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Farmers Markets, Fireworks Energy & Fermented Grapes
Published 25 days agoΒ β’Β 12 min read
Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek & Roswell Events: May 7 β May 25
β Wake-y Wake-y you crispy croissant. You've done hard things before and this May is taking off like a star-dazed rocket. You've done hard things before and you can do it again.
We've got graduations, and anniversaries, and hearing loss. (JK wanted to see if you were paying attention. Lol).
If you're a parent of school-age children, peace be with you. The PTA is driving you bonkers with theme days and teacher appreciation weeks creeping into the teensy bit of spare brain matter you have before summer break. β I feel it too with two college graduations within the next 11 days, four days apart, up and down the east coast, planning luncheons, preparing for out of town guest, and grad parties which is why this weeks issue will cover events through May 25 β when I might have my sanity back. β Congratulations to all of the Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, and Roswell seniors graduating next week. I love seeing all the neighborhood signs!
β Gold Star Editorβs Picks β βEditorβs Picks β
We looked at the next three weeks so you donβt have to aggressively scroll all over the internet at midnight. These are the standouts: the events with actual buzz, good energy, and a legitimate reason to leave the house. Some are big crowd moments. Some are low-key gems. All are worth your time. β
β Taste of Alpharetta β Downtown Alpharetta β May 14
β Alive in Roswell β Canton Street, Roswell β May 21
β Alpharetta Moonlight Market β Alpharetta City Center β May 8 + May 22
β Alpharetta Arts Fest β The Grove, Alpharetta β May 23β24
β On The Green Concert Series β Alpharetta Town Green β May 8 + May 22
β Johns Creek Summer Concert Series: Boy Band Review β Town Center Park β May 8
β GODSMACK: The Rise of Rock Tour β Ameris Bank Amphitheatre β May 21
β Band Adu: Celebrating the Music of Sade β The Velvet Note β May 23
β Fermented Fridays Jazz Night β Fermented, Alpharetta β May 15
β Motherβs Day Concert by Alpharetta Symphony Youth Orchestra β Innovation Academy β May 10 β For deets about these events see their respective categories below.
β
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 β
β βTHURSDAY May 7β βPower of the Print Exhibitβ π Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St., Alpharetta π Thu, May 7, 8:30 AMβ8 PM π² Check venue What: Print is apparently not dead; it just moved to Canton Street and got better lighting. A quiet artsy stop before the weekend noise kicks in.
β Kick off Motherβs Day @ Makers Marketβ π Makers Market at Avalon, Alpharetta π Thu, May 7, 4:30β9 PM π² Free to browse; shopping varies What: A momsβ night out sip-and-shop, which is exactly the kind of βquick stopβ that somehow becomes three bags and a candle.
β Jeopardy Bar Leagueβ π Fetch Park, 11440 Maxwell Rd., Alpharetta π Thu, May 7, 7β9 PM π² Free to play What: Trivia with dogs nearby. Honestly, a better format than most game shows.
β FRIDAY May 8β Power of the Print Exhibitβ π Alpharetta Arts Center, Alpharetta π Fri, May 8, 8:30 AMβ4:30 PM π² Check venue What: A low-key culture stop before the Friday night calendar starts acting ambitious.
β ββ Alpharetta Moonlight Marketβ π Alpharetta City Center, 2001 Commerce St., Alpharetta π Fri, May 8, 5β10 PM π² Free to attend; shopping varies What: Local makers, live music, downtown glow, and several things you didnβt need until you saw them under string lights.
β ββ On The Green Alpharetta Concert Seriesβ π Alpharetta Town Green, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta π Fri, May 8, 6 PM π² Free What: Picnic blanket, takeout, live music, and the Town Green doing its best βwe planned this perfectlyβ impression.
β ββ Johns Creek Summer Concert Series: Boy Band Reviewβ π The Boardwalk at Town Center Park, Johns Creek π Fri, May 8 π² Free What: Boy band nostalgia in a park. Stretch first; someone is absolutely attempting choreography. ββ SATURDAY May 9
Alpharetta Farmers Marketβ π Town Green, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta π Sat, May 9, 8:30 AMβ12:30 PM π² Free entry What: Produce, pastries, flowers, and the weekly lie we tell ourselves: βIβm just getting coffee.β
β Power of the Print Exhibitβ π Alpharetta Arts Center, Alpharetta π Sat, May 9, 10 AMβ4 PM π² Check venue What: Weekend art with just enough sophistication to offset your farmers market pastry count.
