4th of July in Athens, Ga

The 4th of July is just around the corner, and to many, this monumental day is celebrated with family fun, parades, fireworks, concerts and picnics. Luckily, there's no need to travel to the coast, the city, or cross-country this year, because Athens, Georgia has all that you and the family could want- and more- for a July Georgia getaway to celebrate Independence Day this year!

Thanks to Foundry Entertainment, Packway Handle Band, and the Athens Folk Music and Dance Society, the Classic City American Music Festival is returning for its fifth year at The Melting Point! This one-day Blugrass/Americana festival is packed with eight of the most talented and established groups of their kind. Impressing the nation for six decades, Dr. Ralph Stanley will perform with The Clinch Mountain Boys at 8 p.m., elevating his musical ingenuity to a whole new level.  Originating in Athens, Georgia, and credited in part for creating the festival, the Packway Handle Band will take the stage at 10 p.m. and blow the whole family away. Their performance won't leave you confused as to why they've been named "Athens’ Best Bluegrass Band" in the readers’ choice Flagpole Magazine Music Awards three years in a row. Other unique bands performing include Adam Klein and The Wild Fires, whose hits reached the Top 5 of Americana charts, Asheville, NC's The Honeycutters, Jimmy Martin-inspired BorderHop Trio, 2012 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition winner Bluebilly Grit, the dance-evoking String Theory, and the energetic and progressive High Strung String Band. Not much could beat this line-up for an Independence Day celebration! Tickets are $20 in advance and $25/$15 with UGA ID at the door, and all ages are welcome! If you're looking for a place to stay, the neighboring Foundry Park Inn has great special offers, including deluxe guestroom accommodations and your choice of add-on packages and a separate special room rate for UGA students and parents.  They're definitely worth a look!

For those craving traditional Independence Day activities like inflatables, face painting, fireworks, and a parade, the Star Spangled Classic is the perfect way to celebrate! Beginning at 6 p.m., families and friends of all ages will fill Bishop Park to enjoy the free live music, games, food, and kids inflatables. Fireworks will start at dark (around 9:30 p.m.)! Returning for the second year, the Kids Patriot Parade at 7 p.m. will show off bicycles, tricycles, and other non-motorized modes of transportation decorated by kids ages 10 and younger. The parade is free to enter, but you must register on location beginning at 6 p.m. Prizes will be given to the most creative decorators! The Star Spangled Classic is the perfect (and free!) Fourth of July bash for the young, old, and everyone in between! 

You can stop stressing about holiday plans, because the The Classic City American Music Festival and the Star Spangled Classic have got you covered here in Athens, Georgia! While you're at it, check out all of the activities on July 4th weekend, and make the celebration of the United States of America's 237th year of independence the best one yet!

North Georgia Folk Festival

Last Saturday, October 6th, was a perfect day in Athens, GA. There were several large events including Zoo Day at Bear Hollow Zoo, the Pulaski Street Art Crawl and the DiXie Film Festival. I spent most of Saturday at the North Georgia Folk Festival at Sandy Creek Park. The park is located on Bob Holman Road, off 441, about 10 minutes from Downtown Athens. 

The 28th Annual North Georgia Folk Festival felt like a step back to a simpler time. It was wholesome, natural, and welcoming. The center of the festival was the stage, where musicians performed until 9 p.m. Blankets and lawn chairs covered the lawn in front of the stage, with dancing on the left side of the stage. Artists, vendors and demonstrators surrounded the stage and spectators. There were groups making brooms, quilts and knives. 

Bloodroot Blades sold and helped guests learn the knife-making process.

One of the most intriguing vendors created gifts out of license plate materials. So brilliant!! I love the concept of making art out of something most would see as trash. 

Stress the Seams turns license plate materials into birdhouses, keychains & jewelry.

An event in Athens, GA is never complete without some great food and the Folk Festival didn't disappoint!

King of Pops, Pork Tamale from Juan's Empanadas, Farm 255's FarmCart

And, of course, the music was spectacular!

Blues & Guitar by Caroline Aiken

Irish Band, The Border Collies

In today's chaotic world, the Festival was a wonderful opportunity to pull away from a hectic schedule and tune in to exceptional musicians. Guests traveled from nearby Athens, the Atlanta area and out of state to enjoy the festival. I saw nothing but smiles on the faces sitting in the crowd.

Hate you missed the 2012 North Georgia Folk Festival?  Get a bluegrass fix on November 27th, when BlueBelly Grit will perform at the Melting Point for their Terrapin Tuesday series and recorded for a special production! It'll be a great night for Bluegrass faithful!

The North Georgia Folk Festival will be back next fall, so keep an eye out for dates at www.athensfolk.org. 

Going the Distance - Athens, GA This Weekend: Oct. 21-23 Events and Things to Do

Have the rain and chill earlier this week been getting you down? Don't worry, the weekend is nearly here! And there are some really exciting events planned that will bring guaranteed fun to your day no matter what the weather may bring!

1. From Friday through Sunday, the Canopy Studio Company will be presenting their Fall Aerial Show "What Flies Beneath". This family-friendly show will feature zip lines, bungees, flying cubes, circus poles, straps, tight-wire, Spanish web, and more! The show will be at Canopy Studio at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Matinees will be 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available online or thirty minutes prior to showtime. Watch the preview video here to get a little sneak peek of what you can expect!

2. Are you a fan of jazz or bluegrass? Then make sure to go see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Del McCoury Band perform at the Hodgson Concert Hall at the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center this Saturday at 8 p.m.! These two legendary bands have between them such achievements as performing for royalty all around the world as well as winning a Grammy for Best Bluegrass album. Get your tickets today, and look forward to a night of authentic and uniquely American music; this will definitely be an unforgettable experience!

3. Calling all runners -- have you registered to participate in the 2nd Annual AthFest Half Marathon yet? Make sure to sign up because this run benefits AthFest, a non-profit organization in Athens, Ga., that supports arts and music education. While you run for this great cause on Sunday morning at 7 a.m., you can enjoy the beautiful scenery Athens has to offer; the run goes through several historic areas, by Sanford Stadium, and along the Oconee River Greenway. Also, don't miss out on the Health and Fitness Expo which will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Holiday Inn Express. You can register at the Expo on Saturday. Participants will receive a t-shirt and those who pick up their packet early gain access to some neat giveaways and sales.

If none of those fit in your schedule or will bring you out of your gloomy weather funk, take a look at the following events.

• Bring your family out on Friday night for Family Campfire and Storytelling at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. The event runs from 6-8 p.m. and is limited to 40 participants, so register now! You will learn to build a fire, hear fun tales, and, best of all, enjoy that lovely treat known to all as S'mores!
• If you enjoy the art of dance, don't miss out on DanceAthens 2011's 11th Annual Dance Concert on Saturday. Many regional dance companies will come together for a night celebrating dance in Athens. It will take place at the Morton Theatre at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Purchase your tickets soon!
• Check out the beauty of the North Oconee River during this Sunday's Athens Heritage Walk. However, you won't just be walking on this tour -- a portion of the tour takes place on a canoe! The tour will begin at 1 p.m.; get your tickets quickly before the tour hits its capacity (only 14 people!).

Any of these events will be a good start to a great weekend. Here's hoping for fair weather, so you can enjoy a variety of events, whether they be indoors or outdoors!

- Debbie