Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek & Roswell Events: Nov 13 – Nov 19

We’ve officially hit the “is it too early for Christmas music?” season — and the answer, of course, is no. The lights are going up, the cocoa’s coming out, and suddenly there’s something sparkly (or at least cinnamon-scented) on every corner. Here’s your full lineup of things worth showing up for — from tree lightings and ice skating rinks to concerts, markets, and the occasional excuse to eat dessert before noon. 🎶

Naray
Publisher,
A Side Of Town

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THURSDAY Nov 13
⭐️🎵 Akpé Motion: A Global Musical Journey
📍 Roswell Cultural Arts Center, Roswell
🕒 Thu Nov 13 · 7 PM
💲 Tickets required
What: A world-beat concert that feels like passport stamps without the TSA line — African drums, Polynesian harmonies, and a vibe that makes “world music” sound too small.
Merry Grinchmas Pop-Up Bar
📍 Mercantile Social, 20 North Main St
⏰ Mon, Nov 11–Mon, Nov 25 | 5–11 PM
💵 Free entry (menu purchase)
What: Sip holiday cheer in a bar gone full Whoville—think candy-cane cocktails, photo ops, and a Grinch that might just grow on you by dessert.

FRIDAY Nov 14
🎨 Revel Arts Collective Show 2025
📍 Crabapple Market, Milton
🕒 Fri Nov 14 · 6–9 PM (also Sat Nov 15 · 10 AM–3 PM)
💲 Free Event
What: Local artists showing off their latest pieces — ceramics, metalwork, watercolor scenes that look suspiciously like your favorite coffee spot.

SATURDAY, Nov 15
🌽 Alpharetta Farmers Market (Final Weeks!)
📍 Alpharetta Town Green
🕒 Sat Nov 15 · 8:30 AM–12:30 PM
💲 Free Event
What: One of the last Saturdays of the season. Fresh produce, baked goods, and those “this would make a great hostess gift” finds you didn’t know you needed.

🎶 Jazz on the Green at Halcyon
📍 Village Green, Halcyon
🕒 Sat Nov 15 · 6–9 PM
💲 Free Event
What: Smooth brass, open air, and cocktails from the nearby bar patios — because alfresco and autumn are a match made in Milton.

Off the Beds and Onto The Walls Exhibit
The Chattahoochee Stars Quilt Guild invites the community to come check out the many ways the art of quilting enhance our lives. LAST DAY - Nov 15
📍Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St
💲free

THURSDAY , Nov 20
🍷 Bad Ass Reds
📍 Fermented University
⏰ Thu, Nov 20 | 6 PM
💵 $50 tickets
What: Big, bold, unapologetic reds that punch back. You’ll leave knowing which bottle pairs best with confidence.

EVENTS ON THE HORIZON ( May want to mark your calendar!!):

Thanksgiving Week & Weekend (Nov 27–30)

🦃 Alpharetta Turkey Trot
📍 Downtown Alpharetta
🕒 Thu Nov 27 · 8 AM
💲 $35 Registration
What: Burn off the pies before you eat them. The annual trot returns — festive, funny, and fueled by cold-morning adrenaline.

⭐️🛍️ Small Business Saturday Crawl
📍 Downtown Alpharetta, Milton, and Roswell
🕒 Sat Nov 29 · All Day
💲 Free Event
What: Your friendly reminder that Target doesn’t remember your dog’s name — but local shops do.

🎶 Holiday Pops with the Roswell Symphony
📍 Roswell Cultural Arts Center
🕒 Sat Nov 29 · 7:30 PM
💲 Tickets required
What: Big voices, classic carols, and that moment when the brass section makes you tear up a little.
⭐️Santa Tuck-In
📍 Hotel at Avalon
💵 Reserved room required
What: Santa in slippers reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas? Instant childhood core memory unlocked.

Have an event you would like to spread the word about? Click 👉 here to submit your event.

⭐️ = Editor's Picks

You can feel it, can’t you? The shift from pumpkin to peppermint. The city’s lighting trees, the Grinch is mixing cocktails, and somewhere, someone’s already hung their stockings (a bold move).

So tell us…

How Do You Like Your Cranberry Sauce?

🥫 Jiggly Canned Blob is the ONLY way to go!

Homemade from real Cranberries is the ONLY way to go!! 🦃

🤮 Can't Stand The Stuff

That was your warm-up. Now the main show: live music, local flavor, and a few reasons to cancel that early bedtime.

