Community Events

We’ve all imagined what it’s like to live and work in space, but only a select few have done it. Opening on Oct. 10, those who have lived in space will share their experiences with visitors in our newest traveling exhibition, Journey to Space.

Using hands-on and large-scale interactive exhibits and multimedia components, Journey to Space gives visitors a glimpse at the extraordinary conditions of human space travel, as well as the unique challenges and rewards of life on board the International Space Station.

Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) presents "Into the Woods," with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Based on the book by James Lapine, the show runs April 10-18 at UNG-Gainesville's Ed Cabell Theatre, inside the Performing Arts building. 

The show is sponsored by the Gainesville Times.

An opening night reception follows the April 10 performance.

In this imaginative twist on classic fairy tales, a baker and his wife set out to lift a witch’s curse. Along the way, they cross paths with Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood and more. But happily ever after is just the beginning. With a rich score by Stephen Sondheim and a poignant, playful book, "Into the Woods" explores dreams, choices and the tangled consequences of desire. Recommended for ages 10+ for mature themes.

Gainesville Theatre Alliance is an inter-collegiate theatre collaboration between Brenau University and the University of North Georgia.

For tickets or more information, visit GainesvilleTheatreAlliance.org or call the GTA Box Office at (678) 717-3624.

Petting Zoo Painters

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. 
• Availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. Advance registration is recommended.
• Encounter spots may be available on the day of the program. Please meet the Wild Encounter Guide at the check-in location 15 minutes before the program begins to inquire about availability and to purchase tickets.
• 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

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum—an acclaimed museum dedicated to celebrating and preserving America’s maritime legacy—is delighted to present “Beyond the Plate: Sea and Sky,” an exciting new solo exhibition featuring nautical-inspired, mixed-media art by Rob Strati, from September 25, 2025, through April 12, 2026. 

“Beyond the Plate” will showcase new work by one of America’s hottest contemporary artists. Strati has recently enjoyed sold-out exhibits at Duane Reed Gallery in St. Louis and FREMIN Gallery in New York and has sold work to top international art collectors in New York, London, Hong Kong, Dubai and beyond.

Strati’s art incorporates broken porcelain plates that have been embellished and adorned with creative details. The exhibition features the artist’s latest bold, kinetic mixed-media works and limited-edition prints as well as an ambitious site-specific installation that will be suspended from the ceiling of the Ships of the Sea atrium.

All of the art in “Beyond the Plate” will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum.

Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces is proud to bring you our 15th annual Spring Festival on Ponce!

Located in the Historic Olmstead Linear Park, this 2-day art festival boasts approximately 125 artists! There will also be local vendors for food and beverages, a children's area and live acoustic entertainment.

Along with being a celebration of the arts, this art festival also honors the rich history of the community and supports the Olmstead Linear Park restoration project.

One review stated, “The Spring Festival on Ponce is totally Ace!"

Please visit AFFPS.com for more information, or if you are interested in becoming a vendor.

How many chickens do you weigh?

How tall are you in apples or inches or pennies? Can you use your foot as a ruler?

Explore these and other questions in this new interactive exhibit in the Discovery Garden!

It may be common to measure using standard tools such as measuring tapes and cups, but Measurement Rules explores non-standard tools such as balancing scales, odometers, calipers, 3-D imaging and counting “Mississippis.” Explore this exhibit and become confident in the language of measurement through length, weight, volume and time.

The museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

We’ve all imagined what it’s like to live and work in space, but only a select few have done it. Opening on Oct. 10, those who have lived in space will share their experiences with visitors in our newest traveling exhibition, Journey to Space.

Using hands-on and large-scale interactive exhibits and multimedia components, Journey to Space gives visitors a glimpse at the extraordinary conditions of human space travel, as well as the unique challenges and rewards of life on board the International Space Station.

Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) presents "Into the Woods," with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Based on the book by James Lapine, the show runs April 10-18 at UNG-Gainesville's Ed Cabell Theatre, inside the Performing Arts building. 

