Dragon Con Night: 16 things to do this weekend in Atlanta

Here are 4 spots in Atlanta with some of the best views of the Dragon Con parade. (Erica A. Hernandez/AJC)

While it's easy to snuggle up with a blanket on the weekends, taking part in community-centered events can help you connect with your town and break the monotony of winter.

It may not look like summer out there, but you'll be happy you left the house this weekend to enjoy these entertaining and enlightening events taking place around the Metro. Just make sure to bring a coat along.

Here's what's happening near you this weekend in Atlanta:

Cobb

Embroidery Mart Atlanta 2018. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 and 3. $20 per person. Cobb Galleria Centre. 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 800-866-7396. www.embroiderymart.com.

Find out how to make money with embroidery, digital garment printing, rhinestone setting, screen printing, heat pressing and more at Embroidery Mart Atlanta trade show.

Scout Shabbat. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. Free. Congregation Ner Tamid. 1349 Old Highway 41, Marietta. 678-264-8575. www.mynertamid.org.

Boy and Girl Scouts can earn a special patch by attending the special Scout Shabbat taking place at Congregation Ner Tamid on Feb. 2.

14th Annual Atlanta Black College Expo. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. $7 to $8 per person. Cobb Galleria Centre. 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 877-427-4100. www.eventbrite.com.

Discover how to plan for college and earn scholarships at the 14th Annual Atlanta Black College Expo. You'll enjoy early interview opportunities, transcript and testing preparation and more.

Atlanta Ballet presents Yuri Possokhov’s “Don Quixote,” pictured here staged by Joffrey Ballet, Feb. 2-10. CONTRIBUTED BY HERBERT MIGDOLL

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Atlanta Ballet's "Don Quixote". 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2 through 4. Ticket prices vary. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 404-892-3303. www.atlantaballet.com.

The Atlanta Ballet performs Don Quixote at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this weekend, which will feature a classical tale of adventure, whimsy and a band of colorful characters.

DeKalb

Contra Dance at the Decatur Recreation Center. 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. $10 per person, $5 per student with ID. Decatur Recreation Center. 231 Sycamore St., Decatur. www.contradance.org.

Enjoy and old-fashioned community dance on Friday with live music, a relaxed atmosphere and instruction by the Chattahoochee Contra Dancers.

Fernbank Forest Bird Walk. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. Fernbank Museum of Natural History. 767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta. 404-929-6400. www.fernbankmuseum.org.

Explore Fernbank Forest with an Atlanta Audubon Society Volunteer and learn more about the permanent and temporary feathered friends of the forest.

Friends of The Decatur Library Book Sale. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. Free. Decatur Library. 215 Sycamore St., Decatur. 404-370-3070. www.dekalblibrary.org.

Swap out some of your gently used books at the Friends of Decatur Library Book Sale this Saturday and take a few home you haven't read. You'll find great deals on used books, CDs and DVDs.

Tablao Flamenco. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. $15 to $20 per person. Kavarna. 707 East Lake Drive, Decatur. 404-487-8258. www.aniaflamenco.com.

Enjoy flamenco dancing and live music at Tablao Flamenco, featuring Ania "La Candela," Daniel Benitez Perez, Carlos Pacheco and Jerry Fields.

Gwinnett

Dragon Con Night at Medieval Times. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb 2. Ticket prices vary. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville. 888-935-6878. www.medievaltimes.com.

It's Dragon Con Night at Medieval Times, with a live performance, a DJ, costume contest with cash prize and more.

Power Yoga Festival. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4. $15 to $45. Life Time Fitness Sugarloaf. 1823 North Brown Road, Lawrenceville.678-226-2099. www.poweryogafestival.com.

Life Time Fitness Sugarloaf will host the Power Yoga Festival on Sunday with all day yoga classes, workshops, chair massages and lots of community events.

The Rise of Civil Rights Film Series. 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. Free. Gwinnett County Public Library Five Forks Branch. 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road SW, Lawrenceville. 770-978-5154. www.gwinnettpl.org.

Celebrating Black History Month, the Gwinnett Public Library Five Forks Branch will screen the movie "Fences" on Saturday.

Fans sit at the back bar of McCray's Tavern in Smyrna, Ga. and watch NFL Fox Pregame before the start of the Falcons-Packers in the NFC Championship Game.

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Super Bowl Party at McCray's Tavern. 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4. Food and drink prices vary. McCray's Tavern Lawrenceville. 100 North Perry St., Lawrenceville. 770-407-6754. www.mccraystavern.com.

Don't miss the Super Bowl Party taking place at McCray's Tavern on Sunday, with special discounts, merchandise giveaways, a Gameday menu and the game playing on the every screen.

North Fulton

Shamanic Women with Vicki Evans. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. $15 per person. Phoenix & Dragon Bookstore. 5531 Roswell Road NE, Atlanta. 404-255-5207. www.phoenixanddragon.com.

Experience a Shamanic women's circle this Friday, which will feature drumming, Shamanic teachings and plenty of encouragement.

Winter Bird Seed Fundraiser. 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2. Seed prices vary. Chattahoochee Nature Center. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992-2055. www.chattnaturecenter.org.

Purchase bird seed at CNC this Friday to help benefit the center as part of their Winter Bird Seed Fundraiser. CNC members receive an additional 15% on bird seed.

Bid Whist Party. 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. $5 per person, includes box lunch, pre-purchaed required. Roswell Recreation Center. 830 Grimes Bridge Road, Roswell. 314-520-4775. www.roswellgov.com.

Come out to learn the old-fashioned game of Bid Whist, which has been played since the 1700s and introduced to African Americans during the Civil War.

Sabrina Strickland (from left), Sarah Nuckles, Charles Grogan, Veronica Ellis and Jamal Goodman are descendants of the Brown family, whose circa 1895 photograph was transformed into a mural at the corner of Elizabeth Way and Canton Street in Roswell. The family fled racial tensions in Forsyth County to settle in Roswell, Marietta and surrounding environs. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Credit: Hyosub Shin

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Credit: Hyosub Shin

Groveway Community Group Black History Program. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4. $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 12 and under. Roswell Cultural Arts Center. 950 Forrest St., Roswell. 770-993-4245. www.roswellgov.com.

Enjoy an afternoon of live music, spoken word, performances and more at this special Black History program presented by Groveway Community Group.