As the air turns slightly crisp and temperatures cool just a smidgen, that seems to be the signal for everyone hold all their festivals and events before the cold weather sets in. This one of those weekends where you don't have to look hard to find a barrel-load of fun things to do for all ages. Here's a few events for Saturday, Oct. 5, in the area and around the metro Atlanta region:
Get ready to scream: October means all things spooky and spectacular and screamingly fun. Here's a list of haunted houses in the metro Atlanta area that are worth every bone-chilling buck
Arts in Motion 5K and 1-mile Fundraiser: Registration, 7:30 a.m., 1-mile run, 8:30 a.m.; 5K, 9 a.m.; Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts, 910 Center St., Olde Town Conyers; $20 before race; $25 on the day; family of 4, $60; 770-922-3143 or jsprague@conyersarts.org
Master Gardner Extension Volunteer Plant Sale and Festival: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Rockdale County Extension Office, 1400 Parker Road; plants, food, drink, children's activities, gardening seminars and vendors; 770-278-7373 or Jule-Lynne Macie uge1247@uga.edu.
Monastery Health Fair and Fall Festival : 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Monastery of the Holy Spirit, 2625 Ga. Highway 212, Conyers; free, day of family-friendly festivities, health fair, petting zoo, hay rides, pony rides, arts and crafts, classic cars, market, lecture series; health screenings begin at 11 a.m.; monastery@trappist.net or Brother Callistus 678-964-2237.
34th Annual Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Pkwy.; 300 chili booths with free chili samples. $10 for adults, children free. Benefits Camp Twin Lakes.
Social Circle Friendship Festival: 9 a.m. open; 10 a.m.“Salute our Hometown Heroes” themed parade; prizes for best float, best marching band, best hero pet. 770-464-1866, www.socialcirclegaBHT.com
Rock Temple AME Fish Fry and Car Wash: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; The Rock Temple AME Church Men's Day Committee hosts a Fish Fry ($7) and Car Wash ($10) at the Veal Street Community Center and Veal Street Park. 770-922-5707
Shriners Annual Barbecue: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; 1988 Flat Shoals Road; $7 per plate, homemade barbecue, benefits Shriners programs for children; Bob McKenzie, 770-929-8485 GEEBA333@aol.com.
Salem UMC Barbecue: 11:15 a.m.-2:15 p.m.; Salem UMC, 3962 Salem Road, Covington; barbecue and Brunswick stew for sale, $8 per plate/quart; benefits church mission program. 770-786-6027.
College Fair at Georgia World Congress Center: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Georgia World Congress Center, Building C-4, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., Atlanta; hosted by 100 Black Men of Atlanta; free; representatives from colleges in the south; crhodes@100blackmen-atlant.org or 404-525-6220.
Atlanta Greek Festival: You don't have to be Greek - you don't even need to have seen "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (even though it is a pretty good movie), to enjoy the annual Greek Festival in Atlanta. From today through Sunday, you can head into Atlanta and hang out with all the kids from high school Latin clubs, and all the people who realize that Greek food is amazing. There's traditional dancing - with audience participation, cooking demonstrations, and of course, the food! That's why you really go. Because things like gyros, moussaka and wonderful baklava are delicious, and it's fun to watch people dance around with a belly full of Greek goodness.
Price: $5 for adults, children 12 and under are free.
For more info: http://www.atlantagreekfestival.org/l
Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival: Sweet Auburn is chock full of history, and through Sunday it's also full of music, art, film and education, during the A3C festival. Tons of hip hop artists, lots of creativity and loads of education in the neighborhood that has more history than any other area of Atlanta. During this weekend the Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival (which is FREE) is also going on, so you can take a break from the party and check out the amazing rich history of the neighborhood as well. Not too shabby for the price!
Price: $35-$75
For more info: http://www.a3cfestival.com/
Party on the Farm: For those who think there's nothing to do in Covington, you'll be forced to eat your words this weekend after Party on the Farm takes over for one music-filled day. From 1 p.m. until it's finished, you can tailgate, have food and listen to so many musicians it will blow your mind. And yes, you heard me correctly, it's happening in Covington! You can go early to tailgate and hang out with your friends before the music officially starts. Get there early and find a spot. You can bring blankets or chairs, or if you want to stand at the stage and get hardcore, you're totally welcome. It's super cheap (less than $10 per musician you get to see!) for what you get, so get your friends together and enjoy the show!
Price: Tickets $20 in advance, $30 at the gate
For more info: www.partyonthefarmgeorgia.com/
Bridgefest: Craving a small town fall festival? Then head to Stockbridge this weekend for their annual Bridgefest. It's the Daisy Festival on a massively shrunken scale - but there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's kinda nice to just meander without fighting with a million other people. But it's the same setup. Things for the kids, live music, festival food (yep, that means funnel cakes) and crafts galore. It's officially fall, so if you don't get yourself to a fall festival post-hast you lose your Starbucks pumpkin spice latte card for the season. This should be a big deal for you and if it's not, then I don't know if we can be friends anymore.
Price: Free
For more info: www.cityofstockbridge.com/pview.aspx?id=7183&catid=73
Walk for a Cure: October is breast cancer awareness month, and it's also the time to deck yourself out in pink - as gaudy as you please - and move your booty to raise money for breast cancer research. There are plenty of walks to choose from this month, but a good one, if you're so inclined, is in Stone Mountain Saturday. If you believe the weatherman, it's supposed to be lovely this weekend, and the idea of walking around Stone Mountain looking at the changing leaves sounds great by itself, but when you can do it to raise money for something awesome, it seems silly to not get out there and walk or run for a cure.
Price: $30
For more info: www.athleader.com/index1.html
Also on Sunday, Oct. 6:
Pink Pooch Parade: Oct. 6, 3 p.m.; starts at the Olde Town Pavilion and ends at Pine Log Park; dogs and owners encouraged to come dressed in pink; humans without dogs welcomed; $25 per walker, includes T-shirt; proceeds go to Pink Patriots Team for Atlanta Two Day Walk.
