Earth Day: 16 things to do in Atlanta this weekend

There are countless ways to get outdoors to appreciate nature in observance of Earth Day in the Miami Valley.

Sunny days, festivals and friends − that's what you'll find all weekend long throughout Atlanta.

Just as the Big Shanty Festival hits Cobb, Lemonade Days takes over DeKalb, and Gwinnett and North Fulton aren't far behind with Art on the Chattahoochee, Sandy Springs Artsapalooza and more. Along with live music, shopping and food, you'll have opportunities to give back for Earth Day.

Nothing beats enjoying this perfect weather, so make sure to take advantage of this weekend lineup. Here's what's taking place near you:

Cobb

Alive! Expo. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 21-22. $10 per day. Cobb Galleria Centre.
2 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta. 770-806-7492. www.aliveexpo.com.

Find out how to lead a healthier life at the Alive! Expo taking place at the Galleria all weekend. This year's event will feature demonstrations, alternative practitioners, natural health vendors and more.

Big Shanty Festival

Credit: Courtesy of Kennesaw.com

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Credit: Courtesy of Kennesaw.com

Big Shanty Festival. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, April 21-22. Free. Downtown Kennesaw. 770-423-1330. www.kennesaw.com.

It's time for the Big Shanty Festival again, which will entertain the whole family with live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors and a parade featuring marching bands and floats.

Junior Ranger Day: Journey Through History at Kennesaw Mountain. 10 a.m.-noon. Saturday, April 21. Free, pre-registration required. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. 900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw. 770-427-4686. www.nps.gov.

Your children will love celebrating Junior Ranger Day with an educational experience at Kennesaw Mountain. This program is ideal for children in grades 1-5.

Earth Day Planting Party. Noon-3 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Free. Whole Foods Market Merchants Walk. 1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 678-996-9700. www.mariettacalendar.com.

Celebrate Earth Day on Sunday with a planting party at Whole Foods Market in Marietta. There will be free hot dogs for the kids, gardening, potato planting and activities.

DeKalb

Lucy Sugawa, left, Katherine Redmond and Ellie Slate are participating in Lemonade Day this year. They’ll be selling lemonade Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mueller farmer’s market.

Credit: Jay Janner

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Credit: Jay Janner

Lemonade Days. 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, April 20-22. Free, ride ticket $1. Brook Run Park. 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. 770-668-0401. www.dunwoodylemonadedays.org.

Bring the whole family to Lemonade Days this weekend, which will fill Brook Run Park with live performances, the Dunwoody Idol contest, over 30 carnival rides, vendors and more.

Party for the Paws 2018. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Free. Puppy Haven Brookhaven. 2740 Caldwell Road NE, Atlanta. 404-869-2494. www.puppyhavenatl.com.

Benefiting Bosley's Place, Inc, Puppy Haven in Brookhaven will host Party for the Paws, which will include a bouncy slide, doggy pools, a silent auction, adoptions, live music, food trucks and a photo booth.

Lemonade Days 5K. 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Saturday, April 21. $40 per racer, free to watch. Brook Run Park. 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. www.cvbdunwoody.com.

As part of the Lemonade Days event, the Lemonade Days 5K will take you through a winding woodland path, over bridges and through parks on one of the most beautiful days of the year. Each finisher will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

Atlanta Arab Festival. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 21-22. $5 per person, free for children under 12. Alif Institute. 3288 Marjan Drive, Atlanta. 770-936-8770. www.alifinstitute.org.

Experience the beauty and richness of Arab culture at the Atlanta Arab Festival taking place at the Alif Institute. You'll enjoy cultural performances, traditional foods, shopping and some of the best Arab coffee in the country.

Gwinnett

Race for the Rescues 5K. 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 21. Race prices vary, free to watch. Suwanee Town Center Park. 330 Town Center Ave., Suwanee. 678-869-5012. www.race4rescues.com.

Race with your pooch at this Peachtree Road Race Qualifier, which includes medals, t-shirts, vendors, prizes and food.

Art on the Chattahoochee. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Free. Jones Bridge Park. 4901 East Jones Bridge Road, Peachtree Corners. 678-277-0920. www.peachtreecornersga.gov.

Find your perfect treasure while perusing the vendors at Art on the Chattahoochee this Saturday. This event will include artist booths, demonstrations, a Kid's Craft Corner, contests, food trucks and live music.

Sugar Hill Maker Fest. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Free. Sugar Hill City Hall. 5039 West Broad St., Buford. 770-945-6716. www.sugarhillmakerfest.com.

Discover how you can become a maker yourself at the Sugar Hill Maker Fest, which will showcase creations from hobbyists, science clubs, tech enthusiasts, engineers, crafters, authors, artists and more.

Gwinnett Family Fest. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Free. Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 678-672-2562. www.gwinnettfamilyfest.com.

Don't miss the Gwinnett Family Fest this Saturday, featuring inflatable rides, children's activities, live entertainment, ice cream carts, food vendors and more.

North Fulton

JordanCon. Friday-Sunday, April 20-22. Ticket prices vary. Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia. 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta. 770-395-7700. www.jordancon.org.

Calling all fantasy literature enthusiasts -- JordanCon takes place at Crowne Plaza and will include an art show, auction, special guests, a panel, workshops and enough costuming and gaming to keep you going all year long.

Sandy Springs Lantern Parade is 8 p.m. today. Free. Steel Canyon Golf Club, 460 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs. VisitSandySprings.org/LanternParade. Courtesy of Sandy Springs

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Sandy Springs Lantern Parade. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Free to participate, $25-$35 for the lantern workshop. Steel Canyon Golf Club. 460 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs. 770-206-1447. www.visitsandysprings.org.

The Sandy Springs Lantern Parade is back, so bring your best luminary, or make one at the lantern workshop onsite.

Free Tri-It-Out Circus Day

Credit: Courtesy of Awesome Alpharetta

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Credit: Courtesy of Awesome Alpharetta

Free Tri-It-Out Circus Day. Multiple times available. Saturday, April 21. Free. Akrosphere Aerial & Circus Arts. 390 Winkler Drive, Alpharetta. 678-782-2762. www.akrosphere.com.

If your children have ever wanted to join the circus, now is their chance. Akrosphere Ariel & Circus Arts will feature a free Tri-It-Out day on Saturday to show kids how to perform using aerial silks, the trapeze and the Lyra.

Sandy Springs Artsapalooza. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 21-22. Free. 6100 Lake Forrest Drive NE, Sandy Springs. info@affps.com. www.sandyspringsartsapalooza.com.

Don't miss the Sandy Springs Artsapalpooza, a two-day festival featuring local musicians, hands-on art stations and works from 150 artists.