THURSDAY Nov 13
🎵 Akpé Motion: A Global Musical Journey
📍 Roswell Cultural Arts Center, Roswell
🕒 Thu Nov 13 · 7 PM
💲 Tickets required
What: A world-beat concert that feels like passport stamps without the TSA line — African drums, Polynesian harmonies, and a vibe that makes “world music” sound too small.
Kurt Thomas Band
📍 Roaring Social, 35 Milton Ave
⏰ Wed, Nov 13 | 8–11 PM
💵 No cover listed
What: A little country, a little rock, and a whole lot of toe-tapping. The perfect mid-week excuse to loosen up and stay out past sensible hours.
Helium Presents: Katherine Blanford
📍 Helium Comedy Club, 3070 Windward Plaza
⏰ Wed, Nov 13 | 7:30–11:30 PM
💵 Tickets required
What: Atlanta’s own comic tornado returns—expect quick wit, champagne energy, and a few jokes your mother would side-eye.

Friday Nov 14
🎤 JUSTIN – Live Band at Roaring Social
📍 Roaring Social, Alpharetta
🕒 Fri Nov 14 · 8–11:30 PM
💲 Cover charge at door
What: Downtown Alpharetta dance-floor energy meets a live band playing hits from across the decades.

THURSDAY Nov 20
Sinatra Night with Ray Allen
📍 Taste The Flavor Brunch Bar, 5325 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta
⏰ Thu, Nov 20 | 7–10 PM
💵 Ticketed event
What: Alpharetta’s getting its swagger back — crooner vibes, cocktails, and a night that practically begs for a martini and a twirl.

SUNDAY Nov 23
⭐️A Little Peace of the Holidays w/ Karla Harris
📍 Roswell Cultural Arts Center
⏰ Sun, Nov 23 | 4 PM
💵 Tickets at roswell365.com
What: Silky jazz, warm lights, and holiday nostalgia — Karla Harris brings the kind of peace you actually want this season.

WEDNSDAY Nov 26
Laughsgiving Comedy Show
📍 Café Efendi
⏰ Wed, Nov 26
💵 Tickets required
What: Forget the turkey — bring the giggles. A pre-holiday lineup serving punchlines, not pumpkin pie.

Moops Boutique
📍 16 Milton Ave., Alpharetta
What: Blink and you’ll stroll right past it — but step inside and you’ll find a color-splashed mix of local art, statement jewelry, and gifts that hit the sweet spot between cheeky and chic. Think Anthropologie’s witty southern cousin, with price tags that don’t make you flinch.

A-Side Tip: Pop in before the weekend crowd; the best pieces vanish faster than a tray of Maple St. biscuits!!!

📸 Guess the Photo

This is a photo of an object around town, tightly zoomed in, can you guess what it is?
👉 Do you know what it is?

Answer revealed next week in the Fadeout!!

FRIDAY, Nov 21
Christmas Tree Lighting
⭐️📍 The Hamilton, Alpharetta
⏰ Fri, Nov 21 | 5:30 PM
💵 Free (Reservations recommended)
What: The glow-up of the year — live music, cocoa, and twinkle lights that make you forget how many tangled strands you left at home.
⭐️ ⛸️ Avalon on Ice Opening Weekend
📍 The Plaza at Avalon, Alpharetta
🕒 Fri Nov 21 · 5–10 PM
💲 $18 Adults / $14 Kids (includes skates)
What: The ice rink is back. Grab a cider, lace up, and hope no one’s filming your first lap.

🎄 Milton Tree Lighting
📍 Milton City Hall Greenspace
🕒 Fri Nov 21 · 6–8 PM
💲 Free Event
What: The city flips the switch on holiday mode — carols, cocoa, and a crowd that’s 60% people you’ll wave to at Publix tomorrow.

SATURDAY, Nov 22
🎅 Run Santa Run 5K
📍 Alpharetta City Center
🕒 Sat Nov 22 · 8 AM
💲 $40 Registration
What: Yes, people actually run in Santa suits — and yes, it’s hilarious. Bring your sense of humor (and maybe a camera).

🎨 Holiday Market at Halcyon
📍 Halcyon Green, Alpharetta
🕒 Sat Nov 22 · 10 AM–5 PM
💲 Free Event
What: Local artisans, handmade gifts, live music — think of it as Etsy, but you can taste-test the candles.

