Wonderful venue to spend time with friends while listening to great music! Get there early to get…read morethe best seats.

ROSWELL ARTS IN THE PARK…read more Arts in the park is an annual event that takes place in September. It is held at Town Center in Roswell. Although I have attended other art event, (Mother's Day weekend), at this location, I somehow expected this event to be different but it wasn't. This venue is so small and so crowded, that there was simply not enough room for me to even take out my wallet. We lasted about 20 minutes before it just got to be too much. This is probably the perfect venue for someone who just wants to go in, purchase a piece of art and go home. I like to tend events to actually purchase, jewelry, home decor and clothing items and so I tend to frequent very large festivals that involves the entire town, (Moonshine, Duluth Fall Festival, Gold Rush). I love having tons of artists using various mediums and I really like being able to find interesting and unique foods to eat. With the larger events, we enjoy spending the entire day listening to music and watching performers. After 49 years, I would think that this event would be much bigger and have a more suitable space. Although we did not make a purchase today, we can say that there were some beautiful displays of art: phenomenal water colors, pottery, hand carved items, and so much more. I really felt that the vendors are at a disadvantage when they are crowded into such tight quarters because some people just need space, (physical and mental) to shop. I know I do! The great news is that you don't have to fight with parking. Simply park at City Hall and ride the festival shuttle. The drivers are always on time and very polite.

The 57th Annual Great Locomotive Chase Festival typically celebrates the historic Civil War event…read moreknown as the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862, where Union spies attempted to sabotage Confederate railroads. The festival usually features a variety of activities, including parades, reenactments, live music, craft vendors, and family-friendly events. Attendees can expect to enjoy historical exhibits that provide context about the original chase, along with activities aimed at engaging the community. Food vendors often play a significant role, offering local cuisine and festival favorites. Community participation is a highlight, with locals often dressing in period costumes and taking part in reenactments. The festival serves not only as an educational experience but also as a way to foster community spirit and celebrate local heritage. If you're looking for specifics about this year's events, attendance numbers, or standout moments, those details might depend on local news or festival updates.

IT'S FALL FESTIVAL SEASON!…read more Festival season is now underway and this year I have decided that we will attend a new crop of festivals that we have never attended. Our first fall festival happened to be the The Great Locomotive Chase Festival in Adairsville. The festival commemorates the great chase of "The General" after it was stolen, (by a group of Union soldiers), during a layover at the Kennesaw Depot. It traveled through Adairsville before being abandoned near Tunnel Hill. This festival features carnival rides, arts and crafts booths, food vendors, entertainment on a couple of stages, a parade and fireworks. It takes place over three days, (full days Friday and Saturday and half of a day on Sunday). Saturdays are always the biggest days and have the greatest amount of attendees so this is obviously the best day to attend. Admission is only $3 and allows you to attend all three days. Parking was only $3 and less than a block away from the festival. Festival day is very important so you start preparing the night before. Get that uniform ready, get a good night's sleep, have a plan for breakfast and make sure you have all of the pertinent information regarding time, place and weather. You want to leave early so that you can get there early because the vendors will. Many of the items such as jewelry and art are "one of a kind" so you definitely want first choice. This is the ultimate Yelping opportunity because it allows you to "shine the light" on small businesses that otherwise go unnoticed. Many of the vendors will offer unique items and this is the perfect time to start thinking about Christmas gifts. Adairsville was the perfect town to host this festival because of its historic roots, small town status and community spirit. Small towns really make the best festivals because of the "warm" people, family friendly atmosphere and great parking. Also, you not only get to experience the festival, you also get to explore the town, its history and local shops. This festival while not as large as other festivals was perfect for us. It was held at the center of Town along the Public Square with the town's historic buildings as the backdrop. The vendors were nicely spaced and there was a separate food court that including picnic tables for sitting and eating. During many festivals, you have to either stand and eat and find your own limited seating. We actually ate before arriving so did not purchase food from the court. When you travel to the smaller towns, you always encounter interesting groups like SOC, (Sons of the Confederacy,) and Georgia Carry, (Second amendment restoration). Don't presume to know what these groups are about. Step up to the table and ask them about their group or cause because they don't bite. These guys have always been very courteous and very informative while providing plenty of written information. Whenever possible, go to the source for your information instead of allowing others to interpret it for you. You will definitely be enlightened. I was happy that they started the music at the start of the festival (instead of hours later like some festivals). Browning Automatic was the group that performed this morning and they were great. I loved the classic rock tunes and was surprised at how talented these guys are, they really surprised me. We were able to sit on the bleachers to listen to them and enjoyed hearing them while we walked around the square. Today's festival included a parade which was the typical small town parade. It included the local sheriff and local community based sport teams and their little cheerleaders. It was cute to see all of these little athletes following along behind the high school football players. The parade route went right through the square, (no barriers) so it not only allowed everyone a close view, but made for great photos as well. The biggest surprise of the day was the local high school band which obviously spends a great deal of time practicing with a talented director because they could compete with any college band! They were great!

This was a return, after not attending the past several years. The food was great! I had the Lamb…read moreBowl and my wife had the Greek Lemon Chicken Bowl. We had a Coke and a bottle of water to drink. Later, we had Almond Crescents and Baklava, which we shared after a dance program. The chicken dish was so very enjoyable that my wife used the internet to find a similar dish that she could prepare at home, it was both healthy and tasty - a rare combination. All that we had to eat was quite tasty. We chose well.

We had a great time Saturday. It was very organized with several stations from food to live music…read moreto face painting to an artisan shop. We enjoyed the food thoroughly. I recommend it. It has been going on for over 30 years.

