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π Derby, De Mayo, & Donβt Head Home Early...
Published about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 10 min read
Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek & Roswell Events: Apr 30 β May 6
β Good Morning you spicy grasshopper β shimmy yourself awake and remember you are the biggest personality in the garden. Shake your maracas and strut into the day daring the meanies to bring you down.
Lets's go!
P.S. Who's excited about this weekends premiere of The devil Wears Prada 2?
That's all......π
Naray Publisher A Side Of Town β βWere you Forwarded this? Get the free Thursday drop β Hβereβ β
β Gold Star Editorβs Picks β βEditorβs Picks This weekβs β Editorβs Picks. We looked at everything on the calendar so you donβt have to.
β β Mingle & Mahjong
β Roswell Derby de Mayo Block Party
β Roswell Youth Theatre: Legally Blonde The Musical JR.
β Johns Creek International Festival
β Crabapple Derby Dash 5K
β Celebrate Freedom Rodeo
β Halcyon First Friday Concert featuring The Venus Kings β For deets about these events see their respective categories below.
SAVE THE DATE βBook Ahead Guide: ποΈ Ticketed Β· β³ Limited seating Β· π Worth planning ahead These events are sure to sell out so plan your calendars for sitters and budgets accordingly.
β Taste of Alpharetta
πMain St. β βπ May 14 6 PM π² Free βWhat: All the foodies are on high alert for this don't miss yearly tasting extravaganza β βAlpharetta Arts Streetfestβ π The Grove at Wills Park, Alpharetta π Sat, May 23 & Sun, May 24, 10 AM β 5 PM (Sellout Sidebar / future)β π² Free βWhat: The βjust popping byβ that turns into a full lap (or three). Rows of artists, actually good browsing, food trucks, and enough handmade finds to convince yourself you needed a new something. ββ β
β βTHURSDAY Apr 30β β βThe Devil Wears Prada 2 Release Day ββ βPower of the Print Exhibitβ π Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St. π Thu, Apr. 30 | 8:30 AMβ8 PM π² See event page βWhat: Printmaking gets its moment, and frankly, it deserves one. Art you can casually understand without pretending to βsit with the piece.β β βMingle & Mahjongβ π Avalon, 400 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta π Thu, Apr. 30 | 6:30β8:30 PM π² $35 and register at avaloninsider.com βWhat: Mahjong on The Plaza. Technically a game night, emotionally a soft-launch for your spring social calendar. (It's a gateway, don't get suuuuucked innnnnnnn!)π€£β β
β FRIDAY May 1 ββ Open Anvil: Blacksmithing and Bladesβ π Art Center West, Roswell π Fri, May 1 | 5β9 PM π² See event page βWhat: A monitored open studio for metalwork. Very βI made this,β but with more sparks.
β βοΈ Celebrate Freedom Rodeoβ π Wills Park Equestrian Center, Alpharetta π Fri, May 1 | 6β9:30 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Rodeo night at Wills Park. Boots optional, enthusiasm not really. β βFermented Fridaysβ π Fermented, 50 Canton St. Ste. 106, Alpharetta π Fri, May 1 | 7β9 PM π² $10 cover / $5 wine club βWhat: Live jazz and natural wine. A very civilized way to begin ignoring your inbox. β
βοΈ Roswell Youth Theatre: Legally Blonde The Musical JR.β π Roswell Cultural Arts Center π Fri, May 1 | 7 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Youth theatre with pink power and courtroom confidence. Elle Woods remains undefeated. ββ SATURDAY May 2
β β βοΈ 5th Annual Crabapple Derby Dash 5Kβ π Crabapple Market / Crabapple Green, 12650 Crabapple Rd., Milton π Sat, May 2 | 7β11 AM π² Registration required βWhat: A Kentucky Derby-themed 5K/1K with runners, walkers, sponsor tables, breakfast/coffee for purchase, and proceeds supporting Byrdhouse Ministries. Fascinators at 7 AM? Bold. We respect it.β β βοΈ Derby de Mayo Block Partyβ π Roswell π Saturday, May 2 π² Ticketed βWhat: Kentucky Derby meets Cinco de Mayo. Big hats, bigger opinions on tacos. β βKentucky Derby at Avalonβ π Avalon, Alpharetta π Sat, May 2 | 5β8 PM π² See event page βWhat: Derby style without leaving Alpharetta. Wear the hat. You know you want to.
