15 family-friendly events in Atlanta this weekend
Looking for something fun to do with your family this weekend in Atlanta? Lawrenceville’s Spring Fair offers memory-making rides, games, fair food and more. And if you’re missing college football season, you can get a preview of Georgia Tech’s team with the annual White & Gold Game. Or go to Boom Ball, baseball entertainment that’s high on adrenaline and high-jinks and features co-ed teams, at Gwinnett Field.
Check out the following 15 family-friendly things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend:
Georgia Tech Football White & Gold Game
Watch the Yellow Jackets in action in their annual spring game, which includes their 19 incoming transfers, 18 already enrolled freshmen and returnees from last season’s 9-4 squad.
1 p.m. kickoff, Saturday, April 18. Free. Bobby Dodd Stadium, 177 North Ave. NW, Atlanta. 404-894-5414.
Get exclusive show-only deals from metro experts, view demonstrations, discover new products, participate in giveaways and meet contractors, designers and remodelers.
Noon-6 p.m. Friday, April 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 18 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Free. Atlanta Exposition Center, 3850 Jonesboro Road SE, Atlanta. 912-333-4663.
Kennesaw celebrates its 50th Big Shanty Festival with 250 arts and crafts vendors, 30 food vendors, entertainment on multiple stages and a Fun-Fare Kids Zone.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 18 and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Free admission. Downtown Kennesaw. 770-424-8274.
Take your choice of more than 20 fitness and wellness classes, run or walk in a 5K or 2-miler, play bingo for the chance to win prizes and visit with vendors, brands and recovery services.
8 a.m. 5K or 2-mile run/walk, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. festival Saturday, April 18. $39 and up, free for 15 and under. The Battery Atlanta, 800 Battery Avenue SE, Atlanta.
Cobb Parks Spring Arts Festival/Earth Day Weekend Plant Sale
At this Marietta event, you can view and purchase spring-themed handmade goods and artwork and talk to the artists behind the creations. The festival will also feature a Kidz Zone, performances, food trucks and food vendors. In addition, the Cobb County Master Gardeners annual plant sale will start on Friday at the same venue and continue Saturday during the festival.
Festival: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Plant Sale: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 17-18. Free admission and parking. Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road SW, Marietta. 770-528-1000.
Legacy Community Day and Decatur Earth Day Festival
Head to Legacy Decatur’s event, which features the Decatur Earth Day Festival, hands-on activities, music, food, interactive exhibits and demonstrations, bike tuneups, art activities, wildlife education and a plant sale.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Free. Decatur Legacy Park, 500 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur. 678-529-9280.
Take a Spring Splash into STEM with engaging hands-on activities and free planetarium shows.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Free. Fernbank Science Center, 156 Heaton Park Drive, Atlanta. 678-874-7102.
A Shakespeare Happening: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
The Bard is back with the latest A Shakespeare Happening event featuring the Atlanta Shakespeare Company, which blends music, performance and interactive education for children.
2 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Free. Avondale Estates Town Green, 64 N. Avondale Road, Avondale Estates. 404-294-5400.
Milton City Park and Preserve Trail Grand Opening
Celebrate Milton City Park and Preserve’s expanded trail project with a Trail Mix Hike (where people can pick up trail mix ingredients), a tree seedling to take home, crafts, balloon animals and face painting. You’ll also be able to pick up budding wildflowers grown by Cambridge High School students.
9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 18. Milton City Park and Preserve, 1785 Dinsmore Road, Milton. 678-242-2500.
Earth Day Celebration at Autrey Mill
Celebrate Earth Day with a fun day of family activities at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Free. Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, 9770 Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek. 678-366-3511.
Sandy Springs International Car Show
View more than 100 cars ranging from classics to exotics and meet their drivers while helping raise funds for the Sandy Springs Police Foundation.
1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 19. $10. City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs. 770-730-5600.
Roswell Dance Theatre’s Movement Collective performs this stage adaptation of Cruella de Vil’s origin story.
7 p.m. Friday, April 17, 11 a.m. Saturday, April 18, and 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 19. $15-$25. Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance, 601 Houze Way, Suite 100, Roswell. 770-998-0259.
Make memories at the fair with rides, attractions, games, fair food, a goat petting zoo and more.
Continuing Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 26. Admission $5. Parking free. Unlimited ride wristbands $32-$37 through this weekend with prices varying after. Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville. 770- 963-6522.
Experience Boom Ball, a reinvention of baseball that creates a fast, rule-bending show featuring co-ed teams. The fun includes a pregame festival with player appearances, a stadium-wide light show and a fireworks show.
5-6:30 p.m. Boom Fest, 6:30-7 p.m. opening ceremonies, 7-9 p.m. game, Saturday, April 18. $43.56 and up. Parking $20 online plus fees, $30 in person. Gwinnett Field (formerly Coolray Field), 2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville.
International Night Market/Glow in the Park
Two nights of fun in Suwanee start with international food and retail vendors as well as cultural performances on Friday followed by a second day that includes a Glow in the Park lantern parade at 8:15 p.m. and a concert to finish out the night.
5-10 p.m. Friday, April 17 and 2-10 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Town Center Park, Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, 330 Town Center Ave, Suwanee. 770-945-8996.
