Memorial Day is Monday. Here is some Athens-area fun for the long weekend.
Monday is Memorial Day, a time for celebrating and honoring service members both past and present. For many families, it also offers a rare long, three-day-long weekend for having fun and getting some much needed rest and relaxation.
There will be plenty to do around Athens. Multiple markets are scheduled to buy locally-made food and souvenirs. You can flex your brain at trivia night or schedule a tour to learn more about Athens. There’s also a festival or two that the community is buzzing about.
Here are more details on these and other Memorial Day weekend festivities coming to the area:
Shop local at a markets
Athens Farmers Market returns 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Bishop Park at 705 Sunset Dr. There will be more than dozens of vendors selling art, produce, pastries, and other locally-made goods. MOAS Pets will be on site with puppies and kittens available for adoption as well as donation bins.
West Broad Farmers Market is every Saturday at 11 a.m. at Rocksprings Park at 135 Columbus Ave. More info is available at athenslandtrust.org.
Small Town Saturday is every fourth Saturday 2-8 p.m. at Athentic Brewing Co. at 108 Park Ave. There will be local artisans selling their goods plus food from BasKat Catering.
Explore Athens on a tour
Athens Haunted History Walking Tours are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Guests will meet at Hotel Abacus at 295 E. Dougherty St. From there they will be guided for about two hours by historian Jeff Clarke telling ghost stories surrounding the area's historic sites. Adults can RSVP for $20 while children can be reserved for free. Space is limited. For more info, go to athenshauntedhistory.com.
Private Athens Brewery Tours are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Sunday and Monday. The basic package, which is $650, includes pick-up and drop-off from wherever you'd like for your group of up to 14, transportation to four breweries of your choice, and a field guide. For an extra $80 you get flights of beer at each brewery and lunch at Akademia Brewing Company. Space is limited. For more info, go to athensbrewerytour.com/brewery-tour/.
Test your knowledge at trivia night
Southern Brewing Company is hosting two trivia nights over the weekend at 231 Collins Ind. Blvd. The first is Marvel Cinematic Universe themed and is 7-9 p.m. Friday. The second is general knowledge team trivia 7-9 p.m. Monday.
General Trivia at Athentic Brewing Co. is every Monday 7-9:30 p.m. Food truck delicacies are available and participants can win bar tabs, merchandise, and free pours.
Restaurant closes: Red Lobster closes Athens restaurant along with more than 80 locations across U.S.
More weekend fun in Athens
Athens Showgirl Cabaret continues to host Fabulous Fridays, a weekly drag show, every Friday 7:30-10 p.m. at Hendershot's at 237 Prince Ave. There will be several performers including a live DJ. The show is restricted to ages 18 and older. There's a $5 cover. For more info, go to athensshowgirlcabaret.com.
Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association's Athens-area Honey Bee Festival is 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Athens-Clarke County Extension in Bogart at 275 Cleveland Rd. There will be honey tasting, beehive explorations, plants for sale, face painting, kids activities and crafts, live music, food, and games. Admission is $5 by cash or check at the door. Kids ages 5 and younger get in free.
Crafterday Saturdays are every Saturday at Treehouse Kid and Craft at 85 Barber St. Kids can express their artistic side by making paintings, sculptures, puppets, and more. There's one class for ages 3 to 6-year-olds at 10 a.m. and another for 6 to 10-year-olds at 11 a.m. You can RSVP your child for $16.50. Space is limited. For more info, go to treehousekidandcraft.com.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Athens-area fun, entertainment for Memorial Day Weekend is May 25-27