β βοΈ Celebrate Freedom Rodeoβ π Wills Park Equestrian Center, Alpharetta π Sat, May 2 | 6β9:30 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Night two of rodeo action, for anyone who believes Saturday deserves more horses.
β Alpharetta Farmers Marketβ π Town Green, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta π Sat, May 2 | 8:30 AMβ12:30 PM π² Free entry βWhat: Produce, baked goods, flowers, and the weekly ritual of pretending you only came for tomatoes. β βWoodcraft Bud Vase Workshop (Motherβs Day Edition)β π Woodcraft of Atlanta (Alpharetta area) π Saturday, May 2 | 9:00 AMβ5:00 PM π² $120 What: This oneβs a beginner-friendly, hands-on, bud vase workshop you make from turning wood. Great bonding activity for dad's to do with kids for a nice vessel to put those Mother's Day flowers in. (hint, hint....)
β Beginner Class: Frit Pendantsβ π FlameTree Glass, Roswell π Sat, May 2 | 12β2 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Make glass pendants without needing previous experience or a secret art-school past.
β 4th Annual Alpharetta Taco & Tequila Crawlβ π The Hamilton Alpharetta, 35 Milton Ave. π Sat, May 2 | 1β6 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Tacos, margaritas, and downtown wandering. Research, basically.
β βSUNDAY May 3
National Pilates Dayβ π BODYBAR Pilates Roswell π Sun, May 3 | 12β3 PM π² Free 101 classes / offers vary βWhat: Pilates, vendors, prizes, and the possibility of discovering muscles youβve been avoidingβ β Taste & Toast on Canton Streetβ π Historic Canton Street, Roswell π Sun, May 3 | 12β5 PM π² Fundraiser βWhat: Drink local, dine local, give local. A very efficient use of a Sunday.β β TUESDAY May 5
Friends of the Milton Library Tuesday Afternoon Book Saleβ π Milton Branch Library π Tue, May 5 | 1β5:30 PM π² Book purchases vary βWhat: Cheap books, good cause, and the quiet thrill of leaving with βjust a few.β β β WEDNESDAY May 6β βNeapolitan Pizza Making Classβ π Roswell General / Roswell Baking Company π Wed, May 6 | 6β8 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Hands-on pizza making, aka dinner with a skill attached. Very respectable.β β THURSDAY May 7
Summer Leaves Glass Classβ π FlameTree Glass, Roswell π Thu, May 7 | 4β6 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Beginner-friendly glass art with a leafy twist. Nature, but less muddy.
β Beginner Hand Embroidery: Floral Cocktail Napkin Setsβ π Red Seal Craft Studio, Roswell π Thu, May 7 | 7 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Learn hand embroidery and leave with cocktail napkins that are frankly trying harder than most table settings. β ββ Click π here to submit your event.
There are lots of celebrations to keep us busy this month and this week alone we have two. Share which one are you most likely to participate?
Do find these issues helpful with local events you like to attend?
π Helium Comedy Club, Alpharetta π Thur, Apr 30 & Fri, May 1 (various times) π² $β$$ (tickets) βWhat: Loud, wild, slightly unhinged storytellingβthe kind where youβre either crying laughing or texting your group chat mid-show. Not a background comedy situation.β β β The Stephen Lee Bandβ π Roaring Social, 35 Milton Ave., Alpharetta π Thu, Apr. 30 | 8β11 PM π² See event page βWhat: Cover songs across the decades, because apparently nostalgia has a dance floor.
