Another spring weekend is almost here, so that means more festivals, events and concerts. Here's a sampling of what's out there.
FESTIVALS
Taste of Alpharetta
This festival draws more than 50,000 hungry attendees annually. More than 60 area restaurants will fill the streets of downtown Alpharetta, serving nibbles to the masses. Food tickets cost 50 cents each, and most samples range from $1 to $3. Think everything from Mexican to seafood to brick-oven pizza.
Mixologists invite those 21 and older to tip back concoctions. Chefs will fork over tips and tricks with culinary demonstrations onstage. There’ll also be live bands, visual artists and a Kids Korner.
5-10 p.m. May 7. Free. Milton Avenue and Roswell Street, Alpharetta. awesomealpharetta.com.
Sweet Auburn Springfest
This annual event returns to Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Historic District for its 31st year. Festivalgoers can ring in Mother’s Day weekend with shopping, live music and noshing on a variety of food.
Let mom pick out her own gift among the vendors located along John Wesley Dobbs Avenue from Jesse Hill Jr. Drive to Hilliard Street. Comb through clothing, jewelry, art and a plethora of other goods. Then buy your matriarch a meal at the international food court.
Performers will range from hip-hop and rap to R&B and rock. Thrill seekers can brave the 150-foot-long zip line while kiddos break a sweat in the Fun Zone.
5-9 p.m. May 8, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. May 9, 2-8 p.m. May 10. Free. 230 John Wesley Dobbs Ave., Atlanta. sweetauburn.com.
Chastain Park Arts Festival
Artist market, music, food, children's area. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 9, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 10. Free. Chastain Park, 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta. chastainparkartsfestival.com.
Dunwoody Art Festival
Artist market, music, food, children's area. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 10. Free. 1449 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Dunwoody. dunwoodyartfestival.splashfestivals.com.
Georgia Renaissance Festival
Zip back to a 16th-century English village for the fest's 30th anniversary. You'll find activities such as live jousting, comedy troupes, animal exhibits, arts and crafts, and hands-on archery. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day, Through 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.
For more fairs and festivals in our area, click here.
WORTH NOTING
‘Pippin’
The national touring production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of the musical "Pippin" is in Atlanta this week. The reconceived production of the 1972 musical by Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson features dramatic acrobatics and circus tricks to tell the story about a young man trying to find meaning in his life. The high-energy revival will turn the Fox Theatre into a stunningly visual big top circus. Adrienne Barbeau plays Pippin's grandmother, Berthe, and though she's almost 70, she takes to the trapeze in the show. Through May 10. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. Tickets start at $33. foxtheatre.org/pippin. 1-855-285-8499 or at Fox Theatre Box Office.
For plays, comedy shows and more, click here.
For visual arts offerings in our area, click here.
CONCERTS
Zac Brown Band
The band's fourth album, "Jekyll + Hyde," might be the most appropriately named album this century. The Atlanta country superstars haven't abandoned their breezy harmonizing, but a whiplash-inducing grinder with Chris Cornell ("Heavy Is the Head') and the soulful '70s groove of "Loving You Easy" indicate their interesting detours. The band's violinist, Jimmy De Martini, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that ZBB is also working on a new pack of cover songs for the tour. 7 p.m. May 8-9. $36.50-$89.50. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
For more concerts in our area, click here.
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