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Summer is here with Athens festivals, outdoor concerts, and more fun in the Sun

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Summer is here with Athens festivals, outdoor concerts, and more fun in the Sun

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School is out and so is the sun, which means summer is here. This will be a peak time for outdoor entertainment, which the Athens area will have plenty of from festivals and farmers markets to outdoor concerts. There will also be multiple holidays bringing even more festivities including the 4th of July and Juneteenth.

But the summer in Georgia is bound to get pretty hot, which is why there is also all kinds of indoor entertainment including a wrestling match, free or discounted movie nights, and a range of shows.

Here are more details on these and other things-to-do this summer:

Festivals, outdoor concerts

The annual Hot Corner Celebration returns 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 10 on the corner of Washington and Hull streets. There will be a BBQ cook-off, a car and bike show, various vendors, and other block-party fun.

Crawfish Fest is 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 15 at Saucehouse Barbeque at 830 West Broad St. Thousands of crawfish will be sold by the pound and enjoyed on-site for those who buy an all-you-can-eat ticket. There will also be live music, a water slide for kids, dunking booth, egg toss, raffles, face painting, a beer garden and cool-down zone. For more info, go to saucehouse.com/crawfishfest.

AthFest Music and Arts Festival is June 21-23 in the middle of downtown Athens. There will be three outdoor stages with a range of live performances, a block-long KidsFest area, and a block-long artist market with dozens of visual artists and artisans. The proceeds will go to AthFest Educates, a nonprofit looking to sustain and advance music and arts education for children in the area. For more info, go to athfesteducates.org.

Summer Blues and BBQ Fest is 8:30-11:30 p.m. June 29 at VFW Post 2872 at 835 Sunset Dr. Advance tickets are available for about $25 at eventbrite.com.

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Shop at a market

Athens Farmers Market is every Saturday 8 a.m. to noon at Bishop Park at 705 Sunset Dr. There will be more than dozens of vendors selling art, produce, pastries, and other locally-made goods. MOAS Pets will be on site with puppies and kittens available for adoption as well as donation bins. During the June 8 market, there will also be an open acoustic jam session at 10 a.m.

West Broad Farmers Market is every Saturday at 11 a.m. at Rocksprings Park at 135 Columbus Ave. More info is available at athenslandtrust.org.

Low on funds? The “Really, Really Free Market” is every second Saturday of the month, noon-1:30 p.m. at Reese Pope Park at 375 Reese St. All items are free to take home, and guests are encouraged to bring their own items to contribute to the market.

Abnormal Bazaar is every third Saturday of the month, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Indie South at 470 Hawthorne Ave. There will be vendors selling soaps, jewelry, vintage items, vinyl records, and more.

Small Town Saturday is every fourth Saturday 2-8 p.m. at Athentic Brewing Co. at 108 Park Ave. There will be local artisans selling their goods plus food from BasKat Catering.

Catch a show

“Eternity” by Powell Performing Arts is 7-9 p.m. June 7 at Morton Theatre at 195 West Washington St. Music, dance, and theater will be combined to exhibit the love of God. General admission is $15 and it’s free for ages two-years-old and younger. For more info, go to mortontheatre.com.

“Abbey Road Live,” a Beatles tribute, is June 8 at Southern Brewing Company at 231 Collins Industrial Blvd. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at about $15 and are available on eventbrite.com.

Classic City Wrestling with musical guest “The Blips” is July 20 at 285 West Washington St. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the first bell rings at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $15 and are available at eventbrite.com. Those under 18-years-old must be accompanied by an adult.

Athens Showgirl Cabaret continues to host Fabulous Fridays, a weekly drag show, every Friday 7:30-10 p.m. at Hendershot’s at 237 Prince Ave. There will be several performers including a live DJ. The show is restricted to ages 18 and older. There’s a $5 cover. For more info, go to athensshowgirlcabaret.com.

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Trivia nights

General Trivia at Athentic Brewing Co. is every Monday 7-9:30 p.m. Food truck delicacies are available and participants can win bar tabs, merchandise, and free pours.

Bad Dog Trivia Nights are every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Amici Italian Cafe at 233 East Clayton St. Top three teams win prizes with free beer pitchers to winning teams between rounds.

Rook and Pawn Trivia Nights are every Wednesday 6-8 p.m. at the cafe at 294 W. Washington.

Summer kids movies

B&B Theatres’ Summer Kids Series will be at Athens 12 at 1570 Lexington Rd. Every Tuesday-Thursday, there will be a different family-friendly movie screened with general admission being $5 and “Backstage Pass Members” getting in for $3. This month’s schedule is as follows:

  • June 11-13: “Minions: The Rise of Gru”
  • June 18-20: “Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse”
  • June 25-27: “Migration”

Georgia Theatre Company’s Summer Kids Show Series is coming to University 16 Cinemas at 1793 Oconee Connector. Every Tuesday and Thursday, a family-friendly movie will be screened at 10 a.m. with $2 tickets as well as drinks, M&M’s, and popcorn for $2 each. The schedule for the next month is as follows:

  • June 4 and 6: “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie”
  • June 11 and 13: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”
  • June 18 and 20: “Trolls Band Tour”
  • June 25 and 27: “Minions: The Rise of Gru”

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More indoor activities

Unplug with a No Phone Party every Tuesday 6-9 p.m. at Hendershot’s at 237 Prince Ave. Eat tacos and put your phone away to enjoy some board games and vinyl music. Admission is free.

Hendershots also hosts SaBaCha Dance Social every second Thursday of the month. There is a beginner’s salsa lesson at 7:30 p.m. followed by dancing the night away to salsa, bachata, merengue, and more. It’s reserved for ages 18 and older to attend with drinks available for those 21 and up. You can buy tickets at the door or online at eventbrite.com.

Pups and Pints is every third Sunday 3-6 p.m. at Athentic Brewing at 108 Park Ave. Meet some furry friends and learn more about Athens-Clarke County Animal Services while shopping from dog-friendly vendors. Those who adopt a dog will get a free beer.

For a different kind of night of dancing, Boots and Brews Line Dancing is every fourth Thursday of the month 7-8:30 p.m. at Athentic Brewing Company.

1980s Night is July 26 at the Foundry at 295 East Dougherty St. There will be live music and a costume contest. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event will start at 8 p.m. Advance tickets start at about $14 and are available at eventbrite.com.

Holiday happenings

June 15 is Mud Day at Sandy Creek Nature Center 2-4 p.m. at 205 Old Commerce Rd. Make mud pies, play mud tag, and afterwards clean up at the on-site wash station. Admission is free.

Athens Juneteenth Celebration by the Athens Anti-Discrimination League is 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 15 at College Square along College Avenue. There will be live music, guest speakers, an educational art exhibit, and a fashion show. It will be followed by the Miss Juneteenth Pageant is 5 p.m. June 15 at Morton Theatre. Admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets are available at mortontheatre.com.

Star Spangled Classic is June 29 at Southeast Clarke Park at 4440 Lexington Rd. Parking opens at 5:30 p.m. Activities like carnival rides, inflatables, and a food truck will be available at 6 p.m. Live music will run 7-8:30 p.m. Fireworks will be launched at about 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.

July 13 is Star Wars Day at the Athens-Clarke County Library 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2025 Baxter St. There will be a meet-and-greet with Star Wars characters, thematic crafts, and other activities. All ages are welcome.

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