Atlanta Festivals and Outdoor Events Provide Fun for Everyone

Atlanta is a large city where festivals and outdoor activities become popular in the warm spring months. Pick your favorites, and head out for a good time. The weather people are saying that the weekend will not be a rainout. So grab the kids, grab a portable umbrella (in case of occasional rain) and head outdoors because there's something for everyone.

Fun Family Festivals:

Marietta Greek Festival - Friday, May 15 - Sunday, May 17, 2009. Feed your body and soul at the 2009 Marietta Greek Festival. Escape to Greece and go shopping at the Greek marketplace. Enjoy authentic Greek food. Kids Eat Free (12 and under) from the kids' menu on Friday, May 15th from 3:00-6:00 PM. Get your groove on with the Hellenic Dance Program. Click here for hours and directions.

Atlanta Downtown Festival - Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. Live entertainment, an artist market, a beer garden and other activities designed to showcase the vibrancy of downtown living. Some of the Southeast's finest visual artists will display their work at the Artists' Market. Jazz musicians will perform live throughout the weekend. There will be a scavenger hunt through historical sites, parks, and restaurants and eateries. Broad Streets in the Fairlie Poplar District. Festival hours are 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday ,and 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, click here.

Georgia Renaissance Festival - On-going through June 7th. This is a budget-friendly weekend: buy two full-price tickets and get one free ticket of equal or lesser value. Plus, it's Scots and Kilts Weekend, featuring performances by the Atholl Highlander Pipe and Drum Band, sheep dog demonstrations, a "Best Legs" contest and much more. For directions, prices and hours, click here.

Outdoor Activities for all ages at the Chattahoochee Nature Center

All events take place at CNC and are free with admission (unless otherwise noted). General admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $2 children 3-12, FREE for members and children 2 and under. 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell, GA 30075. (770) 992-2055. For more information, including directions, click here.

Saturday, May 16th at the Chattahoochee Nature Center.

Songbird Sightings: 8:00-10:00 AM. Blue-grey gnat catchers, swifts and swallows over the river and osprey building their nests are some of the incredible sights you may see when you join CNC wildlife volunteer and Master Birder, Stacy Zarpentine, for an morning bird walk. Ages 16-adult.

Adopt-A-Stream: Chemical Workshop: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Join the Fulton County Adopt-A-Stream coordinator and become certified for chemical monitoring of your local waterways. Only for Adopt-A-Stream Registration, contact 404-730-8006. Ages 12 & up.

Meet the Keeper: 12:00 PM. Join our wildlife staff and volunteers to learn the ins and outs of what it takes to keep our animals happy and healthy. All ages.

Guided Nature Hikes: 1:00 & 3:00 PM. A CNC docent guides you on a journey through the CNC trails using biofacts and activities to spark your "natural" curiosity.

Weekend Special: Leave It To Beavers!: 2:00 PM. Join a CNC naturalist to discover the beaver's adaptations, what they eat, and how they live. Look for lodges and dams here at the Nature Center. All ages.

Guided Canoe Trips: 6:00 PM-dusk. This is a fantastic way to unwind from the daily hustle and bustle of suburban life, or to entertain family and friends. Don't miss this opportunity to experience one of metro Atlanta's best-kept secrets! Each trip is led by CNC naturalists, and offers a unique introduction to the ecology of the Chattahoochee River. Participants are expected to be an active part of this program. Ages 6 and up. Register at scheduling@chattnaturecenter.com or (770) 992-2055 ext. 237. Special member pricing in May. $30 non-members/$20 members (special trip on Memorial Day!). Click here for more information on guided canoe trips.

Brownie Night Flyers: 7:00 - 10:00 PM. 1st year Brownies can earn their Outdoor Adventurer Try-It while enjoying an evening at CNC! Go on a night hike, see nocturnal animals AND enjoy a campfire with s'mores! 1st year Brownies, $12 per scout. Pre-registration required. Register with Nikki Parker at 770-992-2055 ext. 249.

Sunday, May 17th at the Chattahoochee Nature Center:

Canoe Trip: Flint River and the Shoals Spider Lilies: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. + travel time (2-3 hours). For three hundred fifty miles the Flint flows through Georgia unimpeded. Naturalist Jerry Hightower will take us through one of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse sections, Sprewell Bluff and the Fall Line Ravines. Easy paddling suitable for beginners, but participants must have basic skills. Bring water & a pack lunch, snacks are included. We will provide travel directions. Camping & moderately priced hotels are available. Call for details. $70 non-members/ $60 members. Pre-registration required. To register, go to www.chattnaturecenter.com, and click on Adult Programs, or call us at 770-992-2055 ext. 222. Ages 16-adult. We recommend pre-registration. If spaces are available, we will accept same day registration.

Meet the Keeper: 12:00 PM. Join our wildlife staff and volunteers to learn the ins and outs of what it takes to keep our animals happy and healthy. All ages.

Guided Nature Hikes: 1:00 & 3:00 PM. A CNC docent guides you on a journey through the CNC trails using biofacts and activities to spark your "natural" curiosity.

Weekend Special: Leave It To Beavers!: 2:00 PM. Join a CNC naturalist to discover the beaver's adaptations, what they eat, and how they live. Look for lodges and dams here at the Nature Center. All ages.

Guided Canoe Trips: 6:00 PM-dusk. This is a fantastic way to unwind from the daily hustle and bustle of suburban life, or to entertain family and friends. Don't miss this opportunity to experience one of metro Atlanta's best-kept secrets! Each trip is led by CNC naturalists, and offers a unique introduction to the ecology of the Chattahoochee River. Participants are expected to be an active part of this program. Ages 6 and up. Register at scheduling@chattnaturecenter.com or (770) 992-2055 ext. 237. Special member pricing in May. $30 non-members/$20 members (special trip on Memorial Day!). Click here for more information on guided canoe trips.

For more things to do and see at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, I recommend that you read the following articles:

More to Do and See at Georgia's Greenest Nature Center - Opening June of 2009

The Nature Exchange opens at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in June of 2009

A new wildlife facility in Atlanta for injured animals

Adult workshops in Atlanta - an engaging and educational schedule for spring

The best summer camp in Atlanta