Atlanta Galleria Now

Galleria Chat: Jan. 17, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado… 

Celebrating His Legacy. On Monday, the Cobb County branch of the NAACP and the Cobb County government will present their annual celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Featuring the theme of “celebrate the life, the dream, the legacy,” the 27th annual event will include the presentation of the Living the Dream Award to a community member who reflects the vision of the civil-rights leader. 

The celebration will begin at 9 a.m. in the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre of the Cobb Civic Center, located at 548 South Marietta Parkway in Marietta. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.

Surrealism. A new exhibition featuring the works of the late Italian artist Athos Menaboni opens this weekend at the Kennesaw State University Art Museum. On display will be Menaboni’s surrealist illustrations from an unpublished children’s book.

The exhibition opens with a reception tonight from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Don Russell Clayton Gallery in the Bailey Performing Center on the Kennesaw campus. For more information, visit the museum’s website. 

Art Appreciation. Here’s another great art event to attend this weekend: Martinis and Music Night at the Marietta/Cobb Art Museum. The event will take place this Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will feature live music, a full cash bar and, of course, art exhibitions.  

Douglas Cameron will entertain the crowd with hits from the big-band era, while exhibitions on display will include “Yarbrough: 53.9 Years and Still Counting” and “Vignettes of America: Selections from the Permanent Collection.”

Tickets are $8, and the event is free for museum members. Visit www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org for more information.

The museum is located at 30 Atlanta Street in Marietta.

Time for a Laugh. If you’re a fan of watching stand-up on Comedy Central, you need to head to the Cobb Energy Centre this weekend. Canadian comedian Russell Peters will be there on his Notorious World Tour, which features all-new material that often pokes fun at his upbringing in an Indian family.

The show is this Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $48 to $63, plus additional fees, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or the Cobb Energy Centre box office.

For more information, visit www.cobbenergycentre.com. The Cobb Energy Centre is located at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway.

Galleria Chat: Dec. 28, 2012

 

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado … 

A Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. The Strand Theatre in Marietta is celebrating New Year’s Eve with some good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. The Jagged Stones, a Rolling Stones tribute band, will be in house to bring you into the New Year with all your favorite songs from the legendary group. The Barry Richman Band will also perform.  

The Strand Theatre is partnering with the Marietta Hilton for a package that includes two VIP concert tickets, a guest room at the hotel, transportation to and from the show and a breakfast buffet in the morning.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Strand 
online. The Earl Smith Strand Theatre is located on the Marietta Square.

Bring in 2013 With Laughter. Shaquille O’Neal is bringing a group of big names on the comedy scene to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre for his All Star Comedy Jam Monday, Dec. 31 at 10 p.m.

Laugh into the New Year with a show featuring host Gary Owen and comedians Shaq, Tony Roberts, Finesse Mitchell and Capone.

For more information, visit www.shaqallstarcomedyjam.com. Tickets range from $55 to $125 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or through the venue’s box office.

A Celebration for the Kids. For those who need a slightly earlier New Year’s Eve celebration, Radio Disney is throwing its annual “Noon Year’s Eve” party Monday, Dec. 31, with music, activities and entertainment for kids and families.

The celebration will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Smyrna Community Center and will feature a balloon drop at noon. The community center is located at 200 Village Green Circle in Smyrna.

Start 2013 Off Right. What better way to kick off the New Year than with some exercise? The 2013 PT Solutions Resolution Run takes place Jan. 1 at 11 a.m.

The event features a 5K run, 10K run and one mile run. Registration is in advance only and ends Friday, Dec. 28 at 11:59 p.m. For registration rates and to sign up, visit the Atlanta Track Club online.

Galleria Chat: Dec. 20, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado… 

Dreaming of a White Christmas. It’s looking like it might be a little warm for a white Christmas in Georgia this year, but a good alternative is the Atlanta Lyric Theatre’s production of the musical “White Christmas,” showing this weekend at the Strand Theatre in Marietta. Based on the 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, “White Christmas” traces the story of two famous song-and-dance men who stage a show at a Vermont inn.

 This is the last weekend for the show, and only a few tickets remain. Show times are as follows:

Thursday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 21, at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are available through the Atlanta Lyric Theatre’s website. The Earl Smith Strand Theatre is located on the Marietta Square.

Santa on the Square. If you haven’t visited with Santa yet, there’s till time. Santa will be at the Marietta Square through Christmas Eve for visits and photos.

Hours are as follows:

Thursday, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Santa has a quick lunch break from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on most days. The line is closed one hour before closing time each night.

