Hoping to extend your Thanksgiving Day celebrations? You’re in luck because there are plenty of events to attend throughout the weekend.
Whether you want to cheer for your favorite sports team, hear some live music or explore a few holiday happenings, there’s something for everyone in the Atlanta area.
Atlanta Anime Day
Mingle with anime fans from the metro area at this one-day festival. Check out the costumes, panel discussions and video game tournaments, all inspired by these Japanese-originating hand-drawn and computer animations. Don’t forget to take advantage of the market place, which will feature a variety of anime, fantasy, comic and hobby dealers.
10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Nov. 30. $5. Infinite Energy Forum, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770- 813-7500, atlanta.animeday.net.
Atlanta Gladiators vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Watch the Atlanta Gladiators take on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. It’ll be Zombie Night, so dress in your most impressive walking dead outfit. The person with the best costume will go home with a prize.
7:35 p.m. Nov. 29. $17-35. Infinite Energy Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770- 813-7500, atlantagladiators.com.
Chinese Lantern Festival
The annual affair is returning to the Georgia World Congress Center Authority for an array of activities. This year’s theme is entitled “Into the Wild,” which means attendees will be able to gaze at handcrafted lanterns of more than 25 different animals from land and sea. There will also be some interactive lanterns visitors can see and touch up close.
6-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 6-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Thru. Jan 5. $18 for adults, $14 for children 3 to 12. Southern Company Amphitheater, Centennial Olympic Park Drive and Marietta Street, Atlanta. freshtix.com/organizations/centennial-olympic-park.
DaBaby at Coca-Cola Roxy
If you’re in the mood for some live music, see the rapper DaBaby at the Coca-Cola Roxy. The North Carolina native will be taking the stage to perform hits from his debut album “Kirk.” You’ll also get a performance from Stunna 4 Vegas, who’ll open the concert.
8 p.m. Dec. 1. $118. Coca-Cola Roxy, 800 Battery Ave. Suite 500, Atlanta. 470-351-3866, cocacolaroxy.com.
Glenn Phillips Day-After-Thanksgiving Show
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Glenn Phillips’ Day-After-Thanksgiving Show at the Red Light Cafe. The artist will rock out to songs from his latest project “The Dark Parade.” He’ll be joined by bassist Bill Rea and drummer John Boissiere.
8 p.m. Nov. 29. $15-20. Red Light Cafe, 553-1 Amsterdam Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-874-7828, redlightcafe.com.
Holiday Artisan Market
Get a head start on your holiday shopping and meet some of the city’s most talented creatives at this two-day gathering, which will feature more than 20 local artists and entrepreneurs. From jewelry and textiles to home goods, you can peruse the market for tons of handmade gifts.
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 29-30. Free with museum admission. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 404-733-4400, high.org/event/holiday-artisan-market.
Sneaker Party: Thanksgiving Weekend Bash
Calling all sneakerheads. Enjoy a night out on the town, and give back to the community at the same time. All are encouraged to bring canned goods and lightly-used tennis shoes for those in need. And be sure to stick around for the Sneaker Heat Competition for a chance to win prizes.
9 p.m. Nov. 29. $10. Odyssey Lounge, 1015 West Marietta St. NW, Atlanta. eventbrite.com.
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Thanksgiving Trap and Paint Bash Day Party
This isn’t your average paint and sip outing. Draw a beautiful masterpiece all while dancing to some of your favorite songs. By the time you finish breaking a sweat, you’ll have a new painting to hang on your wall.
3:30-6 p.m. Nov. 30. $30-35. The Tavern at Camp Creek, 3560 Camp Creek Parkway, Atlanta. 404-349-9285, eventbrite.com.
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The Escape Game’s Turkey Day Trials
Get your head in the game for a two-day escape room tournament. Pick your team, and join the competition for the first Turkey Day Time Trials. The group with the best escape time will be named the champions and will win a free game ticket for their next session. Make sure you reserve a full game to be eligible.
Nov. 29-30. $34.99. The Escape Game Atlanta, 900 Battery Ave. Suite 1020, Atlanta. 678-831-6347, theescapegame.com.
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‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’
Ballet meets hip-hop in this cool mashup of a holiday tradition. Just like the original, Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince embark on a dream adventure but encounter an army of mice along the way. It’s up to a nut seller to save the day as he breaks and pops his way to victory. The production will also feature a short set from MC Kurtis Blow.
7:30 p.m. Nov. 29. $31-81. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta. 770-916-2800, cobbenergycentre.com.
