OUTDOOR SUMMER FUN

BY ALLISON WEISS ENTREKIN

Endless Summer

Joey Sommerville at
Wednesday WindDown
in Centennial Olympic ParkHead outdoors this season, where the atmosphere sizzles with life.

As any Atlanta resident will tell you, summertime is when the city heats up. From outdoor movie screenings to man-made beaches, the city sure knows how to soak up the sun. Whether you’re a music fan, an outdoorsy type or someone who simply appreciates a good party, you’re going to love what Atlanta’s cooking up this season.

Feel the Beat What’s better than watching your favorite musicians perform live? Watching them perform live under the stars, of course. Atlanta has no shortage of outdoor concert venues, from amphitheaters nestled in otherwise-quiet neighborhoods to stages set in the center of town.

Summer Shade
FestivalChastain Park Amphitheater (www.classicchastain.com) lures musical heavyweights like Melissa Etheridge (June 20) and Emmylou Harris (June 27). Tucked inside a picturesque Buckhead neighborhood, it off ers roomy seating and a flexible policy that allows patrons to bring their own picnic baskets and enjoy a leisurely dinner during many of the concerts. (Some events don’t allow outside food, so check before you go.) As the sun sets over the stage, you’ll wonder how you’ll ever enjoy an indoor concert again.

Thirty minutes north of Chastain lies a brand-new venue, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (www.vzwamp.com) at Alpharetta’s Encore Park. This 12,000-seat facility is already drawing major acts, from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (July 9) to Rod Stewart (Aug. 27). It also hosts a number of classical concerts featuring the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, most of which are conducted by music director Robert Spano.

If jazz is more your tune, you’ll love thefift h annual Summer Jazz Series at Villa Christina (www.villachristina.com), just 14 miles north of Downtown. It boasts free-admission jazz concerts set in the villa’s gardens, where the sounds of waterfalls and streams mingle with the saxes and trumpets. Cool beverages and chef-prepared snacks are available, and snoozing on a blanket is considered acceptable behavior.

But don’t think you have to wait for the weekend to enjoy live jazz. At the Wednesday WindDown concert series at Centennial Olympic Park (www.centennialpark.com), trade rush-hour traffic for mellow tunes.

Lasershow SpectacularCatch a Flick
Why settle for delivery pizza and TV in the hotel when you can enjoy a gourmet picnic spread and watch your favorite movies on an outdoor screen? Atlanta knows how to elevate movie-watching to a whole new level, and thousands of families take advantage of this expertise every summer.

This month, Peachtree TV’s Screen on the Green (www.. peachtreetv.com) features cinematic classics like E.T. and Chicago every Thursday in Centennial Olympic Park. Picnic baskets and blankets are welcome, and the setting is so cozy, you’ll forget you’re in the heart of Downtown.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta’s northern suburbs, Georgia Movies in the Park (www.gamoviesinthepark.com) off ers a series of free, family-friendly movie festivals at parks throughout the area. Kids release their energy during pre-movie activities like face-painting, a clown circus and jumping in a moonwalk, then settle down with their parents to watch blockbusters like Bee Movie and Spiderman 3. Teens will love the video-game competition, which lets contestants battle on the big screen.

Decatur Beach FestivalFestival Fever
Atlanta’sneighborhood festivals are no small affairs, and some of the biggest ones take place in the summer. Experience the granddaddy of them all June 6-8: the Virginia-Highland Summerfest (www.vahi.org/summerfest.html). Now in its 25th year, this festival celebrates the neighborhood and boasts a huge juried artist market, a popular 5K race, and performances by Shawn Mullins and Sister Hazel. Children will love having their very own Kidsfest area, where they can laugh at clowns, play with balloon animals, and sing along to gregarious musicians.

On June 20, the artsy Decatur neighborhood reinvents itself as a Caribbean island for the Decatur Beach Festival (www.decaturga.com). Set amid 60 tons of sand, this event boasts live music and a game-filled boardwalk for kids.

A little later in the summer, make like you’re in Munich at Atlantic Station’s German Bierfest (www.germanbierfest.com), where 30 kinds of German brews will be available for sampling. The Aug. 23 event also boasts authentic German food, live music and a Kids Zone sponsored by the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Th rashers.

As the summer draws to a close, don’t miss the sixth annual Grant Park Summer Shade Festival (www.summer-shade.org), which celebrates the city’s oldest public park. On Aug. 30-31, sample cuisine from local restaurants, enjoy live music and browse the juried artist market. One of the festival’s most popular events is “Corks & Forks: A Fine Food & Wine Event,” which features culinary creations from some of Atlanta’s top chefs, plus wine seminars and tastings.

Family Canoe Day on the
Chattahoochee RiverFamily Fun
Finding an activity the whole family will enjoy can be a challenge, but not in Atlanta. Summer brings with it plenty of options with ageless appeal, from laser shows to canoe trips.

One of the city’s most famous family attractions is the Stone Mountain Lasershow Spectacular (www.stonemountainpark.com), which turns the world’s largest dome of exposed granite into a natural amphitheater. Pull up a lawn chair and prepare to be wowed by this 45-minute light show, choreographed to musical scores from Star Wars, High School Musical and more. the fireworks and patriotic finale will have the entire family cheering for an encore.

No matter what your kids’ interests, there’s a Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day (www.centennialpark.com) for them. the fourth Saturday of every month, families gather at Centennial Olympic Park to enjoy a special theme, from June’s “Great Outdoors” to August’s emphasis on “Games and Gadgets.” Events feature performances, craft s, games and prizes. The best news for parents: admission is free.

When your family is ready to cool off , head to the Chattahoochee Nature Center (www.chattnaturecenter.com) for its monthly Family Canoe Days. Everyone will learn the basics of canoeing and water-safety skills, and you can paddle together on tranquil Beaver Pond.

Whether the music calls you, a laser show catches your eye or the smoky scents from a neighborhood festival drag you there by the nose, sitting indoors in Atlanta this summer is simply not an option. there is so much to see and explore in this fabulous Southern city—the coolest thing to do is get out in the heat.

They don’t call it Hotlanta for nothing…

With the average temperature just below 80 degrees, summers in Atlanta can get downright steamy. Before you head outdoors, don’t forget to grab the basics:

SUNSCREEN. The higher the SPF, the better. Even on overcast days, it’s possible to get burned, so don’t leave your hotel without lathering up.

BUG SPRAY. On some days, the mosquitoes seem to be everywhere, so make sure to spray on insect repellent before you go outside.

BOTTLED WATER. Bring the biggest bottle you can hold. Remember, if you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already dehydrated!