Share the pleasures of a summer evening in Atlanta with your grandchildren and you’ll both have memories to treasure long after the last sunset fades. Whether you’re the calm, cool and collected sort or prefer a rowdy time that will make sleep come easy, you have plenty of options:
Summer NewnaNights
6-9 p.m., Thursday, June 8, free admission, Greenville Street Park, 51 Greenville Street, Newnan
Nostalgic for small-town summertime? Main Street Newnan delivers an evfening of family fun, food trucks and acoustic music from pop-indie-country artist Sara Greer. Take the opportunity to check out the locally owned downtown businesses that stay open late for the second Thursday fete.
Sunset Sips at Chattahoochee Nature Center
6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, June 8, kids 2 and under free, kids 3-12 $9, seniors 65+ and students $11, adults $15, Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell.
Here’s a chance for the kids to frolic in nature while the adults sip an adult beverage and listen to music from the Great Lawn or the covered pavilion at the nature center.
The park is open a few hours later than usual and browsing the grounds is encouraged. Weather permitting, there’s no better vantage for enjoying the sunset. Jam and cover band Topo Freako perform at 7 p.m.
A cash bar features IPAs and Sours from Monday Night Brewing; no outside alcohol allowed. Buy tickets here.
Powder Springs Family to Park Days with ‘Vivo’ movie
6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 8, free, Thurman Springs Park, 4485 Pineview Dr., Powder Springs
Partaking in family fun, picnicking and then watching a movie and dozing off on a blanket under the stars is a dreamy way to spend a summer night with all ages.
The Family to Park Days event is less stressful than a theater for those with unpredictable toddlers since you can stay as long as you like and leave when needed. And there are no worries about the family’s fussy eaters since you’re encouraged to bring your food and drinks--just not alcohol. You can purchase drinks and meals from restaurants inside the Powder Springs entertainment district, though, for a treat.
The movie starts at dusk. PG-rated “Vivo’ is a computer-animated musical about a music-loving kinkajou. Lin-Manuel Miranda voices the main character.
Evening Kayak Paddle on the Reservoir
4:30-6:30 p.m., Saturday, June 10, $45 (parking $5), Sweetwater Creek State Park, 1750 Mount Vernon Road, Lithia Springs.
Take time to relax and learn with your favorite teen–or teens. This evening paddle is limited to those ages 16 and older and includes kayaking on the reservoir and spotting marshland species.
Trucks and Tunes fete in Lithonia
5-8 p.m., Sunday, June 11, free, Lithonia Amphitheater, 2515 Park Dr., Lithonia.
Don’t let the weekend end till the last minute: Food trucks, live music and local vendor booths combine for a memorable Sunday summer evening.
If you’re sure to be all tuckered out at the end of the busy weekend, make sure to bring lawn chairs so you can unwind and people-watch while the music plays.
