St. Patrick's Day: 16 things to do this weekend in Atlanta

The History Of St. Patrick’s Day

It's all coming up green this weekend, and you'll need a little luck of the Irish not to miss all the amazing (and colorful) events taking place throughout the Metro.

Along with many St. Patrick's Day activities, you'll find family-friendly performances, shows and festivals in every county around Atlanta.

So, get out there and enjoy all the sunshine, but don't forget to wear green or you may get a few pinches along the way. Here's your comprehensive guide to the best things to do this weekend in Atlanta:

Cobb

American Craft Show. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 16 through 18. $12 per person. Cobb Galleria Centre. 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 612-206-3100. www.craftcouncil.org.

Peruse over 230 of the country's best crafters and artisans at the American Craft Show, taking place at the Galleria throughout the weekend.

"The Princess Bride" at the Strand. 8 p.m. Friday, March 16. $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, students and military. Earl Smith Strand Theatre. 117 North Park Square, Marietta. 770-293-0080. www.earlsmithstrand.org.

You just can't miss watching “The Princess Bride” on the big screen. It's playing at The Strand with the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ playing pre-show.

Atlanta Model Train Show

Credit: Courtesy of Golden Spike Enterprises, Inc.

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Credit: Courtesy of Golden Spike Enterprises, Inc.

Model Train Show 2018. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 17 and 18. $10 for adults, free for children ages 12 and under and Scouts in uniform. Cobb Galleria Centre. 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 770-460-8873. www.themodeltrainshow.com.

Calling all train enthusiasts! The 2018 Model Train Show is back with over 260 model train dealer tables, door prizes, train layouts on display and much more.

Smyrna St. Patrick's Day Festival. 11 a.m. Saturday, noon Sunday, March 17 and 18. $8 per person, free for children under 13. Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar Smyrna. 2840 Atlanta Road, Smyrna. 770-435-1887. www.smyrnastpatricksdayfest.com.

Get your green on at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Smyrna this weekend. You'll enjoy live music, entertainment, dancing and lots of fun.

DeKalb

Wounded Warrior Project: Soldier Ride. 7:30 a.m. to noon, Friday, March 16. Stone Mountain Park. 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. 904-296-7350. www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Support wounded soldiers by attending the Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride taking place at Stone Mountain Park this Friday.

Fernbank Forest Bird Walk. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 17. Fernbank Museum of Natural History. 767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta. 404-929-6400. www.fernbankmuseum.org.

Discover the permanent and temporary inhabitants of Fernbank Forest with an Atlanta Audubon Society Volunteer this Saturday.

St. Paddy's Block Party Brookhaven. 10 a.m. Saturday, March 17. $15 per person. Town Brookhaven. 4330 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. 404-847-1809. www.townbrookhaven.net.

Town Brookhaven comes alive on Saturday for a St. Patrick's Day Block Party like no other. Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub hosts the event, with live music, drinks specials and more.

Rescue Dog Olympics. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 17. Free. Brook Run Park. 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. 770-312-9722. www.rescuedogolympics.com.

Help support Atlanta-area pet rescues and animal organizations by attending the Rescue Dog Olympics. Guests will experience a costume contest, demonstrations, competitions, a green beer garden, dog training sessions, vendors, game stations and food.

Gwinnett

Catie Foley, 15, of Alpharetta ties up her ponytail beside some of the trophies that teacher Karl Drake has won over the years at the Drake School of Irish Dance in Norcross. The group has traveled to Belfast for competitions.

Credit: Jason Getz / AJC

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Credit: Jason Getz / AJC

Norcross Irish Fest. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 17. Free. Historic Downtown Norcross. 189 Lawrenceville St. NW, Norcross. 770-448-2122. www.aplacetoimagine.com.

Join the City of Norcross for an Irish celebration that can't be beat this Saturday. This year's event will include live music, dancing, demonstrations, kid's activities and face painting.

Scout Appreciation Days at Medieval Times. 10:45 a.m. Saturday, March 17. $29.95 per person, reservations required. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway #517, Lawrenceville. 770-225-0495. www.medievaltimes.com.

It's Scout Appreciation Day at Medieval Times this Saturday, featuring special workshops, activities to earn badges, an exclusive scout show and a free Medieval Times participation patch.

St. Paddy's on Perry. 2 p.m. Saturday, March 17. City of Lawrenceville. 70 South Clayton St., Lawrenceville. 770-963-2414. www.lawrencevillega.org.

Perry St. will fill with shamrocks and leprechauns on Saturday during the St. Paddy's on Perry event, including traditional Irish foods, live music, family-friendly activities and shopping.

Swan Lake. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17 and 18. Ticket prices vary. Infinite Energy Center. 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. www.infiniteenergycenter.com.

Don't miss the Northeast Atlanta Ballet performing Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake this weekend, which will feature exquisite scenery and breathtaking dancing to bring this classic story to life.

North Fulton

Shave your head to help children with cancer this weekend in DeKalb.

Credit: Courtesy of St. Baldrick's Foundation

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Credit: Courtesy of St. Baldrick's Foundation

St. Baldrick's Head Shaving. 5 p.m. Friday, March 16. Donations welcomed. Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub. 12650 Crabapple Road, Alpharetta. 678-624-1090. www.stbaldricks.org.

If you're willing to shave your head for a good cause (or just want to watch the fun), come on out to Olde Blind Irish Pub this Friday and help support pediatric cancer research.

Luck of Avalon. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, March 16. Free. Avalon. 2200 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta. 770-765-1000. www.experienceavalon.com.

Avalon will fill with excitement as the Luck of Avalon event unfolds this Friday. This year's event will include a performance by North Georgia Pipes and Drums, live music, dancing, Irish food, drink and miles and miles of green.

Return To Old Ireland. 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 16. $18 to $25 per person. Roswell United Methodist Church. 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell. 770-594-7974. www.mosingers.com.

The Michael O'Neal Singers join dancers from the Burke Connolly Academy of Irish Dance for a St. Patrick's Day performance like no other. It all takes place at Roswell United Methodit Church and includes favorites like "Wearing of the Green," and, "Down By the Salley Gardens."

Basics of Macro Nature Photography. Noon, Saturday, March 17. $35 for members, $60 for non-members, ages 16 and up. Chattahoochee Nature Center. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992-2055. www.chattnaturecenter.org.

Find out how to take amazing macro nature photography at this one-day workshop that will teach you the techniques and tricks you need for success.