An Irish Christmas. If you’re looking for a little culture with your Christmas celebration, head to the Cobb Energy Centre this Thursday, Dec. 20 for “Joy, An Irish Christmas.” Irish singer-songwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty put on a show featuring all your favorite carols, modern hymns, and Irish reels and jigs. Top musicians in Irish and American folk music will accompany the husband and wife duo.

Hear more from Keith and Kristyn Getty by visiting www.gettymusic.com. Tickets for Thursday’s performance range from $25 to $55 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the center’s box office.

Christmas Celebration. Saint Teresa’s Episcopal Church in Acworth is hosting a live nativity on Friday, Dec. 21, that will be open to the public. The outdoor nativity features live animals and actors portraying the different roles in the story.

Presentations start at 6 p.m. and occur every 30 minutes until 9 p.m. Admission is free, and refreshments will be provided. Saint Teresa’s Episcopal Church is located at 5725 Fords Road in Acworth. For more information visit the church online at www.saintteresa.org.

Kennesaw United Methodist Church also is hosting a live nativity. Guests are able to drive through the scene. Its nativity scene is open from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20, and Friday, Dec. 21.

Kennesaw United Methodist Church is located at 1801 Ben King Road in Kennesaw. For more information visit www.kennesawumc.org.

Galleria Chat: Dec. 13, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado… 

From Broadway to Cobb. As part of the Gas South Broadway Series, “West Side Story” opens this week at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The classic American musical is a retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” set in the mid-1950s in New York City. The musical traces the love story of immigrants Tony and Maria as they are caught up in gang violence.

Show times are as follows:

Thursday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 14, at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m.

Tickets run between $17 and $53 dollars plus applicable fees and can be purchased at the Cobb Energy box office or on Ticketmaster.

Cabaret in Marietta. If you’re looking for some theater that’s a little more upbeat, the Next Stage Theatre Company is opening its production of “Cabaret” this week. The musical is set at a Berlin club in the early days of Nazi Germany and tells the story of young American writer Clifford Bradshaw. 

Shows start on Friday, Dec. 14, and run through the end of the year. Show times are Thursdays at 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. The Next Stage Theatre Company is located at 11 Anderson Street in Marietta. Visit the theater online for more information.

A One-Horse Open Sleigh. The Vinings Jubilee shopping center will be hosting free horse-drawn sleigh rides to celebrate the holiday season this Friday, Dec. 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Rides start in front of the clock-tower building in the center of the shopping center.

VInings Jubilee is located at the intersection of Paces Ferry Road and New Paces Ferry Road.

Rudolph in Roswell. Chattahoochee Nature Center is showcasing some very special creatures for the Christmas season: reindeer. Reindeer Day, which will be held this Sunday, Dec. 18, will feature activities including crafts, making reindeer food, story readings and a-possibly-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet live reindeer up close.

Reindeer Day runs from noon to 4 p.m., and the cost is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for children ages three to 12. Children under 2 will be admitted for free. The Chattahoochee Nature Center is located at 9135 Willeo Road in Roswell.

Galleria Chat: Dec. 6, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado … 

Art to Aid the Community. The Art Place, a facility of the Cobb County Parks and Recreation Department that offers fine arts-related programs, is holding its annual Empty Bowl Brunch to benefit local charities this Sunday, Dec. 9, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Each attendee will receive a bowl created by local pottery students and teachers; attendees will then use their bowls to brunch on soup and chili. All proceeds are donated to local charities. Last year’s benefit raised funds for Must Ministries, the Mountain View Arts Alliance and Vietnam veterans.

Tickets are $10; however, a convenience fee will be charged for online tickets. The Art Place is located at 3330 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta. For more information and for tickets, visit The Art Place online.

Legendary Duo Returns Home.  Atlanta’s folk duo, the Indigo Girls, will be making a hometown stop during their current national tour. Appearing with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, the Indigo Girls will be at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this Friday, Dec. 7; the show starts at 8 p.m.

The duo will play a career-spanning selection of songs arranged as orchestral pieces.  Tickets range from $35.00 to $85.00 plus applicable fees and can be purchased through the center’s box office or Ticketmaster.

Book Signing. Former Congressman and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista will both be signing copies of their new books at the Marietta Barnes and Noble next Tuesday, Dec. 11. Newt Gingrich will be signing his book “Victory at Yorktown: A Novel,” which concludes his George Washington series, while Callista will sign her children’s book “Land of the Pilgrims Pride.”

The signings start at 7 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble located in Town Center Prado at 50 Barrett Parkway in Marietta.  

