The Group Travel Leader

The tour then takes readers through through antebellum homes, the Road to Tara Museum and other unique areas of the Atlanta Metro region. Jewell continues his journey through Georgia’s Historic Heartland which “serves peaches with its pastimes.” Included in this section are the Monastery of the Holy Spirit as well as historic homes in Madison, Georgia  and The Old Capital Museum in Milledgeville, before continuing to Macon. The Georgia section ends with a spotlight on Savannah and Georgia’s Coast.

The complete article can be read here.

The city of Chamblee, GA is gearing up for its first Celebrate Chamblee, a family-focused event that will bring entertainment for all ages featuring food, arts and crafts and more!

The event is set for May 19th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Chamblee City Hall area.

A sample of the lineup:

• Live Bands and D.J. (pop, R&B, mariachi band, Asian drummers)
• Dance (line dancing and salsa lessons)
• Kids’ Play Area (inflatable’s, face painting and more)
• Food (international and local)
• Local and international arts and crafts

For more information about the event, visit ChambleeGA.com

The Atlanta Silverbacks season is in full force, and we’d like to send you and three friends to one of their upcoming home games.  You can check out their home game schedule here. 

You can enter for a chance to win in one of three ways:

(1) RT this post on Twitter. IMPORTANT – To be eligible for the giveaway, you must copy the tweet and add RT @DeKalbCVB at the beginning. If you just hit the retweet button on Twitter, we won’t be able to track your entry. Also, you must follow @DeKalbCVB to be eligible.

(2) Like this post on our Facebook page and leave a comment about why you want to win the tickets. Also, you must be a fan of our page to be eligible to win.

(3) Go to our Pinterest page at Pinterest.com/DeKalbCVB and re-pin this post to your Pinterest page. Also, you must be following our pins to be eligible to win.

We’ll pick a winner from all the entries on Friday, May 11, 2012, and the winner will be notified on Monday, May 14, 2012.

Good luck!

About the Atlanta Silverbacks:

The Atlanta Silverbacks are Atlanta’s only professional soccer team. They were founded in 1995 as the Atlanta Ruckus of the A-League. They have been known as the Atlanta Silverbacks since 1998. The name was inspired by Willie B., a Silverback gorilla who was one of the main attractions at ZOO Atlanta until his death in 2000.

Currently, the Silverbacks play in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and play their home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park here in Atlanta’s DeKalb County. The stadium is located in Chamblee, GA and seats 5,000 fans.

For more about the Silverbacks, visit AtlantaSilverbacks.com.

The Beer Garden will open at 11 a.m. The event will feature three live performance stages including concerts by Joe Gransden Quartet, The Blacktop Rockets, Bill Turpin & The Shoulderbone Creek Orchestra and Joe McGuiness Trio.

For more information, visit TuckerDay.com or call Main Street Alliance at (770) 934-8935.

Tucker, GA – DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) is celebrating National Tourism Week with daily tourism trivia and ticket giveaways for area attractions on their Facebook Page (Facebook.com/VisitAtlantasDeKalbCounty). Participants are also encouraged to sign up for a grand prize giveaway at VisitAtlantasDeKalbCounty.com, beginning May 7, 2012. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced at the end of National Tourism Week (May 5-13, 2012).

DCVB Representatives will also be attending the “Georgia on my Mind Day” at the Kingsland Visitor Information Center on May 11, 2012 in honor of National Tourism Week to promote DeKalb County to travelers. The first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984. Localized events are presented in cities, states and travel businesses nationwide to champion the power of travel.

According to the U.S. Travel Association’s 2011 data, travel and tourism is one of America’s largest industries and has generated $1.9 trillion in economic output, with $813 billion spent directly by domestic and international travelers that spurred an additional $1.1 trillion in other industries.

Travel and tourism is one of America’s largest employers. Tourism supported 14.4 million jobs, including 7.5 million directly in the travel industry and 6.9 million in other industries. 1 out of every 9 jobs in the U.S. depends on travel and tourism.

National Tourism Week was established when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution in 1983 designating the week to be celebrated in May. In a White House ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with “the appropriate ceremonies and activities.” For more information about National Tourism Week, visit USTravel.org.

Swim alongside the bears and discover a world beneath the ice where corals and odd creatures thrive. Fly above a thundering herd of caribou making their way to their calving ground then gaze across hundreds of miles of snow-bound peaks and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean. Captivating, adventurous and intimate footage brings moviegoers up-close and personal with this family’s struggle to survive in a frigid environment of melting ice, immense glaciers, spectacular waterfalls, and majestic snow-bound peaks.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30307. For more information, visit Fernbank Museum.

The only requirements are that teams must field 10 players with at least 4 members of each sex, and all team members must be at least 21 yrs or older on the day of the tournament.  The event will take place at the Atlanta Silverbacks Stadium on June 16, 2012.

By competing in this open tournament you will have a chance to qualify for The Circuit Cup Championship 2012 in New Orleans for $10,000!

Click here for more information and to register your team. Good luck!