🎄 Roswell Tree Lighting
📍 Roswell Town Square
🕒 Sat Nov 22 · 5–7 PM
💲 Free Event
What: Choirs, cookies, and that dramatic countdown moment everyone loves. Santa might “accidentally” show up early.

SUNDAY, Nov 23

🎁 Christmas Village at North Point
📍 North Point Mall, Alpharetta
🕒 Sun Nov 23 · 12–6 PM
💲 Free Event
What: Santa selfies, pop-up shops, hot cocoa — the works. Great for kids, better for parents who love one-stop seasonal chaos.

🎄 Lighting of Avalon
📍 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta
🕒 Sun Nov 23 · 2pm- 7:30 PM
💲 Free Event
What: The official start of sparkle season. Think: fireworks, Santa’s arrival, and all the cozy chaos you secretly love.

Click 👉 here to submit your event.

Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
📍 11405 Haynes Bridge Rd, Alpharetta
What: The kind of seafood spot where you half expect Sinatra himself to stroll in — dim lights, live jazz, and oysters that deserve their own slow clap.

🎤 Live at Loyal Q: Local Jam Session
📍 Loyal Q & Brew, Alpharetta
🕒 Sat Nov 22 · 8 PM
💲 Free Event
What: Craft beer, pulled pork, and a lineup of local musicians who always sound better live than online.

Malvi Mallow Pop-Up
📍 Avalon
⏰ Sat, Nov 23 | Open Daily
💵 Varies
What: Alpharetta’s sweetest little secret — handmade marshmallows that will ruin you for store-bought forever.

🎸 Sunday Sounds: The Bourbon Brothers
📍 Gate City Brewing, Roswell
🕒 Sun Nov 23 · 3–6 PM
💲 Free Event
What: A beer-and-blues combo that hits just right on a lazy Sunday.

⭐️Chocolate & Wine Pairing
📍 Fermented Wine Boutique
⏰ Tue, Nov 25 | 6 PM
💵 $50
What: Because adulting means finally learning which cabernet goes best with caramel. (Hint: all of them.)

🎵 Akpé Motion: A Global Musical Journey
📍 Roswell Cultural Arts Center, Roswell
🕒 Thu Nov 13 · 7 PM
💲 Tickets required
What: A world-beat concert that feels like passport stamps without the TSA line — African drums, Polynesian harmonies, and a vibe that makes “world music” sound too small.

⭐️🏃 Run for the Cookies 5K
📍 Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell
🕒 Sat Nov 15 · 7–10:30 AM
💲 $35–$55 Registration
What: Sweet meets sprint. Jog for the glory, stay for the cookies — this one’s part fitness, part bakery crawl.
Taste of Johns Creek
📍 Newtown Park
⏰ Sat, Nov 15 | 2–6 PM
💵 Free to attend
What: Small bites, big flavor, zero regrets. A perfect excuse to call it “research” while eating your way through the park.

🧘 Pause With Purpose: Mindfulness Gathering
📍 Building Kidz, Roswell
🕒 Sun Nov 16 · 4 PM
💲 Free Event
What: A restorative hour for women and moms — calm lighting, slower breathing, and permission to put your phone on silent.
Cirque de Soleil: Luzia
📍Atlantic Station, Atlanta
🕒 Nov 9-Nov 14
💲 Ticket, start at $84
What: Step into a dreamscape where rain falls indoors and acrobats bend physics to mariachi beats. Luzia is Cirque at its most cinematic — a technicolor trip through Mexico that’ll have you whispering “how did they do that?” all the way home. Be Amazed
🍷 Wine Wednesday at Vin25
📍 Vin25 Bistro, Roswell
🕒 Wed Nov 19 · 6–9 PM
💲 Wine flight specials
What: A midweek reset in liquid form — clinking glasses, patio heaters, and just enough candlelight to justify another pour.
🎤 Kings of Swing Holiday Show
📍 Roswell Cultural Arts Center
🕒 Fri Nov 21 · 7:30 PM
💲 Tickets required
What: Big band, bigger energy. A brass-filled throwback that makes “festive” feel like a verb.

⭐️Victor Rolf. Fashion Statements.
📍High Museum of Art
🕒 Oct 10 - Feb 8
💲 Ticketed
What: Couture gets conceptual. The Dutch duo’s larger-than-life gowns, irony, and edge prove fashion can be both fabric and philosophy. Prepare to be floored — and inspired to overdress at brunch.

