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Beach Party
Friday, June 20 • 5 p.m.-midnight
Decatur brings in 60 tons of sand and turns the square into a beach for this annual event. Live music, boardwalk games, beach movie and more!
Tickets: Adults $10; Purchase in advance for $6.50 each. Children 12 and under free (limit two per paying adult).
No coolers, glass or pets allowed in the Beach Party area.
Sponsored by the Decatur Business Association. Proceeds benefit downtown improvement projects and DBA events.
Pied Piper Parade, Concert & Fireworks
Friday, July 4
Decorate your bicycle, skateboard, or wagon and join the Pied Piper Parade as it winds through downtown Decatur. Concert on the square features the Callanwolde Concert Band. Parade 6 p.m.; Concert 7 p.m.; fireworks at dark*. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association. Free.
*Fireworks rain date Sunday, Sept. 2
>Click for more information
>July 4th Pied Piper Parade Guidelines (PDF)
 BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival
Saturday, Aug. 16 • 2-11 p.m.
Harmony Park in Oakhurst
Live music, including barbecue, vegetarian food, and a special children's area. Adults $5, children under 10 free. No coolers allowed in festival area.
www.decaturbbqfestival.com
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AJC Decatur Book Festival
Friday-Sunday, Aug. 29-31
Activities include authors readings, lectures, book signings, discussion panels, a writers conference, poetry slam, book sales, cooking demonstrations, and activities for children, including a parade.
www.decaturbookfestival.com
Concerts on the Square
Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27 • 7-9:30 p.m.
Spread out a blanket and enjoy an evening of musical entertainment Saturday nights in September, featuring a variety of bands. Sponsored by Wachovia Bank of Georgia. Free.
Blue Sky Concerts
Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 • noon-1 p.m.
Community Bandstand
Enjoy a mid-week lunchtime music break every Wednesday in September. Bring your lunch or purchase a special to-go lunch from a nearby restaurant. Sponsored by SunTrust Bank. Free.
Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite
Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25 • 7-9 p.m.
Scottish Rite Hospital Lawn
Thursday night jazz under the stars in Oakhurst. Free.
>oakhurstjazznights.com
 Decatur Garden Tour
Sept. 27-28
See what's growing in Decatur's public and private gardens, including the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, Woodlands Garden, Ryan Gainey’s personal garden, the 54-acre Decatur Cemetery, and Scott Garden. Each public garden will feature programs for adults and children during the tour.
>www.decaturgardentour.com
Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival
Saturday, Oct. 11 • 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Harmony Park
Artists market with more than 75 artists, children's arts activities, literary arts, and musical performances throughout the day. Free. Sponsored by South Decatur Community Development Corporation and Decatur Arts Alliance.
>oakhurstartsandmusicfestival.com
Great Decatur Beer Tasting Festival
Oct. 18
On the square
Taste hundreds of the finest local and international beers. Live music, food. Admission includes special tasting glass. Proceeds benefit community projects. Limited to 4,000 people. No one under 21 and no animals allowed inside festival area. No exceptions. No coolers, please!
>Grant Application 2008
>Logo contest entry form
Wine Tasting Festival
Nov. 1 • 1-4 p.m.
On the square
Taste more than a hundred wines from around the world. Live music. Admission $30, includes a commemorative wine glass. Limited to 1,500 people . No one under 21 and no animals allowed. Sponsored by the Decatur Arts Alliance.
www.decaturartsalliance.org
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 A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur
October-December 2008
Decatur Service Project
A program providing holiday gifts for Decatur's low-income children and senior citizens through the help of individuals, families, neighborhood associations, civic groups, places of worship, and businesses.
>Click for more information.
Terrific Thursdays
Nov. 6, 13, 20 and Dec. 4, 11, 18
Participating shops and restaurants stay open late and offer discounts, special holiday open houses and receptions. Park in one place and walk to most destinations. In December, Santa joins the fun and a shuttle provides transportation. Free.
Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6 • 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Tour beautiful Decatur homes and points of interest. This year the tour features homes from the MAK Historic District and homes in the Oakhurst community. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Proceeds benefit the Decatur Youth Fund and Decatur Preservation Alliance.
>www.decaturtourofhomes.com
Decorate Decatur Contest
Sunday, Dec. 14
Join in the communitywide decorating contest – turn on your holiday lights, light your luminaries, and be a part of the celebration. Judges ride through Decatur and pick 10 favorite homes, a business, a neighborhood, and an overall winner who receives the Commissioners Cup from the City Commission. Call 404-371-8386 and leave the address of your favorite holiday house. Judges will ride by all the addresses on the list plus as many other streets as possible.
Attention Neighborhoods: If you would like a load of sand to use for luminaries for your neighborhood for Decorate Decatur, call 404-371-9583. You must have a space large enough to accommodate a load of sand and the truck delivering it.
>Click for a list and photos of the 2007 winners
Holiday Bonfire and Marshmallow Roast
Thursday, Dec. 18 • 7-8 p.m.
