Atlanta Arts category interest

Published October 10, 2023

Whether you’re celebrating the Day of the Dead, hot sauce or winter wonderlands, there are plenty of cool things to do in November in Atlanta.

Day of the Dead is Alive in ATL

Restaurants all over the city will be celebrating Dia de Muetros — Day of the Dead — and there are other festivities as well. Don’t miss the free family-friendly festival Nov. 2 at Woodruff Arts Center. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will host its third annual Día de los Muertos Festival from noon until 5 p.m. The festival will include live mariachi music and dancers, ofrendas, stilt walkers, interactive photo booths and a children’s area with face painting, storytelling and games with prizes. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra violinist Juan R. Ramírez Hernández will perform twice with Mariachi Pepe Lopez at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

A traditional Day of the Dead Festival, organized by the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta, will take place Nov. 5 at historic Oakland Cemetery with dancing, music and crafts. Altars will be decorated with flowers, food and beverages honoring lost family and friends. There will also be a Cantrinas and Catrin costume contest for both kids and adults.

Fernbank Museum AGLOW

The Fernbank Museum of Natural History presents its after-hours multi-sensory adventure, “WildWoods: AGLOW,” beginning Nov. 8. Visitors can head outside to explore the wonders of nature in a Zen-like, magical nighttime atmosphere through a stunning combination of glowing displays, curated soundscapes and impressive projections. Connect with nature, and discover the stories of connectivity, pollination and nocturnal activities.

Chomp and Stomp: Say What?

Let us explain. At the annual Cabbagetown Chomp andamp; Stomp you chomp down on chili from dozens of restaurants as well as from food trucks and then you stomp to the music from groups such as Georgia Mountain String Band, Swamptooth, Well Drinkers and Dr. Bacon. When you’re not chomping or stomping, enjoy artist booths, a 5K romp and see the sights of Atlanta’s first National Landmark Historic District, including the famed artwork in the Krog Street tunnel.

Winter Wonderland

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Ranger Station, a cozy cocktail bar on John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. Starting Nov. 11, Ranger Station will transform into an aprés ski oasis with seasonal cocktails, festive bites and a rustic ski chalet atmosphere. Can’t go to the Alps, no problem. Ranger Station’s Aprés Ski will feature an interactive ski lift photo app, vintage holiday movies and group shot skis to ring in the holiday.

Art in the Park Goes Interactive

Woodruff Park will be even more fun thanks to a playful, family-friendly installation presented by the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and Arts andamp; Entertainment Atlanta. The installation, Los Tromps, is interactive and features large, colorful spinning tops. These works, by Esrawe + Cadena, encourage collaboration and play, bringing traditional Mexican craftsmanship to the forefront with woven fabric structures that come to life through community interaction.

Howl-O Ween Festival

Rescue Dog Games is a local favorite as Atlanta’s pet rescues and organizations come together to bring awareness of the need to “adopt, not shop.” At Rescue Dogs, held Nov. 2 at Piedmont Park, you can meet to volunteer at a humane society or rescue groups — or better yet — find and adopt your “furever” best friend. Cheer on the pups as they compete in the Howl-O-Ween dog costume contest, agility course, Frisbee, lure chase, interactive art project and the dog trick contest. Throughout the day there will be dog trainer sessions as well as music, food trucks, beer, festivities and other canine and human fun. Make sure to visit the dog and human photo booths.

Latin Restaurant Week: Bring your Appetite

Get ready to enjoy the varied and delicious flavors of Latin America as Atlanta celebrates Latin Restaurant Week Nov. 15-30. Enjoy the many Latin restaurants in town such as Buena Vida Tapas andamp; Sol, Agave Azul Mexican Kitchen andamp; Tequila Bar, Tacos and Tequila Ponce de Leon, Latin Fresh and Selva San.

Rugby in Atlanta

The Atlanta Old Whites, one of the Southeast’s top rugby clubs, suits up for three matches this month at the Atlanta Rugby Grounds, 1034 Fairborn Road. If you’re interested in training with the team — even if you’re a beginner — you’re welcome to join in the fun.

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Cool Things To Do in October in Atlanta

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Grand Kyiv Ballet Dances the ‘Nutcracker’

Let’s face it. We love the “Nutcracker Suite,” and we see it every holiday season — several times. That’s one of many reasons we are excited about the Grand Kyiv Ballet coming to Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center Nov. 27. We’ll be delighted to see Ukraine’s ballet company give Atlantans visions of sugarplum fairies, Ukrainian style.

