Be thee a Bulldog fan or not, Athens, Georgia is one of those places you naturally gravitate to if you like life unleashed. Home of the University of Georgia Bulldogs, the smallish Georgia city lives large when it comes to culture and entertainment.
The weekend of April 8 through 10 is pretty representative. Consider:
Checking out the UGA International Street Festival: The university defines this southern city, and its students define the university. They come from the world over to northeast Georgia. The festival showcases cultural displays, traditional costumes, dances and international bands (remember, Athens is home to R.E.M.). Immerse yourself in what’s happening downtown and in College Square. Pick up a “passport” before exploring. Collect stamps from each country represented in the festival and get a ticket for a prize drawing. Don’t ditch the kids for this one. They get to create their own flags, craft African necklaces, and color paper dolls representing people from places across the planet. Some 5,000 people show up for the UGA International Street Festival each year. Admission is free.
Savoring the music scene: Friday, April 8 is typical of the kind of acts that regularly play this mecca of southern music. Clarence Greenwood and Citizen Cope meld soul and pop at the 40 Watt Club. Meanwhile, over at Caledonia Lounge the Atlanta band Balkans blasts the doors down with a sound suffused with garage band bravado. Delve deep into the sound of Green
Gerry and the Gelly Phish.
Taking in the theater: In search of tamer more subtle stuff? Athens Creative Theater presents The Dixie Swim Club on Friday, April 8. It’s the story of southern women who met while they were members of a swim team. Once every August they get together to renew their friendships and meddle in one another’s lives.
Saturday Town and Gown Players roll out Little Shop of Horrors, a perennial favorite. You’ll never look at plants the same way again – not even friend green tomatoes, a local delicacy.
Soaking up some suds – in moderation: Think they can’t brew beer in Dixie. Think again, and then toast the Bulldogs with a pint of craft brew from Terrapin Brewery. Saturday, April 9, you can get up close and personal with the hops and barley from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. That’s tasting time. As with most everything in this town it’s served up with live music.
Exploring the Lyndon House Arts Center juried exhibition: 601 works of art entered by 233 artists were culled down to 160 pieces. That’s what you’ll see at this free exhibition. The works are both visual and tactile: sculpture, jewelry and paintings as well as drawings prints and such are arrayed in a quartet of galleries.
There are a number of good hotel deals to be had. Holiday Inn Express is a scant two blocks from the University of Georgia Campus. An advance-purchase standard room goes for $89. Comfort Inn & Suites Spring Time Special rooms start at $72. This property is located in the Georgia Square Mall area.
Search and compare: cheap flights to Athens
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image credit: kschlot1)
