ATLANTA
27th Annual National Poetry Slam Festival ribbon cutting
The community, business leaders and sponsors are invited to attend the ribbon cutting hosted by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and the reception to follow hosted by the Decatur Arts Alliance Monday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m., at 115 Sycamore St., Decatur.
The National Poetry Slam festival ribbon cutting will celebrate the one-week national art, music and poetry slam being hosted in Decatur Aug. 1 – 6.
The weeklong event will welcome more than 300 poets from across the nation from August 1 to August 6 at various places around Downtown Decatur such as the DeKalb County Public Library, Little Shop of Stories, Java Monkey, CORE Dance Studio and even the Decatur City Hall Commissioners Room.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.npsdecatur.com.
Tiny House Atlanta, City of Decatur launch Tiny House Festival
Join Tiny House Atlanta for the first-ever Decatur Tiny House Festival this Saturday and Sunday, July 30 – 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in downtown Decatur at 1406 Commerce Drive.
The weekend will be filled with tiny house tours and a speaker symposium offering information on various aspects of how to bring tiny homes and micro living to Atlanta. Approximately 10 tiny houses will be available to tour, and experts on topics such as sustainability, minimalism, urban planning, zoning, and downsizing will be on hand to answer questions. There will also be vendors from the tiny house industry who will be on hand to offer information about products that promote sustainable practices in a tiny home.
Weekend passes are $35 in advance or $40 on site. Daily passes are $20 for a single day ticket, $25 on site. Children, 4-12 years old, are $5. Youngsters age 3 and under are admitted free. For more information or tickets, visit www.tinyhouseatlanta.com.
Baby wearing meet up for caregivers
Baby Wearing International of Atlanta will be holding a meet up for parents and caregivers, Saturday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Morningside Baptist Church, 1700 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta.
The event will offer caregivers the opportunity to learn about and try on various baby carriers as well as how to properly use already owned carriers. Attendees will have a chance to meet other parents and ask advice from volunteers with years of babywearing experience.
Meetings are free to attend and open to moms, dads or any caregiver interested in baby wrapping. For a membership fee of $30, guests can carry their little ones away in a borrowed carrier from the organization’s lending library. BWI of Atlanta meets four times monthly. Please note that meeting locations are sometimes subject to change. For more information, visit www.bwiofatlanta.org/about-us.html.
DEKALB
Annual SWD alumni cookout set Aug. 6
Alumni of Southwest DeKalb High School are invited to attend the sixth annual alumni cookout Saturday, Aug. 6, 3 to 9 p.m. at Salem Park, 5280 Salem Road, Lithonia.
Classes dating back to 1991 will come together for food, laughs and live music by Celebrity DJ Emcee ShyD. The menu will include barbecue, a crab boil, fish fry, lobster tails. There also will be catered food and Italian Icees for sale.
For more information, contact the event organizer Danny Davison at danny.davison72@gmail.com
GWINNETT
Free Recycle Day in Gwinnett
Gwinnett County residents are invited to recycle household items Saturday, Aug. 6, 9 a.m. to noon, at Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center, 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Berkeley Lake.
Start out the new school year by cleaning out file cabinets, rounding up old tires, and donating clothes and sneakers. Shred unwanted documents (up to five boxes of paper), recycle tires (limit eight tires per vehicle; no dealer tires), and bring your gently used clothing and sneakers of all sizes to be donated to those in need or to recycle into new products. Volunteers are needed. Visit www.volunteergwinnett.net to sign up to volunteer. For more information, call 678-277-0906.
Gwinnett Parks and Recreation to host open house
Explore all the exciting and fun programs Gwinnett Parks and Recreation has to offer Thursday, Aug. 4, 6 – 8 p.m., at the Rhodes Jordan Park Community Recreation Center, 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville.
There’s something for everyone including karate, dance, sewing and fitness, so you’re sure to find the activity for you. This event is open to all ages. For more information, call 678-277-0890 or visit www.gwinnettparks.com to register.
ROCKDALE
Farmers Market in Olde Towne Conyers
Fresh produce and other items are available Thursday, Aug. 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Olde Town Pavilion, 949 S. Main Street, Conyers.
Farm Fresh Conyers is a local market organized by local merchants and farmers. The market occurs every Thursday and welcomes new farmers each week offering organic fruits and vegetables.
The market is open every Thursday and all vendors accept cash and credit. For more information call 770-602-2606.
Olde Jail Museum tours
History buffs are invited to tour the Olde Jail Musuem on Saturday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the historic Rockdale County Jail, 967 Milstread Ave., Conyers.
Built in 1897 to serve Rockdale County, this two-story red brick structure housed offenders until 1969. The lower floor was the residence for the sheriff and his family, and the upstairs comprised three rooms for prisoners: jailer’s room, drunk tank and maximum security.
Since 1976, the Rockdale County Historical Society has maintained it as a museum. The museum is open on the first Saturday of every month (unless otherwise noted) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. or by appointment. Donations are welcome and benefit the efforts of the Rockdale County Historical Society.