New Look at Hyatt Centric Midtown

The Hyatt Centric Midtown Atlanta just completed renovation and a rebranding, renovation and redesign of its signature restaurant, Author’s Den. Led by new executive chef Celso Pinto, the menu features Southern dishes with a global twist with highlights including crispy pork belly and Brazilian tapioca cheese fritters, green tomato toast with pimento cheese, steak andamp; frites, and tandoori-spiced grilled chicken.

Author’s Den is rightly named given its location across the street from the Margaret Mitchell House, where “Gone with the Wind” was written, and where Boyd Lewis, a legendary photojournalist and civil rights activist, lived. The restaurant’s spirit celebrates Midtown Atlanta’s cultural and arts movement in the 1970s and offers spacious seating, a full-service bar and dining room, a new private dining and meeting area, a pool table and a bookshelf filled by local bookstores.

What’s Cookin’?

Fifth Group Restaurants, whose restaurants include La Tavola, Ela, South City Kitchen, Ecco and Alma Cocina, just completed a rebrand of its seafood eatery, Lure Saltwater Kitchen and Bar. The refresh is truly breathing new life into the Midtown space, in food, drink and ambiance. Led by new chef de cuisine Olivier Reedholm, Lure Saltwater Kitchen and Bar invites you to check out its limited menu of shareable and cocktail/wine glass specials.

Meanwhile Frazie’s Meat andamp; Market kicked off its fall menu with items such as chicken noodle soup, white bean chicken chili and sandwiches including the ATL Chop, Boombaski and Southern Gentleman.

FORTH, a new hotel in the Fourth Ward, opened its signature restaurant, Il Premio, featuring a menu of a la carte cuts of premium meat, fresh pasta made daily in-house, raw bar and curated Italian wine list.

See Alicia Keys’ Art Collection

Musicians, songwriters and producers Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz have lived the mantra of “artists supporting artists” and in the process acquired a world-class collection of paintings, photographs and sculptures by diverse multigenerational artists.

Through Jan. 19, 2025, the High Museum of Art exhibits works from “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.” Among the “giants” are Barkley L. Hendricks, Esther Mahlangu and Gordon Parks as well as contemporary artists such as Hank Willis Thomas and Qualeasha, Amy Sherald, Kwame Brathwaite, Jamel Shabazz and Titus Kaphar.

Christkindl Market

The holiday spirit comes alive Nov. 22 at the Buckhead Village Atlanta Christkindl Market, a fusion of traditional German festivals and Atlanta’s vibrant spirit. From culinary delights to handcrafted treasures, you’ll find old-world charm combines with modern energy for a lot of holiday fun.

Holiday Gift Market

Get into the holiday spirit at the second annual Piedmont Holiday Gift Market. Presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, this festive two-day event will take place in Piedmont Park over Thanksgiving weekend. Festival goers are invited to sip on hot cocoa, listen to holiday music and stroll through the park while exploring unique gift items from a variety of artists, including painters, photographers, sculptors, glass blowers, leather and metalworkers, jewelers and crafters.

Indie Craft Experience

The Indie Craft Experience Holiday Shopping Spectacular takes place Nov. 9-10 at the Yaarab Shrine Center on Ponce de Leon Avenue. More than 140 vendors ranging from ceramic artists to candle makers will showcase their work just in time for the holidays. The first 100 people in line will receive a tote bag designed by local artist Lucky Ricketts.

Feel the Burn

The Hot Sauce Fest ATL comes to Snackbox Studios off Krog Street Nov. 17 where you can test your tolerance for some of the best hot sauces from local and national makers. In addition to a tasting table, there will be live music from School of Rock, Bad Guru, Moody Hollow, Finger Puppet and Ian Live, as well as oysters and caviar. There will also be dazzling fire performers, food from Bovino After Dark and other local favorites as well as drinks and a kid’s zone.

Whiskey Riot

Atlanta Whiskey Riot 2024 is set for Nov. 2 at The Cellars at Southern Exchange Ballrooms. The event offers samples of hundreds of whiskeys plus seminars and conversations with whiskey lovers, distillers, brand founders and more. Start time is 3 p.m. There is an admission charge.