Community Events

Get ready for an incredible night celebrating the legendary music of Elton John!

Join us on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m., for a spectacular musical journey that brings Elton’s greatest hits to life.

From the soaring melodies of "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer" to the heartfelt ballads of "Candle in the Wind" and "Your Song," this electrifying tribute captures the magic, energy and showmanship of one of music’s most iconic artists.

Always a great time! Big C and the High Cotton House Band lead the monthly open blues jam.

$15 general admission at the door, free for jamming musicians.

Doors open at 6:30.

No creature looms larger over the savanna than the African elephant, and you’ll agree when you come face-to-trunk with one at Zoo Atlanta! Meet Tara or Kelly while learning why they are such important ambassadors for their species.

During this Wild Encounter experience, you will learn about elephants with a Zoo Educator before heading behind the scenes to meet up with members of the Elephant Care Team and find out more about elephant care at the Zoo. Of course, no Elephant Wild Encounter would be complete without the opportunity to hand-feed one of the “girls” an afternoon snack.

• Meet at the Zambezi Elephant Center 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter. 
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.

Days Available: Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. 

Member Cost: $117 | Non-Member Cost: $130 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We can’t plan a trip to Madagascar for you, but we can help you meet one of its most iconic native species. Experience our Lemur Wild Encounter!

Meet and feed some of the amazing primates that make the island of Madagascar one of Earth’s richest and most dynamic natural ecosystems, and learn what you can do to help one of the most endangered groups of mammals on the planet.  

• Meet outside the entrance to The Living Treehouse 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11 a.m. beginning March 28

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We welcome you to the wild world of warthogs! Come explore what it takes to care for these charismatic creatures and their neighbors in the African Savanna.  

Do warthogs really have warts? Get an up-close look and see! Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at Zoo Atlanta’s African Savanna and give the warthogs a favorite treat. You’ll also meet members of the Zoo’s Animal Care Team and find out what goes into the care of warthogs and other savanna animals.

• Meet outside the warthog habitat near the SweetWater Beer Garden 15 minutes (at 12:45) before the Wild Encounter to check in.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.
• This encounter is not ADA accessible.
• All guests must wear closed-toed shoes on this encounter.

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 1 p.m. beginning March 29

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

Fall into deals and fun at the Fall Festival & Community Yard Sale at the Monroe County Fine Arts Center. The event takes place on Saturday Sept. 27, starting at 11 a.m.

Join the Animal Care Team and one of our talented animal artists, meeting either the Zoo’s “VanGoat” or “Baaahlo,” and take home a unique work of art in this unforgettable experience.

Learn about the positive reinforcement training process of becoming an animal artist. See firsthand the ways this enrichment activity fits into high standards of care for animals at the Zoo when you meet a goat or sheep and see their art creation in action. Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific animal for your program.

- Meet at the Petting Zoo area of Outback Station 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter start time. 
- Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 
- Includes one (1) take-home canvas per registered group.

Days Available: Saturdays at 3:15 p.m.

Member Cost: $67.50 | Includes one painting per group of four people.
Non-Member Cost: $75 per group of up to four people, + individual Zoo Admission | Includes one painting per group of four people.

Age Range: All ages

41st Annual Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sept. 28, 10 a.m-5 p.m., Etowah River Park, Canton.

Arts and crafts vendors, entertainment, children’s area and concessions.

41st Annual Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sept. 28, 10 a.m-5 p.m., Etowah River Park, Canton.

Arts and crafts vendors, entertainment, children’s area and concessions.

First Friday in Historic Downtown Brunswick is a fun family event that happens the first Friday of each month. We close the streets from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. so you can come down and enjoy live music, special discounts from downtown merchants, a car show and so much more! Come shop, dine and explore our downtown!

Downtown Dublin GA rocks the First Friday of each month from early Spring to Fall with FREE fun activities, music, food, and more! 