Reforest Marietta. The Marietta Tree Keepers group is conducting its last tree planting of the year this Saturday, Dec. 8, at 8:30 a.m. The group will plant trees at the City Club Golf Course at the Hilton-Marietta Conference Center.

Donuts, hot chocolate and coffee will be provided for volunteers. Volunteers are asked to meet at the clubhouse of the golf course, located at 510 Powder Springs Street in Marietta.

For more information on the Marietta Tree Keepers – a non-profit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to protecting the area’s trees and planting new ones – visit the group online.

Galleria Chat: Nov. 29, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado … 

Rock with Rick. Anybody remember the song “Jessie’s Girl” or maybe “Affair of the Heart?” Rick Springfield is still going strong decades later, playing nearly 100 live shows each year. His latest album, “Songs For the End of the World,” was released in October. Springfield will be at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this evening at 8 p.m.

Tickets range from $40 to $80 and can be purchased at the Cobb Energy Centre box office or through Ticketmaster (additional processing fees will apply).

Celebrate the Season. December is just days away, and tree lightings are popping up across the area, including two scheduled for this evening.

The Vinings Jubilee shopping center will conduct its tree-lighting celebration from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will feature holiday music, food from local restaurants, “reindeer” rides with dressed-up ponies, activities and pictures with Santa. The Teasley Elementary School Chorus and the Lovett Upper School Women’s Chorus will perform.

The Vinings Jubilee shopping center is located at the intersection of Paces Ferry Road and New Paces Ferry Road.

Another tree lighting will be held in Glover Park at the Marietta Square from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Marietta’s event will feature Christmas carols by local school choruses and an appearance by Santa, who will light the tree at 6 p.m.

Glover Park is located at 50 North Park Square in Marietta.

A Play Opens at The Strand. “Sanders Family Christmas,” a follow-up to “Smoke on the Mountain,” opens this weekend at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta.

The play centers on the Christmas holiday at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, just before the boys of the congregation are shipped off to serve during World War II. The performance features more than two dozen Christmas carols for the audience to sing along with.

The show runs from this evening through Saturday and begins at 8 p.m. each night. There will be additional performances near the end of December.

The Strand Theatre is located at 117 North Park Square in Marietta. Visit The Strand’s website to purchase tickets.

Give Back This Holiday. Cobb Senior Services is collecting donations for this year’s Senior Santa, an event that allows homebound seniors in the area to enjoy a day of fellowship and holiday cheer. Cobb Senior Services is asking for locals to donate items like pajamas, winter hats, gloves, large-print books, blood pressure monitors and bath products for the event on Dec. 14. You can also sponsor a senior for the afternoon for only $30.

You can drop off donations at any of the community senior centers located across the Cobb area, on Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit Cobb Senior Services online for more information.  

Galleria Chat: Nov. 8, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Arts in the Neighborhood. Marietta’s Cherokee Heights neighborhood, located just a mile north of the Marietta Square, is known for its artsy residents. The wares of more than 30 neighborhood artists will be on full display this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cherokee Heights Arts Festival.

Items for sale will include paintings, metal work, wearable art, pottery, clothing, jewelry, birdhouses and more. There will be live musical performances throughout the day by the Emerson Drummers, Symphony on the Square Players and the Emerson Guitar Group. There also will be activities for children.

The festival takes place on the stretch of Etowah Drive between Seminole Drive and Freyer Drive in Marietta.

Honoring Those Who Served. The eighth annual Marietta Veterans Day parade, organized by the city of Marietta and the Marietta Kiwanis Club, is set for this Saturday.

At 11 a.m., the parade will start at Roswell Street Baptist Church and proceed to the Marietta Square. The parade will include marching bands, drill teams, floats, veterans organizations and military vehicles.

At noon, there will be a ceremony at Glover Park to honor our veterans. James O. Ellis, a retired four-star admiral, will be the keynote speaker and the parade’s grand marshal.

Roswell Street Baptist Church is located at 774 Roswell Street, and Glover Park is located in the center of the Marietta Square.

Veterans Day, Part II. The city of Acworth also will be celebrating Veterans Day this Saturday with a 2 p.m. ceremony at Cauble Park.

The event centers around the Veterans Memorial, which displays the service flags of the branches of the military. The memorial is surrounded by a paver walkway, and attendees will be able to purchase pavers to be engraved in honor of a veteran.

Richard Bailey, a former first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corp., will be the keynote speaker.

Cauble Park is located at 2293 Beach Street in Acworth. For more information on the event, visit the Acworth Parks and Recreation website.

