Athens This Weekend: April 26 - 28

It's the last weekend in April, and you know what that means: Athens Twilight! Join more than 30,000 fans as they pack the cozy confines of downtown Athens to witness some of America's best criterium racing. And while you're at it, sample a few of the best foodie venue the Classic City has to offer by participating in the Bucket List Culinary Tour. Trust us, this is one weekend in Athens, Georgia you won't want to miss!

34th Annual Athens Twilight Criterium 

The 34th Annual Athens Twilight weekend is a professional cycling event featuring festival fun for fans, families and racers. Founded in 1980 by Gene Dixon, the Athens Twilight Criterium was the first nighttime race in the United States in more than 60 years. What began as one race with 40 competitors has since grown to offer eight separate race classes and 150 cyclists competing through downtown Athens. Friday's kickoff includes music and a delicious food court, while Saturday features some of America's best criterium racing. For a complete listing of events and times, please visit http://www.athenstwilight.com/. 

6th Annual Twilight Americana Music Festival

Athens Americana is a four-night music festival featuring Athens, Georgia's finest folk, country, bluegrass and "Americana" acts. This event includes an exciting weekend of shows from your favorite local, regional and national Americana acts. For a complete listing of ticket prices and events, please visit the Athens CVB website. 

Spring 2013 Bucket Culinary Tour

Join Athens Food Tours for a one-of-a-kind "Bucket List" Tour featuring a list of places to eat before leaving the Classic City. You'll travel via a BYOB bus ride to six of the best loved, locally owned hole-in-the-wall foodie venues Athens has to offer. Ticket purchase includes food at six venues, your bus ticket and a professional party guide. Tickets are $38 per person plus a 15% tour guide gratuity. To visit the complete tour itinerary, please visit the Athens CVB event calendar.

More events...

• 3rd Annual Good Food Block Party, Farm 255, Sat. 1 - 4 p.m.
• UGA Baseball vs. Arkansas, Foley Field, Sat. 12 p.m.
• Athens Farmers Market, Bishop Park, Sat. 8 a.m. - noon

Want a complete list of all upcoming activities going on in Athens? Explore our event calendar at Visit Athens, Georgia. Join the mailing list to stay in the loop about exciting events going on in the Classic City!

Athens, GA Debuts New Festival: Athens Slingshot

Athens, GA is proud to present the newest annual festival to hit the Classic City: Athens Slingshot! Featuring 45 performers from more than 20 countries, we're certain this festival won't disappoint. See what the hosts themselves had to say about this exciting new festival:

Athens, GA, home to R.E.M., the B52ʼs and a vibrant music history, is making history again. ATHENS SLINGSHOT, the new showcase for innovative music, art and technology in the Southeast, is taking over downtown Athens on March 9th, 2013. Spread over three city blocks, SLINGSHOT will feature local, national and international acts on stage, with boundary-pushing artwork throughout the urban
environment, and tech talks during the day with leading thinkers in arts technology.

The daylong event kicks off with “Tech Shots”, a short series of panel discussions focused on interactive media and the role of technology in art. Leading voices in digital media from Georgia Tech, The University of Georgia, NYU and the University of Denver, among others, will be participating.

From midday on, the festival will feature works by more than 45 artists from 20 countries at various indoor and outdoor locations throughout downtown. The art dimension of Slingshot is focused on new genres such as interactive art, video and sound art, electroacoustic music, site-specific works (locative media), performance and film. Irish media artist Conor MgCarrigle (2011 Venice Biennale) is creating a new iPhone-based “locative art experience” specifically for Athens and well-known filmmaker Vincent Moon will also be showing recent works from his series “Petites Planetes”.

The evening's music line up features an eclectic mix of new music composers and national and local acts. National acts including Japan's The Suzan, Atlanta-based DJ MK Ultra and Baby Baby along with local favorites Harouki Zombi, Reptar side projects Thick Paint and Co Co Ri Co, DJ Feral Youth, and more will be taking the stage. A host of music venues on the west side of downtown including the venerable 40 Watt Club and Athens' newest venue, The World Famous, will be hosting bands.

For more information about Athens Slingshot, please visit the CVB website!