The Odyssey: A Journey Home At Georgia Shakespeare Oct. 7-31, 2010

Georgia Shakespeare presents "The Odyssey: A Journey Home." Click here for more information.

HOTOBERFEST Happening On October 2, 2010 At Glenwood Park

HOToberFest is a hybrid event consisting of two components; a (free of charge) neighborhood festival of live music, sustainability information, kids area, food, art and more, AND a ticketed Oktoberfest style Beer Tasting and consumer judged craft beer competition. 

The festival takes place in the neighborhood of Glenwood Park located at 916 Glenwood Park Dr. Atlanta, Georgia.

Glenwood Park is located just two miles east of Downtown Atlanta between Grant Park and East Atlanta Village.

Proceeds from HOToberFest will be donated to Trees Atlanta in support of its various efforts toward sustainability. Musical acts include Michael Tolcher, Caroline &  the Ramblers, The DejaBlue Grass Band, Wade in the the Rhythm and Earthshaking Samba.

For more information, visit HOTOBERFEST.

Madam: A Musical Based On The Life of Madame CJ Walker At The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts

MADAM: A musical based on the life of Madame CJ Walker 

Place: Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts
5616 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Dates: October 21st - 24th, 2010

Time: Thurs.& Fri. Shows @ 8pm
Sat. Shows @ 3pm & 8pm
Sun. Shows @ 2pm & 7pm

To purchase tickets or for more information, click here.

OnStage Atlanta Announces Their 2010 - 2011 Season In This New Promo Video

OnStage Atlanta introduces you to their new plays for the 2010 - 2011 season. For more information, visit OnStage Atlanta.

13th Annual Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival On October 9, 2010

The 13th Annual Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival is Saturday, October 9 from 10 am until 7 pm at the center of the Oakhurst community in Harmony Park. 

Events and features include:

• The 5K Arts Run/Walk
• Local artists
• Live musical performances
• Community area, featuring Decatur-based nonprofit groups
• Free activity area for children
• Good ol' fashioned parade
• Food and beverages at Oakhurst's many restaurants


For an updated schedule of events, visit Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival.

Country Living Fair From October 22-24, 2010 At Stone Mountain Park

See the pages of Country Living magazine come to life featuring antiques, artisans, gifts, home décor, jewelry and more from Country Living editors, contributors and special guests and fall festivities at Stone Mountain Park on October 22-24, 2010.

The Country Living Fair offers visitors the opportunity to fully experience the “Country Living” lifestyle. Families will enjoy a variety of entertainment, crafts, shopping and cooking demonstrations.

Click here for information on how to receive Exclusive Country Living Fair Text Alerts and Enter for Your Chance to win a Trip to the 2011 Country Living Fair!

DeKalb Symphony Orchestra Concert On September 28, 2010

Enjoy a DeKalb Symphony Orchestra Concert with DSO Principal Musicians Alexandria Rice, cello and Dan Worley, bassoon. The orchestra will be performing Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto for Cello and Bassoon also on the program: Gioacchino Rossini: Overture to The Thieving Magpie, Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Suite.

The concert will be held at the Marvin Cole Auditorium Georgia Perimeter College Clarkston Campus. For tickets or additional information please call 678.891.3565 or visit them on the web at www.DeKalbSymphony.com.

ART Station Presents the 25th Annual Tour of Southern Ghosts At Stone Mountain Park - October 14-17, 21-24, 28-31, 2010

Garotas Suecas Bring Their Brazilian Tropicalia/Garage Rock To The Earl On September 29, 2010

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 8:30PM At The Earl
Garotas Suecas / The Selmanaires / Cheap Time

With their first appearance in Sao Paulo City, Brazil, 2005, Garotas Suecas (Swedish Girls) is formed by Guilherme Saldanha (vocals and harmonica), Irina Bertolucci Chermont (organ), Perdido (bass) and the Paoliello brothers Nico (drums) and Tomaz (guitar). Influenced by the soul and R&B masters of the sixties such as Otis Redding and Sly & the Family Stone, the band cannot deny their garage and psychedelic origins shown by the fuzz guitar sounds and crazy organ riffs.

