Atlanta Weekend: Best Bets for Memorial Day 2012

Roswell Remembers is the annual Memorial Day ceremony and festival at Roswell City Hall. This year, it begins at 10 .m. May 28. Photo: Vino Wong

FRIDAY

Stage: The Stage Door Players present the operatic farce “Lend Me A Tenor” through June 10 at the  North DeKalb Cultural Arts Center in Dunwoody.

Stage: Revisit the ’60s and the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in the Broadway hit “Jersey Boys.” It’s at the Fox Theatre through June 10.

Stage: Snellville’s New London Theatre presents John Cariani’s romantic comedy “Almost Maine.” The show runs through May 27.

Stage: Horizon Theatre Company stages the world premiere of  “The Waffle Palace: Smothered, Covered and Scattered 24/7/365,” a new play by  by Larry Larson and Eddie Levi Lee. It runs through July 1.

Stage: “Doubt, A Parable” is the latest production from OnStage Atlanta in Decatur. The show continues through June 2.

Stage: The Atlanta Shakespeare Company takes a break in its chronological run through the Bard’s comedies to take on “Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.” It runs through May 27 at the New American Shakespeare Tavern.

Stage: Center for Puppetry Arts presents a new take on “Peter Pan” adapted and directed by Michael Haverty. It runs through May 27.

History, visual arts: “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” is an updated version of an exhibit that had an earlier run at the         Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center. It features more than 200         artifacts recovered from the wreckage of the ill-fated ocean liner.   See  our preview of the show, which is on view at the Premier Exhibition Center at Atlantic Station.

Festival: Grab a turkey leg and take a trip back in time with the knights and maidens of the Georgia Renaissance Festival. The fest continues through June 3 in Fairburn (just off of I-85 at Exit 61).

SATURDAY

Festival: Visual arts, literary arts, theatrical performances and music are just a few of the many things on offer at the sprawling Decatur Arts Festival. The annual celebration takes place in and around the Old Courthouse Square 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 26 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 27.

Music, festival: The free Atlanta Jazz Festival takes over Piedmont Park every Memorial Day weekend. This year’s edition is headlined by the Robert Glasper Experiment, Roy Ayers and the Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra. Performances begin at 1 p.m. May 26-28.

Festival: Celebrate the art and culture of Native Americans at the American Indian Festival. It’s happening May 26-28 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville.

Festival: Take a trip to the islands without ever leaving the city at the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival. This festival spotlights music with a tropical flavor and the fantastic food of the region. It begins at noon May 26 around Dobbs Plaza on Auburn Avenue.

Family, festival: Memorial Day Weekend at Stone Mountain Park includes a salute to the troops at the Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision at 9:30 p.m. nightly. The fun goes on all day, though, from 10:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. May 26-28. Lasershow is free with $10 vehicle entry, but for a full day of activities, a Gold Family pass for four is $155 in advance.

Festival: Sample wine and beer among the animals at Brew at the Zoo. The event happens 5:30-9:30 p.m. May 26 at Zoo Atlanta and includes live music from Arrested Development.

SUNDAY

Holiday: It may mark the unofficial beginning of the summer, but Memorial Day has a much greater meaning and the Atlanta History Center’s Veterans Remembrance Day is the perfect opportunity to pay tribute. It happens noon-5 p.m. May 27 and is included in the cost of general admission, $11-$16.50.

Holiday, benefit: Salute to Our Heroes is a benefit for Bridging The Gap of Georgia, a program that assists veterans in finding employment and offers other services. The day includes a polo match, an awards ceremony to honor veterans, a dinner, a silent auction, guest speakers and a concert by singer-songwriter Sista Otis. The event begins at 2 p.m. May 27 at Chukkar Farm and Polo Club in Alpharetta.

Festival: Get three things that go great together at the 5th Annual Blues, Brews, and BBQ Festival, which happens 2-11 p.m. May 27 at Park Tavern.

Festival: TAFEX: The African Experience Festival is a day to celebrate African diversity and culture. It takes place at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody 2-7 p.m. May 27.

MONDAY

Holiday: Roswell Remembers keeps the meaning of Memorial Day at the forefront with displays that open to the public around Roswell City Hall at 10 a.m. May 28, followed by pre-ceremony music. The featured speaker is Major General David L. Bockel, Retired. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m., followed by the opening of food tents and a concert on the lawn.

Holiday: The Stockbridge Memorial March is a one-mile march to celebrate our armed forces and remember those that have given their lives for our country. It starts at 9 a.m. May 28 (registration and check-in begins at 8 a.m.) at the Merle Manders Conference Center in Stockbridge.

Festival: The Dacula Memorial Day Arts, Crafts and Music Festival runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m., but the  Memorial Day parade begins at 10 a.m. in Downtown Dacula on 2nd Avenue.

Music: The Memorial Day Jam pays tribute to the troops with a day of classic Southern rock from Wet Willie, the Atlanta Rhythm Section and Tommy Talton. The music starts at 3 p.m. May 28 on the Sandy Springs Heritage Green.

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