Ready, Set, AthFest! June 22 - 26, 2011

The schedule has been released and the good news is being spread- AthFest 2011 is set to stimulate, inspire and entertain us on all fronts of artistic festivity planned for the eagerly anticipated event. For almost a year, we have been patiently awaiting June 22 - 26, 2011 -- the return of Athens, Georgia's favorite music and arts festival, dreaming of the week when our most talented regional musicians and artists will come together again and illuminate the streets with the sights, sounds, and performances of their respective crafts. 

For those who will be experiencing it for the first time, AthFest is a festival to celebrate Athens, Georgia music and arts.  Local and regional musicians, artists, performers, and other creative minds will showcase their work throughout the downtown area of Athens, GA. As music is the force that drives the Classic City, it is also the focus of the festival featuring 3 outdoor stages hosting 3 days of shows from an impressive line-up of headlining acts at no charge to the public. Some very exciting performers headlining this year include: Futurebirds, the pensive alt-country band will stop back home in Athens from their tour promoting the blossoming success of their current album; Guadalcanal Diary, will celebrate the 30-year anniversary of their formation as pioneers of 80's Southern indie-pop; Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, the soulful blues rock group with honest, poignant lyrics will play the sounds of the South.

The second and main stage outdoor performances are just the icing on the AthFest cake, though. The "club crawl" event taking place Friday and Saturday night will feature a diverse line-up of local bands and artists performing at around 12 of the best music venues in town. Think 40 Watt, The Melting Point, Little Kings, Caledonia and more. The venue schedule features some exciting Athens favorites, both the weathered and up-and-coming alike, filling virtually every stage in the downtown area. Some exciting performances to look out for: Hope For A Goldensummer, the recently re-emerging folky sister sirens will bring their haunting Southern voices to Little Kings Shuffle Club; Modern Skirts, the still buzzing alt-rock band return their harmonic success to the The Melting Point; Reptar, the young, fresh electro-pop band of boys will beam their high energy to a sure-to-be-dancing crowd at the 40 Watt; Twin Tigers; the dynamic and melodic sounds of their strong Athens influences will be heard at Go Bar. These among a total of around 200 other amazing bands and artists performing in venues and outdoor stages throughout the 3 days of music make the options endless and the choices impossible.

AthFest remains one of the best values on the scene.  All outdoor stages are absolutely FREE!  For admission to the club crawl and other affiliated events, an AthFest wristband is a must. At a price of $15 when purchased in advance or $20 when purchased at the festival, the wristbands will get you more than complete musical access with other perks including discounted tickets to lots of great events- so go ahead and grab your wristband now! 

For a complete weekend package including Athens hotel accommodations,
book an AthFest hotel package here.   

The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau is also running a text-to-win promotion  for a chance to win an overnight AthFest package. Just  text DAWG to 95495. For more contest information, see VisitAthensGA.com.  For complete AthFest details, visit our event page.

In addition to an incredible musical agenda, the festival also showcases some very exciting comedy acts, dance performances, and film screenings. Notable events include: Laughfest comedy show, June 22 at the 40 Watt, the 2nd annual comedy showcase featuring nationally touring acts such as Dan Telfer and TJ Young with many other hilarious Athenians; WIRED 2011: Athens Dance Music Festival, June 25 at New Earth Music Hall, a showcase of the most talented regional electronic artists playing fresh variations of dubstep, experimental hip-hop, electro-house, and more; AthFest FilmFest 2011, June 22-26 at Cine, daily screenings of Athens-based rock docs, short films, teen screen, and more; Flagpole Music Awards, June 23 at the Morton Theater, the magazine's annual ceremony recognizes local bands across every genre and category who have displayed impressive musical creativity.

Another large component of the AthFest ensemble of events is the Artists Market which is made up of over 40 booths featuring the original artwork of around 50 local artists. With exhibited work in forms across almost every medium, regional artists and craftspeople compete for cash prizes accompanying the best in show, second place, and 5 merit awards that will be granted to the top works exhibited. The works of art displayed in the Artists Market will be available for viewing and, some, for sale.

At the corner of Washington and Lumpkin, tents will cover the KidsFest area with a multitude of crafts, games, workshops and family-friendly musical performances. A KidsFest parade, art contest, open mic opportunity, and songwriting workshop top a longer list of awesome events and creative opportunities for kids of all ages. Focusing strongly on the bulging schedule of family-friendly activities, AthFest caters to the kids who are, after all, a large part of the motivation behind the entire event. All proceeds from the festival go to AthFest Educates!, a program aiming to integrate educational music and arts programs into local schools. With arts and music education at the center of it's efforts, AthFest, as a component of the non-profit AthFest organization, shares the beauty and necessity of local creativity with the community and beyond.