β FRIDAY May 1 β βοΈ Free First Friday Concert by The Venus Kingsβ π Halcyon, Alpharetta π Fri, May 1 | evening concert listing π² Free βWhat: Halcyonβs First Friday concert season appears to kick off with The Venus Kings. Patio-adjacent live music: the gateway drug to staying out later than planned. Iβd verify directly on Halcyonβs calendar before publishing because their site is JavaScript-gated in search. β βMargaritaville Night (Jimmy Buffett Tribute)
π Roswell Junction, Roswell (Flip Side)β π Fri, May 1, 8β11 PM π² $20β$25 βWhat: Cheeseburgers in paradise energy without the plane ticket. Tropical shirts, singalongs, and a crowd fully committed to the bitβin the best way. β βThe Benito Gonzalez Trio featuring Jeff βTainβ Wattsβ π The Velvet Note, Alpharetta π Fri, May 1 | 7:30β9:30 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Serious jazz talent in an intimate room. Your βI should get out moreβ plan starts here. β βSATURDAY May 2β βHome by Dark (Live Music Series)
β βSUNDAY May 3 βHarmony Born Here: Atlanta Vocal Project Celebrates Barbershop in Americaβ π Roswell Cultural Arts Center π Sun, May 3 | 4 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Barbershop harmony gets the spotlight. Four-part vocals, zero barbers required. β βFRIDAY / SATURDAY May 8-9β βRickey Smiley β Helium Comedy Clubβ π Alpharetta π May 8β9 π² Tickets required What: Recognizable name, small venue, very real chance this disappears.β β
Ribbon Cutting for Jeremiahβs Italian Iceβ π 5075 Abbotts Bridge Rd Ste 500, Alpharetta, GA 30005 π Fri, May 1 | 11 AM π² Free βWhat: A new Italian ice spot gets the big-scissors treatment. Civic ceremony, but colder and sweeter.
β SATURDAY May 2 β βJohns Creek International Festivalβ π Atlanta Athletic Club Fields, 1930 Bobby Jones Dr., Johns Creek π Sat, May 2 | 12β6 PM π² Free βWhat: Food, culture, music, and a reminder that Johns Creek knows how to throw a globally flavored Saturday. β β βFairyTale Village Spring Experienceβ π FairyTale Village, 1000 North Point Circle, Alpharetta π Sat, May 2 | 11 AMβ6 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: A kid-friendly spring fantasy setup with enough whimsy to count as cardio for parents. ββ β βοΈ Roswell Youth Theatre: Legally Blonde The Musical JR.β π Roswell Cultural Arts Center π Sat, May 2 | 7 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Local youth performers bring the bend-and-snap energy. Honestly, impressive.β β TUESDAY May 5 ββ Toddler Time / Community Activities Open Playβ π Community Center at Milton City Park and Preserve, 1785 Dinsmore Rd. π Tue, May 5 | 9 AMβNoon and 3β5 PM π² Free βWhat: Toys, toddler socializing, parent socializing, and the rare public program that understands nap schedules are not suggestions. β β βPreschool Adventuresβ π Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, 9770 Autrey Mill Rd., Johns Creek π Tue, May 5 | 10β11 AM π² Registration required βWhat: Nature-themed learning for preschoolers and their grown-ups. Small people, big curiosity. ββ βHooked on Loops Crochet Clubβ π Roswell Branch Library π Tue, May 5 | 5β6 PM π² Free βWhat: Kids learn crochet with supplies provided. Extremely wholesome, suspiciously useful. ββ WEDNESDAY May 6 βHomeschool Hangoutβ π Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Rd., Johns Creek π Wed, May 6 | 3:30β4:30 PM π² Free βWhat: Games, projects, and social time for homeschool kids. Low-key, useful, no forced icebreakers mentioned.β β THURSDAY May 7 βHomeschool Adventuresβ π Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, 9770 Autrey Mill Rd., Johns Creek π Thu, May 7 | 10 AMβ12:30 PM π² Registration required βWhat: A drop-off nature, science, and history program for ages 5β14. Basically school, but with more trees. β βMake Your Own Charm Necklaceβ π Red Seal Craft Studio, Roswell π Thu, May 7 | 1 PM π² Ticketed βWhat: Design a charm necklace that says βcustomβ without requiring a trust fund. β ββ Click π here to submit your event.