• April 4th, 2025 – Selfie Scavenger Hunt
• May 2nd, 2025 – Chalk Night
• June 6th, 2025 – First Friday Flamingle
• August 1st, 2025 – Jamaican Celebration
• September 5th, 2025 – Family Fun Night at Theatre Dublin
• October 3rd, 2025 – Georgia Chryslers and Cars

Click the link to learn more about each event!

No creature looms larger over the savanna than the African elephant, and you’ll agree when you come face-to-trunk with one at Zoo Atlanta! Meet Tara or Kelly while learning why they are such important ambassadors for their species.

During this Wild Encounter experience, you will learn about elephants with a Zoo Educator before heading behind the scenes to meet up with members of the Elephant Care Team and find out more about elephant care at the Zoo. Of course, no Elephant Wild Encounter would be complete without the opportunity to hand-feed one of the “girls” an afternoon snack.

• Meet at the Zambezi Elephant Center 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter. 
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.

Days Available: Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. 

Member Cost: $117 | Non-Member Cost: $130 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We can’t plan a trip to Madagascar for you, but we can help you meet one of its most iconic native species. Experience our Lemur Wild Encounter!

Meet and feed some of the amazing primates that make the island of Madagascar one of Earth’s richest and most dynamic natural ecosystems, and learn what you can do to help one of the most endangered groups of mammals on the planet.  

• Meet outside the entrance to The Living Treehouse 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11 a.m. beginning March 28

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We welcome you to the wild world of warthogs! Come explore what it takes to care for these charismatic creatures and their neighbors in the African Savanna.  

Do warthogs really have warts? Get an up-close look and see! Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at Zoo Atlanta’s African Savanna and give the warthogs a favorite treat. You’ll also meet members of the Zoo’s Animal Care Team and find out what goes into the care of warthogs and other savanna animals.

• Meet outside the warthog habitat near the SweetWater Beer Garden 15 minutes (at 12:45) before the Wild Encounter to check in.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.
• This encounter is not ADA accessible.
• All guests must wear closed-toed shoes on this encounter.

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 1 p.m. beginning March 29

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

Join the Animal Care Team and one of our talented animal artists, meeting either the Zoo’s “VanGoat” or “Baaahlo,” and take home a unique work of art in this unforgettable experience.

Learn about the positive reinforcement training process of becoming an animal artist. See firsthand the ways this enrichment activity fits into high standards of care for animals at the Zoo when you meet a goat or sheep and see their art creation in action. Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific animal for your program.

- Meet at the Petting Zoo area of Outback Station 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter start time. 
- Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 
- Includes one (1) take-home canvas per registered group.

Days Available: Saturdays at 3:15 p.m.

Member Cost: $67.50 | Includes one painting per group of four people.
Non-Member Cost: $75 per group of up to four people, + individual Zoo Admission | Includes one painting per group of four people.

Age Range: All ages

Are you craving some animal time before the Zoo opens to the public?

Join us to Rise and Dine with the Animals, where you can enjoy a continental breakfast* by Proof of the Pudding while also enjoying an early morning view of the animals as they get ready to start their day.

Each program will include an educational component to learn more about the species, time with an Animal Care Professional to hear about the individuals in their care, a memorable takeaway connected to the featured animal, and Zoo admission to stay and enjoy the Zoo at the end of the program. 

*Breakfast will include fruit, yogurt, pastries, coffee, hot tea, and juice. Option to add a Mimosa for 21+ guests when you register. 

2025 Dates:
March 29: Reptiles and Amphibians
April 19: Elephants
May 17: Tiger and Clouded Leopard
June 7: Gorillas
July 12: Tiger and Clouded Leopard
August 23: Giraffe and African Savanna
September 13: Gorilla
October 4: Lion

Time: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Check-in starts at 8:15 a.m.

Cost: $65 (includes Zoo admission)
Member Cost: $52

Age Range:
Program is open to all ages, but content is geared to audiences ages 12+. Children 2 and under are free, but must be registered. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

THEMES:

March 29: Georgia eXtremes – Reptiles and Amphibians 
Take your breakfast to the next level, surrounded by extremes of the animal kingdom. Dine inside Georgia eXtremes at Scaly Slimy Spectacular with a view of reptiles and amphibians and learn about these incredible creatures through biofacts and activities. You’ll also get the chance to meet some scaly and slimy Animal Ambassadors up close! 