β Bode+Ev Pop Up at Makers Market Avalonβ π Makers Market at Avalon, Alpharetta π Sat, May 9, 2β6 PM π² Free to browse; shopping varies What: Candles, bath goods, body products, and the familiar Avalon math where βjust browsingβ becomes a lifestyle.
β THE HAPPY HOURβ π Roaring Social, 35 Milton Ave., Alpharetta π Sat, May 9, 8β11:30 PM π² Check venue What: A multi-genre ATL trio takes over Roaring Social, which already sounds like a better plan than pretending youβre staying in. β β
β βSUNDAY May 10 Mother's Day βMotherβs Day at Sienaβ π Siena Restaurant, Alpharetta π Sun, May 10, 10 AMβ6 PM π² Varies What: Mediterranean comfort, Motherβs Day polish, and the rare restaurant plan that says βI rememberedβ without needing a speech.
β Makers Market Local Artist Fair at Avalonβ π Avalon, Alpharetta π Sun, May 10, 11 AMβ6 PM π² Free to browse; shopping varies What: Handmade goods, live tunes, and Motherβs Day shopping with plausible deniability.
β Sip & Sculpt Pottery Classβ π Boarding Pass Coffee, 360 Commerce St., Alpharetta π Sun, May 10, 2β4 PM π² Ticketed What: Coffee, clay, and a hands-on activity that doesnβt involve assembling patio furniture.
β β Motherβs Day Concert β Alpharetta Symphony Youth Orchestraβ π Innovation Academy, 125 Milton Ave., Alpharetta π Sun, May 10, 5:30β7 PM π² Free What: A free Motherβs Day concert by talented local students. Sweet, polished, and not another brunch reservation.
β βMONDAY May 11β βMusic Bingoβ π Fetch Park, Alpharetta π Mon, May 11, 7β9 PM π² Free to play What: Bingo, music, dogs, prizes. Monday is trying harder than usual, and we respect it.
β WEDNESDAY May 13β Ales, Tails & Triviaβ π Fetch Park, Alpharetta π Wed, May 13, 7β9 PM π² Free to play What: Trivia plus pups, which is basically cheating in the charm department.
β THURSDAY May 14
β Taste of Alpharettaβ π Downtown Alpharetta π Thu, May 14, 5β10 PM π² Free admission; food costs vary What: The big one. Downtown fills up with food, music, and everyone suddenly having very strong opinions about best bites.
β Lavahi: Liveβ π Roswell River Landing, Roswell π Thu, May 14 π² Ticketed What: A soulful live performance with a little more texture than your standard Thursday night.
β Kurt Thomas Band at Roaring Socialβ π Roaring Social, Alpharetta π Thu, May 14, 8β11 PM π² Check venue What: Southern singer-songwriter energy from a musician with serious regional cred. Alpharettaβs weeknight scene is not phoning it in. β βSATURDAY May 16β βAlpharetta Farmers Marketβ π Town Green, Alpharetta π Sat, May 16, 8:30 AMβ12:30 PM π² Free entry What: The Saturday morning loop: coffee, flowers, local produce, and one baked good youβll call βfor later.β
β Fermented Saturday Wine Tastingβ π Fermented, Alpharetta π Sat, May 16, 3β7 PM π² Check venue What: Five wines from family vineyards. Educational, technically. β βWEDNESDAY May 20
Ales, Tails & Triviaβ π Fetch Park, Alpharetta π Wed, May 20, 7β9 PM π² Free to play What: Dogs, trivia, prizes. Still free, still charming, still probably better than your group chatβs plans. β βFRIDAY May 22β Alpharetta Moonlight Marketβ π Alpharetta City Center, 2001 Commerce St., Alpharetta π Fri, May 22, 5β10 PM π² Free to attend; shopping varies What: Local makers and downtown after-dark energy. Bring a friend with restraint, or donβt. β βSATURDAY May 23
Alpharetta Farmers Marketβ π Town Green, Alpharetta π Sat, May 23, 8:30 AMβ12:30 PM π² Free entry What: Holiday weekend groceries, flowers, and snacks disguised as βsupporting local.β
β ββ Alpharetta Arts Festβ π The Grove behind Alpharetta Community Center, 175 Roswell St., Alpharetta π Sat, May 23, 10 AMβ5 PM π² Free entry What: Artists circle The Grove with handmade work, which is how you end up emotionally attached to a ceramic bowl. β βSATURDAY May 24β β Alpharetta Arts Festβ π The Grove behind Alpharetta Community Center, Alpharetta π Sun, May 24, 10 AMβ5 PM π² Free entry What: Day two of Arts Fest, for anyone who walked away Saturday and immediately regretted not buying the thing. β βMONDAY May 25 MEMORIAL DAYβ βAlpharetta Memorial Day Tributeβ π Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta π Mon, May 25, 9β10:15 AM π² Free What: Alpharetta and the Rotary Club host the cityβs Memorial Day Tribute at City Hall. A meaningful start before the grills and pool bags take over.
