Community Events

Join us on this remote paddle to visit the friendly donkeys of Stallings Island! You are also likely to see otters, deer, snakes and a variety of birds.  

Register at https://www.colewatkinstours.com/

$55 per person

$25 kids 12 and under

$25 BYOK Customers (Bringing Your Own Kayak)

$30 BYOK for Stallings Island

Group Rate of $5 off per person when you have 5 or more people.

Super Group Rate of $10 off per person when you have 10 or more people

Time: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The 1823 Artisan Guild is hosting an "Everyday Life" themed art show beginning Saturday April 5, at 1 p.m.

Come see art pieces that exemplify different perspectives on what "Everyday Life" means, and take a stroll around the guild to see all the treasures they have on offer! 

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

Enjoy music, arts, crafts and food while celebrating Historic Darien and the Beloved Shrimping Fleet!

Festivities begin at 4 p.m. Friday and conclude at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Vendors are not required to stay through the full three days. However, booths are required to be in place by 12 p.m. Friday and remain until closing hours Sunday. No vehicles will be allowed within the festival footprint after 1 p.m. Friday afternoon until 6 p.m. Sunday.

***Application is not guaranteed accepted upon payment. Application and payment are reviewed by a committee. An application may be returned with a full refund by committee decision for any reason, specifically if there are other vendors with those goods already accepted by the committee. A rejected application will be returned before March 14, 2025, or one week if after this date.

Vendor Hours: 4-10 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 12-6 p.m. Sunday.

Hip Hip Hooray! It's time for the Shop Hop! Hop on over to downtown Douglas to pick up a Shop Hop scratch off card at any participating business to discover your deal!

The best part is that you get to use this card once at every business listed on the card and you have the whole week to do it. Pick up your Easter basket stuffers and your Easter outfits!

• Weekdays: 10-5
• Saturdays: 10-3

Gainesville Theatre Alliance presents "Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein," Apr 11-19 at UNG-Gainesville's Ed Cabell Theatre, inside the Performing Arts building.

From the creators of Broadway sensation, "The Producers," comes this monster musical comedy, adapted from the legendary film. Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick and a leggy lab assistant, Frederick brings his own monster to life. Recommended for ages 15+ for sexual innuendo and mild language.

Gainesville Theatre Alliance is a one-of-a-kind, nationally-recognized collaboration between the University of North Georgia and Brenau University.

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

8 p.m. (doors to the venue open at 7 p.m.)

Friday, April 11,  8 p.m.

Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m.

With eight critically acclaimed albums and 3 GRAMMY nominations, vocalist Kate McGarry is recognized as a jazz artist who brings authenticity and vitality to every song regardless of genre. The Wall St. Journal calls her music, “austere and elegant, an exceptionally appealing blend of folk and jazz.”

She has toured and recorded with jazz illuminati Fred Hersch, Kurt Elling, Maria Schneider, John Hollenbeck, Billy Childs, Luciana Souza, Theo Bleckmann, and TONY Award-winner Jason Robert Brown.

During her decade in NYC, McGarry served as a Lincoln Center Teaching Artist, U.S. State Department Jazz Ambassador and Jazz Arts faculty member at The Manhattan School of Music.

The Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum will feature the Art Cloth Network’s traveling exhibit “Unfolding.” This exhibit encourages artists to think about “what is revealed when a story is told…do terms such as evolving, growing, revealing come to mind?”

Artists interpreted the theme in a wide variety of ways, drawing inspiration from life, nature, world issues and more. These three dimensional textile works will use a variety of interpretations to reveal a story, similar to unwrapping a gift.

The exhibit features 26 works by 23 artists allowing for various interpretations to inspire guests.

SQTM will also feature star pattern quilts of various forms, highlighting some incredible pieces from the museum's permanent collection.

Check museum website for hours of operation.

April 7-11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.  
Extended care available for an additional cost per day from 8-8:30 a.m. and 4:30-5 p.m.

When school is out, camp is in! 

We are here to engage and excite your young learners ages 5-11 during Spring Break.

Safari Camp is a great opportunity to engage young explorers in learning about the wild world around them and beginning their journey of conservation stewardship. Through Zoo explorations, up-close animal encounters, STEAM-based projects, hands-on science activities, environmental games and more, campers learn about attainable strategies and goals to combat environmental issues and are charged with finding simple ways that they can make a difference.

Campers will embark on a Zoo expedition, exploring wildlife and wild places. Young explorers will be immersed in hands-on, minds-on learning while having fun! 

Theme: Creature Features

Calling all animal buffs! Journey with us through this fun-filled week of learning about animal classification. Campers will compare and contrast different classes of animals, explore adaptations that make each group unique, discover some of the research and conservation that Zoo Atlanta supports and face off in some epic trivia battles! At the end of the week, campers will showcase their favorite animal from each class of animals that can be found at the Zoo in an all-camp talent show!

Age Range: 5-11

What You Need To Know:

• Campers should provide their own snacks, lunches, and water bottles.
• Advance registration is required. 
• Payment in full is required at the time of registration. 
• Walk-up registrations are not accepted.
• Registration closes the Wednesday prior at midnight. 

Please visit our website for additional information about Spring Break Safari Camp.

Calling all art and garden enthusiasts! Mark your calendars for Madison Artists Guild's gARTen Market, a flourishing showcase of art for the outdoors happening from March 27-May 10.

Find everything you need to transform your outdoor space, from whimsical birdhouses and bird baths to enchanting chimes and sculptures.

