Celebrate Earth Day: 16 things to do this weekend in Atlanta

Get out and join the fun at the Big Shanty Festival this weekend in Kennesaw.

Credit: Courtesy of Kennesaw.com

Credit: Courtesy of Kennesaw.com

Get out and join the fun at the Big Shanty Festival this weekend in Kennesaw.

Honor the planet with Earth Day celebrations, spring festivals and health expos galore.

Check out what's happening around Atlanta this weekend.

Cobb

Spring Sip n' Stroll. 5 p.m. Friday, April 21. Free. Glover Park. 50 North Park Square, Marietta. 770-424-4664. www.mariettacalendar.com.

Join the Marietta Tree Keepers this Friday for the Annual Spring Sip n' Stroll at Glover Park. BYOB to this community-centered event, which will feature a tour with certified arborists and landscape architects throughout the historical neighborhood around the Marietta Square.

A look at Marietta Square in May 2012

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Earth Day Recycling Event. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 22. $10 donation. Pope High School. 3001 Hembree Road NE, Marietta. popebandrecycling@gmail.com. www.popeband.com.

If you need to unload your old television sets, paint cans, paper or metal scrap, head on over to Pope High School on Saturday for their Earth Day Recycling Event. For a $10 donation, you can reduce your clutter while helping keep the planet clean.

13th Annual Alive! Expo Atlanta. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 22 and 23. $10 per day per person. Cobb Galleria Centre. 2 Galleria Pkwy SE, Atlanta. 770-806-7492. www.aliveexpo.com.

Have a health-conscious weekend by visiting the 13th Annual Alive! Expo taking place at the Galleria. Not only will you get a chance to visit with naturopaths, chiropractors and alternative practitioners, but you'll also see exciting demonstrations, try samples and learn about living a clean, green lifestyle.

Big Shanty Festival. 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 22 and 23. Free. Depot Park. South Main St., Kennesaw. 770-423-1330. www.kennesaw-ga.gov.

The 41st Annual Big Shanty Festival hits Depot Park again all weekend long. This year's event will feature live entertainment, over 200 booths with works by local artisans and crafters, children's activities, a parade and more.

DeKalb

Moms and kids enjoy a ride at last year’s Lemonade Days, the festival hosted by Dunwoody Preservation Trust. The money from the festival supports the nonprofit’s work to protect Dunwoody’s historical buildings and greenspace. CONTRIBUTED BY CITY OF DUNWOODY

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19th Annual Lemonade Days. 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 21 to 23. Free admission, $1 ride tickets. Brook Run Park. 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. 770-668-0401. www.dunwoodylemonadedays.org.

With full-scale carnival rides, live performances, food and beverage vendors and a 5K, you and your family won't want to miss the 19th Annual Lemonade Days happening this weekend. It all takes place at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody, and admission is free.

JordanCon. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21 to 23. $20 per person for Friday, $35 per person for Saturday, $20 per person for Sunday, $50 per person for both Saturday and Sunday. Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center. 246 Perimeter Center Pkwy NE, Atlanta. 770-394-6500. www.jordancon.org.

If you love a good Robert Jordan book, make sure to stop by the JordanCon this Friday and Saturday. This special event will include eight different tracks of simultaneous programming, an art show, dealer's hall, gaming and special guests Charles E. Gannon and Stephen Hickman.

Earth Day Celebration at the Dunwoody Nature Center. 8 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 21 and 22. Dunwoody Nature Center. 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. 770-394-3322. www.dunwoodynature.org.

Join the Dunwoody Nature Center in celebrating Earth Day with paint recycling, yoga with Sweet Escape Yoga and stargazing with the Atlanta Astronomy Club.

12th Annual Atlanta Arab Festival. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 22 and 23. $5 per person, free for children ages 12 and under. Alif Institute. 3288 Marjan Drive, Atlanta. 770-936 8770. www.alifinstitute.org.

