5 things to do this weekend: lantern parade, street festival, popsicles, etc.

Andrew Shearer, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read
This photo was taken at a lantern parade that the Lyndon House Art Center hosted in October of 2019. The 2023 Flight of the Fireflies Lantern Parade will take place at Dudley Park on Apr. 1.
This photo was taken at a lantern parade that the Lyndon House Art Center hosted in October of 2019. The 2023 Flight of the Fireflies Lantern Parade will take place at Dudley Park on Apr. 1.

The Classic City almost always offers a plethora of weekend shows, happenings and more for locals to enjoy. Here is our list of some of those events taking place in the Athens area this weekend:

Flight of the Fireflies Lantern Parade

WHERE: Dudley Park (100 Dudley Park Rd.)

WHEN: Saturday, Apr. 1, 8 p.m.

DETAILS: Individuals, families, school, neighborhood groups and organizations are all invited to participate in the inaugural parade. Participants are encouraged to bring DIY (home made) lanterns, but any portable light source powered by battery, solar or other flameless light is welcome. Along the way and at the center of Dudley Park, participants can enjoy live music, fantastical performers and large-scale illuminated puppets. For more information, visit accgov.com/lanternparade.

King of Pops Birthday

WHERE: Bishop Park (705 Sunset Dr.)

WHEN: Saturday, Apr. 1, 8 a.m.

DETAILS: In celebration of King of Pops' 13th birthday and the one year anniversary of its return to Athens under franchise co-owner Brian Joseph and his family, 100 free popsicles will be given out to the first people who come to the Athens Farmers Market. King of Pops will also be sponsoring some of the activities at the Kid's Booth.

King of Pops franchise co-owner Brian Joseph is shown in this photo taken in Athens, Ga., on April 7, 2022. In the past week, Joseph and his wife, Taylor, began selling their popsicles at the Athens Farmers Market and the University of Georgia's Tate Student Center.
King of Pops franchise co-owner Brian Joseph is shown in this photo taken in Athens, Ga., on April 7, 2022. In the past week, Joseph and his wife, Taylor, began selling their popsicles at the Athens Farmers Market and the University of Georgia's Tate Student Center.

UGA International Street Festival

WHERE: College Avenue (Downtown Athens)

WHEN: Saturday, Apr. 1, noon to 5 p.m.

DETAILS: Also known as ISF or Street Fest, this free and family-friendly annual event features exciting cultural displays and performances hosted by various University of Georgia student groups and local organizations with the goal of promoting internationalization and cultural awareness within the Athens community. For additional information, email isl@uga.edu.

Georgia Women of Song

WHERE: The Rialto Room at Hotel Indigo (500 College Ave.)

WHEN: Sunday, Apr. 2, 7 p.m.

DETAILS: More than a half dozen Athens singer-songwriters will reunite for the first Georgia Women of Song concert since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Host and curator Marty Winkler, Solstice Sister Maggie Mason Hunter, Hobohemian Susan Staley, Hope for a Golden Summer’s Claire Campbell, Kate Morrissey and others will perform solo, duets and trios in various genres of American music. For tickets and additional information, visit eventbrite.com/e/georgia-women-of-song-tickets-568050292717.

Athens Middle East Orchestra

WHERE: Athens-Clarke County Library & Heritage Room (2025 Baxter St.)

WHEN: Sunday, Apr. 2, 3-4 p.m.

DETAILS: As part of the "Live at the Library" free concert series sponsored by Friends of the Athens-Clarke County Library, Athens Middle East Orchestra will celebrate the music of the Middle East by performing classical repertoire from Turkish, Arabic and Persian traditions. The group includes some of Athens’ most talented instrumentalists and features vocalist Sevda Arjomand, who will be singing in Turkish, Arabic and Farsi languages.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Five things to do in Athens this weekend (Mar. 31-Apr. 2)