With the election in the rearview mirror, it's time to get out and have some fun on another fall weekend in Northeast Georgia!
Here's this weekend's list of events:
FESTIVALS
Event Name: Atlanta Lantern Boat Festival, Gainesville
Event Date & Time: Saturday, November 9, 1 – 9 p.m.
Event Location: Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd., Gainesville
Event Details: The Laotian American Society is bringing the radiant Lao celebration to Georgia. The festival will be a vibrant fusion of cultures, featuring live music, cultural performances, a night market, a dragon boat demonstration, and a lantern lighting ceremony. The festival will include a parade through the park during the evening, with dragon boats adorned with lanterns gracing the lake. For details, go to https://lasga.org/lanternboatfestival/.
Event Name: Sip Into the Season, Cumming
Event Date & Time: Saturday, November 9, 12 – 8 p.m.
Event Location: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd., Cumming
Event Details: Follow a fun Sipping Trail, enjoying specialty beverages, curated vendors and fun activities. Pick up a punch card from any participating location. Those who finish the entire trail will receive a holiday prize. Stay for the free community concert at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater. At 7 p.m. a John Cougar Mellencamp Tribute Band will take the stage at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater. The group, Rock in the USA, will round out the night with some of your favorite sounds of the 80’s and 90’s. The concert is free to the community. Just bring your own blankets or chairs.
Event Name: Pumpkin Smash, Cleveland
Event Date & Time: Friday, November 8 – Sunday, November 10
Event Location: North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park (NOGA), 2912 Paradise Valley Rd., Cleveland
Event Details: Bring your leftover pumpkins and feed them to the animals! Bring your own fresh pumpkin for the pumpkin smash and get $1 off of admission at the gate (cannot be applied to tickets purchased online). Watch as the pumpkins are tossed to the wolves, cougar, lemurs and more! For details, go to www.northgeorgiazoo.com/pumpkin-smash.html.
Event Name: Suwanee Chili Cook Off & Music Festival, Suwanee
Event Date & Time: Saturday, November 9, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Event Location: Suwanee Town Center, Suwanee
Event Details: Over 30 chilis to taste and vote on. Bring your appetite. Live music, local vendors, a family fun zone and activities for all ages. The festival is free to attend and shop. There is a cost for enjoying the chili. Visit the website, www.chilimusicfestival.com.
Event Name: Hall County Master Gardener Fall Symposium, Gainesville
Event Date & Time: Saturday, November 9, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Event Location: East Hall Community Center, 3911 P. Davidson Rd., Gainesville
Event Details: This event is open to the public. Tickets are $10 per person and include a continental breakfast. The symposium is an exciting opportunity to hear the latest research on plant breeding, food preservation, vertical planting, and sustainable urban agriculture from leader experts from UGA. There will be a presentation with an emphasis on canning, including the science and practice of canning safely. To purchase tickets, go to https://www.hallmatsergardeners.com/symposium.
Event Name: 2nd Annual Shine and Show Car Show, Cumming
Event Date & Time: Saturday, November 9, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Event Location: Forsyth Central High School, 520 Tribble Gape Rd., ., Cumming
Event Details: This car show will be fun for the whole family and benefit students of Forsyth Central High School. All car and motorcycle types will be represented. Anyone wishing to enter a vehicle, the fee is $25, and prizes will be awarded for “Principal’s Pick,” “FCHS Auto Team Pick,” “Alumni Pick,” and “Hall of Fame Pick.”
Event Name: Winter Lantern Festival, Lawrenceville
Event Date & Time: Friday, November 8 – Sunday, January 5 (Thursdays – Sundays), 5 – 9:30 p.m.
Event Location: 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville
Event Details: All ages are welcome to walk through a dazzling display of lanterns, as well as enjoy food and drink, a gift shop, live entertainment and more. Entertainment is provided by the Zigong Acrobatic Troupe, featuring incredible acrobatic acts like balancing, face-changing and more. The walk around is 45 minutes long. Get your tickets at www.winterlanternfestival.com.
Event Name: Harvest Festival, Lawrenceville
Event Date & Time: Saturday, November 9, 12 – 6 p.m.
Event Location: Lawrenceville Lawn, 210 Luckie St., Lawrenceville
Event Details: This is Lawrenceville’s homegrown music and arts fest featuring exciting national acts, as well as favorite local performers. For details, go to www.lawrencevillega.org.
MUSIC
Event Name: Idol X, Billy Idol Tribute Band, Gainesville
Event Date & Time: Friday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.
Event Location: Boot Barn Hall, 293 W. Academy St., SW, Gainesville
Event Details: If you’re a Billy Idol fan, you’ll love the music that sounds like you’re favorite rock star. This tribute band honors Billy Idol and Generation X. You’ll dance and sing to all our favorite songs as your transported back in time to the rebellious rock-n-roll and punk scene of the 70’s and 80’s.
