Athfest - AthFest is a multi-day music and arts festival in downtown Athens, GA that showcases local, regional, and national musical talent. The festival includes three outdoor stages, an artist market, a two-night Club Crawl in more than 10 venues, and a three-day KidsFest celebration. All proceeds benefit AthFest Educates. Save the date for June 22-26, 2016.
Botanical Gardens - The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is located right here in Athens! The State Botanical Garden provides people of all ages opportunities for recreation, events, and learning through its beautiful gardens. Admission is free!
Camps - Athens and Oconee have no shortage of camps to offer for your child this summer. Check out the Athens Macaroni Kid Summer Camp Guide and sign up!
Deals and Discounts - Looking for ways to save this summer? Everything listed on the Athens Macaroni Kid calendar is $10 and under (mostly FREE!). Also check the Macaroni Deals article for discounts to Atlanta attractions, including the GA Aquarium!
Event Calendar - Overwhelmed with summer choices and just want to know what's going on each day? The Athens Macaroni Kid event calendar has every summer event in town broken down for you by day to make your summer days fun and easy.
Farmer's Market - The Athens Farmers Market and the Oconee Farmers Market both offer opportunities to support local and regional farmers, community members, and artisans. Enjoy the Athens Market on Saturdays and Wednesdays and the Oconee Market on Saturdays.
Georgia Museum of Art - The Georgia Museum of Art is both a university museum at the University of Georgia and the official state museum of art. The museum offers programming for all ages as well as free admission. Join them once a month for a FREE Family Day!
Home Depot - Kids Workshops are a FREE hands-on workshop for kids and are held on the first Saturday of each month.
Indoor Play - Ready for a break from the summer heat? Try one of these great indoor play places to get your kid's energy out and keep you cool.
Jittery Joes - An Athens original, Jittery Joe's delicious coffee and cafe items are a special treat for the whole family, and the caffeine is a must have to keep you going with the little ones this summer.
Kids Eat Free - Kids Eat Free in Athens and Oconee this summer at participating restaurants.
Lowes - A FREE children's workshop held every other Saturday in the summer. Registration is highly recommended.
Movies - Enjoy the GA Theater Company Summer Kid Show series Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and July. Read all about it HERE.
Nature Center - Sandy Creek Nature Center features 225 acres of woodlands and over 4 miles of trails. The Education & Visitor Center includes live reptiles, amphibians, and marine and freshwater aquariums. This is one of my favorite Athens attractions and is not to be missed!
On Your Mark, Get Set, Read! Summer Reading Program-
Welcome to the 2016 Summer Reading Program! The Athens-Clarke County Library and the Oconee County Library offers programs for children (birth to 11), teens (11-18) and adults (18+). Start a summer reading log and earn prizes! Athens Clarke County summer reading program runs May 21st - August 8th and the Oconee County Library program runs May 18th - August 4th. Find all of the storytimes and library events on the Athens Macaroni Kid calendar.
Welcome to the 2016 Summer Reading Program! The Athens-Clarke County Library and the Oconee County Library offers programs for children (birth to 11), teens (11-18) and adults (18+). Start a summer reading log and earn prizes! Athens Clarke County summer reading program runs May 21st - August 8th and the Oconee County Library program runs May 18th - August 4th. Find all of the storytimes and library events on the Athens Macaroni Kid calendar.
Parks, Playgrounds, Pools - Athens has no shortage of parks, playgrounds, and pools to keep you busy all summer long. See the Athens pool guide for details.
Quiet Time - Ready for some quiet time? Try visiting the children's areas at the local libraries or the children's area at Barnes and Noble for some much needed relaxation.
Reblossom play groups - Specializing in everything mama and baby, reblossom mama and baby center offers FREE weekly playgroups. Go play and meet other Athens parents!
Splash Pads - Athens has some of the best splash pads I've ever seen. For only $1 you can splash and play to your heart's content. Don't forget to pack towels, sunscreen and a snack. Read all about it HERE.
Take a Trip - Athens is just a short drive away from major Atlanta attractions and other day trip options. Try one of these 25 day trips in an article written by Athens Macaroni Kid publisher, Julia Hembree.
University of Georgia - There's no denying that Athens, GA is a college town and a UNIQUE place to raise little ones. The presence of the University of Georgia in Athens provides multiple opportunities for families to experience culture, activities, and events that would not be accessible otherwise. Read more about what makes raising children in Athens unique here.
Volunteer - Athens has so much to offer, spend some time giving back to the community this summer. Visit the ACC Leisure Services Department for volunteer opportunities. Sign up for Hands on Northeast Georgia to choose volunteer works perfect for your interests. Help bag and deliver food to children this summer with Food 2 Kids 365.
World of Wonder Playground - Named one of the 50 Best Playgrounds in America, Georgia's largest community-built playground is almost two acres of playscapes, mazes, slides, swings, bridges, tunnels, and climbing walls. Unfortunately, it will soon be replaced, so hurry out to play on it while you can.
Xplore - Ok, I admit I cheated on this one, but with so much history, you have to take some time to explore the great city of Athens! Soak up history on UGA's North Campus. Visit the Tree That Owns Itself or the Double Barreled Cannon. Learn at the TRR Cobb House or the Lyndon House Arts Center. Or try to find all of the bulldogs around town and snap a picture.
YOU Can Win Giveaways - Athens Macaroni Kid loves to give you free stuff. Want to get free goodies and event tickets? Make sure you LIKE us on Facebook and subscribe to the FREE e-newsletter to be eligible to win! Help Athens Macaroni Kid thrive by telling your friends!
Zoo - Bear Hollow Zoo is a popular place for families to come and see Georgia’s native wildlife. Every Saturday (and most Sundays) from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the exhibit hall is open to the public, featuring projects for younger visitors and live animals to see and touch. Walk the trails to see birds, turtles, and yes, even bears!
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