If you’re looking for something fun to do in Atlanta this weekend, you’ll find the calendar filled with festivals and other fun events. Celebrate your love of books at the 16th annual AJC Decatur Book Festival or head out to Smyrna’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. Or if you love to browse and look at different types of art, visit the Norcross Art Splash Festival this Saturday and Sunday.
Check out the following 16 things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend:
Cobb
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
6 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Free admission. Village Green, 100 Village Green Circle, Smyrna. smyrnaga.gov.
Smyrna celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with music from DJ Orlando Mix, a showing of the movie “Coco,” food trucks and face painting.
Rock ‘N’ It 5K
8 a.m. 5K, 9 a.m. 1K, 9:15 a.m. Tot Trot. Saturday, Oct. 2. $30-$35. Marietta Square, 1 Cherokee St., Marietta. Active.com.
The Rock ‘N’ It 5K is a chip-timed race that’s a Peachtree Road Race Qualifier and a fundraiser for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
“Dirty Dancing”
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. $10 Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta. 770-293-0080. earlsmithstrand.secure.force.com.
The 1987 classic movie “Dirty Dancing,” starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray, comes to The Strand Theatre.
First Friday Concert Series
6 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1. Free. $50 for a table for six. Pedestrian Underpass off Main Street, downtown Kennesaw. 770-424-8274. Kennesaw-gov.com.
Shop and dine in Kennesaw’s downtown historic area and enjoy live music.
DeKalb
AJC Decatur Book Festival
Credit: From Decatur Book Festival
Credit: From Decatur Book Festival
10 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Free, with registration required. First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave., Decatur. decaturbook festival.
The 16th annual AJC Decatur Book Festival will have the theme “Diverse Voices Building Community” and will be held in person and virtually. It will feature adult and young adult events and a picture book panel as well as bookseller and food vendor pop-ups. Vaccines are required for indoor events, and masks are required on the entire property.
Amplify Decatur Music Festival
6 p.m. venue opens, 7 p.m. music begins Friday, Oct. 1. 3:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 2. $60-$150. 101 East Court Square, downtown Decatur. Amplifydecatur.org.
The festival kicks off on Friday with a free limited attendance general admission concert with performances by Shawn Mullins band, Ghost Stories and Desmond Champion. On Saturday, enjoy music from the Indigo Girls, John Paul White, Rodney Crowell, Blind Boys of Alabama and more while you sample craft beers and local food. Be sure to click here to see the event’s COVID-19 protocols. Proceeds will go to Decatur Cooperative Ministry, which helps the houseless and homeless in DeKalb County.
“Romeo & Juliet”
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 and Sunday, Oct. 3. Continuing select dates until Oct. 24. $15-$35. Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-396-1726. Stagedoortheatrega.org.
Watch the Stage Door Theatre’s performance of the Shakespeare classic “Romeo & Juliet.”
Plein Air Art Class
1 p.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. $50 nonmembers, $40 members. Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. 770-394-3322. Dunwoodynature.org.
Learn about plein air sketching as you explore a natural setting. Bring a chair, a pad of paper no larger than 9 inches by 12 inches and a graphite pencil, watercolor pencil, ink pen or travel-sized watercolor set.
North Fulton
Summer Concert Series
6 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Free. Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. calendarwiz.com.
Bring a chair or blanket and listen to music from the Johns Creek Orchestra. Food trucks will be on-site with beer and wine available for purchase.
Big Creek Quick Six Enduro MTB Race
7 a.m.-8 a.m. registration, 8:30 a.m. mandatory rider meeting, 9:30 a.m. first wave of riders starts, noon lunch, 1 p.m. awards, raffles. Saturday, Oct. 2. Northwood Elementary, 10200 Wooten Road, Roswell. rambo-mtb-org.
Roswell-Alpharetta MTB Organization (RAMBO) hosts the 7th annual Big Creek Quick Six Enduro mountain bike race with athletes from across the Southeast. Spectators are welcome to watch the action throughout the day.
“Howl-O-Ween” Pet Portraits
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. $35. Roswell General, 35 Woodstock Road, Roswell. 404-625-3088. facebook.com.
Dress your pet in his or her best costume and have their photo taken. Prizes will be awarded for the best pet costume.
The Smithereens with Marshall Crenshaw
8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1. $32.50 advance tickets, $37.50 day of show. From the Earth Brewing, 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. Freshtix.com.
Catch an outdoor concert with the Smithereens and Marshall Crenshaw, with support from Mike Rizzi & the Strong Personalities.
Gwinnett
Fall Family Health & Field Day
1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Free. Alexander Park, 800 Old Snellville Highway, Lawrenceville. 770-822-8825. facebook.com.
Bring your family to have fun with old-school games and activities. Free health screenings, including those for glucose and hearing, will be available.
Norcross Art Splash Festival
Credit: Charles J Harbin Jr; Stop the Clock Photo
Credit: Charles J Harbin Jr; Stop the Clock Photo
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. Lillian Webb Park, 105 College St., Norcross. Splashfestivals.com.
The festival shows the work of 90 artists from across the country who display their talents with jewelry, mixed media, ceramics, paintings and more. An interactive Kidz Zone will also be available, along with festival food and drink.
Oktoberfest
3 p.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Free. Downtown Square, Lawrenceville. 770-963-2414. Downtownlawrencevillega.com.
Celebrate Oktoberfest in downtown Lawrenceville with live music and entertainment, cold brews, authentic food and kid-friendly activities.
Movies Under the Stars
6 p.m. live music, 8 p.m. movie starts. Saturday, Oct. 2. Free. Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive, Buford. Simon.com.
Come early for the live music and stay to watch the Disney movie “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
