville. northgeorgiaknapin.yolasite.com.
East Point Spring Fling. Food, art, music, car show, carnival. 1-9 p.m. April 25. Free. 2757 East Point Drive, East Point. downtowneastpoint.com/springfling.
Inman Park Festival. The trademark Tour of Homes, a separate ticketed event, will guide guests through some of the area's more interesting abodes, including ornate turn-of-the-century Victorians. The annual parade takes place at 2 p.m. on the Saturday of the festival. Noon-4 p.m. April 24 (Tour of Homes only), 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. April 25, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. April 26. Free. Euclid Avenue and Elizabeth Street. inmanparkfestival.org.
Roswell Cycling Festival. Through April 26. The festival cumlminates on April 26, with the Mayor's Ride beginning at 7:30 a.m., and the Roswell Criterium at 10 a.m. The Georgia Craft Beer Festival is at 12:30 p.m. ($15-$20). Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell. roswellcyclingfestival.com.
Tails on the Trail 2015 Dog Walk and Festival. A benefit Road Trip Home Animal Rescue with demonstrations, pet contests, dog adoptions, children's activities, arts and crafts vendors, pet grooming and other pet related goods and services. Festival is fre; registration for the walk is $40 onsite, $30 online in advance. 10 a.m. April 25. Swift-Cantrell Park, 3140 Old U.S. Highway 41, Kennesaw. www.kennesaw.com/tails-on-the-trail.
The Taste and Sound of Woodstock. 11 a.m. April 25. Tasting ticket packages start at $ 5. The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. tastesoundwoodstock.com.
Atlanta's Exotic Bird Fair. April 25-26. $5. North Atlanta Trade Center, 1700 Jeurgens Court, Norcross. www.northatlantatradecenter.com.
Wigwam Wellness Fest. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 26 and May 3. Day passes are $84 and give accesss to four one-hour experiences during the day and covers entrance into the Chattahoochee Nature Center. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. wigwamfest.com.
Taste of Marietta. About 75 restaurants, caterers and food trucks will participate. Bites costs between $1 and $5. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. April 26. Free. Historic Marietta Square, 205 Lawrence St. N.E., Marietta. tasteofmarietta.com.
Smyrna Spring Jonquil Festival. Artists and crafters, music, food, children's play area. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 25, noon-5 p.m. April 26. Free. Smyrna Village Green, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna. smyrnacity.com.
Atlanta Dog Jog. 8 a.m. May 2. Brook Run Park, 4770 N. Peachtree Road, Atlanta. www.atlantadogjog.org.
Trailfest 2015. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. May. 2. Free Resurgens Orthopaedics Community Stage, 111 Elm Street, Woodstock. www.greenprintsalliance.org/trailfest.
The Drake Walk. 9 a.m. May. 2. Individual registration $15; family $30; group of 10 or more $10 each. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell. www.thedrakewalk.org.
Playhouse Pawty with a Pawpose Festival. The second annual event is a benefit for Friends of DeKalb Animals and Stubby's Heroes 10 a.m. May. 2. Pet's Playhouse on Ponce, 2959 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. petsplayhouse.com/events.
Flowery Branch Spring Festival. 10 a.m. May. 2. Old Train Depot, 5302 Railroad Ave., Flowery Branch. 678-825-4228, www.troop228.info.
Swing into Spring Festival. 11 a.m. May. 2. Starr Park, 803 Forest Parkway, Forest Park. 404-363-2908, www.forestparkga.org.
Snellville Days Festival. May. 2-3. Free. Briscoe Park, 2770 Lenora Church Road, Snellville. www.snellvilledays.com.
"Bruce Munro: Light in the Garden." A British artist famed for using light as an artistic medium, Munro will create six site-specific installations around the Atlanta Botanical Garden and its conservatories, some set to music. It will be a nighttime experience, running May 2-Oct. 3. $22.95, $15.95 ages 3-12 on Fridays-Saturdays; $19.95, $13.95 children on Wednesdays-Thursdays and Sundays. 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-876-5859, atlantabotanicalgarden.org.
Fiesta Atlanta. Music, food, Mexican folk dancing, youth soccer clinics, 5K road race. Noon-7 p.m. May 3. Free. Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. W. N.W., Atlanta. fiestaatlanta.com.
PERFORMING ARTS
"Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet." Through April 26. $26-$45. Actor's Express at the King Plow Arts Center, 887 West Marietta Street Suite J-107, Atlanta. www.actors-express.com. Read our review of "Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet" here.