The show is sponsored by the Gainesville Times.

An opening night reception follows the April 10 performance.

In this imaginative twist on classic fairy tales, a baker and his wife set out to lift a witch’s curse. Along the way, they cross paths with Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood and more. But happily ever after is just the beginning. With a rich score by Stephen Sondheim and a poignant, playful book, "Into the Woods" explores dreams, choices and the tangled consequences of desire. Recommended for ages 10+ for mature themes.

Gainesville Theatre Alliance is an inter-collegiate theatre collaboration between Brenau University and the University of North Georgia.

For tickets or more information, visit GainesvilleTheatreAlliance.org or call the GTA Box Office at (678) 717-3624.

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum—an acclaimed museum dedicated to celebrating and preserving America’s maritime legacy—is delighted to present “Beyond the Plate: Sea and Sky,” an exciting new solo exhibition featuring nautical-inspired, mixed-media art by Rob Strati, from September 25, 2025, through April 12, 2026. 

“Beyond the Plate” will showcase new work by one of America’s hottest contemporary artists. Strati has recently enjoyed sold-out exhibits at Duane Reed Gallery in St. Louis and FREMIN Gallery in New York and has sold work to top international art collectors in New York, London, Hong Kong, Dubai and beyond.

Strati’s art incorporates broken porcelain plates that have been embellished and adorned with creative details. The exhibition features the artist’s latest bold, kinetic mixed-media works and limited-edition prints as well as an ambitious site-specific installation that will be suspended from the ceiling of the Ships of the Sea atrium.

All of the art in “Beyond the Plate” will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum.

Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces is proud to bring you our 15th annual Spring Festival on Ponce!

Located in the Historic Olmstead Linear Park, this 2-day art festival boasts approximately 125 artists! There will also be local vendors for food and beverages, a children's area and live acoustic entertainment.

Along with being a celebration of the arts, this art festival also honors the rich history of the community and supports the Olmstead Linear Park restoration project.

One review stated, “The Spring Festival on Ponce is totally Ace!"

Please visit AFFPS.com for more information, or if you are interested in becoming a vendor.

How many chickens do you weigh?

How tall are you in apples or inches or pennies? Can you use your foot as a ruler?

Explore these and other questions in this new interactive exhibit in the Discovery Garden!

It may be common to measure using standard tools such as measuring tapes and cups, but Measurement Rules explores non-standard tools such as balancing scales, odometers, calipers, 3-D imaging and counting “Mississippis.” Explore this exhibit and become confident in the language of measurement through length, weight, volume and time.

The museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

We’ve all imagined what it’s like to live and work in space, but only a select few have done it. Opening on Oct. 10, those who have lived in space will share their experiences with visitors in our newest traveling exhibition, Journey to Space.

Using hands-on and large-scale interactive exhibits and multimedia components, Journey to Space gives visitors a glimpse at the extraordinary conditions of human space travel, as well as the unique challenges and rewards of life on board the International Space Station.

Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) presents "Into the Woods," with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Based on the book by James Lapine, the show runs April 10-18 at UNG-Gainesville's Ed Cabell Theatre, inside the Performing Arts building. 

The show is sponsored by the Gainesville Times.

An opening night reception follows the April 10 performance.

In this imaginative twist on classic fairy tales, a baker and his wife set out to lift a witch’s curse. Along the way, they cross paths with Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood and more. But happily ever after is just the beginning. With a rich score by Stephen Sondheim and a poignant, playful book, "Into the Woods" explores dreams, choices and the tangled consequences of desire. Recommended for ages 10+ for mature themes.

Gainesville Theatre Alliance is an inter-collegiate theatre collaboration between Brenau University and the University of North Georgia.

For tickets or more information, visit GainesvilleTheatreAlliance.org or call the GTA Box Office at (678) 717-3624.

How many chickens do you weigh?

How tall are you in apples or inches or pennies? Can you use your foot as a ruler?

