Labor Day in Atlanta
My husband and I love to travel, and the long weekend afforded by Labor Day is always incentive to get out of town. We usually make plans to go somewhere a little farther than we would normally travel in a weekend, and before having kids we would fly there (despite my near-paralyzing fear of flight).
Seems the last few years, we are on a losing streak: In 2004, we had plans to fly to Key West to visit friends. Hello, hurricane Frances (at least, I think it was Frances, but maybe it was Ivan, or Charley, or Dennis.) Flights cancelled. Ever game for a road trip, we headed of to Chattanooga for a weekend on their riverfront (along with all the Floridians escaping the hurricane in Florida.) Don’t worry, we still made it to Key West that December, just in time to take our sixteen-month old son to the family-friendly Fantasy Fest. Last year? A little baby we like to call Hurricane M; my daughter was due early last October, preventing any travel for the month of September.
This year, we made plans to visit friends in Charleston. Here we go again, with Ernesto. Sure, we could go anyway, as Ernesto is probably not going to be a big deal, but who wants to drive 6 hours to sit trapped in someone else’s house with four kids under the age of five? Not us.
This begs the question: What is there to do in Atlanta for Labor Day? We almost never stay in town for the holiday weekend, so even though I am a native Atlantan, I don’t really know much about local Labor Day traditions, other than a weekend on Lake Lanier, or shooting the ‘Hooch. Looks like the family and I will be spending the weekend on nearby Lake Sinclair, hopefully with lots of sunshine, and plenty of college football.
What are the locals doing here in town?
The Decatur Book Festival is going to have a parade for kids with Cat In The Hat at 9:30 in front of the Decatur Library followed by booths with kid activities….
Haven’t been before, but…
Also, is DRAGONCON this weekend? Their parade is fun for everyone in that freaky, freakshow kind of way.
Ah, yes! That is right, and I wanted very much to meet local author Ferrol Sams there. And you are right = Dragoncon. Surely a freakshow not to be missed.
Also my husband just pointed out that I wrote that we went to Fantasy Fest in December, but it was really over halloween weekend. Oops – I need a factchecker. (Actually, I’m sure someone will be a smartass and post about my incorrect dates soon enough. Who needs a factchecker, when they have readers?)
Dude! Stormtrooper Parade downtown on Saturday at 10:00 AM. you haven’t lived until you’ve seen a batallion of 100 marching stormtroopers marching down Peachtree Street. Here are the details:
dragoncon.org/dc_events.htm#Parade
Drive-invasion at the drive in was always a blast, but $50 for two days and Blue Oyster Cult? I’m passing this year.
Garth, that ST parade is just the kind of thing that my husband will read and use as grounds for cancelling our lake trip. Thanks.
Ah, Drive-Invasion – Good one. Would love to hear how it is, though.
Don’t let your husband find out about the LADY STORMTROOPERS, then! There are always a couple of token hot lady stormtroopers, who can be spotted not only from their anatomically accurate chest armor, but also because they always carry their helmets instead of wearing them. It’s as if they’re screaming “Do you get it? I’m a Stormtrooper, and a PRETTY LADY!” Respect.
What to do in Atlanta during Labor Day weekend? One of four things:
1. Dragon*Con 20th Anniversary
2. Black Gay Pride’s 10th Anniversary
3. Montreux Jazz Festival 2006
4. Complain about the crowds from either of the first three.
i’m poor. no where to go.
The Montreux Jazz Festival is free. I will be there to hear Me’shell Ndegeocello tonight!
The Lady Stormtroopers comment made me spew cereal milk out my nose.
Great suggestions, Karsh!
Garth: Picture of lady ST on flickr –
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarabell/10932952/
we took in the decatur book festival yesterday. good stuff. probably the subject of a post once i get around to it.