Opera Comes to Cobb. This Saturday is opening night for the Atlanta Opera’s rendition of “Carmen” at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Set in Spain, Georges Bizet’s classic opera follows the ill-fated romance between Don Jose, a soldier, and Carmen, a gypsy.

Saturday’s show begins at 8 p.m. Other performances of “Carmen” at the Cobb Energy Centre will be on Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre box office.

Galleria Chat: Oct. 18, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Harvest Time in the Square. The Harvest Square Arts and Crafts Festival, a tradition in its 36th year, will take place on the Marietta Square this Saturday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come for a full day of autumn-fueled fun sponsored by the Marietta Parks and Recreation Department.

The festival features work from local artists, including painting, pottery, woodwork and jewelry designs. During the day, there will be “Halloween Happenings,” including a costume contest for both kids younger than 12 and pets.

Take the opportunity to walk through the scarecrows set up around the square by area schools, groups and organizations. You can also pick up a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch and fresh vegetables and fruits from the nearby farmer’s market, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Free parking is available in the parking garage on Cherokee Street. For more information, visit Marietta.com.

Get Scared. Halloween is the perfect time to show just how brave you can be. Test your limits at the Southern Museum in Kennesaw this weekend at “A Night at the Asylum,” which will transform the museum into a haunted hall housing the spirits of those involved in a tragic asylum accident.

The event takes place on Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be picked up the day of the event or online at www.southernmuseum.org.

The Southern Museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute and features permanent exhibits on the Civil War and locomotive history. It is located at 2829 Cherokee Street in Kennesaw.

All That Jazz. If being spooked isn’t your thing, maybe a night of some of the best modern talents in jazz is. Esperanza Spalding, the first jazz musician to ever win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, will be performing with drummer Terri Lyne Carrington this Friday at the Cobb Energy Centre as part of the Jazz Roots series.

The concert will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (processing fees will apply) and the center’s box office.

A Fiery Ballet. The Georgia Ballet is bringing two ballets to the Cobb Civic Center in Marietta this weekend. The troupe will perform Janusz Mazon’s “The Firebird,” which is set to the music of Stravinsky, and “Serenade,” set to “Serenade for Strings in C Major” by Tchaikovsky.

The back-to-back performances begin on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. Before the Sunday show, there will be a “Firebird”-themed egg hunt for children.

Tickets include admission to both “The Firebird” and “Serenade” and are available at the ballet’s website.

For the Dogs. All the area’s well-behaved dogs (and their owners) are invited out to Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. for this year’s Boxerstock, an annual fundraiser for Atlanta Boxer Rescue. Boxerstock celebrates all things canine with fenced dog parks, dog-training tips, microchipping and adoption information. Dog-loving humans can also get in on the fun with live music; a kids area with activities, inflatable slides, trick-or-treating and a costume contest; and plenty of food vendors.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, students and military members. For more information, visit www.boxerstock.org.

Galleria Chat: Oct. 4, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Legendary Radio Show Performed. “The War of the Worlds,” the radio drama about an alien invasion that was made famous by Orson Wells, will be performed by the Epidemic City Radio performance troupe at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Smyrna Public Library. The performance will include music and foley sound effects.

When the radio drama aired in 1938, thousands of listeners thought it was a real newscast, creating chaos in many cities.

The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, call (770) 431-2860 or visit Creative Loafing’s website. The library is located at 100 Village Green Circle.

Chase for a Cause. Local runners can pound the pavement and help a good cause in the process by participating in the 2012 Spooktacular Chase, a road race that will be held in Smyrna on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 8 a.m. The event, which will feature a 5K race and a 1K race, will begin at Cobb Park, across from Campbell High School.

The event will raise money for Vision Rehabilitation Services of Georgia, a non-profit organization that services blind and visually impaired residents in a 31-county area in northwest Georgia. Services provided by the organization include vision evaluations, mobility training, independent-living education and computer training.

Race participants are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes.

Race registrations are limited. To register, go to www.active.com or visit our website at www.spooktacularchase.com. Information also is available on the race’s Facebook page.

Sinbad Brings the Laughter. Actor and comedian Sinbad, ranked by Comedy Central as one of the top 100 stand-up comedians of all time, will bring his act to the Cobb Energy Centre at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Tickets are $35.50 and may be purchased through Ticketmaster (processing fees will apply) or at the Cobb Energy Centre’s box office.

A Night of Legends. Georgia has a rich musical heritage, and that heritage will be honored on Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Cobb Energy Centre when the Georgia Music Hall of Fame holds its annual awards and induction ceremony.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Director Robert Spano, Sugarland, .38 Special and Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the ceremony, and the evening also will include a concert featuring several of the inductees, and Snellville, Ga., native Diana DeGarmo and her fiancé Ace Young, both of whom rose to fame on “American Idol.”

