1. Search for Bigfoot. Beginning at dark on Nov. 5 and 12 in Gwinnett County’s Dacula community, hop on a hayride hunt for the legendary sasquatch, Bigfoot! Tickets are $5 and participants are invited to enjoy festive food and games before taking off in an open trailer hayride. Use your own discretion when considering how easily your children get scared — however, most kids love to return year after year for the search. Event proceeds support Operation Homefront, and more information can be found on Facebook when you search “Howls in Harbins.”
2.Celebrate the Holidays. Check out downtown Roswell and Alpharetta during the holidays for special seasonal events brought to you by the attractions, businesses and churches along Highway 9. The “Holidays along the Divine 9” promotional campaign invites North Fulton residents and visitors to experience all that the Divine 9 area has to offer, and what better time than the holidays to experience these events, activities, tours, shops and restaurants? For more information, please contact the Alpharetta or the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau. www.awesomealpharetta.com; www.visitroswellga.com. (photo courtesy of istockphoto.com)
3. Shop for Sandy Springs Charity. The Sandy Springs Society invites you to attend their first ever Elegant Elf Marketplace. Featuring unique and upscale gifts from more than 43 vendors selling artisan jewelry, fine art and personalized gifts, the marketplace fundraiser is your one-stop shopping event for the holidays. The event will be held at Hitson Activity Center in Sandy Springs on Nov. 11 and 12 and proceeds benefit Sandy Springs-based charities. For more information, please visit www.sandyspringssociety.org. (photo courtesy of Sheldon Staples)
4. Judge a Food & Wine Battle. Bring your appetite and competitive instincts to The Café at The Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead as Chef Todd Richards and Sommelier Linda Torres Alarcon present a spectacular food and wine competition. Choose to challenge the chef to present dishes appropriate for the sommelier’s selected wines, or the other way around. This light-hearted competition will be available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Thanksgiving for $89 per person. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot by calling 404-240-7035 and request the Food and Wine Championship Bout. (photo courtesy of Raftermen Photography)
5.Indulge your Inner Bookworm. More than 40 acclaimed authors will be present at the 20th Edition of the Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), one of the most highly regarded literary events in the South. Engage in speaker programs, author meet-and-greets and book signings among featured authors, including one of America’s favorite media personalities, Regis Philbin. Visit the festival from Nov. 5 – 20, and purchase tickets online at www.atlantajcc.org or by calling 678-812-4005.