MAGallery is open Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Visit the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art from Jan. 25-June 28 for their Special Exhibition From Tears to the Sea and Other Works, featuring Alexandra Huynh.

More details to follow.  Please call or visit their website for the most up-to-date information on this and other events hosted by the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art.

The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Saturday, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Developed in collaboration with the Georgia Writers Museum, the upcoming will feature the art of painter Raven Waters, potter Senora Lynch (Haliwa-Saponi Tribe) and Steffen Thomas.

This environmentally-focused exhibition will explore, with artists and writers and audience, our place in the natural world: do we exist as a part of nature? Or outside of nature, experiencing the environment as a tourist or a consumer?

The title is a play on the internet phrase “touch grass” or “go touch some grass” that is said as a criticism to someone that they have been online too much and are disconnected from reality/the real world.

The museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
 

The Ringgold Playhouse presents "Proof," a drama by David Auburn, directed by Renee Lierow. There will be five performances from April 10-April 13 at the Ringgold Depot.

Senior/Student tickets: $10 online, $12 walk-up.

General Admission tickets: $12 online, $14 walk-up.

Tickets are available at the door or at the link here: https://our.show/trpproof 

Play synopsis:

On the eve of her 25th birthday, Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father’s who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father’s madness—or genius—will she inherit?

The 1823 Artisan Guild is hosting an "Everyday Life" themed art show beginning Saturday April 5, at 1 p.m.

Come see art pieces that exemplify different perspectives on what "Everyday Life" means, and take a stroll around the guild to see all the treasures they have on offer! 

Step right into a hilarious, and interactive murder mystery where you might just be the killer! It’s the thrilling event everyone’s dying to attend. Don’t let this unforgettable night pass you by!

Get ready for a night of twists, turns, and tantalizing mystery! The Murder Mystery Co. by Scott Cramton welcomes you to a thrilling mystery experience where every clue brings you closer to the truth (or deeper into suspicion). Mingle with intriguing suspects, uncover shocking secrets and savor a mouthwatering three-course meal. But watch out! You could end up as the cold-blooded killer! Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of suspense and laughter. Grab your tickets now!

Participate in a new mystery every month! From the glitz of 1930s Hollywood in “Best Laid Plans” to the roaring 1920s with “Death of a Gangster”, each event offers unforgettable thrills. Boogie at a 1950s sock hop, solve a 90s crime in “Good Riddance” or celebrate the season with “The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.” Whether it's a billionaire’s masquerade, a 1980s bash or a chilling wedding-themed whodunit, there’s a unique mystery waiting for you. Mark your calendar and join the fun. Each month brings a fresh adventure!

Spend the night at Zoo Atlanta with your school or group at NightCrawler Overnight.

When the last guest leaves for the day, we invite you to stay! Come find out what really happens when the sun goes down. Which animals stay up late and how do others settle down for the night? And in the morning, how do animals greet the day? Join us as we explore these questions and more on an overnight adventure designed for schools, Scouts, and other groups.

Participants will spend the majority of the evening outdoors walking around the zoo with an educator as their guide, stopping along the way to observe the nocturnal behaviors of the animals that call the zoo home.

After an evening of exploration, participants will sleep in indoor, climate-controlled rooms with sleeping bags brought from home. And then rise and shine for more fun! Enjoy a catered breakfast from Proof of the Pudding followed by morning activities and more visits to see how animals start their day.

If you are looking for additional opportunities to connect with wildlife up-close, you can register your group for an Animal Encounter for an additional fee. This encounter includes an exclusive talk with a Zoo Educator and a visit with two to three small animal ambassadors. Note: We cannot accommodate specific animal requests for the encounter.

Participating groups are invited to stay and enjoy the zoo at completion of your program!

CAPACITY: Minimum of 20 – Maximum of 120

TIMES: 6 p.m. until 9:30 a.m. the next morning

AGE RANGE: 6+

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT DURING A NIGHTCRAWLER?

• Rain or shine. This program happens rain or shine, and much of the program is outside. Please plan for the weather and dress accordingly.

• The zoo is made for walking! Most of this experience is spent walking around the zoo, and many of the areas that we visit are not wheelchair accessible. Plan to spend up to 5 hours on your feet touring the Zoo.

• Come with a full belly. While we will take a break for a snack in the middle of the evening, please eat dinner before you arrive. And remember to bring your water bottle with you.

• Embrace the dark. It’s called a NightCrawler for a reason. Explore the Zoo by the light of the moon and our educators’ red-light flashlights. Guests may only use flashlights at bedtime.

• Rustic camping meets the Zoo. All sleeping locations are in climate-controlled buildings with a restroom either in the building or nearby.

• Have fun! This unique experience is unlike anything that you can do in Atlanta. We look forward to hosting you for an upcoming program!

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

Enjoy music, arts, crafts and food while celebrating Historic Darien and the Beloved Shrimping Fleet!

Festivities begin at 4 p.m. Friday and conclude at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Vendors are not required to stay through the full three days. However, booths are required to be in place by 12 p.m. Friday and remain until closing hours Sunday. No vehicles will be allowed within the festival footprint after 1 p.m. Friday afternoon until 6 p.m. Sunday.

***Application is not guaranteed accepted upon payment. Application and payment are reviewed by a committee. An application may be returned with a full refund by committee decision for any reason, specifically if there are other vendors with those goods already accepted by the committee. A rejected application will be returned before March 14, 2025, or one week if after this date.

Vendor Hours: 4-10 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 12-6 p.m. Sunday.