"Grand Concourse." A comic-drama with heart set in an urban soup kitchen. Through April 26. $20-$30. Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-584-7450, www.horizontheatre.com. Read our review of "Grand Concourse" here.
"Storefront Church." Through May 3. $30-$35. Theatrical Outfit, the Balzer Theater at Herren's, 84 Luckie St, Atlanta. www.theatricaloutfit.org. Read our review of "Storefront Church" here.
"Damn Yankees." Through April 26. $35-$55. Atlanta Lyric Theatre at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Cobb Civic Center, 548 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta. atlantalyrictheatre.com.
"My Fair Lady." Through April 26. $15-$39. Georgia Ensemble Theatre at Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. 770-641-1260, get.org. Read our review of "My Fair Lady" here.
"Paul Bunyan and the Tall Tale Medicine Show." Through May 24. $16.50. Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta. www.puppet.org.
"Blues for an Alabama Sky." Through May 10. $25-$68. Alliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. www.alliancetheatre.org. Read our preview of "Blues for an Alabama Sky, with an interview with star Crystal Fox, here.
"Boeing Boeing." Presented by Gypsy Theatre Company. Through May 3. $17-$25. Sylvia Beard Theatre, 2200 Buford Highway, Buford. www.bufordcommunitycenter.com.
"The Breakers." Presented by 7 Stages. Through May 10. $18-$22.50. The Goat Farm Arts Center, 1200 Foster St., Atlanta. 404-523-7647, www.7stages.org/events/the-breakers/. Read our preview of "The Breakers" here.
"Norman, Is That You?" Through May 2. $17-$25. Out of Box Theatre, Artisan Resource Center, 585 Cobb Parkway S., Suite C-1, Marietta. 678-653-4605, www.outofboxtheatre.com.
"Rocket Boys." Through May 10. $15-$25. Legacy Theatre, 1175 Senoia Road, Suite C, Tyrone. 404-895-1473, www.thelegacytheatre.org.
"American Menu." Presented by New African Grove Theatre Company. Through April 26. $20. Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. www.newafricangrove.com.
Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards Shuler Hensley Awards. 7:30 p.m. April 23. $22. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. www.cobbenergycentre.com.
"King of Pops: The Post-Apocalyptic Musical." The origin story of Atlanta's beloved frozen treat vendor, with music. April 23-May 30. $12.50-$22.50. 7 Stages Theatre, 1105 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.dadsgarage.com. Read our preview "King of Pops: The Post-Apocalyptic Musical" here.
Jeff Garlin. April 23-25. $20-$25. The Improv Comedy Club, 56 E. Andrews Drive N.W., Atlanta. www.theimprovatlanta.com.
Emory Dance Company: Spring Concert. April 23-25. $8-$10. Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, 1700 N. Decatur Road, Atlanta. arts.emory.edu.
"Peter Pan." April 23-May 10. $20-$30. Fabrefaction Theatre Conservatory, 999 Brady Ave., Atlanta. 404.876.9468, fabrefaction.org.
"A Chorus Line." April 24-May 17. $25-$27.50. Cumming Playhouse, 101 School Street, Cumming. www.playhousecumming.com.
Nick Cave: "Up Right Atlanta." Commissioned by Flux Projects, leading American performance artist Nick Cave will premiere his "call to arms, head and heart" for Cave "initiates," at Ponce City Market (the former Sears, Roebuck & Co. distribution center). 4 and 7 p.m. April 24, 3 and 7 p.m. April 25, noon and 3 p.m. April 26. Free. 675 Ponce deLeon Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.fluxprojects.org.
Chris Hardwick. 8 and 10:30 p.m. April 25. $35. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.variety-playhouse.com.
Rodney Carrington. 7 p.m. April 25. $47.75-$182.75. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. www.cobbenergycentre.com.
Suzanne Westenhoefer. Comedian performs in a benefit for the Pride School Atlanta. 7:30 p.m. May. 1. $35-$70. Virginia-Highland Church, 743 Virginia Ave. N.E., Atlanta. prideschoolatlanta.brownpapertickets.com.
Lewis Black. 8 p.m. May 1. $35-$72. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. www.cobbenergycentre.com.
Bill Cosby. 8 p.m. May 2. $59.75-$79.95. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. www.cobbenergycentre.com.
MUSIC
Breaking Benjamin with Young Guns. 8 p.m. April 22. $36. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. tabernacleatl.com.
