Things to do around Atlanta: Jazz, Boo at the Zoo and Zaved Akhtar

Dwan Bosman will perform at The Velvet Note in Alpharetta On Oct. 21. CREDIT: Organic Photography

Dwan Bosman will perform at The Velvet Note in Alpharetta On Oct. 21. CREDIT: Organic Photography

“Boo at the Zoo,” which kicks off this weekend, will provide fun for the whole family at Zoo Atlanta.

There’s also Dwan Bosman at the Velvet Note and Javed Akhtar, a poet, lyricist and screenwriter.

If you want something more educational, check out the interactive exhibit in downtown Atlanta on the global refugee crisis by Doctors Without Borders.

DWAN BOSMAN AT THE VELVET NOTE

Saxophonist Dwan Bosman will perform two shows at the Velvet Note on Oct. 19.

Kick back and enjoy the music of this powerful jazz musician, who has been playing the saxophone since he was 15 and was influenced by his grandfather. His playlist includes tunes from the 1940s to present day.

His ensemble includes OJ Harper on keyboards, Joel Powell on bass and Emrah Kotan on drums.

7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 19. $27. The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Pkwy. Alpharetta. 855-583-5838. thevelvetnote.com.

BOO AT THE ZOO

Join the Atlanta Zoo for a fun-filled Halloween festival, “Boo at the Zoo.”

Sample treats throughout the zoo and enjoy the characters and adventures at Zoo Boo Town.

Visitors are encouraged to wear their costumes.

Animal activities will be listed on the back of a daily map. Activities include carnival games, crafts, a “Monster Mash Disco” a candy thief patrol and a pumpkin carving demonstration.

Treats are available while supplies last. The only Boo at the Zoo-themed activity that requires an additional charge is the train ride, which is $3 per ticket.

9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 27-28. Free for Zoo members and children 2 and under. Otherwise, it's free with general admission, which ranges from $16.99 - $22.99. Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave. S.E. 404-624-9453. zooatlanta.org.

BUFORD MUSIC FESTIVAL

The City of Buford and the Buford Community Center present the annual “Buford Music Festival on the Lawn” featuring LOCASH, Michael Ray with The Cadillac Three and special guest, the Daniel Lee Band.

Outside food and beverage is not permitted. Shuttles will run to and from remote parking lots.

6 p.m. Oct 20. Free. Buford Community Center, 2200 Buford Highway. Buford. 770-945-6762. www.bufordcommunitycenter.com/event/buford-music-festival/.

“FORCED FROM HOME” INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT

Do you wonder what it’s like to be forced to leave your home and travel hundreds or thousands of miles in search of a safe haven?

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières will turn an downtown Atlanta park into an outdoor educational exhibit Oct. 21 -Oct. 28 with the “Forced from Home” interactive exhibit in Atlanta.

The exhibit takes visitors behind the headlines about the global refugee crisis. Guided by Doctors Without Borders aid workers, people will go through a 10,000-square-foot space designed to show the challenges facing tens of millions of refugees and internally displaced people and learn about humanitarian aid provided by the nonprofit. See items gathered from refugee camps, sea rescue missions and emergency medical products from around the world.

Civilians flee clashes between Iraqi forces and Islamic State fighters in western Mosul, Iraq. (Ivor Prickett/The New York Times)

Credit: IVOR PRICKETT

icon to expand image

Credit: IVOR PRICKETT

The tour lasts about an hour. Groups of 10 or more should make reservations.

10 a.m. -6 p.m. on weekends and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4 p.m.- 8 p.m. on weekdays. Oct. 21-Oct. 28. Free. West Plaza Park at the Georgia World Congress Center on Andrew Young International Blvd. N.W. Atlanta. www.doctorswithoutborders.

“MAIN KOI AISA GEET GAOON” A SHOW WITH JAVED AKHTAR

Join Javed Akhtar for a night of poetry, songs and storytelling on Oct. 21 at the Rialto Center for the Arts.

Akhtar takes the audience on an enchanting journey of how some of his works were created with amusing and moving anecdotes.

He will be accompanied by Raman Mahadevan and Jahnvi Shrimankar, well-known singers of Hindi films.

7 p.m. Oct. 21. $39-$164. Rialto Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth Street. 404-413-9849. www.hungamacity.com or rialto.gsu.edu.