It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Westmar’s Weekend Picks

For Atlanta natives, visitors, and transplant residents, this is quite possibly the best time of the year. The proverbial “festival season” is well underway.  The Hawks have home court in the playoffs, the Braves are about to open up a four game home stand, and the weather is picture perfect. There is literally a smorgasbord of things to do in the city right now; so much in fact that it is nearly impossible to make the rounds and attend all the events. We have decided to provide you with our top picks of the weekend, to help you make your decisions. If you are only able to make it to one of these events, or are able to get a healthy sampling of them all, you are certain to have a great weekend.

#1 Atlanta Hawks Playoffs (Game 1 Sunday 7pm)

The Celtics are coming to town to square off against our beloved Hawks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. If anyone remembers the playoff battles we have shared in the past, this series should definitely be pleasing to both casual fans and die hard basketball enthusiasts alike.  Tickets are still available, so if you have the time I would definitely suggest making a trip down to the Highlight Factory for Game 1 on Sunday. Tip Off is set for Sunday at 7pm.

#2 Inman Park Festival (April 28- 29)

This marks the 41^st rendition of Atlanta’s Inman Park Festival, and as usual it will feature tons of food, tons of music, and of course the Inman Park Festival Parade that is set to begin at 2:00pm on Saturday.  Festival events begin each day at 11:00am and keep on going until about 8:30pm, giving you plenty of time to enjoy yourself at the festival before heading out for the night. If you are able to head over to the festival, you should make a point to check out the parade and the musical styling’s of Ike Stubblefied & Friends Saturday afternoon at the Delta Park tent. Ike’s set will begin at 5:30pm, so there will be plenty of opportunities to mingle with fellow festival goers, grab something to eat, and peruse the Street Market for all sorts of cool odds and ends you can purchase. If money is a little tight, there is no need to worry, as always the Inman Park Festival is FREE!

3# Lebowski Fest (April 27-28)

This is bar far one of the coolest festivals to hit the scene in recent years. As one might guess, Lebowski Fest is based on the cult classic film released in 1998 and will feature all things Lebowski. This festival that originated in Louisville in 2002 has made its way to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Austin, Seattle, London, Edinburgh, and finally to the Peach State. The event kicks off tonight at the Masquerade featuring a little live music and of course a screening of the film. The real fun starts on Saturday, as 300 Atlanta will feature trivia, costume contests and of course unlimited bowling. If you have yet to see The Big Lebowski, I recommend seeing the film before you head out to the event. Otherwise, the epic pageantry and grandeur that will smack you in the face the second you put on your bowling shoes will be lost on you.

4# Atlanta Braves Home Stand (April 27-April 30)

There really isn’t much to say here. It’s the Braves…head down to the Ted and show your support. Braves games can often be one of the best ways to go out with a large group of friends before going out for the night. You may be up in the cheap seats, but you will still be able to get a good view of all the action on the field with all of your buddies.

5# Georgia Renaissance Festival (April 14-June 3)

As Georgia festivals go, this one is a little bit pricey ($20 bucks at the gate, $18 in advance), but is perennially one of the most popular. Whether you are into jousting, hypnotists, acrobats, or eating giant turkey legs, there is definitely a ton of medieval fun to be had. History buffs should check out the 16^th Century Weapons of War demonstration that is conducted before each jousting session or the Conversation with Leonardo Di Vinci exhibit.

#6 Sterling on the Lake: Arts Fest 2012 (April 28) 

If you are into the arts, an artist yourself or most importantly have a full tank of gas, you should definitely make the trek up to Flowery Branch this weekend. If you enjoy photography, sketching, or  painting, you can not only get your creative juices flowing through viewing the work of local artists, but you can also learn a few new techniques in the many demonstrations the festival will offer.

I personally plan on attending game 1 of the playoffs, and will make that my sole focus for this weekend. However, if I were to plan the perfect Atlanta weekend it would go a little something like this...

Friday:

After Classes 4:00pm-6:00pm: A solid two hours of decompressing by the pool. I would look at my text books and think about getting a little studying in for my upcoming final exams, but that would get in the way of me attending the Braves game tonight. The Braves will win 10-7 in a nail biter, and I would go back home feeling the sense of pride that only comes from an Atlanta sports team win.

Saturday:

Saturday would begin slow, but end with a bang! After sleeping in till about noon, I would have the perfect amount of time to shower and throw on some clothes to make it down to the Inman Park Festival, arriving with ample time to see the parade and make new friends as I bounce around from tent to tent.  Around 5:00pm, I would start making moves to head on over to Lebowski Fest for a little bowling, a little more people-watching, and a whole heap of good times.

Sunday:

Sunday would be a very big day, so little to nothing will be accomplished or attempted as I anxiously await heading to Phillips Arena to watch my Hawks trounce the Boston Celtics. The key to being a Hawks fan is emotional preparation, which requires an ample amount of mediation and relaxation before game time. During this crucial period of your day, you must find a mentality and temperament that allows you to be optimistic and pumped up enough to root your team on to victory, but realistic enough that you don’t end up crying in the corner or destroying some of your personal property after a tough loss. Personally, I have experienced all three of these reactions due to my immense passion for the Hawks, but that is another story for another time.