North Atlanta Weekend Guide: 17 Things to Do Sept. 11–13

North Atlanta has one of those weekends when staying close to home does not mean staying home. Duluth is throwing a 150th birthday party, Alpharetta has markets, football, country music and songwriters, Cumming has back-to-back outdoor concerts, and Peachtree Corners is going full 1980s.

There are quieter choices, too, from family art and local history to a Sunday makers market. And on Friday, communities across the area will pause to mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11.

Friday, Sept. 11

1. Remember Sept. 11 in Roswell or Suwanee

Roswell will hold its Sept. 11 commemorative ceremony at City Hall at 8:30 a.m., giving residents a local place to pause on the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

Later in the day, Suwanee will hold its own 9/11 Memorial Event beginning at 6 p.m. at Town Center.

2. Make a night of Downtown Alpharetta

The Alpharetta Moonlight Market fills Broad and Market streets from 5 to 10 p.m. with local makers, artwork, jewelry, textiles and other handcrafted goods.

Nearby, the On The Green concert series begins at 6 p.m. at Town Green. It makes for an easy Friday combination: browse the market, grab something to eat and settle in for music downtown.

3. Brooks & Dunn in Alpharetta

Brooks & Dunn bring their Neon Moon Tour to Ameris Bank Amphitheatre at 7 p.m. Friday, making this the weekend's biggest country concert in North Atlanta. Details and other Alpharetta live-music listings are available through the city's Music City calendar.

4. Music on the Hill in Roswell

Roswell's free Music on the Hill series continues on the City Hall lawn from 7 to 9 p.m. with Nashville Nation.

Bring a chair or blanket, pack dinner or pick something up nearby, and make it an outdoor Friday night. The event is part of the city's Roswell365 calendar.

5. Boogilicious in Cumming

Cumming City Center's fall concert series brings Boogilicious to the Lou Sobh Amphitheater from 8 to 10 p.m.

The Atlanta band moves through funk, dance, pop and rock spanning several decades. The show is part of the Cumming City Center September lineup.

Saturday, Sept. 12

6. Start the morning in Suwanee

The PCOM Georgia Old Peachtree Blaze 5K begins Saturday morning at Suwanee Town Center Park, with proceeds supporting community wellness programs. Race information and registration are available through Fleet Feet.

The Suwanee Farmers Market also opens at 8 a.m., making Town Center an easy place to stay for breakfast, produce and a little weekend wandering after the race.

7. Look beneath Roswell's surface

Roswell's “Flow Through Time” program begins at 9 a.m. at the city's water treatment plant, pairing the Water Utility with the Roswell Historical Society for a look at the role water has played in the community's development.

It is one of the weekend's more unusual local-history options and can be found through the Roswell events calendar.

8. Grilling & GridIron in Alpharetta

College football and a large food lineup take over Old Roswell Street during Grilling & GridIron from noon to 7:30 p.m.

The annual Lionheart School fundraiser includes more than 25 food tents and SEC football on the big screen. Wristbands are $35, while children under 8 eat free.

9. Duluth turns 150

The strongest all-day celebration of the weekend may be The Big 150: Off the Rails, Duluth's 150th-anniversary party running from 2 to 10 p.m.

Downtown Duluth will fill with live music, carnival games, food trucks, crafts and family activities. The Smithereens take the main stage at 6:30 p.m., followed by Grand Funk Railroad at 8:30 p.m.

Admission to the celebration and concerts is free.

10. Monster Jam takes over Gas South Arena

Families who prefer very large trucks to very loud guitars can head to Gas South Arena for Monster Jam.

Saturday performances are scheduled for 1 and 7 p.m., followed by Sunday shows at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets and showtimes are available through the arena's ticketing page.

11. Make art from leaves and sunlight in Roswell

Roswell Visual Arts Center hosts “Leaf Rubbing & Cyanotypes with Ms. Megan” from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

The hands-on family workshop turns nature into art and offers a manageable morning outing before the larger afternoon and evening events begin. More information is available through Roswell365.

12. Paint your partner in Sugar Hill

Sugar Hill's Waterfall Room hosts a 21-and-older Paint Your Partner evening from 6 to 8 p.m.

Participants submit a photograph beforehand, receive a pre-sketched portrait and then take over with the paintbrush. A complimentary glass of wine is included.

13. Go back to the '80s in Peachtree Corners

Guardians of the Jukebox return to the Peachtree Corners Town Green Saturday night as part of the city's free Concert Series.

The evening begins at 7 p.m., with the headlining set expected later in the evening. Expect '80s hits, throwback video clips and plenty of room for dancing on the Town Green.

14. Songwriters at Sundown in Alpharetta

For a gentler Saturday night, Songwriters at Sundown begins at 7:30 p.m. at Brooke Street Park.

Home By Dark's outdoor series is built around songs and the stories behind them. Bring a blanket, lawn chair and picnic. Saturday's show is the final Songwriters at Sundown performance of the 2026 season.

15. U2 under the lights in Cumming

Elevation — The Ultimate Tribute to U2 plays the Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

The show is part of the City Center's September concert schedule and will lean heavily on the Irish band's best-known arena-sized songs.

Sunday, Sept. 13

16. Browse the Makers Market at Avalon

Avalon's Makers Market and Local Artist Fair runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

More than 25 makers are expected with jewelry, pottery, candles, fragrances, apparel, leather goods and other handmade items. There will also be live music, and the outdoor market is kid- and pet-friendly.

17. Spend Sunday with Roswell's hometown heroes

Roswell's weekend winds down with the third annual Hometown Heroes fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. at From the Earth Brewing Company.

The event supports the Roswell First Responders Foundation and includes music, food, drinks and an auction. Details are available through the Roswell weekend calendar.

With Duluth's milestone celebration, free outdoor concerts across several cities and enough smaller choices to build an entire day around, this is a weekend when the harder decision may be what to leave out.

Event times and availability can change, particularly for ticketed events, so check the linked event pages before heading out.