β Milton Memorial Day Ceremonyβ π Milton, GA π Mon, May 25 π² Free What: Miltonβs annual Memorial Day ceremony is on the city calendar β a quieter, local way to mark the day with actual intention.
β Music Bingoβ π Fetch Park, Alpharetta π Mon, May 25, 7β9 PM π² Free to play What: Dogs, music, bingo, prizes. A soft landing after a long weekend, assuming your golden retriever allows it.
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. ββ SUNDAY May 10β βMotherβs Day at The Velvet Noteβ π The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Pkwy., Alpharetta π Sun, May 10, 9β11 PM π² Ticketed What: Jazz after dinner, because Motherβs Day can have a second act. β βTUESDAY May 12
THE STARDUST BANDβ π Roaring Social, 35 Milton Ave., Alpharetta π Tue, May 12, 8β11 PM π² Check venue What: Jazz, R&B, pop, and Top 40 at Roaring Social. A Tuesday night with range. β βFRIDAY May 15β β Fermented Fridaysβ π Fermented, Alpharetta π Fri, May 15, 7β9 PM π² $10 cover / $5 wine club What: Live jazz and natural wine. Very civilized, until someone starts explaining orange wine like itβs a personality test.
β Dustin Nickersonβ π Helium Comedy Club, 3070 Windward Plaza, Alpharetta π Fri, May 15, 7β9 PM π² Ticketed What: Stand-up from Dustin Nickerson, for anyone who prefers their Friday night with actual punchlines.
β Jazz Singer Elijah Rockβ π The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Pkwy., Alpharetta π Fri, May 15, 7:30β9 PM π² Ticketed What: Classic jazz-vocalist polish at The Velvet Note. A very grown-up Friday, in the best way. β βSUNDAY May 17β βHomemade Jams Showcase Nightβ π Alpharetta π Sun, May 17, 6β9 PM π² 21+ / check venue What: Local musicians, live instrumentation, and Sunday-night talent that deserves a better crowd than βpeople avoiding laundry.β β βTHURSDAY May 21β β Alive in Roswellβ π Historic Canton Street, Roswell π Thu, May 21, 5β9 PM π² Free What: Roswellβs third-Thursday street festival returns with live music, food, shopping, and the subtle local sport of seeing everyone you know. β
β GODSMACK β The Rise of Rock World Tour 2026β π Ameris Bank Amphitheater, Alpharetta π Thu, May 21, 7β11:30 PM π² Ticketed What: Ameris goes full-volume. Not a quiet lawn night. Thatβs the point. β βFRIDAY May 22β On The Green Alpharetta Concert Seriesβ π Alpharetta Town Green, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta π Fri, May 22, 6 PM π² Free What: A Memorial Day weekend launchpad with live music and lawn-chair strategy. β βSATURDAY May 23
Brendan Sagalowβ π Helium Comedy Club, 3070 Windward Plaza, Alpharetta π Sat, May 23, 7:30β9:30 PM π² Ticketed What: New York comic energy lands in Alpharetta for the long weekend. A little bite, as a treat.
β Band Adu β Celebrating the Music of Sadeβ π The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Pkwy., Alpharetta π Sat, May 23, 7:30β9:30 PM π² Ticketed What: Sade night at The Velvet Note. Smooth operator behavior, locally sourced. ββ SATURDAY May 24
Brendan Sagalowβ π Helium Comedy Club, Alpharetta π Sun, May 24, 7:30β9:30 PM π² Ticketed What: Long-weekend comedy, because Sunday night doesnβt have to act like Sunday night.