A cash bar will open at 4 p.m., and celebrities will begin walking the red carpet at that time as well. The awards program will begin at 5 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $25 to $115. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster (processing fees will apply) or at the Cobb Energy Centre’s box office.

It’s Hip to Be on the Square. The Marietta Square will be a hive of activity in the coming weeks. First off, the Marietta Square Farmers Market, which features an array of locally grown fruits and vegetables, will be held each Saturday and Sunday through the end of November. Click here for event hours.

Also, the Southeastern Greyhound Adoption organization will host “Meet and Greets” at the Farmers Market on the following Saturdays: Oct. 13 and Oct. 27. Attendees will get to see greyhounds and talk with their owners about the benefits of adopting the dogs. Adoptions do not take place at the events. For more information, click here.

Finally, on Saturday, Oct. 13, regional and local artists will display their wares at the Artists Market. The market, which will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Square, will feature paintings, jewelry, fiber art and photography. For more information, visit the event website.

Howdy Cowboy! The Cobb County Classic Rodeo is riding into Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13. The rodeo begins at 8 p.m. each evening.

Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for children. Ages five and under will be admitted for free. Some of the proceeds will benefit the Cobb County Sheriff Mounted Patrol Unit. For more information, visit the rodeo’s website.

Galleria Chat: Sept. 27, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

• Fall Fun. Riverview Landing, a mixed-use development located along the Chattahoochee River in Mableton, is hosting its second annual Fall Festival this weekend.

Friday night’s portion of the festival is called “The Urban Hoedown” and will feature a 9:30 p.m. concert performance by The Constellations, a Southern indie-rock band. Opening acts will include Sealions, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., and Turf War, slated to take the stage at 8 p.m. The festival doors open at 6 p.m.

The evening’s festivities also will include hot-air-balloon rides, food trucks, a bonfire and a hairy-man contest. Tickets for Friday night are $15 at the door and $10 if purchased online at Ticket Alternative.

On Saturday, the festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include a vendors market, a barbecue contest, face-painting booths, hayrides, a corn maze, animal adoptions and more live music. Admission to Saturday’s portion is free, but organizers are requesting a $5 donation to benefit the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper organization.

Riverview Landing is located at 6296 Riverview Road. For complete event information, visit the festival’s Facebook page.

• High on the Hawg. Have a hankering for some barbecue? Then you will want to be at the Marietta Square this Sunday for Whole Hawg Happenin’, an annual barbecue and music festival.

The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and barbecue restaurants from across metro Atlanta will be on hand to offer samples of their dishes. The festival also will include a beer garden, live music, arts-and-crafts displays, a classic car show and a children’s area. Admission is free, and the barbecue samples will range from $.50 to $5.

Proceeds will benefit The Earl Smith Strand Theatre, The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, The Gone with the Wind Museum and The Marietta Museum of History.

For more information, call Mary Claire Andres at (404) 388-6975.

• Reduce Drug Abuse. As part of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, the Marietta Police Department is accepting expired or unwanted prescription drugs for free and safe disposal this Saturday. The department is accepting the drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of its station at 240 Lemon Street.

The goal of the day is to reduce incidents of prescription drug abuse. For more details, visit Marietta Patch.  

• Piping Up. The Big Chicken Chorus is offering free lessons in musical-theater-style singing for males ages 16 and above on six consecutive Monday evenings, beginning on Oct. 1. The lessons will be held at 505 Powers Ferry Road in Marietta and conducted by Lars Grevstad. The lessons are free, and students can attend all or just one of the lessons.

For more information, contact Ron Regan (404) 434-1238 or visit the chorus’s website.

Murder — Chicago Style. “Chicago,” one of Broadway’s longest-running and most iconic musicals, will be at the Cobb Energy Centre from Oct. 4 through Oct. 7. Tickets are $19 to $62 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (processing fees will apply) or at the Cobb Energy Centre’s box office.

For show times, visit the Cobb Energy Centre’s website.

• Shop for Shoes, Help Children. Your Dream Shoes, a Marietta-based firm that sells shoes, handbags and jewelry online, is giving a percentage of its sales to Bert's Big Adventure (BBA), a nonprofit organization started by Q 100’s Bert Weiss that sends children with chronic or terminal illnesses and their families on free trips to Walt Disney World.

Use the code “BERT” at checkout, and BBA will receive 20 percent of your purchase. Forgot the code? No worries: BBA will still receive 10 percent of your purchase.