Atlanta Holiday Show House
📍 Buckhead | Nov 9 – Dec 8
💵 $45 admission | atlantaholidayhome.com
What: A seasonal pilgrimage for design lovers to see the redesigned home of championship golfer, Bobby Jones. Atlanta’s top designers transform this 7500 sq. ft. Buckhead estate into a master class in modern holiday styling — layered textures, moody palettes, and more wreaths than sense. It’s not for sale, but it’ll have you mentally renovating before you hit the gift shop.

A-Side Tip: Pay attention to those deep jewel tones — they’re quietly stealing the spotlight from all-white everything.

Can you solve this week’s scramble?

Scramble:LEVAES
Hint: All over your yard (and somehow your entryway).
Blanks: _ _ _ _ _ _
Answer revealed at the bottom see The Fadeout section! 👇

The 3-Hour Sprint: Pantry & Fridge Reset
📍 Your kitchen (via zoom)
🕒 Nov 15, 10:00 am
💲 Ticketed
What: It's a 3-hour, LIVE, super-focused, group sprint on Zoom to clear space and reset your cupboards, fridge, and freezer for the holidays. With professional organizer, Vivian Najib.
When it's over, you'll:
💪🏼 know exactly what food items you have in your cupboards, fridge, and freezer;
💪🏼 have a shopping list containing everything you need; and
💪🏼 not have to spend 30 minutes playing Tetris with your fridge when you get home from the store. Because you’ve already made space. Sign up and save your spot !!

Bottles of olive oil and loaves of bread on shelves.

The Home for the Holidays Masterclass
📍 Online | Nov 21 – 22 | Hosted by Elle C. Wolfe Interiors
💲 Ticketed
What: Before the guests arrive and the chaos hits, join interior designer (and A-Side contributor) Elle C. Wolfe for a two-day virtual masterclass on how to get your home holiday-ready without losing your mind. From quick room glow-ups to table settings that look effortless (but aren’t), you’ll leave inspired, organized, and maybe even a little smug about how good your place looks this season.

A-Side Tip: Sign up early — this one fills faster than the Avalon parking deck on a Friday night.
✨ Ready to get your space holiday-ready without the overwhelm? Join the Home for the Holidays Masterclass — two days, zero stress, all glow.

👋 Hey Neighbor,
New to Town?

Just moved here? Here’s how to blend in fast — and maybe even park like a local.

☕ Coffee before parking.
Valor Coffee downtown has the best latte and the worst parking. Grab it anyway — it’s a local rite of passage.

🚗 Avalon parking is a strategy game.
The deck behind CRÚ is your best bet on weekends. The valet line is only for those who like to test their patience and their parallel-parking anxiety.

🎶 Live music = free date night.
From Avalon Nights Live to Roaring Social, there’s a stage somewhere every weekend. Locals bring lawn chairs, not attitudes.

🍷 Fermented knows your name.
Even if they don’t yet, they will. Their tastings are half wine education, half neighborhood reunion.

🦙 Yes, we have a Llama Pub Crawl.
Don’t ask — just show up. Costumes optional, enthusiasm required.

🌳 Wills Park is basically Alpharetta’s backyard.
Concerts, horses, playgrounds, fireworks — all roads eventually lead here.

🕯️ Dinner reservations are not suggestions.
Especially between November and January. Book it now, thank yourself later.

🎄 The Hamilton Tree Lighting = small-town magic.
Arrive early, layer up, and don’t fight the crowd. Everyone’s in a good mood — even the Grinch.

🍔 “Quick bite” = impossible.
You’ll always run into someone you know, or wish you did. That’s how Alpharetta works.

🎧 Subscribe to the A Side Of Town and you’ll never say “I didn’t know that was happening.”
You’re on the A-Side now — where weekend plans practically write themselves.

Subscribe Here

Adult Activity Center Update
📍 North Park & Preston Ridge Community Center
⏰ Starting Jan 1, 2026
💵 Free for residents | Annual fee for non-residents
What: Beginning next year, the city’s adding a new membership system for its adult programs. Residents stay free, but non-residents will need a scan card to join classes or trips. Think of it as Alpharetta’s way of keeping things local — and a gentle reminder to register early if these programs are on your radar.