A regional communion of cultural explosion could take place nowhere other than our prolific, Athens, Ga. AthFest 2011 is going to be, without a doubt, the biggest and best event of the summer, maybe even the year! So don't wait around to start making your AthFest plans! Check out VisitAthensGA.com/AthFest for more info on headliners and tickets, then compare awesome hotel package offers. And don't forget to text DAWG to 95495 to enter for a chance to win a complete AthFest package- see details here. Look forward to seeing YOU at AthFest 2011!  

June Delivers a Fantastic First Weekend!

Rejoice and welcome the glorious month of June in Athens, GA. With plenty of great options for the family or friends, this sunny weekend is in no short supply of exciting summer activities.

If it’s thrills you seek, then take a walk on the wild side, or at least the scientific side, at the 33rd annual Snake Day this Saturday at the Sandy Creek Nature Center. This beloved Athens event examines the anatomy and life of nature’s most infamous reptiles. Snake Day is packed full of slithery-fun crafts and games, but most importantly the event will center on hands-on, educational activities. Trained caretakers will be guides through the exciting world of snakes. Take advantage of the opportunity to get familiar with a wide assortment of snake variety, learn to identify them both venomous and non, and finally (gasp!) touch a scaly guy for yourself. So, don’t be shy, get acquainted with some serpentine friends this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. For more information about this event, visit our calendar listing.

If the idea of a day of snakes still makes your hair stand on end, then brush it back and get your hands dirty with a ball of clay instead. Bring the family out to the Georgia Museum of Art this Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon, to Go Figure!, the museum’s Family Day event. Get inspired by Icelandic sculptor Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir’s installation, “Horizons”, in the Jane and Harry Wilson Sculpture Garden before heading inside to form a sculptural creation of your own. Admission and refreshments will be free thanks to Family Day sponsors. For more information about this event, visit our event listing.

Make some classic memories of these sweet summer nights the best way we know how in Athens, GA- with a drink, fantastic food and great music. Find these 3 essential ingredients for a classic Athens night out at the Melting Point this weekend. Start the month and your weekend off right this Friday night with Swingin’ Medalions, a timeless and well-respected group with an ear for tradition. And Saturday don’t miss a true veteran of the blues, the Nighthawks’ Jimmy Thackery will perform a musically emotional journey almost as heady as his career. Come enjoy food and drink around 6 p.m. until the artists take the stage at 8:30 p.m. For more information about who’s on stage at the Melting Point this June, visit our calendar listing.

Take on the Garden Geology adventure of examining the Georgia Piedmont rock types in the State Botanical Garden of Georiga this Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.

Check out our weekend calendar listing for more great ideas and events happening in Athens, Ga this weekend!

Athens This Weekend: April 22 - 25

• The 40 Watt presents Packway Handle Band with opening act Lera Lynn this Friday. Packway Handle Band is touring in support of their most current album release, What Are We Gonna Do Now? Formed in 2001 in Athens, Packway Handle Band has emerged at the national forefront of bands that use the "gather-around-the-mic" style. They are known for their energetic performances, off-the-wall covers and vocal harmonies.

• This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of America's best criterium! Athens Twilight Criterium is a professional cycling event and festival for fans, families and racers. Twilight is a favorite spot on the national cycling tour circuit, both for its unique evening format and the large crowds that gather in Athens' vibrant downtown. This event offers something for everyone!

• The Second Annual Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage will transport you back in time to historic homes, authentic battle sites, impressive architecture and magnificent museums. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at any of the Welcome Centers along the trail prior to or during the Pilgrimage, providing access to seven participating attractions and events in any city along the Antebellum Trail.

• Support recycling efforts and fund local initiatives in the community by shopping and donating at the Athens Habitat ReStore! This weekend the ReStore will have a 3 day sale event in the spirit of spring cleaning. On Thursday, celebrate Earth Day t-shirt tie dying and recycling initiatives. On Friday, bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic under the trees. On Saturday, receive 20 percent off your purchase before noon.

• Come enjoy the Dancefx Spring Studio Concert featuring jazz, tap, hip-hop, ballroom and more. Dancefx Inc., a not-for-profit dance organization, is dedicated to bringing professional quality dance and other cutting-edge dance forms to the Athens community while providing a continuing dance education and performance outlet for dancers and artists to express themselves.

• This Sunday, the Miss Black A-CC Teen Pageant Committee presents the 35th Annual Miss Black Teen Pageant with contestants from the Athens-Clarke County School District ranging in ages 13-18. Don't miss out on seeing the talents of young women in the Athens-Clarke County area who will compete in various areas such as community service and academia. This event is sure to be entertaining and noteworthy!