Experience the beauty and flavors of Arab culture with the 12th Annual Atlanta Arab Festival. Visitors will enjoy liver performances, traditional Arab cuisine, exhibits, Arabic coffee, games and more.

Gwinnett

The Atlanta International Night Market. 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, April 21 to 23. $10 per person. Gwinnett Place Mall. 2100 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth. 706-372-5318. www.atlnightmarket.org.

With more than 200 art, food and drink vendors representing more than 75 nationalities, the Atlanta International Night Market will treat your family to a cultural event you won't forget. This open market will feature a wide array of local fare, artists and not-to-miss live performances.

Gwinnett Family Fest. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22. Free. Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 678-672-2562. www.gwinnettfamilyfest.com.

Gather all the kids, because the Gwinnett Family Fest takes place at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce this Saturday with inflatable rides, a rock wall, jousting, a water slide, liver entertainment, ice cream carts, t-shirts and more. The best part: everything is free.

Get ready for something truly hilarious this weekend at the 2017 Bed Race in Gwinnett.

Credit: Courtesy of Family Promise of Gwinnett County

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Credit: Courtesy of Family Promise of Gwinnett County

2017 Family Promise Bed Race. 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 22. Free. Downtown Lawrenceville Square. 185 West Crogan St., Lawrenceville. 678-376-8950. www.familypromisegwinnett.org.

Spend your Saturday watching a few beds race down the street, because it's time for the 2017 Family Promise Bed Race. You won't regret watching this hilarious and unusual event, which takes place in Downtown Lawrenceville.

All About Kids Expo. 10 a.m. Saturday, April 22. Free. Infinite Energy Center. 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth. 770-963-9205. www.scnievents.com.

Parents, don't forget to come down to the All About Kids Expo this weekend in Duluth. This free expo will include resources for health and wellness, child care, education and safety as well as information on summer camps around the area.

All About Kids Expo, brought to you by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, is a FREE expo offering parents all of the community resources they need from health and wellness, safety, education, child care, important family related topics, entertainment, summer camps and much more.

North Fulton

A group of racers in the Mens 3/4 category ride in a line as they compete at the Historic Roswell Criterium cycling races in Historic Roswell Sunday, April 26, 2009. Kimberly Smith / staff ksmith@ajc.com

Credit: Kimberly Smith

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Credit: Kimberly Smith

Bike Roswell! Saturday Morning Ride. 8 a.m. Saturday, April 22. Free. Roswell Area Park. 10517 Woodstock Road, Roswell. 770-640-3253. www.roswellcyclingfestival.com.

To celebrate the start of the 2017 Roswell Cycling Festival, Bike Roswell! will host the Saturday Morning Ride at the Roswell Area Park. Bring your bike at 8 a.m. and prepare to travel around 25 miles on a route through Roswell.

Rose Animal Hospital Carnival. 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22. Free admission. Rose Animal Hospital. 362 South Atlanta St., Roswell. 770-594-9731. www.roseanimalhospital.com.

The entire family is welcome, leashed pets included, to the Rose Animal Hosital Carnival this Saturday. You'll play games, win prizes and see adorable (and adoptable) dogs and puppies. Proceeds from game tickets will benefit Barktown Rescue.

Tillman Honor Run. 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, April 22. Free to watch, $40 for adult racers, $10 for child racers. North Point Mall. 1000 North Point Circle, Alpharetta. 678-274-7743. www.awesomealpharetta.com.

Get your running shoes on, because the Tillman Honor Run will take place at North Point Mall on Saturday. In honor of Pat Tillman, this race will raise money for the Tillman Scholar program.

Top Dogs Roswell Paw Festival. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 23. Free. Top Dogs Pet Boutique. 900 Mansell Road, Suite 13, Roswell. 770-641-8620. www.visitroswellga.com.

Bring your dog along to the Top Dogs Roswell Paw Festival on Sunday, where you'll enjoy a pet fashion show, taste free samples, see dog training demonstrations and more.