April 19: Elephants 
As our elephant herd starts their day, you’ll see them searching the habitat for enrichment and surprises left by the Animal Care Team. Hear from a Zoo Educator about elephants’ amazing adaptations, see and touch biofacts, find out how we care for elephants at Zoo Atlanta, and learn about our partnerships with conservation organizations to save elephants in Africa. After breakfast, meet and chat with one of our Elephant Care Team members before enjoying the rest of your day visiting other animals in the Zoo. 

May 17 and July 12: Complex Carnivores – Tigers & Clouded Leopard 
While their breakfasts might be different, join some carnivorous friends as they investigate and patrol their habitats. Come face-to-face with some of the incredible adaptations that help carnivores survive, and hear from our Animal Care and Education Teams about how we take these adaptations into account while caring for animals including tigers, the clouded leopard, and more! 

June 7 and September 13: Gorillas 
Bring your troop to join us for an interactive breakfast and learn more about how we care for this iconic species, including the youngster Floyd and his silverback dad, Taz. During breakfast, you’ll watch the gorillas start their morning as they search their habitat for surprises left for them by the Animal Care Team. You’ll have the opportunity to hear firsthand what it is like to care for gorillas at the Zoo from one of our Animal Care Professionals, and Zoo Educators will have activities and biofacts for you to explore as you learn more about gorillas at the Zoo and in the wild. 

August 23: Giraffes and African Savanna 
Graze alongside the animals of the African Savanna where you might catch glimpses of zebras, ostrich, giraffes and elephants as they start their day. Learn from our Education and Animal Care Teams about the dynamic relationships between the different species on the savanna and investigate how our teams care for multiple species living together. 

October 4: Lions 
Roar alongside the lions as they greet the morning while you snack on some breakfast treats. Learn from our Zoo Educators and Animal Care Professionals about what goes into caring for the lions at the Zoo, the ways the habitat has been designed with their wellbeing in mind, and the steps you can take to help lions on the savannas in Africa. 

The Ringgold Cruisers and Pharoah’s Choo Choo, Tenn., have teamed up to bring a Cruz Night to the City of Ringgold, so you can take it back to those good ‘ole days!

Organizers are working with the local radio station, so you can listen to all your favorite music from the '50s, '60s, '70s, and '80s while you cruise, park, hang out with friends, shop local businesses and grab a bite to eat at the local eateries. We look forward to seeing everyone and Cruzin' the Depot!

Cruise-ins happen on the first Saturday of each month, beginning in March and running through November. The event starts at 6 p.m., but the streets start filling up quickly around 5 p.m., so arrive early to get a good spot! 

Jam to the sounds of The Ray Howard Band and enjoy celebrating fall in downtown Forsyth!

The concert starts at 7 p.m. on the square! Bring your table, chairs and family and have a blast!

For 33 years, "Swamp Gravy" has been telling all kinds of stories. This year, we’re hitching a ride to the graveside to tell the spooky, unexplained and downright silly stories that happen in the cemetery.

From stories of ghosts to angels to picnics on the grounds and more, this "Swamp Gravy" is gonna be one you won’t forget. We’ll explore the ways we remember those who have gone before us and the ways we accidentally scare ourselves.

Come join us amongst the swaying Spanish moss as we stir up a brand new edition of "Swamp Gravy"!

Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25

Saturdays at 2 p.m. & 6 p.m. ET

Celebrate the beauty of fall in the North Georgia mountains at Georgia’s smallest public school, Woody Gap School in Suches, and support this incredible community event!

With a wide range of vendors offering crafts; delicious foods including boiled peanuts, pulled pork and smoked chicken; and live entertainment, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Indian Summer Festival.

• Admission: $5 per person, $3 for children 7-12, free for kids 6 and under!
• Parking: Absolutely free!
• Times: Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Don’t miss out on a fun-filled day for the whole family while supporting a great cause. See you there!