Explore these and other questions in this new interactive exhibit in the Discovery Garden!

It may be common to measure using standard tools such as measuring tapes and cups, but Measurement Rules explores non-standard tools such as balancing scales, odometers, calipers, 3-D imaging and counting “Mississippis.” Explore this exhibit and become confident in the language of measurement through length, weight, volume and time.

The museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

We’ve all imagined what it’s like to live and work in space, but only a select few have done it. Opening on Oct. 10, those who have lived in space will share their experiences with visitors in our newest traveling exhibition, Journey to Space.

Using hands-on and large-scale interactive exhibits and multimedia components, Journey to Space gives visitors a glimpse at the extraordinary conditions of human space travel, as well as the unique challenges and rewards of life on board the International Space Station.

How many chickens do you weigh?

How tall are you in apples or inches or pennies? Can you use your foot as a ruler?

Explore these and other questions in this new interactive exhibit in the Discovery Garden!

It may be common to measure using standard tools such as measuring tapes and cups, but Measurement Rules explores non-standard tools such as balancing scales, odometers, calipers, 3-D imaging and counting “Mississippis.” Explore this exhibit and become confident in the language of measurement through length, weight, volume and time.

The museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

We’ve all imagined what it’s like to live and work in space, but only a select few have done it. Opening on Oct. 10, those who have lived in space will share their experiences with visitors in our newest traveling exhibition, Journey to Space.

Using hands-on and large-scale interactive exhibits and multimedia components, Journey to Space gives visitors a glimpse at the extraordinary conditions of human space travel, as well as the unique challenges and rewards of life on board the International Space Station.

Join Zoo Atlanta for a morning of learning and discovery designed specifically for homeschool students!  

HomeSchool Academy is a two-hour program for grades K-12 that allows students to explore animal and science concepts in an engaging, interactive environment. Programs are grade-appropriate and include hands-on, minds-on activities and Zoo tours that hone students’ STEM skillsets in a collaborative environment.     

Spring 2026 Dates:
February 11
March 11
April 15
May 6

Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

Member Cost:
$105 per semester or $40 per program 

Non-Member Cost:
$130 per semester or $45 per program  

THEMES:

K-2nd Grade Theme: Aaand…ACTION!
Crawl, slither and hop with us as we soar and explore some of the different ways animals move. This semester will be a high-flying adventure filled with animals and ways they get their groove on. 

3rd-5th Grade Theme: Gotta Go Fast
From sloths and red pandas to ostriches and tigers, join us this semester as we visit some of the fastest (and the slowest) animals here at Zoo Atlanta. We'll discover why some animals feel the need for speed while others take the slow route. 

6th-8th Grade Theme: Have to Have a Habitat
Habitat, habitat, have to have a habitat. A habitat is so much more than just where an animal lives. Join us this semester as we aim to discover the ins and outs of what makes a healthy and happy home for an animal. 

9th-12th Grade Theme: If I Only Had a Brain
BRAAIIINS! Get your head in the game as we learn about not only our mighty brains, but those of other animals too. Are owls truly wise? Do elephants really never forget? Join us to find out! 

How many chickens do you weigh?

How tall are you in apples or inches or pennies? Can you use your foot as a ruler?

Explore these and other questions in this new interactive exhibit in the Discovery Garden!

It may be common to measure using standard tools such as measuring tapes and cups, but Measurement Rules explores non-standard tools such as balancing scales, odometers, calipers, 3-D imaging and counting “Mississippis.” Explore this exhibit and become confident in the language of measurement through length, weight, volume and time.

The museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

We’ve all imagined what it’s like to live and work in space, but only a select few have done it. Opening on Oct. 10, those who have lived in space will share their experiences with visitors in our newest traveling exhibition, Journey to Space.

Using hands-on and large-scale interactive exhibits and multimedia components, Journey to Space gives visitors a glimpse at the extraordinary conditions of human space travel, as well as the unique challenges and rewards of life on board the International Space Station.