2016 is the twelfth year for the Alpharetta Arts Streetfest - this year there were 95 participants,…read moreranging from photography to pottery to jewelry to metalwork and everything in between. The festival is located in the heart of downtown Alpharetta - the city closes a block of Milton Avenue (at the intersection of Main Street) and the participants set up in rows along this block, and along certain sections of Old Roswell Street and Old Canton Street. It's a condensed area but never feels too crowded - the layout makes it easy to stroll through and see everything. There are usually a few food vendors, but in this location you're also surrounded by several restaurants - Hop Alley, South Main Kitchen, Smokejack BBQ, Ceviche, Mugs on Milton. In addition to the artisans, there are a number of booths dedicated to kid activities, so the event is absolutely family friendly. Because it's an outdoor event, many people bring the canine members of their family - while I definitely love this idea, just remember that late May can be very hot and this event is set up on pavement, which can be painful to paws. Double check the temperature before bringing Fido. If the pavement is too hot for you to walk barefoot, it's too hot for your pup's paws! The one improvement I would recommend for the event is based on temperature - when the weather hits the high 80's/low 90's (as it did this year), having a few mister fans at each end of the festival would be a real relief to attendees.

Beautiful light show ran by amazing people for a great cause! Donations go to an animal rescue that…read moresaves and responsibly adopts them out to their forever homes! Stop by, tune in, enjoy the show, and donate!

This house displays the best Christmas light show for a house, each year. It has been an annual…read moreChristmas event for my family to come see this house for three years now. The house's display features precision synchronization, a dizzing array of "moving" lights and dramatic music stops. You can tune into the music on the FM radio (107.7) to enjoy the show. There is a red 'Snoopy' dog house tied into the display as the donation box for food, toys, and animal supplies along with blankets, towels and cleaning supplies to help supply the fosters for taking in the animals that have been rescued. (Angels Among Us Pet Rescue. It is a wonderful 501(c)3 non-profit volunteer-based organization dedicated to rescuing dogs and cats from high-kill shelters in Georgia.) They also have a mailbox attached to the roof of the doghouse to collect monies on their behalf.

I was in town visiting family and we went to the races on Saturday. We all had a great time. It…read morewas action packed with continuous racing. As soon as a race ended, they were ready to start the next one. My 5 year old nephew had a blast with the action and roar of the engines. The venue was nice with great seating. If you want a chair, make sure to bring one to sit on. The turnout was good and the pricing was reasonable. They have a nice snack bar area that is outside so you can watch the races while you wait in line. I would definitely recommend the races for great entertainment, especially for a family.

Racing is great but the ticket process is beyond a train wreck. They shut down online ticket sales…read moreover 24 hours prior to the event and don't open up ticket sales until 5 so there are hundreds of people in line for zero reason. And this event is $40 for a grandstand ticket (which is psychotic) and you have to arrive hours in advance just to get a ticket. Tailgating parking was unavailable at 1045 this morning. You guys have to do better. The fan experience here is a train wreck. To top it off, the men's restroom is closed and literally 3000+ men have to only share 2, yes 2 port a potties. Owners, get your act together. For 40$ a ticket, I expect to be able to pee like a human. Staff is great, management is trash

The city of Roswell has 3 preserved antebellum houses open for public tours. We stopped by all 3…read moreone Saturday afternoon in February. All are located within a 1/2-mile radius, and 2 are literally within about 200 yards of each other. Our second stop was at Barrington Hall. It is located across Hwy 120 from Bulloch Hall, a bit closer to Roswell Road. They have a small parking lot out front. Like the others, there is no fee here. We again wandered up to the house's front facade (which faces away from the parking lot towards Hwy 120) entered via the front door. The docent on duty was again friendly and just asked for our zip code and how we'd heard about the venue. You are then free to wander the house via whatever route you like. Most rooms have a sign with a 4-digit code. You call a phone number (the same one used at the other 2 houses) and enter successive codes as you proceed. For each code, there is an accompanying description of the room's historical context and of its furnishings. These mansions all seemed to follow the same basic floorplan - a central linear hallway with 2 or 3 rooms off each side and a staircase at the end. This house was a bit smaller than Bulloch Hall, but had slightly more furnishings. This home also had more of a formal garden in the back. If you only had time to tour one house of the 3, I'd still begin with Bulloch Hall. However, this place was nice to visit if you have another 30 - 45 minutes.

My sister was in town, we wanted to do something different - found this stunning home when I…read moresearched Roswell Georgia. Plenty of parking, but the signs to get to the front door could be a bit more clear (there are many doors on this gorgeous home). We entered the wrong door but the gracious woman who is a docent welcomed us warmly! She gave a grand tour of the home with many interesting stories about its former residents. The home is well maintained, plus has some actual furniture from the owners and other items representative of the era. I wish I could recall the woman's name who gave us the tour, she was amazing! How does she recall all this information? Thankful this home has been saved and taken care of-

Artist are allowed to use the stage and your ticket purchase price to express personal political…read morerhetoric about their beliefs. Inappropriate when you pay to hear music. It was more like actors at the Oscar's. Not what I paid for.

I have wanting to check this place out, but then COVID hit. We finally got a chance with our big…read moregroup the other weekend. The ticketing process is easy and is online only. There is no box office. On the day of the show, you can come early to claim your table and come back later for the show. You are also allowed to "dress up" your table with a tablecloth, etc. and many people do. When were arrived for the actual show in the evening, parking was free and easy in their gravel lot. Tickets are casually checked at the entrance and you are also allowed to bring any food and drink you want. There is not a bad table in the outdoor "house." The sun sets right behind the stage and made for a perfect pink sky. The scene could not be any better. There was an intermission in the show and it ended right on time. I'll be back!!