Decatur Lantern Festival: 16 things to do this weekend around Atlanta

Don't miss the Lantern Festival in Decatur this weekend.

Credit: Courtesy of Beate Sass

Credit: Courtesy of Beate Sass

Don't miss the Lantern Festival in Decatur this weekend.

Once you go out with mom this weekend, you can still make time to savor sweet, Southern barbecue and take in a little live music this weekend around Atlanta with these not-to-miss events.

Take a look at what's happening around town:

Cobb

Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival. 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 12 and 13. Cauble Park at Acworth Beach. 4425 Beach St., Acworth. 770-714-7135. www.smokeonthelake.org.

The grills are firing up for the Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival taking place all weekend at Acworth Beach. Bring an appetite and get ready for delicious food, dancing, live music and fireworks.

Mableton Day. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13. Free. Mable House Complex. 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. 678-590-2803. www.mabletonday.com

The 2nd Annual Mableton Day takes place on Saturday and will feature a 5K race and Fun Run, a Car Cruise-in, art and food vendors, children's activities and more.

Through the Garden Gate Tour. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 13. $25 per person. Gardens around Cobb County. 770-528-4070.www.cobbmastergardeners.com.

Learn all about gardening the experiential way by attending the Through the Garden Gate Tour. This tour will take you through many private gardens and gardening projects found in Cobb County, including the Suburban Sanctuary, Lake Front Haven, Taste of England and Smith-Gilbert Gardens.

49th Annual Mother's Day Weekend Gem, Mineral, Jewelry, and Fossil Show. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 12, 13 and 14. Free. Cobb Civic Center. 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. mayshow@gamineral.org. www.gamineral.org.

What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than with a visit to the Gem, Mineral, Jewelry and Fossil Show taking place at the Cobb Civic Center all weekend long. With over 30 dealers, door prizes and live demonstrations, this event has everything a rock hound could ask for.

DeKalb

Decatur Lantern Parade. 9 p.m. Friday, May 12. Free. Downtown Decatur at Color Wheel Studio. 508 East Howard Ave., Decatur. 404-377-0641. www.decaturartsfestival.com.

Bring the whole family to Downtown Decatur for the Lantern Parade, which starts at the Color Wheel Studio. Bring your own homemade lantern to this illuminated community event.

ECOExplorers. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 13. $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Dunwoody Nature Center. 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. 770-394-3322. www.dunwoodynature.org.

At this Every Child Outside event, kids and their parents will make nature-based crafts, take part in activities, go on a hike and enjoy everything the Dunwoody Nature Center has to offer.

Concerts on the Square: The Geeks. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 13. Free. The Square in Downtown Decatur. concerts@decaturdba.com. www.decaturdba.com.

Come down to Downtown Decatur this Saturday for a free concert on the Square. Local favorite "The Geeks" will fill downtown with party music starting at 7, so don't miss it.

Dunwoody Art Festival. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 13 and 14. Free. 1449 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Dunwoody.Contactwww.dunwoody.splashfestivals.com

It'll be weekend filled with family fun at the Dunwoody Art Festival, which will feature a Kid Zone, live music, a food court and, of course, some of the best arts and crafts in the South.

Gwinnett

Pigs and Pearls. 7 p.m. Friday, May 12. $150 per person. TPC Sugarloaf at Sugarloaf Country Club. 2595 Sugarloaf Club Drive, Duluth. 770-595-3573. www.events.exploregwinnett.org.

Put on your dancing shoes, don your best string of pearls and get ready to devour some barbecue this Friday at the Pigs and Pearls event taking place in Duluth.

Braselton Beach Bash on the Green. 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 13. Free. Braselton Town Green. 9924 Davis St., Braselton. 706-654-5720. www.events.exploregwinnett.org.

You don't need to head all the way to Florida in order to enjoy a little sand -- at least not this Saturday. Just come on down to the Braselton Town Green for the Braselton Beach Bash. Guests can play in sandboxes, enjoy live music, a rock climbing wall, inflatable bouncie houses and more at this family-friendly event.

Pamper your pooch this weekend at PAWfest in Gwinnett.

Credit: Courtesy of True Photography

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Credit: Courtesy of True Photography

PAWfest 2017. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13. Free. Briscoe Park. 2500 Sawyer Parkway, Snellville. pawfest@gwinnetthumane.com. www.gwinnetthumane.wixsite.com.

Dog-owners, don't miss this year's PAWfest, which takes place at Briscoe Park on Saturday. This free event will include a pack hike, dog contests, a dog fashion show, silent auction and competitions.

Barefoot in the Park Juried Fine Arts Festival. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 13 and 14. Free. Buford Town Park. 2200 Buford Highway NE, Buford. 678-677-0172. www.barefootinthepark.org.

This Mother's Day, bring mom to the Barefoot in the Park Juried Fine Arts Festival to find a special treasure to take home. It all takes place at Buford Town Park and will feature a Fine Arts Market, live entertainment, silent auction, food vendors and the Binders Learing Village.

North Fulton.

Rockin' at the River. 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 13. $125 per person. Chattahoochee Nature Center. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992-2055. www.chattnaturecenter.org.

Celebrate and support the Chattahoochee Nature Center this Saturday by attending the Rockin' at the River event. You'll enjoy live and silent auctions, music, dancing and delicious food, all surrounded by the stunning beauty of CNC.

Sounds of the Big Bands. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 13. $32 for adults, $27 for seniors, $16 for students and children. Johns Creek United Methodist Church. 11180 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek. 678-748-5802.www.johnscreeksymphony.org.

If you enjoy listening to Big Band music, you'll love the Sounds of the Big Bands concert taking place at Johns Creek United Methodist Church. This event will feature the Joe Gransden Big Band, Georgia State University Jazz Ensemble and jazz singer Carmen Bradford.

Family Music and Wellness Expo. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 13. Free. Riverside Park. 575 Riverside Road, Roswell. 770-594-6406. www.roswellgov.com.

It's a celebration of health and wellness this Saturday at Riverside Park. The Family Music and Wellness Expo will feature fitness demonstrations, health and wellness vendors, educational booths, inflatables for the kids and more.

Surround yourself with blooms at the Atlanta Rose Show.

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Botanical Gardens

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Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Atlanta Rose Show. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14. $21.95 for adults, $15.95 for children ages 3 through 12, free for children under 3 and Garden members. Atlanta Botanical Gardens. 1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. 404-876-5859. www.atlantabg.org.

If you think you've seen beautiful roses, you haven't seen anything like the Atlanta Rose Show at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Along with touring the Rose Garden, you'll see a stunning array of cut roses on display.