The Boardwalk at Town Center Park in Johns Creek is finally open!! The big grand opening event is Friday May 8th 6PM-10PM. The park is located behind Johns Creek City Hall. Celebrations include a concert in the amphitheater by Boy Band Review. Food, music, and fun for everyone.
β Johns Creek Summer Concert Series: Boy Band Reviewβ π The Boardwalk at Town Center Park, Johns Creek π Fri, May 8 π² Free What: Boy band nostalgia in a park. Stretch first; someone is absolutely attempting choreography.
β WEDNESDAY May 13β βStorytimeβ π Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Rd., Johns Creek π Wed, May 13, 10:30β11 AM π² Free What: A tidy little midweek win for the small-child crowd. Thirty minutes, zero overthinking.
β Adaptive Social Dance: May β Crazy Hatβ π Roswell Adult Recreation Center, Roswell π Wed, May 13, 6β8 PM π² Membership/registration required What: Social dance with a crazy-hat theme. Roswell said subtlety can take the night off.β β SUNDAY May 17 ββ β Peach Kids Triathlon β Alpharettaβ π Alpharetta π Sun, May 17, 7:30 AMβ1 PM π² Registration required What: Tiny athletes, big effort, and parents pretending theyβre not wildly impressed by children with more discipline than most adults. β βWEDNESDAY May 20β βStorytimeβ π Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Rd., Johns Creek π Wed, May 20, 10:30β11 AM π² Free What: A small-but-solid library outing for families who need a plan before lunch chaos begins. β ββ Click π here to submit your event.
β FRIDAY May 15 βFermented Fridaysβ π Fermented, Alpharetta π Fri, May 15, 7β9 PM π² $10 cover / $5 wine club What: Live jazz and natural wine. Very civilized, until someone starts explaining orange wine like itβs a personality test. ββ β
Primary bedroom in the 2026 Atlanta Show House
This is the last week to tour this home..HIGHLY RECOMMEND! While standing gobsmacked in the primary ensuite bathroom (with his and hers water closets) a woman came in behind me and asked, "What's that room over there"? She was referring to the showeeeeerrrrrrrrr!!! OK!
Yeah, this along with the double-edge infinity pool, the bathroom just for the pool, outdoor kitchen, the 3 hole mini golf AND golf simulation room with the Ferrari leather club chairs for watching the game....8, 572 sq. ft. of eye candy and inspo for your vision board. ββ 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 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
Unscramble this word: OMM Hint: A female parent who nurtures Answer: _ _ _
see the Fadeout section below for the answer. π
Heads Up,
This weekend ALL lanes of I-285 westside will be shut down from 7PM Friday night to Monday morning including North and Southbound traffic. If you dare want to know how to navigate the detours check the GDOT site here.
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
Courtesy of Roo Mountain Vineyards
β Cavender Creek Vineyards β Dahlonega
π 3610 Cavender Creek Rd., Dahlonega
What: If a Nancy Meyers movie opened a winery in North Georgia, it might look something like this. Rolling vineyard views, live music on weekends, charcuterie boards that accidentally become dinner, and Great Pyrenees dogs casually wandering the property like furry hospitality managers. Itβs charming without trying too hard β which, honestly, is the whole appeal.
β Roo Mountain Vineyards β Ellijay
π 1493 Old Flat Branch Rd., Ellijay
What: Big βwow, okayβ energy the second you pull in. Roo Mountain has layered mountain views, indoor seating, outdoor patios, and enough places to spread out that it somehow still feels peaceful even when itβs busy. Also: they serve food, which becomes increasingly important around glass number two.
β CeNita Vineyards β Cleveland
π 591 Dock Dorsey Rd., Cleveland
What: The shady patios here deserve their own local award. CeNita feels slower in the best possible way β relaxed, scenic, and surprisingly family-friendly thanks to the small playground tucked onto the property. Bonus: itβs close enough to Helen to turn the whole day into a mountain escape with very little planning and a suspicious amount of wine.
Word scramble answer: MOM Thanks for being here and I'll be back in a couple of weeks so save this issue to refer back to until then! β Do you like receiving these issues weekly or maybe it shoul dbe on big massive monthly list? β β
βπΎSee you on the A-Side. β¨
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" If you live in Alpharetta, this is a MUST read. π― π π π³ π²"!
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*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
Read more from " If you live in Alpharetta, this is a MUST read. π― π π π³ π²"!
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