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Welcome to Your Weekend: Maniacs, pastries, dinosaurs and more
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A contestant from the 2014 Rugged Maniac Obstacle Race at the Ga. International Horse Park in Conyers. - photo by Courtesy of Rugged Maniac Obstacle Race

It's maniacs, pastry fiends, dino bashes, and festivals of all international flavors this weekend.


Saturday, Aug. 22

Designed to be both challenging and fun, Rugged Maniac 5K Obstacle Race contestants dodge, swim, leap over and survive 25 crazy obstacles scattered across the Steeplechase Special Event Field at the Ga. International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway in Conyers, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 22. The day-long festival features music, food and beer. For more information or to register, visit www.ruggedmaniac.com/events/atlanta . Tickets for racers are $100, with discounts for students and military personnel. Get 10 percent off registration with the code ATL10.

The Atlanta Youth Dressage Challenge Schooling will be held in Arenas 8 and 9 at the Ga. International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, on Saturday, Aug. 22. Admission is free for spectators. For more information, visit http://gdcta.org/event/atlanta-youth-dressage-challenge-schooling-show-822/ or contact missliz@taramiaridingschool.com.

The 12th Annual German Bierfest will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 2 to 7 p.m., at Woodruff Park, 84 Peachtree St., N.E., in Atlanta. General Admission is $35 and $40. Unlimited samples of more than 35 authentic German beer will be available, as well as live music and German food specialities, including bratwurst, käsepätzle, pretzeln, sauerkraut and schnitzel. For more information, visit www.germanbierfest.com.

Princess Imani Ray and Guche Londan will perform at the annual Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival, Aug. 22, from 1 to 8 p.m., at Clayton County International Park, 2300 Highway 138 S.E., Jonesboro. The event is free and includes music, games, food, vendors, and kid's zone. Visit www.caribbeangeorgia.org for more information.

Join the "Dinosaur Birthday Bash," at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Themed games and festivities will be part of the celebration of the 14th Anniversary of the Giants of the Mesozoic exhibit, which included the skeletons of the 123-foot-long Argentinosaurus and the 47-foot-long Giganotosaurus. For more information, visit www.fernbankmuseum.org.

Sunday, Aug. 23

On Sunday, Aug. 23, at 4 p.m., Lion High Productions, Born Losers Motorcycle Club and F.A.M.E. will present "Old School Sunday Outdoor Day Party," at 1810 Rogers Lake Road in Lithonia. Games, music and food will be available. Admission is free. For more information, call (770) 484-1975. The event repeats on Sunday, Aug. 30 and Sept. 6.

The 2015 Health and Wellness Reggae Musik Festival will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22, at The Wren's Nest, 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., S.W., in Atlanta. The open air festival promotes a healthier life style, and includes healthcare presenters, poets, dancers, live reggae music, and arts and crafts activities. Admission is $10 for adults, children under 12, free.

One of the largest multicultural events held in Atlanta, the Festival Peachtree Latino features exhibitors, family activities, arts and crafts, international foods and music. The festival will be held at Piedmont Park, 400 Park Drive, N.E., Atlanta, on Sunday, Aug. 23. For more information, visit http://www.festivalpeachtreelatino.com/.

Foodies will get a chance to see 100 top chefs at work at the fifth annual "Pastry Live" event, Sunday, Aug. 23, through Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the 200 Peachtree venue downtown. Seminars, demonstrations and competitions are part of the three-day event. Over 100 chefs from across the country and around the world are slated to participate in six different competitions: the National Showpiece Championship, The Art of Cake, Chocolatier of the Year, Signature Plated Dessert Competition, The Dessert Cup and Pastry Atlanta. There will also be a Student Chocolate Challenge.

Seminar topics include "A Bee's Eye View," with Chef Lauren Haas; "New Trends in Wedding Cakes," with Chef Nicholas Lodge; "Playful Pastry," with Chef Rocco Lugrine; "Chocolate Devotion," with Chef Amanda Haba; "Exploring the Costa Rican Chocolate Experience," with Chef Stephan Item; and "Pulled and Blown Sugar," with Ewald Notter. A three-day General Admission pass is $90, $35 for students.

For more information and tickets, visit http://www.pastrylive.com/.