Headlining the entertainment stage will be Boogie featuring three of Atlanta’s rising stars with Jacob Blazer, Scotty Cram & Anthony Crane.  The Patrick Scott Band, who was on this year’s “American Idol”, will fill the opening slot along with DJ Suspense spinning between the bands.  As you stroll down Apple Valley Road you will be able to taste an array of beers and a little wine along with some great food offerings from local Brookhaven restaurants and some of Atlanta’s most popular food trucks.

The festival is hosted by Spiral Entertainment, Trend Setting Productions & USA Entertainment, known for some of Atlanta’s largest social gathering events such as Lucky Fest, Beer & Whiskey Fest & Harvest Midtown.  The festival is limited to 6,000 guests and admission includes a commemorative drinking glass.  Discount advance tickets are available now with limited ticket sales the day of the event.  For more information please visit:  www.brookhavenbeerfest.com

Poster Unveiling – Thursday, May 3, 5-7pm – Free and open to the public, the Poster Unveiling is the official beginning of the Decatur Arts Festival. This year’s poster was created by Lonnie Selph, a 24 year old graphic design and illustration student at the Art Institute of Atlanta in downtown Decatur. Not only is Lonnie a talented artist, but he also proudly serves in the U.S. Marines, spent two years in Iraq, and is now in the Reserves. Come meet Lonnie Selph, be among the first to view the festival poster, have a poster signed by Lonnie and enjoy complimentary beverages and food.

ArtWalk – Held on the evening of Friday, May 25, 5-10pm, the night before the opening of the festival, the Decatur ArtWalk gives local businesses and galleries an opportunity to get involved and be a part of the Festival. Attendees visit the local businesses that have invited an artist or have displayed a collection of art. Many offer complimentary food and beverages. Tunes will be playing from the Community Bandstand on the Square to give the evening a festive note.

Artists Market – Saturday, May 26, 10am-6pm, Sunday, May 27, 11am-6pm – Over 160 artists set up tents to display and sell their works on the Square in downtown Decatur. This highly competitive, juried show offers the best talent from all over the nation. Spend the day strolling the downtown area along Ponce de Leon and Clairemont where the artists will set up booths. Be sure to visit the Silent Auction tent on the Marta Plaza where you can bid on original art donated by the Festival’s artists. Proceeds benefit the many programs of the Decatur Arts Alliance.

Performing Arts Stage – Saturday, May 26, 11am-5pm, Sunday, May 27, noon-5pm Continuous performing arts every hour from the community bandstand on the Square. This year’s line-up includes performances by ConunDrums, The Lindsay Rakers Band, The Bitteroots, Coy Bowles and the Fellowship, The Shadowboxers, Sewhee Village Percussion, and the Larry Griffith Band.

Acoustic Palette Stage – Saturday, May 26, 11am-5pm, Sunday, May 27, noon-5pm New this year is the Acoustic Palette Stage which features up and coming singer/songwriters. Spend some time listening to the music of these soon to be famous performers. Someday, you will be able to say that you “knew them when…”.

Fine Arts Exhibition – The annual juried Fine Arts Exhibition will open on May 22 and runs through June 3. The exhibition features works from more than 60 artists and is held at Agnes Scott College’s Dalton Gallery within walking distance from the weekend festival.

Kids and Teen’s Arts Festival – Saturday, May 26 ONLY, 9:45am-2:00pm – Plenty of fun for toddlers, elementary-aged kids and teens with lots of hands-on art projects, performers, balloon artists and a rock climbing wall. Located on the lawn of Decatur First Baptist Church, the Kids and Teen’s Festival kicks off with the Children’s Parade led by the city fire department. Come join in the parade.

Literary Arts Festival – May 26–May 27 – A celebration of theater and literary arts that includes short plays, improvisational comedy, poetry, storytelling, author readings and more. Events are held throughout the week in conjunction with the Georgia Center for the Book. The Theater and Literary Arts Tent on the Old Courthouse lawn will be open all day Saturday and Sunday with a full line-up of performers for both adults and children. Family events are on Sunday. The Decatur LOL stage will be located on the MARTA Plaza and will feature local comedians and open mic opportunities for the public.

The “Speak…Easy!” – Friday, May 25, 7-9 pm – This evening of storytelling and music for your soul and spirit, at the Old Courthouse on the Square, kicks off the theater and literary arts festival for the weekend.

New Dance Festival – The Beacon Dance Company will present three shows at the Beacon Hill Arts Center, 410 West Trinity Place on May 25, 26 and 27 at 8pm. These performances feature the newest works by local and national choreographers. With a roster of cutting-edge artists, Breaking New Ground promises a rich evening of thought- provoking entertainment and excitement. A reception will follow each performance. Seating is limited and reservations are strongly encouraged.

A detailed festival program guide will be available throughout the month of May at Decatur businesses and at the information tents on the square during Memorial Day weekend. The program guide is also available on line at the website. All events are free. For more information, visit www.decaturartsfestival.com or call 404.371.9583.