Halestorm with the Pretty Reckless. 7:30 p.m. April 23. $29.50. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. tabernacleatl.com.
Jerry Douglas presents Earls of Leicaster. 8 p.m. April 23. $27.50-$30. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.variety-playhouse.com.
Tal National. 8:30 p.m. April 23. $15-$18. Aisle 5, 1123 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.variety-playhouse.com.
The Who. 7:30 p.m. April 23. $39.50-$139.50. Gwinnett Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. www.gwinnettcenter.com.
Bob Dylan. 8 p.m. April 24. $49.50-$119.50. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. foxtheatre.org.
Yacht Rock Revue (performing the Beatles' Abby Road). 8:30 p.m. April 24. $15-$18. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.variety-playhouse.com.
Walk the Moon with The Griswolds. 8 p.m. April 25. $25. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. tabernacleatl.com.
Bop English. April 25. $12 in advance. Smith's Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-875-1522, www.smithsoldebar.com.
Ludwig Symphony Orchestra's Spring Fling Extravaganza. 7:30 p.m. April 25. $12-$22. Gwinnett Center for Performing Arts, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. ludwigsymphony.webs.com, www.gwinnettcenter.com.
Mr. Greg's Musical Madness. 11:30 a.m. April 25. $12. Steve's Live Music, 234 Hildebrand Drive, Sandy Springs. www.steveslivemusic.com.
All Time Low. 6 p.m. April 25. $25.50. The Masquerade, 695 North Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.masqueradeatlanta.com.
Jimbo Mathus & the Tri-State Coalition. 8 p.m. April 25. $15. Eddie Owen Presents, Red Clay Music Foundry, 3116 Main St., Duluth. www.eddieowenpresents.com.
Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra: "A Night at the Opera." 3 p.m. April 26. Free. Ferst Center for the Arts, Georgia Tech, 349 Ferst Drive, Atlanta. www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu.
Drew Charter School Band Booster Benefit featuring Oliver Wood (of the Wood Brothers) and Eliot Bronson. 4 p.m. April 26. $45; $35 in advance. Eddie's Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St. Decatur. 404-377-4976, eddiesattic.com.
"Georgia Festival Chorus: 71 Years of Song." Paying tribute to founding director Frank Boggs, who will also perform. 7:30 p.m. April 26. Free. Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 404-234-3581, tgafc.org.
Death Cab for Cutie, the Antlers. 8 p.m. April 27. $35-$45. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. foxtheatre.org.
Godsmack. 8 p.m. April 28. $42.50-$52.50. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. tabernacleatl.com.
DeKalb Symphony Orchestra. With Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster David Coucheron and ASO principal cellist Christopher Rex joining the orcestra for Brahms' Concert for Violin and Cello. 8 p.m. April 28. $5-$22. Marvin Cole Auditorium, Georgia Perimeter College, 555 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston. 678-891-3565, www.DeKalbSymphony.org.
Ben Sollee. 8 p.m. April 28. $23; $18 in advance. Eddie's Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St. Decatur. 404-377-4976, eddiesattic.com.
Earl Sweatshirt. 7 p.m. April 29. $25. The Masquerade (Heaven), 695 North Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.masqueradeatlanta.com.
Korpiklaani. 7 p.m. April 29. $15. The Masquerade (Hell), 695 North Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.masqueradeatlanta.com.
The Offspring. 8 p.m. April 29. $33.50. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. tabernacleatl.com.
Elephant Revival. 7 and 9:30 p.m. April 29. $18; $14 in advance. Eddie's Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St. Decatur. 404-377-4976, eddiesattic.com.
Joan Armatrading. 7:30 p.m. April 29. $25.50-$75.50. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St, Atlanta. www.atlantasymphony.org.
The Weight. 8 p.m. April 30. $25-$30. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.variety-playhouse.com.
Iration with Stick Figure and Hours Fastly. 8 p.m. May 1. $20-$23. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.variety-playhouse.com.
Steve Winwood. 8 p.m. May 1. $35-$100. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. foxtheatre.org.
Phillips, Craig, & Dean. 7:30 p.m. May. 1. $15-$35. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell. www.rumc.com.
Of Mice And Men. 7:30 p.m. May. 1. $24. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. tabernacleatl.com.
Doobie Brothers with Don Felder. 7:30 p.m. May 2. $19.50-$99.50. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. www.vzwamp.com.
Robert Cray Band. 8 p.m. May 2. $35-$40. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. www.variety-playhouse.com.