Georgia's Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage

Georgia's Antebellum Trail, the state's first official tourism Trail, presents the second annual Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage this weekend! Tickets are $25 and provide access to seven participating attractions and events in any city along the Antebellum Trail.

The 100-mile heritage trail spans seven historically significant communities including Athens, Watkinsville, Madison, Eatonton, Milledgeville, Gray/Old Clinton and Macon. During the Pilgrimage weekend, communities along the Trail will offer a wide array of museum tours and special events as well as entrance into private historic homes not generally open to the public.

The northern gateway of the Antebellum Trail is our very own historic town of Athens. Patrons can tour four house museums featuring four architectural styles from four different time periods. One featured attraction is Athens' oldest surviving residence, the Church-Waddel-Brumby house. After touring historic attractions, patrons can attend the annual Athens Twilight Criterium, a well-known professional cycling and festival that draws thousands to the Classic City.

Listed below are some of the local "Top of the Trail" privileges you will receive with purchase of an Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage ticket. Tickets can be purchased at any of the Welcome Centers along the trail prior to and during the Pilgrimage or online at www.atpilgrimage.com.

ATHENS Pilgrimage Privileges:

• Tours of four house museums: T.R.R. Cobb House, Church-Waddel-Brumby House, Taylor-Grady House and Ware-Lyndon House.
• Rose of Athens theatre vignettes at T.R.R. Cobb House, Saturday and Sunday.
• Classic City Tours featuring Athens heritage driving tours, 2 p.m. daily.
• Old Athens Cemetery Tours, 10:30 p.m. daily.

WATKINSVILLE Pilgrimage Privileges:

• Guided tours of the Eagle Tavern, a former stagecoach stop and tavern built in the late 1700's with antebellum artifacts.
• Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation's display of a national juried exhibit featuring selected works produced by skilled artists from around the country.
• Discounts at Jittery Joe's Coffee, Ashford Manor and Grisoles!

MADISON Pilgrimage Privileges:

• Tours of Heritage Hall, a Greek Revival house museum circa 1811.
• Guided tours of Rogers House, a Piedmont Plain style house, and Rose Cottage, an old slave residence.
• Discounts at Maggie's on Main and James Madison Inn!

Win 2 Tickets to the 21st Annual Boybutante Ball

Enter this Twitter contest for your chance to attend one of Athens' biggest social events! Two lucky winners will each win 2 tickets to the 21st Annual Boybutante Ball this Saturday at the 40 Watt.

The Boybutante Ball is a Broadway-style event featuring the talents of approximately 20 local and imported drag queens and kings. The Ball also includes costume contests and the crowning of "Miss Bogart." All performances and costumes will be set around the central theme of "Fairy Tales," and guests are encouraged to dress to the theme. All proceeds benefit AIDS Athens.

The Boybutante Ball, followed by a brunch the morning after, concludes a week of Boybutante events. For a full schedule of Boybutante events happening this week, click here.

How to participate in the Twitter contest:

Simply retweet my Twitter post about the event. After midnight on Wednesday, April 14, a random number generator will select 2 winners!

New to Twitter or our contests? Not sure how to retweet? Click here or here for examples.

For official contest rules, click here. Good luck!

Athens this Weekend: April 2 - 4

Spring is in the air, and the warm weather is here! Start enjoying the month of April with the great events that Athens has to offer this weekend.

Friday, April 2:

• A parade of dog breeds, farrier and horseback riding demonstrations, hospital tours and exhibits- these are just some of the activities available to the young and old alike at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Open House! Guided tours of the College and Teaching Hospital facilities will be available throughout the day, and interesting exhibits will focus on topics such as animal behavior, equine reproduction and herd health.

Saturday, April 3:

• Great exercise, great fun and a great cause! Join the Athens' Habitat for Humanity and the Athens' Homeless Shelter for the 17th Annual Run/Walk for Home 5K! The race will start at the Classic Center in downtown Athens, run through the downtown area, the North Oconee Greenway and finish behind the Classic Center on Foundry Street. The race will start at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine, and is an event for walkers and runners alike. Proceeds benefits Athens Area Habitat for Humanity and the Athens Area Homeless Shelter.

• The Athens Symphony will present its FREE Spring Concert this Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Classic Center! The Symphony will perform movements from famous fifth symphonies and will feature a former UGA professor and a Monroe band teacher as soloists.

Sunday, April 4: Happy Easter!

• You're invited to celebrate Easter at The Georgia Center, with Easter Lunch served in the Magnolia Ballroom. Reservations required. Entree selections include leg of lamb, honey-glazed ham, sirloin of beef, chicken Key Largo and pecan crusted tilapia. Call 706.542.6341 to reserve today! Only $19.95 for adults, $6.95 for children and children under 6 are free!