Burning the dance floors throughout the country with their unique brand of rock, the Garotas Suecas are also true heirs of the unique tropical rock sounds created by the brazilian Tropicalia and Jovem Guarda movements of the sixties and early seventies.

The Earl is located in East Atlanta Village at 488 Flat Shoals Avenue Southeast Atlanta, Georgia 30316. For more info, visit The Earl.

New Interactive Visitors Guide From DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau

Visiting Atlanta's DeKalb County? Check out our new Interactive Visitors Guide online. 

The DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitors Guide includes essential travel information on DeKalb County attractions, accommodations, dining, shopping and a suggested itinerary. It has everything you need to plan your next trip to Atlanta's DeKalb County.

For a preview, click on the image on the right side of this page, or look for the image on the left. 

Titian & The Golden Age Of Venetian Painting: Masterpieces From The National Galleries Of Scotland

25 Masterpieces of the Venetian Renaissance

While you are visiting Atlanta's DeKalb County for the annual Stone Mountain Highland Games in October, make sure to plan a visit to the High Museum of Art in Midtown Atlanta to view the new exhibit, Titian & The Golden Age of Venetian Painting.

Beginning in October 2010, the High Museum of Art in collaboration with the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) will present an exhibition of 25 masterpieces of the Venetian Renaissance, including two of the greatest paintings of the Italian Renaissance, Titian’s Diana and Actaeon (1556–1559) and Diana and Callisto (1556–1559). Titian & the Golden Age of Venetian Painting: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland will also include paintings and drawings by such Venetian masters as Tintoretto, Veronese and Lotto, on loan from the collection of the National Galleries.

Co-organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the exhibition will premiere at the High, where it will be on view from October 16, 2010, through January 2, 2011.

For more info, visit the High Museum of Art.

Stone Mountain Park Cycling Event Raises Funds To Fight Cancer

On October 2-3, 2010, Stone Mountain will become host to the first ever 24 Hours of Booty event in Atlanta! 24 Hours of Booty is a 24-hour cycling event, committed to raising funds for cancer programs and research.

Cyclists of all ages and experience levels will ride a fully supported 1.5 mile loop. You don’t have to be an expert cyclist. People ride anywhere from just a few loops all the way to 300 miles or more – its all about your personal goals and a desire to fight cancer.

Each rider will raise a minimum of $200 that will benefit the Aflac Cancer Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and LIVESTRONG. Once you register, you’ll have full access to a personal fundraising page and tools to help you every step of the way. You can register online at 24HoursOfBooty.com.

Click here for more information about Stone Mountain Park.

Photo courtesy of Patrick Schneider Photography

Decatur Wine Festival To Showcase Organic WInes

Don't miss the 2010 Decatur Wine Festival where you can taste organic wines from around the globe, sample fare from Decatur’s finest eateries and enjoy live music from the bandstand featuring The Nicole Chillemi Quartet and 7 Day Fool.

The annual event, metro Atlanta’s largest outdoor wine festival, is Saturday, November 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. on the Old Courthouse Square in downtown Decatur. The festival will showcase organic and sustainably produced wines this year along with more than 300 other domestic and international wines.

For more information, visit DecaturWineFestival.com.

Dynamic Korea: Song And Dance At Emory's Performing Arts Studio On September 26, 2010

The Chae Hyan Soon Dance Company brings their visually striking “Dynamic Korea: Dance & Song” to Emory University. Handed down from generation to generation, the arresting movements of “Dynamic Korea” reflect the essential rhythms of traditional Korean dance with 12 Korean music and dance numbers performed by 12 artists.

The exuberant “Taffy Peddler Dance” takes the audience on a journey through the bustling and cacophonous marketplaces of Korea, while the deeply symbolic performances of the “Lotus Dance” and “Monks Dance” explore inner stillness and peace through the country’s deep Buddhist roots.

