The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WHERE FAMILIES CAN GO TO FIND SOME SUMMER FUN
Get ready for outdoor, fun-packed summer for the whole family.
Summer doesn’t officially start until June 21, but many people are already celebrating the start of the season. From pool openings to special events, many seasonal activities kick off after Memorial Day.
Summer break is certainly thrilling for kids, but it often leaves parents scrambling to ensure that their children are consistently entertained.
We’ve come up with five diverse outdoor activities that are great for adults and kids alike.
Flying Colors Butterfly Festival
The 18th annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival at Chattahoochee Nature Center is a good way to get your family outside and engaged with nature.
The two-day festival will offer a series of butterfly releases, in addition to a walk-through exhibit featuring hundreds of butterflies and more.
Other festival activities include fairy houses and sidewalk art, crafts, live music and more. Namaste Food Truck, a fusion Indian food truck, and King of Pops will be on-site selling tasty treats.
The festival serves as a fundraiser for the nature center.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. June 3-4. $8-$12. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. Chattnaturecenter.org.
Lavender Festival 2017
Leave the city and head to Dahlonega for a day of family fun at the Red Oak Lavender Farm during the third annual Lavender Festival. Participate in free tours throughout the day and learn about lavender, beekeeping and candle making. Relax while listening to live music and watching as artists paint in the fields during the event on June 10.
You can purchase lavender plants, homemade soaps, lavender ice cream, honey and lemonade from various vendors before leaving the farm.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 10. Free. Red Oak Lavender Farm, 2882 Red Oak Flats Road, Dahlonega. Redoaklavender.com.
Tunes From the Tombs
There are many paths for little feet to explore during the seventh annual music festival held at Oakland Cemetery and then there’s some music to keep them bouncing.
Headlining the event is guitarist Tinsley Ellis and “special surprise guests” with a tribute show to the late Col. Bruce Hampton, who originally had been slated as the headliner. Hampton collapsed during the encore of his “Hampton 70” birthday celebration in early May and died shortly afterward at a hospital.
Ellis and friends will present “Music of the Stained Souls: A Tribute to Col. Bruce Hampton,” and will be joined by Yonrico Scott of the Royal Southern Brotherhood.
Other bands performing on the main stage at the festival include Cadillac Jones, Secondhand Swagger and Delta Moon. All are expected to perform Hampton songs during their sets.
Other stages include music from Blake Rainey & His Demons, Bad Spell, Five Eight, Little Country Giants and the Wasted Potential Brass Band.
Noon-8 p.m. June 10. $5-$75. Oakland Cemetery, 248 Oakland Ave., Atlanta. www.oaklandcemetery.com.
‘Summer in the City’
Families who don’t have time to leave metro Atlanta and head to the beach are in luck. The Decatur Business Association is bringing the sand to downtown Decatur with “Summer in the City.” They haven’t quite figured out how to transport the ocean, but the 60 tons of sand should keep kids occupied.
Enjoy live music and other performances such as stilt walking and fire twirling, while indulging in funnel cakes and other carnival-style food. Beer will be available from Three Taverns for adults.
The event is a rebranding of the Decatur Beach Party that has been a staple in the city for decades. While admission to the event cost a fee in previous years, it is free this year. Select activities will cost a fee.
5-11 p.m. June 16. Free. Downtown Decatur, 101 W. Court Square, Decatur. http://decaturdba.com/ events/beach-party/.
Six Flags turns 50
Six Flags Over Georgia will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a daylong birthday bash. Kick off the festivities by celebrating the opening of Coaster Candy, an approximately 4,000-square-foot specialty and gourmet candy shop within the park, at 9:30 a.m.
At 10:15 a.m., watch as June 16, 2017, is declared “Six Flags Over Georgia Day” in the state of Georgia.
Then, experience the amusement park’s new Justice League: Battle for Metropolis ride or revisit other classic rides throughout the park. Additional giveaways and special celebratory activities will take place throughout the day.
TBD-9 p.m. June 16. Prices vary (visit www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia for most current rates). Six Flags Over Georgia, 275 Riverside Parkway, Austell. www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia.
Attend a Braves game for Father’s Day
Daughters looking to treat their dad to a special Father’s Day treat should look no further than SunTrust Park. Spend the Friday before Father’s Day watching the Atlanta Braves take on the Miami Marlins from the homerun porch ($29) or grandstand infield ($16).
Tickets will include an Atlanta Braves hat, as well as a parade around the warning track before the game. The parade lineup will take place beginning at 6:15 p.m. at the third base ramp across from sections 135/137.
If you’re looking to extend the father-daughter date, start your evening by dining at one of The Battery Atlanta restaurants. Options range from pizza at Antico to hot dogs and artisanal sausages at First & Third.
7:35 p.m. June 16. $16-$29. SunTrust Park, 755 Battery Ave., Atlanta. Mlb.com/braves.