Ongoing Events:

• Happy 30th birthday, R.E.M.! April 5, 1980 marked the very first time Bill, Peter, Mike and Michael took the stage together in Athens, GA. It has been 30 years since R.E.M. made its debut, and the Classic City is ready to celebrate with a weekend full of very special events! Take a music heritage tour with scenster Paul Butchart, celebrate at a very special party at The Melting Point, view a 90-minute retropective at Cine and listen to WUOG 90.5 fm for 5 STRAIGHT HOURS of R.E.M. music!

• Now is your chance to see Athens on the big screen! Produced by Athens native Ashley Epting, Not Since You is the story of a group of once tight-knit college friends coming back together for a wedding. This movie was filmed and set in Athens! One screening per day brought to you by Epting Events and Harry's Pig Shop. Monday through Thursday, each night will have a charity designation for which patrons can elect for one dollar from each ticket to go to the designated charity of the day.

• UGA Sports: UGA Tennis has two home matches this weekend and Top Ten-Ranked UGA Softball takes on Arkansas.

DON'T FORGET! Spring means festivals, and Athens has over 10 annual events/festivals just this month! We are offering 18 web coupons and 5 great getaway packages to make your planning easier! We also have a calendar of events with a list of all music, festivals, etc. Click here to see what we have to offer.

Athens This Weekend: March 5 - 7

Friday, March 5:

• Everybody have fun tonight! Travel back in time to the era of shoulder pads, bangle bracelets and living to excess. The Melting Point presents The Highballs in Concert. The Highballs will be putting on a totally awesome show so you can party to the max. Like, for sure! Duran Duran, Madonna, Journey, the Bangles...all the best of the '80s in a high energy live show.

Saturday, March 6:

• The UGA Performing Arts Center is proud to present Narek Hakhnazaryan, a 19-year-old cellist who won first prize in the 2008 Young Concert Artists International Auditions! His two rewarding debuts were in Carnegie's Zankel Hall in New York and at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater in Washington, D.C. According to San Francisco Classical Voice, "he produces a powerful and colorful sound in all registers, nails every big shift and flashes all the virtuoso's tricks with insolent ease. He should have a stellar career."

• Treat your family to Exotic Birds & Animals on Planet Earth: Family Day at The State Botanical Garden! Roy Hodge from Exotic Paradise, Atlanta will travel to the State Botanical Garden this Saturday to educate and entertain families with his menagerie of exotic forest animals! Attendees will discover amazing facts and adaptations of exotic animals in a live animal presentation. Children and their parents can pet and take pictures with cockatoos, parrots, owls, monitor lizards, anacondas, boa constrictors and more!

Sunday, March 7:

• Head over to The State Botanical Garden this Sunday for the opening reception of Claire Clements' paintings exhibition Bottlebrush Buckeye and Beyond! Participate in a fun art critique exercise and interpret artworks currently on display. Claire's process, cut paintings, involves cutting mixed media painting on paper. Free to the public.

Ongoing Events:

• Do not miss your opportunity to view a colorful display of late winter flowers at the 18th Annual Hellebore Days at Piccadilly Farm in Bishop, Georgia! The public is invited to stroll the gardens and view thousands of Lenten Roses in full bloom in the 2.5 acre display garden. Hellebore Days has been featured in the New York Times and numerous other publications. For those unable to attend the event, the gardens will be open on Fridays and Saturdays during the spring season.

• Athens Creative Theatre presents "Bull in a China Shop," a Women's Repertoire Show and Dessert Theatre. When a houseful of sweet little old ladies discovers that a handsome bachelor lives across the street, they are delighted! When they learn that he is none other than Detective Dennis O'Finn, of Homicide, they are faced with the problem of how to attract his attention. The answer is simplicity itself: a nice, genteel homicide with a cup of tea as the murder weapon! Patrons will enjoy a dessert buffet at intermission.

• Paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media, large and small sculpture, works in clay and in fiber, jewelry, photographs, drawings, prints, and other works! The 35th Juried Exhibition at Lyndon House Arts Center showcases a wealth of Athens area talent. Over 740 art works by 291 artists were entered in the competition this year and 142 pieces were selected by this year's juror Ron Platt, the Hugh Kaul Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Green Life Athens, Jan. 29 & 30

Check this out and make plans to attend the Second Annual Green Life Expo, at The Classic Center in Athens. Free Admission, and I guarantee you'll come away with the knowledge to save a bundle! I'm on budget billing (flat monthly payment) with Georgia Power, and just got my adjustment for 2010 --- we used enough less electricity in 2009 that our bill for 2010 is dropping enough to cover our daughter's new monthly gymnastics registration fees!