Stone Mountain Chorus with Boardwalk. 3 p.m. May 2. $10-$15. Mountain Park United Methodist Church, 1405 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain. www.StoneMountainChorus.org.
VISUAL ARTS
"The Imaginary World of Thom O' Fink." Through May 18. MudFire Clayworks & Gallery, 175 Laredo Drive, Decatur. www.mudfire.com.
Paws & Play Art Show. A benefit for the Atlanta Humane Society. Opening reception 7-9 p.m. April 23. Show continues through May 31. Mud Monkey on Peachtree, Peachtree Battle Shopping Center, 2385 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-812-1750, www.mudmonkeyonpeachtree.com, atlantahumane.org.
9th Annual Pottery & Art Sale. 10 a.m. April 24-25. Spruill Education Center, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. www.spruillarts.org.
Olmsted Plein Air Invitational. The inaugural event features thirty of the country's top open-air artists vying for a portion of the $10,000 purse. There will be tours, lectures and demonstrations as well as ticketed events where you mix and mingle with the painters, along with art for sale. April 22-26. Olmsted Linear Park. Free. 404-377-5361, www.olmstedpleinair.com.
"Los Trompos" ("The Spinning Tops"). An installation from Mexican designers Ignacio Cadena and Héctor Esrawe featuring more than 40 three-dimensional, larger-than-life tops/rides in a variety of colors and shapes. April 24-Nov. 29. Free. Outside the High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. www.high.org.
"Wifredo Lam: Imagining New Worlds." Through May 24. $12-$19.50. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. www.high.org. For more about this exhibit, go to the AJC's Arts & Culture blog.
"Imagining New Worlds: José Parlá and Fahamu Pecou." Through May 24. $12-$19.50. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. www.high.org. For more about these exhibits, go to the AJC's Arts & Culture blog.
"The President's Photographer: Fifty Years Inside the Oval Office." Through June 7. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays (until 8 p.m. Thursdays), 1-5 p.m. Sundays. $10, $8 age 65 and up, $7 students with an ID, free age 12 and under. Booth Western Art Museum, 501 Museum Drive, Cartersville. 770-387-1300, www.boothmuseum.org.
"Bobby Jones: The Game of Life." Through Nov. 30. Free. Schatten Gallery at the Robert Woodruff Library, Emory University, 540 Asbury Circle, Atlanta. web.library.emory.edu.
"African Cosmos: Stellar Arts." Through June 21. $6-$8. Emory University's Michael C. Carlos Museum, 571 S. Kilgo Circle, Atlanta. 404-727-4282, www.carlos.emory.edu. Read our review of "African Cosmos" here.
"Creating Matter: The Prints of Mildred Thompson." Through May 17. $6-$8. Emory University's Michael C. Carlos Museum, 571 S. Kilgo Circle, Atlanta. 404-727-4282, www.carlos.emory.edu.
"Maren Hassinger … Dreaming." An exhibit by the sculptor, performance artist and director of the Maryland Institute College of Art's Rinehart School of Sculpture. Through May 16. Suggested donation: $3. 350 Spelman Lane, Atlanta. 404-270-5607, museum.spelman.edu.
"A Painter's Profile: The High Celebrates Romare Bearden." Through May 31. $19.50; $16.50 ages 65 and older and students (ID required); $12 ages 6-17. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-4444, www.high.org.
"Dox Thrash: An American Journey." Through May 10. $19.50; $16.50 ages 65 and older and students (ID required); $12 ages 6-17. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-4444, www.high.org.
"Where the Wild Things Are: Maurice Sendak in His Own Words and Pictures." The exhibition returns to Atlanta with new content and a focus on literacy. Through July 5. $4-$12. William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, 1440 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta. 678-222-3700, thebreman.org.
"Gordon Parks: Segregation Story" and "Leonard Freed: Black in White America." Through June 7. $12-$19.50. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. www.high.org.
"Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints: Northeast Brazilian Art Exhibit." Through May 18. Free. Atlanta University Center's Robert W. Woodruff Library, 111 James P. Brawley Drive, S.W., Atlanta. 404-978-2003, www.auctr.edu.
"Two of Each: The Nippur Deluge Tablet & Noah's Flood." Through July 24. Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University, 571 S. Kilgo Circle N.E., Atlanta. www.carlos.emory.edu.
"Bodies … The Exhibition." Ongoing. $16-$24. Premier Exhibition Center at Atlantic Station, 265 18th St., Atlanta. 866-866-8265, www.atlanticstation.com.