Event Name: The Kenny Rogers Band, Buford
Event Date & Time: Friday, November 8, 8 p.m.
Event Location: Buford Community Center, 2200 Buford Hwy., Buford
Event Details: This is no tribute band, this is the actual band that toured with Kenny Rogers for over 40 years with over 5,000 shows worldwide. If you’re one of the 5 million fans who love Kenny Rogers, come enjoy the group that made Kenny Rogers, well… Kenny Rogers. They have stories to tell of when Kenny Rogers was singing with them, as well as videos and insight into life on the road. This will be an engaging, toe-tapping, sing-along like you’ve never experienced before.
Event Name: Moby Dick, Cumming
Event Date & Time: Saturday, November 9, 7 p.m.
Event Location: Lou Sobh Amphitheater, 399 Canton Rd., Cumming
Event Details: This band ranges from White Zombie to Taylor Swift. Enjoy hits from every era. Free admission and parking. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets, but leave your outside food, coolers and beverages at home.
THEATER PRODUCTIONS
Event Name: A Christmas Story, Sugar Hill
Event Date & Time: Friday, November 8 – Sunday, November 17, Weekends Only, Various Times
Event Location: Eagle Theater, 5021 W Broad St., NE, Sugar Hill
Event Details: Based on the motion picture by the same name, follow the journey of a 9-year-old boy as he is determined to get a BB gun under the tree for Christmas. A Christmas Story is destined to become a theatrical holiday perennial.
Event Name: Bright Star, Cleveland
Event Date & Time: Now Through, Sunday, November 10, Various Times
Event Location: 2600 Highway 129 N., Cleveland
Event Details: The White County High School (WCHS) Theatre Department is bringing you a musical based on true events. This production opens the WCHS theatre season. The story is set in the small towns of North Carolina where a literary editor meets a young soldier. Together they are inspired to tackle unknown secrets and possibly love. For more details, go to https://whitecountyhighschooltheatre.ludus.com.
Event Name: Little Red Hen, Dahlonega
Event Date & Time: Friday, November 8 – Sunday, November 10, Various Times
Event Location: Holly Theatre, 69 W. Main St., Dahlonega
Event Details: This family-friendly play follows a young hen, called Red, on her adventures with her barnyard friends. Will the farm animals help Red bake bread? Or will they turn away for their own self-interests? Come enjoy this junior production with a cast of all 7–12-year-olds. Junior productions are perfect for kids of all ages, as the shows are rated G and only 30 minutes in length. Get your tickets at https://hollytheater.com.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Event Name: Christmas Market, Gainesville
Event Date & Time: Friday, November 8 - Saturday, November 9, 1 – 7 p.m.
Event Location: North Hall Community Center, Nopone Rd., Gainesville
Event Details: Holiday shopping begins now with unique gifts from local artisans. Discover handcrafted wonders, cozy creations and stylish home décor. Treat yourself to delicious baked goods, while the kids enjoy ornament painting and bounce houses. Entry is free. For details, go to https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/S8mxwRF.
Event Name: Marketplace Holiday Shopping, Gainesville
Event Date & Time: Friday, November 8 - Saturday, November 9, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Event Location: Ramsey Conference Center, 2572 Lanier Tech Dr., Lanier Technical College, Gainesville
Event Details: Don’t miss the kick-off to the holiday shopping season and, your entrance ticket of $6, benefits a great cause -Safe Kids Northeast Georgia. Over 60 merchants from seven states will bring lots of shopping options. There will also be activities for children and photos for Santa.
Event Name: The 21st Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Festival, Cumming
Event Date & Time: Saturday, November 9 – Sunday, November 10
Event Location: Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming
Event Details: Brought to you by Sawnee Association of the Arts, this Christmas Festival at Lanier Tech is one of the largest indoor arts and crafts festivals in Forsyth County. On Saturday, it will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival features over 100 professional artisans and craftsmen, a gift shop just for kids, the Festival of Trees display (and for sale), and photos with Santa. Food vendors will be available outside. Free admission.
Event Name: Old Clarkesville Merry Market, Clarkesville
Event Date & Time: Saturday, November 9,
Event Location: Habersham County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 4235 Toccoa Hwy., Clarkesville
Event Details: This is a celebration of the holiday season with unique gifts and festive preparations – everything you need for the holiday season. Shoppers can find pottery, unique pieces of art, handcrafted jewelry, local foods, body products, woodwork and so much more! Come and visit with Santa, enjoy the live music and the carolers or watch the local cloggers. Stroller over 120 booths while enjoying delicious treats from local food, dessert and drink vendors.
