Autumn in Atlanta beckons families to enjoy festivals and frolic in the outdoors.
Don't miss these nine family events in October.
All are entertaining and designed to keep your family active and enjoying each other's company all month long.
Flicks on the Bricks presents "The Jungle Book" in Duluth
8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7
Free
Duluth Town Green, 3167 Main St., Duluth.
Enjoy early fall weather and a free movie under the stars on the Duluth Town Green. Make a night of it with dinner from the abundant food trucks at the venue. Music ahead of time by Migrant Worker. If you enjoy the "Jungle Book," come back Oct. 21 for "Hocus Pocus."
Inaugural Atlanta Mac and Cheese Festival
12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday Oct. 8
$20, click here to buy tickets
Walker Park, 200 Memorial Terrace SE.
Where has this great festival idea been all our lives? Tickets for the first-ever Atlanta Mac and Cheese Festival include five tastes of cheesy goodness from more than 20 vendors, local bands and a family friendly atmosphere. Remind the kids that proceeds from the festival benefit Neighbor in Need, so your tickets might be helping low-income seniors in East Lake, Kirkwood, Edgewood or East Atlanta make emergency home repairs.
To learn more about Neighbor in Need, click here.
Toddler Time at the Georgia Aquarium
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 10
$16 per adult/child pair for non-members; $13 per adult/child pair for members, fee does not include aquarium admission
225 Baker St. NW. 404-581-4000
Designed with tots ages 0-3 in mind, this pleasant 1.5 hour experience introduces to toddlers to an approachable marine animal. Other highlights: views of belugas and manta rays, a costumed character appearance and story time. This is a great chance to experience a bit of the aquarium without encountering the admission cost.
8 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday, Sept. 29–Nov. 6; second shows 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 8 p.m. show Halloween Monday
$25 Wednesdays/Thursdays/Sundays $30 Fridays, Saturdays and Halloween
The Horseman's Meadow in Serenbe, Chattahoochee Hills. You'll receive an email at least 48 hours prior to show time with details including whether seating is provided. 770-463-1110
Spine-chilling, hair-raising and set in the spooky hills of Serenbe, this fall tradition should be on your family bucket list. Weekend performances sell out fast, so consider seeing it as a weeknight treat.
Netherworld Haunted House
Hours: 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 30-Oct. 31; 7 p.m.-12 midnight Sunday-Thursday; 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 4-5
$23 Monsters, $28 Monsters and Meltdown, Sundays–Thursdays except Halloween; $25 Monsters, $35 Monsters and Meltdown, Fridays, Saturdays and Halloween
6624 Dawson Blvd., Norcross.
The family that screams together, clings together. Netherworld is super-scary and one of the most highly-ranked haunted houses in America due to its elaborate costumes, theme shows and movie-quality special effects. This is the time to take the teens out for some older kid-parent fun and leave the youngsters with a sitter.
Six Flags Spooky Walk-N-Wag dog walk and costume parade
11:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15,
Adventure Pass tickets $31.95 adults, $25.95 children
Dog walk participants asked to donate a five pound bag of dog food per dog to benefit Furkids Animal Rescue.
1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. 800-401-2407
Part of Six Flags Over Georgia's Fright Fest, the one-mile "dogs in costume" walk is open to the public. Check out the fun or register yourself (kids have to be 13 or older to walk the dog.) Fido isn't fond of that hot dog outfit? That's cool. Dogs can walk without a costume, but they probably aren't going to win one of the "Top Dog" costume awards given at the end.
Artillery demonstrations, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23
Free
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr, Kennesaw. 770-427-4686 x 0
Boom! Tread the grounds of a Civil War battleground and then watch the park's living historians fire artillery from back in the day. Lots of great conversation starters with this activity and it's a great chance to encourage reluctant students to learn about local history.
Spooky Mill at Autrey Mill
6-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 28-Oct. 29
Set up carnival style with $1 tickets; to participate in all the activities takes 15 tickets total
Saturday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Spooky Mill, Jr. daylight program for preschoolers, $5
9770 Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek. 678-366-3511
The nature preserve and mill has an ideal setting for family fun. The night-time event includes family trick-or- treating in the Heritage Village, a haunted house, bounce house and carnival games. Daytime includes a scavenger hunt.
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