From the gentle, gliding grace of the opening “chaech’onmu” (Choson Court Dance) to the thunderous drumming of the closing p’unggo, the dancers and musicians of the Chae Hyang Soon Dance Company are animated by the strength and energy of the Korean tradition.

Led by artistic director Chae Hyang Soon, the Chae Hyang Soon Dance Company has performed at the Asia Pacific Peach Foundation as well as at events such as the tenth anniversary festival of the Seoul Olympics, the 2002 World Cup, the opening and closing performances of the Winter Universiade and Korea’s presidential inauguration.

“Dynamic Korea: Dance & Song” will be performed at Emory’s Performing Arts Studio (1804 N. Decatur. Rd. Atlanta, 30322) on Sat. Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. This performance is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information or to register for tickets, call 404-727-6427, or visit www.realc.emory.edu/korean.

Team Decatur Wins “Most Fit City” Award at the KP Corporate Run/Walk

The City of Decatur, known for its great schools, shops and restaurants, has now claimed the title of “Most Fit City” according to the organizers of the annual Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk.

Decatur Active Living teamed up with the Decatur Business Association to sponsor Team Decatur and entered into the annual event. This is the first time that a city has entered as a team.

Team Decatur was 134 members strong by race day and was comprised of city employees as well as citizens and members of the business community. Ages of participants ranged from the teens to a gentleman in his 80s.

Active Living Board member Michael Harbin, co-captain of Team Decatur, summed it up well - “Running/walking is a main focus, but just being there is a major part of community-building which is just as much a focus for me. Meeting all of these Team Decatur people who, each for their own reasons, have chosen to join us is important….” Decatur City Commissioner Patti Garrett was presented with the “Most Fit City” trophy at the awards ceremony following the race.

East Atlanta Strut Brings Music And Fun To The Streets

There was live music everywhere at the 13th Annual East Atlanta Strut Festival held on Saturday, September 18, 2010. Stages were set up at all corners of the festival with a diverse line-up of groups playing original Rock, Country, R&B, etc.

Pictured is Twisted Behavior, who gave an energetic performance inside Earthshaking Music, a one-of-a-kind musicians' paradise that sells instruments from all over the world. This year's festival also featured performances by El Caminos, Hair of the Dog, Tiger! Tiger!, The Holiday Brothers and many others. East Atlanta Strut is definitely is more focused on live music than some of the other neighborhood festivals.

Vendors set up booths along Flat Shoals and Glenwood Avenue selling a variety of artwork, crafts, clothing and jewelry for the festival attendees. There was also a diverse selection of festival food at every corner. They even had a mechanical bull set-up for Urban Cowboys who wanted to try out their bull riding skills and their signature parade during the early afternoon.

See more photos on our Facebook page.

Boo Y'all! 25th Anniversary Of The Tour Of Southern Ghosts

ART Station, our local community arts center and theatre company, is presenting the 25th anniversary celebration of “A Tour of Southern Ghosts” at Stone Mountain Park beginning October 14 and running through October 31.

At this bewitching time of the year, why not visit Stone Mountain Park and go on an evening adventure to the Antebellum Plantation for a “tour” with ghosts? The tour features fun and spooky ghost stories from the Antebellum South, great fun for young, old and, of course, a perfect family outing.

It’s for those who believe and for those who don’t and for those who just want to have a good time. On the “tour” you’ll meet six professional storytellers as they spin tales of Southern ghosts along the lantern lit paths of the South’s most authentic and spookiest plantation. Join ART Station for this Atlanta family tradition. It’s only here that you will experience the authentic Southern Boo Y’all!

For tickets, visit the ART Station.

Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off At Stone Mountain Park On September 25, 2010

Looking for some great Chili tasting in the Atlanta area? This year, the Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off will host its 31st cook-off on September 25 at Stone Mountain Park. The event is expected to draw over 300 teams from across the United States. It is the premiere chili cook-off east of Texas.

