Perennial Properties Blog

No Labor Day weekend plans? Think again with these fun events in Atlanta…

Here's a quick round-up of the best, most fun things going on this Labor Day weekend in Atlanta:

• Dragon*Con. One of the weirdest and most beloved of Atlanta institutions, the world's biggest science fiction, fantasy, and general pop culture convention returns for its 25th year to the downtown Atlanta triumvirate of hotels. Running Sept. 2-5. Day passes are $30-$50; multi-day passes $60-$120. If you have never been to Con (what convention regulars call it), it's a must-see if you have any interest in gaming, comics, literature, art, music, television, or film. If you just want to see the crazy costumes and floats, the Dragon*Con Parade is free and starts at 10 AM on Saturday morning.
• Decatur Book Festival. Running Sept. 2-4 in downtown Decatur, the 2011 AJC Decatur Book Festival gives you the opportunity to meet authors; plus there will be activities for kids, live music, and live cooking demos. Friday night will offer a keynote address from Decemberists frontman and children’s author Colin Meloy and his wife and illustrator Carson Ellis.
• The Black Gay Pride Festival. This weekend marks Atlanta's 15th annual celebration of Black Gay Pride. Events will take place all weekend at the Melia Hotel on West Peachtree Street, continuing through Labor Day itself.
• Football. This Saturday the Georgia Dome will see UGA go head to head with Boise State. Even if you don't like football, hang around downtown to see the inevitable weirdness that happens when a bunch of Georgia fans run into a bunch of people in costume for Dragon*Con...hilarity ensues!
• Drive Invasion. Head down Moreland to the Starlight Six Drive-In on Sunday for the world famous Drive Invasion, a festival of films, bands, cars, and trashy fun. It's $28 day of, but for that price you get four drive-in movies, and dozens of Atlanta's finest live music rocking your weekend.

Then, once Monday comes around and you've had your fun, why not relax by a pool, perhaps do some grilling, and enjoy the last few days of summer. Not that we have any ideas...