City Council Meeting & Public Hearing
📍 City Hall, 2 Park Plaza | alpharetta.ga.us
⏰ Mon, Nov 17 | 6:30 PM
💵 Free | Open to the public
What: Curious how new shops, road projects, and park updates get approved? This is the behind-the-scenes show. Drop in or stream online to see what’s on the docket. It’s civic duty with a side of local drama — and the fastest way to sound like you know what’s really happening in town.

Click 👉 here to submit your event.

Job postings for the creative economy (by which I mean totally made up 😉) But A Side Of Town would love to post your real jobs, gig, service, or help wanted ads.

🎨 Calling All Creatives:Alpharetta Arts Center needs volunteers for upcoming winter workshops. No degree required, just enthusiasm and maybe a beret.

🐕 Help Wanted:Waggy Walks Pet Care is adding part-time dog-walkers for the holiday travel season. Must love pups, puddles, and being told you’re the best human ever.
💇 Hiring:Drybar Alpharetta is looking for stylists who can tame holiday-party hair and hold gossip securely under a blow-dryer.
🧑🏽‍🎄 Seasonal Gig:Avalon Events Crew needs extra hands for Santa photo ops and light display setup. Ideal candidates can lift 50 lbs and maintain holiday cheer under pressure (and peppermint-scented fog).

Got a real-life job you need seasonal help with? Let's get it posted next week?
Click 👉 here to submit your posting

Savannah

📍 Destination: Savannah, GA
🚗 Drive Time: ~4 hours from Alpharetta
📅 Timing: Steals a long weekend, fits into the holiday warm-up

Why go now:
Savannah’s waterfront is turning into its own winter wonder-land this season. The stunning Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District runs November 20 – December 31 with a European-style market, live performances, Santa photo-ops, and festive treats. Plus, the 33rd Annual Lighted Christmas Street Parade glides down River Street December 13 at 5:30 PM. Visit Savannah

What to pack your weekend with:

Stroll the cobblestones of historic squares under twinkle lights
Grab a festive brunch or warm drink riverside
Take a trolley tour or catch the boat parade for extra magic

Choose a riverside hotel and treat it like a true mini-escape

🏨 Where to Stay

JW Marriott Plant Riverside District
📍 400 W River St. The heart of the Savannah Christmas Market.
Modern luxury meets historic power-plant architecture — plus you can sip cocoa while watching the market lights right from your balcony.
The Marshall House
📍 123 E Broughton St.
One of Savannah’s most charming (and mildly haunted) boutique hotels. Creaky floors, gas lamps, complimentary wine receptions — old-world character in the middle of the holiday buzz.
Perry Lane Hotel
📍 256 E Perry St. Sleek, art-filled, and quietly glamorous.
Rooftop bar views, impeccable service, and within strolling distance of every twinkle-lit square.

A-Side Tip: Book early and ask about holiday packages — many include cocoa tastings, trolley passes, or VIP spots for the light parade.

🔥 Roast: To the driver who tried to parallel park on Canton Street during the tree-lighting preview — bold move, wrong dimension.

🌟 Boast: To the Alpharetta High marching band — because nothing says “holidays” like Jingle Bells with a drumline.

🍷 Toast: To whoever invented the Merry Grinchmas Martini — the city of Alpharetta owes you a key to downtown.

Shout Out to my friend Leslie who's birthday was Tuesday!!! 🤗🎉

🔥 Roast 🏆 Boast 🥂 Toast

Keep it kind + local. We may edit for clarity/length.

🍂 For Sale: One decorative hay bale, slightly used, now housing a family of chipmunks. Free to a good porch.

🕯️ Wanted: Someone who can relight my fall candle without judgment for how fast I burned through the first one.

🥧 Trade: One homemade pie crust for a functioning rolling pin. (Mine retired mid-Thanksgiving prep.)

🐿️ Lost: My willpower at Kilwins. If found, please return before I buy another caramel apple.

Editor’s Note: Have a real ad? We’ll happily mix it in with the fake ones next week — bonus points if it’s just as weird.

Click 👉 here to submit your item / opportunity.

Word Puzzle Answer: Leaves

Last Week's Guess the Photo Answer: Current Sequence

Created by Jacob Burmood, 2021
Cold Cast Aluminum
Current Sequence based on the fluid movement of the human body while dancing. It is an abstraction that emphasizes the rhythm and mobility rather than the typical, recognizeable features of the figure.

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See ya on the A-Side — where the parking may be tricky, but the weekends are worth it.

More for locals: Things to Do in Alpharetta (hub)

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