Total attendance from last year exceeded 14,000, filling up the meadow at Stone Mountain Park. The cook-off has something for all ages, from great music to great food and games for the whole family.

Visit www.theatlantachilicookoff.com for more details.

13th Annual East Atlanta Strut Festival On September 18, 2010

Now in its 13th year, the East Atlanta Strut is a community organized, one-day festival, featuring music, art and events to raise money for neighborhood charities and organizations and support local businesses.

Festival hours: 10AM - 10PM

Artists Market hours: 10 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Mechanical Bull: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Imperial Opa Circus: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Used Book Sale: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There will be 50 bands playing on 5 stages from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

You are encouraged to take public transportation, ride a bike, etc. as parking is expected to be scarce. East Atlanta Village is located about a mile directly south of Little Five Points on Moreland Avenue or about three miles east of downtown on I-20.

For more festival details and map, visit East Atlanta Strut.

6th Annual Rice Festival At Stone Mountain Park On October 9, 2010

The Asian American Resource Center will host its 6th Annual Rice Festival on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at Stone Mountain Park’s Memorial Lawn from 11 am to 5 pm.

The Rice Festival will celebrate the diversity of Asian culture and will feature performances by Asian dance groups, singers, and martial artists, games, and cuisine. The Rice Festival is meant to celebrate the diversity of and promote harmonious relationships within the Asian American community.

According to Connie Jee, the Executive Director of the organization, the Rice Festival was created because rice is a main component of Asian meals across countries. "All Asians eat rice. Short-grain, long-grain, basmati and jasmine are just a few examples. Asians each have their own national rice dish," said Jee. Another similarity among Asians, she said, is that rice harvesting occurs in October. "That’s why the Rice Festival is held each October."

As the annual fundraising event for the Asian American Resource Center (AARC), the Rice Festival raises funds for the social and educational services AARC provides to the metro-Atlanta immigrant community.

For more information, visit AARC.

Nicaraguan Community Celebrates Nicaraguan Independence Day At Interactive College of Technology

Nicaraguans in Atlanta celebrated their country's Independence Day on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at the Interactive College of Technology. Over 100 Nicaraguans and their friends/family attended the event from noon until 4:00 p.m.

The program included videos and music highlighting folklore from Nicaragua, traditional folk dancing and typical Nicaraguan foods. Entertainment included a performance from Mauricio Amaya (from Vientos de Pueblo) and other performers playing traditional Central and South American music.

Interactive College of Technology is located at 5303 New Peachtree Road Chamblee, GA 30341.

Pine Lake's 10th Annual LakeFest Coming October 2-3, 2010

Come enjoy two days of festival fun at the beautiful lakefront at Pine Lake. Arts and crafts will be on display for sale including painting, felting, photography, jewelry and more.

Live musical performances will include rock, European gypsy jazz, electo-pop, international folk and acoustic Americana genres. There will also be a sand sculpture contest, children’s art activities and a Saturday night beach party. A variety of food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Pine Lake, the smallest city located in DeKalb County, was designed as a planned resort city. Pine Lake is one of the most eclectic cities in the state, including among its residents a number of locally, regionally and nationally known artists in the fields of music (Elise Witt), fine art, sculpture, poetry (Alice Teeter) and prose and other disciplines.

Location: The City of Pine Lake
Address: Lakeshore Drive Pine Lake, Georgia 30072
Phone Number: 1-866-633-5252 ext. 3301
For more info, visit LakeFest.

Yellow Daisy Festival At Stone Mountain Park This Weekend (Sept. 10-12, 2010)

Despite its growth from a small arts & crafts show to the four day event that it has become today, the Yellow Daisy Festival continues to be a big show with a small-town feel.

The mission of re-connecting families and friends with fun, shopping, live entertainment and good food has remained constant over the past forty-one years. Multi-generations of mothers, daughters and grandmothers meander the wooded trails together in search of the perfect item.