On the square
We end our Terrific Thursdays with the annual Bonfire/Marshmallow Roast. Gather around the giant bonfire and roast marshmallows. Free. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association.
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, Dec. 20 • 8-10 a.m.
Holiday Inn Select Decatur Conference Center
130 Clairemont Ave.
Join Santa for breakfast after he arrives on a Decatur fire truck. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association.
S P R I N G 2 0 0 8
Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 15
Bring your basket and hunt for candy eggs on the square. Easter Bunny arrives at 10:30 a.m. and the hunt begins promptly at 11. Ages 0-5th grade. Free. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association.
ING Marathon
Sunday, March 30
Join the Decatur cheering section for the ING Georgia Marathon runners as they race through our streets.
>Click for more information and 2007 photo highlights
Earth Day in Oakhurst
April 19 • 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day in Harmony Park and the Oakhurst Community Garden. Free.
Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite
April 3, 10, 17, 24 • 7-9 p.m.
Scottish Rite Hospital Lawn
Thursday night jazz under the stars in Oakhurst. Free. For information visit www.oakhurstjazznights.com.
Concerts on the Square
Community bandstand • 7-9:30 p.m.
May 3
High Cotton, Eclectic Americana
Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur
May 10
Jackson County Line, Country
Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur
May 17
Ralph Roddenbery, Rock
Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur
May 24
Baatin & Top Secret, Rock, soul, blues
Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, Tangela Barrie
May 31
Lindsay Rakers Band, Indie Rock
Sponsor: Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur and Tangela Barrie
Every Saturday night in May. Pack your picnic, bring your quilts and blankets and enjoy an evening of musical entertainment. Sponsored by the Decatur Business Association and Wachovia Bank of Georgia.
Community bandstand • noon-1 p.m.
May 7
Mike Killeen, Singer/songwriter
Sponsor: Little Shop of Stories, Junior League, Sharian
May 14
Amy Loftus, Country
Sponsor: Tangela Barrie, Sharian, Junior League
May 21
Julie Austin, Children's songwriter
Sponsor: TBA
May 28
Redaction, Indie/pop
Sponsor: Decatur Paper
Enjoy a mid-week lunchtime music break. Bring your lunch or purchase a special to-go lunch from a nearby restaurant and enjoy a free concert on the square every Wednesday in May. Sponsored by SunTrust Bank.
Decatur Arts Festival 2008
Memorial Day Weekend • May 24-25
Decatur's biggest arts event kicks off with the unveiling of the official arts festival poster and culminates with the main events on Memorial Day Weekend.
Poster Unveiling • May 1 • 5-7 p.m. Be one of the first to see the special Arts Festival poster. Artist will be on hand to sign copies.
Decatur Civic Chorus Concert • May 18 • 3 p.m. The Decatur Civic Chorus opens the festival week with a fabulous concert. First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave.
Fine Arts Exhibition Opening Reception • May 20 • 5-7 p.m. Dalton Gallery at Agnes Scott College. Fine Arts Exhibition features a juried show with a diversity of fine art. Free.
ArtWalk • May 23 • 5-10 p.m. Over 28 participating galleries & shops feature special art and artists and receptions in each location.
Memorial Weekend Events • May 24-25
Artists Market • More than 120 artists on the square
Children’s Arts Festival • Scott Park
Performing Arts Stage • Community Bandstand
Doors of Decatur • displayed on the square; auction
Literary Arts Festival • Decatur Library, Old Courthouse and Literary Arts Tent
New Dance • Beacon Hill Studios
For information about these and other events in Decatur call 404-371-9583 or email info@decaturga.com.
Take MARTA!
For ease and convenience, take MARTA to the Decatur station. For route and schedule information, call 404-848-4711 or visit MARTA's website, www.itsmarta.com.
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Decatur Special Events Overview
Decatur runs a year-round calendar of special events, thanks to volunteers, sponsors, and organizations such as the Decatur Business Association, Great Decatur Beer Tasting Festival Committee, Tour of Homes Committee, Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival Committee, and many, many more.
Because of the financial commitment of local businesses, most of these events are free to the community. The few events that charge a fee donate their proceeds to benefit Decatur community projects and organizations such as the Decatur Youth Fund and other Decatur-based nonprofit organizations. Decatur's special events coordinator Cheryl Burnette and Volunteer Decatur coordinator Lee Ann Harvey work behind the scenes with these groups on logistics and securing volunteers.
If you are interested in serving on an event committee or volunteering with events and/or organizations that need volunteers, call Cheryl Burnette at 404-371-9583, Lee Ann Harvey, 678-553-6548, or send an email.
The Decatur City Commission presented a special 2007 Hometown Hero award to the organizers of the AJC Decatur Book Festival. Accepting the award on behalf of the Book Festival committee and hundreds of volunteers were Daren Wang, executive director; Tom Bell, program director; Alice Murray, board president; Bill Starr, board vice president; Judy Turner, treasurer; Richard Lenz, secretary; and Linda Harris, assistant director of Community and Economic Development. They are pictured with members of the Decatur City Commission.
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