β ββ SATURDAY May 2 βCinco de Mayo on the 2nd (CCT) π CCT Alpharetta π Sat, May 2, 3β6 PM (drinks + food all day) π² Free entry; food & drinks for purchase βWhat: Cinco shows up early and honestlyβ¦ weβre not mad about it. Mariachi, elote on the green, empanadas from Latin Stove, and margaritas doing what they do best. This one feels like a βstay longer than you plannedβ situation. ββ ββ β
β Southeastern Designer Showhouseβ π 4881 powers Ferry Rd. Atlanta, GA 30327 Atlanta π - 5/10/26 Thurs - Sunday Only π²Must purchase tickets in advance Ticketed $50 parking and event hours here.β β
What: If looking inside a beautifully designed house counts as self-care, this is your moment. ( Much better than strolling through Target with a latte.) The Southeastern Designer Show house is now open to the public, serving up serious interiors inspiration, polished architectural detail, and the kind of design ideas that follow you home and start judging your lighting. βNote: No parking on site. Park at the Atlanta Realtors Center at 5784 Lake Forrest DR NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 and get on the door- to -door shuttle. 15 mins round trip.β β
β
Unscramble this word: AGIRMTARA Hint: a salt rimmed cocktail Answer: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
see the Fadeout section below for the answer. π
Since cookout and picnic season will soon be upon us have you noticed the glow-up paper plates have had? Not to besmirch the Dixie paper plate, but take the wins where you can, right? These floral ones from Amazon are adorable. β
Paper plates from Amazon β β
Illustrator Molly Hatch fashioned the artwork for these heavy duty compostable plates from 18th-century fine china. β β
Loving this plaid one too by Scout on Etsy. β β
Courtesy Scout on Etsy
These make cleanup a breeze.
This is the weekend to safely get rid of your left-over DIY project toxins! Don't forget to register at the link. π β βSATURDAY May 2 β β**If you're doing any spring cleaning take note** βHousehold Hazardous Waste & Paint Disposal Collectionβ π Alpharetta residents only π Sat, May 2 π² Free for acceptable items | Pre-registration required hereβ βwhat: not glamorous, but deeply satisfying for anyone finally ready to deal with the cursed paint cans and mystery garage chemicals.
THURSDAY APR 30β β Roswell Inc Nonprofit Leadership Academyβ π A Beacon of Hope, Roswell π Thu, Apr. 30 | 8:30 AM π² See event page βWhat: A civic-minded morning for nonprofit folks who like their community impact with a side of actual strategy. ββ Joint Community Event: Comp Plan 2045 & TSPLOST Open Houseβ π Roswell City Hall π Thu, Apr. 30 | 6β8 PM π² Free βWhat: Roswellβs future growth and transportation plans, served open-house style. Civic engagement, but make it drop-in. β β TUESDAY May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) β β2026 Intermediate Level Spanish Classβ π Alpharetta Branch Library π Tue, May 5 | 11 AMβ12:30 PM π² Free βWhat: Brush up your Spanish with Ms. Ligia. Much better than pretending Duolingo notifications count. β β THURSDAY May 7β βComputer Class: Internet Safety Tipsβ π Roswell Adult Recreation Center π Thu, May 7 | 10 AMβNoon π² See event page βWhat: A practical class on staying safer online. Less glamorous than passwords should be, more useful than most apps. β βRoswell Historical Society May Meetingβ π Roswell Adult Recreation Center π Thu, May 7 | 6:30β8 PM π² Free βWhat: Local history people gathering in the wild. RSVP optional, curiosity encouraged. β
β Have a job, gig, or service to share?β Reply to this email or visit asideoftown.com to share a listing.
β β
National Travel & Tourism Week
π Alpharetta Welcome Center π Mon, May 4 β Fri, May 8, 9 AM β 4 PM π² Free βWhat: Free swag, donut days, and a low-effort reason to feel like a tourist in your own town. Bonus: enter to win 2 VIP concert tickets to see Parker McCollum while youβre at itβbecause why not.
Word scramble answer: margarita
β Thanks for being here and have a great week! β Thank you to all of the new readers for being here. If you have any questions just hit reply to this email. If it has helped you please share it and spread the word. β β
βπΎSee you on the A-Side. β¨
Some links in this newsletter may be affiliate links, which means the A Side of Town could earn a small commission if you choose to purchaseβat absolutely no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we genuinely love and think you will too.
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" If you live in Alpharetta, this is a MUST read. π― π π π³ π²"!
Find out what's going on in town the fun way. π₯
*NEW FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER* covering community happenings, events, new business openings, job postings, new restuarants you didn't know existed, contractors you can hire, weekend getaways, and more-- all delivered straight to your email. New editions Thursday at 7am. π Subscribe for free! β¬οΈ
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