More than 400 artists and crafters from 38 States and two countries display their works for your appreciation and purchase. Enjoy daily live entertainment, Children's Corner activities, clogging and crafter demonstrations throughout the event as well as fabulous festival foods.

For more info, visit Stone Mountain Park.

Candler Park Fall Fest Happening October 23 - 24, 2010

The 10th edition of Atlanta’s largest fall neighborhood festival takes on spooky hue for Halloween on October 23 & 24, 2010. The festival is produced by the Candler Park Neighborhood Organization and draws 10,000 - 15,000 people. Candler Park is a neighborhood in intown Atlanta, about 5 minutes east of downtown and just south of Ponce De Leon Avenue.

The 2010 Fall Fest -- the tenth anniversary of this wonderful event -- will be held on October 23-24. This year will feature Halloween events for people of all ages and costumes are welcome. They will kick off the festivities with the Fall Ball on October 22. The festival will run from noon - 9 pm on Saturday and noon - 7 pm on Sunday.

Fall Fest is FREE to attend.

The weekend of activities includes an artists' market with nearly 100 booths, musical acts (this year's line-up includes Francine Reed and League of Decency), a children's area with crafts and jumpies, a 5K road race, a Tour of Homes and a whole lotta Candler Park style hospitality.

Read more here.

The Band Perrry Headlines 2010 Yellow Daisy Festival Musical Lineup At Stone Mountain Park

Get ready to enjoy some great live music in addition to all the great arts & crafts at the 42nd Annual Yellow Daisy Festival happening September 9-12, 2010 at Stone Mountain Park.

One of the main musical entertainers of the festival is The Band Perry. Inheriting a cross-pollinated love of country and rock & roll from their parents, The Band Perry – siblings Reid, Neil and Kimberly Perry – say that they bleed the bright red blood of American music.

The Band Perry will be the headlining act on Sunday, September 12th.

For a detailed list of performers and performance times, click here.

Visit Stone Mountain Park for more information about the Park.

New Water Exhibition Set To Make A Splash with Visitors At Fernbank Museum

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is ready to make a splash with the new special exhibition Water: H2O=Life, opening October 2, 2010. Visitors will look beneath the surface, above the clouds and all around the world as they discover the amazing and vital role of water—from sustaining life to shaping the Earth’s peaks and canyons.

Filled with interactive stations—from building your own dam to playing a water quiz show, and from seeing live animals suited for various water conditions to using a video microscope to explore what comes out of the tap—Water engages visitors throughout the exhibition as they are challenged to reconsider the way they view and manage this life-giving, but finite, resource.

Water reveals the beauty and essential nature of our planet’s lifeblood using imaginative presentation techniques, including a 68-inch globe displaying satellite images and 3-D video of the Earth as well as walk-through dioramas that give visitors a firsthand experience of the power and importance of water. Along the way, the exhibition addresses the compelling issues surrounding water quality and availability that are facing today’s societies and ecosystems. Live tetras, frogs and mudskippers provide opportunities for visitors to gain an appreciation for animals that have adapted to life in, and sometimes out of, the water.

Read more here.

For more information about the museum, visit Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Photo courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History

Christmas At Callanwolde Returns In 2010!

From December 1 through 12 enjoy celebration, design and holiday splendor with the return of Christmas at Callanwolde, a 27-year Atlanta tradition.

You’ll be transported into a magical world the minute you enter the historic Gothic-Tudor mansion. Awaken your holiday memories of Christmases past and create new ones as you experience all that Christmas at Callanwolde has to offer.

Browse and enjoy the splendor of the Callanwolde mansion, elaborately decorated for the holidays to reflect this year’s Roaring 20's Christmas theme. Special events for families and children, and live entertainment throughout the day, will pull you into the magic of Christmas at Callanwolde!

For more information, visit Christmas at Callanwolde.

Vientos del Pueblo Perform Andean Music At The Annual Labor Day Concert In Pine Lake

Vientos del Pueblo performed at the traditional Labor Day Concert (Monday Sept. 6th) at Pine Lake. It was a beautiful day in Atlanta and the setting in front of the spacious lake was wonderful and the residents of Pine Lake were friendly and welcoming.

