If you’re looking to get out and about in metro Atlanta this weekend, you’ll find several Mardi Gras celebrations featuring all the appropriate food, drinks, music and festivities. Two popular annual runs - the Atlanta Mission 5K to End Homelessness and the 9th Annual Suwanee Half Marathon and Old Town 5K - are also on the calendar.
Check out the following 15 things to do this weekend in metro Atlanta:
Intown Atlanta
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Credit: From foxtheatre.org
Credit: From foxtheatre.org
7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. $29 and up. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 855-285-8499.
Watch new works, audience favorites and beloved classics from Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre.
Atlanta Mission 5K Race to End Homelessness
8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. $40. Pemberton Place Greenspace, 126 Ivan Allen Blvd., Atlanta.
Run in the 20th Annual Atlanta Mission 5K Race to End Homelessness, which uses each registration fee to cover one night of shelter and services for someone experiencing homelessness. This race is a qualifier for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race.
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. $59 and up, plus taxes and fees. State Farm Arena, 1 State Farm Drive, Atlanta. 404-878-3000.
Laugh along with the Royal Comedy 2023 tour, featuring Sommore, Bruce Bruce, Lavell Crawford, Special K, Bill Bellamy and JJ Williamson.
Cobb
Credit: From Live at the Battery Atlanta’s Facebook page
Credit: From Live at the Battery Atlanta’s Facebook page
8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) Saturday, Feb. 18. $25 general admission (includes admission and one drink ticket), $50 VIP (includes admission, three drink tickets and served low country boil buffet). The Battery Atlanta, 825 Battery Ave., Atlanta. 404-965-2511.
Celebrate Mardi Gras with Cajun dishes, a VIP low country boil, live music and drink specials at The Battery Atlanta.
11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (3 p.m. panel discussion). Saturday, Feb. 18. The Book Worm Bookstore, 4451 Marietta St., Powder Springs. 770-439-2029.
Join in the 3rd Annual Entrepreneur’s Day, which has a Black History Month theme, at The Book Worm Bookstore. Historical fiction authors Wanda M. Morris, Vanessa Riley, Kaia Alderson, Denny S. Bryce and Piper Huguely will discuss their books, the historical figures they’re based on and more.
Atlanta Ballet 2: “Beauty & the Beast”
1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 and Sunday, Feb. 19. $10 and up, plus fees. Cobb Energy Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 770-916-2852.
Bring the kids to a one-hour fairy tale production of “Beauty & the Beast” presented by Atlanta Ballet 2.
DeKalb
Credit: From events.dekalblibrary.org
Credit: From events.dekalblibrary.org
11 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 18. Free with registration required. Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library, 952 Leon St., Stone Mountain. 770-413-2020.
Bring your yoga mats for an hour of invigorating and relaxing yoga practice.
7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. $10 and up. Merely Players Presents, 3770 Central Ave., Doraville. 770-572-6966.
Watch a charming, bittersweet musical review that tells the story of two single strangers. The production features songs by Stephen Sondheim.
2 p.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. Willis Park, 51 Dartmouth Ave., Avondale Estates. 404-294-5400.
Celebrate Avondale Estates’ 39th year as a Tree City USA on Georgia’s Arbor Day. A native water hickory will be planted.
North Fulton
Credit: From chattnaturecenter.org
Credit: From chattnaturecenter.org
1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. Included with general admission of $15 for adults, $11 for seniors age 65 and up and students age 13-18, $9 for children age 3-12, free for members and children two and under. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992–2055.
See the winter sky and learn about the many constellations you’ll see from inside Chattahoochee Nature Center’s inflatable planetarium.
2 p.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. South Main Kitchen, 9 S. Main St., Alpharetta. 678-691-4622.
Treat yourself to a Mardi Gras-inspired food, drink and live music at South Main Kitchen.
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, plus additional dates. $20 plus fees. Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St., Alpharetta. 678-297-6135.
Watch a fast-paced satire from two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, in which aspiring starlet Vera Stark works as a maid to an aging star in the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Gwinnett
9th Annual Suwanee Half Marathon and Old Town 5K
7:30 a.m. half marathon, 7:45 a.m. 5K Sunday, Feb. 19. $75 half marathon, $40 5K. Suwanee Town Center, 330 Town Center Ave., Suwanee.
Run in Suwanee’s half marathon or 5K to support the Suwanee Public Arts Program.
Gwinnett Community Health Fair
Credit: From events.exploregwinnett.com
Credit: From events.exploregwinnett.com
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Free admission. Lenora Park gym, 4515 Lenora Church Road, Snellville. 770-822-3197.
Visit the Gwinnett Community Health Fair for wellness information, vendors, health screenings, giveaways and more.
Black Out: Open Mic Night and Pop-Up Market
7 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. Free. Lawrenceville Arts Center, 125 N. Clayton St., Lawrenceville. 678-226-6222.
Catch open mic night acts and support black-owned businesses in a pop-up market at Lawrenceville Arts Center.