The Best Things to Do Around North Atlanta This Weekend

North Atlanta’s final weekend of June brings free concerts, farmers markets, family theater, road races and outdoor festivals from Cumming to Peachtree Corners.

Here are some of the strongest choices still ahead this weekend.

A Johns Creek Grand Opening and a Day of Tabletop Games

Johns Creek has two very different Saturday choices.

Toastique celebrates the grand opening of its new café at 3005 Old Alabama Road, Suite 160. The health-focused restaurant serves open-faced gourmet toast, cold-pressed juice, smoothie bowls, coffee and lighter breakfast and lunch dishes. Opening-day activities and promotions are planned between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

A few hours later, Level Up Games hosts Free RPG Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event introduces players to tabletop roleplaying games through scheduled sessions, demonstrations and publisher giveaways.

The gathering is designed for experienced players as well as newcomers who may be curious about collaborative games built around characters, storytelling and strategy.

An ’80s Night at Cumming City Center

Guardians of the Jukebox brings the sights and sounds of the MTV era to the Lou Sobh Amphitheater on Saturday night.

The Atlanta-based tribute band builds its performance around recognizable pop and rock hits from the 1980s, complete with the clothing, energy and visual style of the decade. The free concert runs from 8 to 10 p.m. at Cumming City Center.

Earlier Saturday, the Cumming Farmers Market operates from 7 to 11 a.m., offering produce, eggs, honey, baked goods, plants and locally made products.

Families can return Sunday for Slide Into Sundays, when water slides and bounce houses will be set up around Cumming City Center from 1 to 5 p.m. The free event gives children a place to cool off while parents remain within walking distance of the development’s restaurants and dessert shops.

Percy Jackson Comes to Sugar Hill

Young performers from On the Stage Children’s Theatre are bringing “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” to the Eagle Theatre in downtown Sugar Hill.

Adapted from Rick Riordan’s popular fantasy novel, the production follows Percy Jackson as he discovers his connection to Greek mythology and sets out to recover Zeus’ missing lightning bolt. The show combines the familiar adventure story with a rock-influenced musical score.

Saturday performances are scheduled for 2:30 and 7 p.m., followed by a final Sunday show at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets are listed at $10 to $15, with premium box seating also available.

The air-conditioned production is one of the weekend’s better choices for families seeking a break from the afternoon heat.

Suwanee Combines Running, Beer and a Good Cause

Join a race through Old Town Suwanee followed by music, food trucks and patriotic activities.

The children’s root beer fun run begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the main 5K at 10 a.m. Adult runners encounter craft beer sampling stops along the route, while the post-race festival includes entertainment, water games and a hot dog eating contest.

Proceeds support the Patriot Legacy Fund, which provides scholarships for children of service-disabled veterans, along with StillFire’s Find Your Fire Foundation. Registration fees vary by race and age group.

Later Saturday, Suwanee Town Center hosts an outdoor soccer watch party at 6 p.m., giving fans a communal place to follow the international tournament on a large screen. Guests can bring chairs, blankets and coolers, with restaurants around the park available for dinner and snacks.

Start Saturday at a Farmers Market

Residents seeking a quieter beginning can choose between two established Saturday markets.

The Alpharetta Farmers Market runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in downtown Alpharetta, with regional produce, flowers, baked goods, meats and specialty foods. The Cumming Farmers Market opens earlier, operating from 7 to 11 a.m. at Cumming City Center.

Both place shoppers within walking distance of restaurants and other weekend attractions, making them easy starting points for a longer day out.

Milton Offers Running, Yoga and Brunch

Milton High School hosts a charity cross-country 5K Saturday morning on its championship grass-and-dirt running course.

A children’s fun run begins at 7 a.m., followed by the main race at 7:30 a.m. Proceeds benefit the Pedal Forward Foundation and Stella Love Nonprofit. Leashed dogs are welcome, giving runners a chance to complete the off-road course with a four-legged companion.

For a slower start, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails is hosting Yoga & Brunch from 9 to 11 a.m. The morning begins with a 45-minute outdoor yoga class at Milton’s Acre, followed by a brunch buffet and complimentary mimosa. Admission is $50, and participants should bring a yoga mat and water.

Roswell’s Patriotic Concert Returns Sunday

The 45th annual Patriotic Celebration Concert returns Sunday at 3 p.m. at Roswell United Methodist Church.

The free performance combines the church’s sanctuary choir with a professional orchestra for a program of familiar American music, including “God Bless America,” “Stars and Stripes Forever” and an Armed Forces Salute recognizing veterans and active-duty military members.

The concert offers one of the weekend’s more traditional Independence Day experiences before the larger July Fourth celebrations begin across North Atlanta.

Roswell also hosts a rain barrel workshop Saturday morning at the Bill Johnson Community Activity Building. The free program teaches Fulton County residents how to assemble and use a rain barrel for garden and lawn irrigation. Advance registration is required, and participation is limited to one barrel per household.

Broadway Talent in Sandy Springs and Woodstock

Residents willing to travel slightly beyond the primary North Atlanta coverage area have two notable theater and music choices.

The City Springs Theatre Conservatory presents “Guys and Dolls” at the Byers Theatre in Sandy Springs, with Saturday performances at 2 and 7 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. The full-scale production features high school performers in the classic Broadway comedy about gamblers, missionaries and unlikely romances in mid-century New York.

In Woodstock, original “Rent” stars Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp reunite Saturday night for an outdoor performance built around music and stories from their three-decade friendship. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on the Woodstock Arts Event Green, with tickets ranging from about $30 to $45.

Two Large Atlanta Events Worth the Drive

Atlanta’s international summer schedule also offers a pair of weekend events with broad regional appeal.

AfroXFest World Cup Village continues Saturday and Sunday at Candler Park, combining outdoor soccer screenings with African music, cultural performances, food vendors and a marketplace. Admission is free, and the event runs from late morning into the evening.

Shakira performs Sunday night at State Farm Arena as part of the “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” world tour. The concert is connected to Atlanta’s World Cup festivities and is likely to draw fans from across the Southeast. Tickets vary by seating and availability.

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