Vientos del Pueblo is based in Atlanta but its members are from across South, Central and North America. They play traditional music from the Andes from a rich cultural and historical perspective.

Vientos del Pueblo performs music that represents a fusion of cultures and rhythms combining African, European and American Indigenous roots. The group performed from 6 to 8 p.m. and even stayed to play a couple of extra songs to the appreciative audience.

The City of Pine Lake is also getting ready for their 10th Annual LakeFest on October 2-3, 2010. The event is free and features art, music, fun and food. We will be providing more details soon, including a musical line-up.

Pine Lake, located in DeKalb County, prides itself as being one of Georgia’s most artistic cities. The mayor, all city-council members, and roughly 1 out of every 10 residents are visual artists, musicians, or writers.

Stone Mountain Highland Games Overview

Out of Ireland captured some great footage of the annual Stone Mountain Highland Games at Stone Mountain Park from October 2009. The Festival returns this year to Stone Mountain Park on October 16-17, 2010.

Stone Mountain Highland Games 2010 Musical Entertainment

The Stone Mountain Highland Games have announced the musical entertainment for this year's festival on October 16-17, 2010 at Stone Mountain Park. Returning will be favorites Alex Beaton and Celtic Kudzu.

New for the 2010 festival are Rathkeltair (pictured) and Vintage Voice. Rathkeltair (pronounce rath-KELT-ur) is one of North America's premier Celtic rock bands. Based in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and touring internationally since 2003, Rathkeltair delivers one of the most energetic, entertaining, audience-friendly shows you will see anywhere.

Families across the Southeast will don their colorful kilts and regale in the spirit of Scotland at the Stone Mountain Highland Games. This is one of the largest events of its kind in the Southeast and attracts visitors from all over. There are different events occurring on each day of the weekend festival with the colorful Parade of the Tartans on Sunday wrapping up the festival.

For more info, visit the Stone Mountain Highland Games.

High Museum of Art Presents Lights, Camara, Dali On September 11, 2010

The High Museum of Art will present "Lights, Camera, Dali" as part of the Film Series - Dali: A Passion for Film at the Rich Theater on Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 8 to 10 p.m.

Salvador Dalí's antic personality and love of the limelight made him a natural performer. This program of shorts looks at Dalí as a celebrity and on-screen personality. Included are Jack Bond's "Dalí in New York," Andy Warhol's "Dalí Screen Tests," and Jonas Mekas's "New York Encounters with Dalí."

The film complements the current exhibition Dali: The Late Work now on display through January 9, 2010 that has attracted media attention from across the country.

Family Reunion Planning Workshop On September 11, 2010

Family Reunions are More Fun in DeKalb County.

DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) will host a free Family Reunion Planning Workshop on Saturday September 11, 2010 at Wingate by Wyndham hotel to assist families in planning and organizing their reunions in DeKalb County.

DCVB offers a variety of free services to enhance family reunions, including providing free Welcome Bags for the entire family.

The workshop will be held at the Wingate by Wyndham hotel located at 2920 Clairmont Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329.

The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required by calling (770) 492-5000.

AJC Decatur Book Festival This Weekend (Sept 3-5, 2010) In The City of Decatur

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival is an annual, free book festival that takes place over Labor Day weekend in Decatur, Georgia at several venues located in and around the downtown Decatur Square. The festival is known as the "largest independent book festival in the county."

The festival brings more than 300 authors to Decatur for the holiday weekend. The authors give readings, talks, and panel discussions. Authors include Pulitzer Prize winning and best-selling authors of fiction in many genres and nonfiction on diverse topics. The authors come to Decatur from across the country and international points as well.

For a complete up-to-date schedule of readings and events, visit AJC Decatur Book Festival.

42nd Annual Yellow Daisy Festival Video Preview

For more information, click here.