Atlanta’s cultural calendar is filling up fast. Starting Sept. 20, West Midtown Restaurant Week will showcase the district’s diverse dining scene with special menus, brunches, tasting flights, and signature cocktails from longtime favorites like Bacchanalia, Miller Union, and Taqueria del Sol, as well as newer spots such as Summerland and Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall.
Participating restaurants are offering a range of options—from prix‑fixe meals to shareable plates—so families and friends can enjoy a culinary adventure across the week. The event is produced by Livable Buckhead in partnership with the West Midtown Alliance; a full directory is available at westmidtownrestaurantweek.com.
South Fulton’s First‑Ever Roots & Routes Storytelling Festival
South Fulton will host its inaugural Roots & Routes Festival on Sept. 11‑12 at the Southwest Arts Center, 915 New Hope Road SW. Organized by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the free two‑day event brings nationally recognized storytellers, regional performers, and workshop presenters together for adults, families, and emerging storytellers.
Highlights include storytelling workshops, a Story Swap where participants share personal narratives, and a Story Slam competition judged by community members. Evening concerts will blend spoken word with live music. Registration is required, though the festival remains free and open to the public.
SCAD AnimationFest Returns for Its 10th Anniversary
SCAD AnimationFest will return to the SCAD Atlanta campus Sept. 23‑25, marking its 10th anniversary with industry panels, screenings, and student showcases in the SCADshow theater. The festival will honor Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar, executive producers of “The Proud Family,” with the Animation Trailblazer Award, and recognize director‑writer Joel Crawford with the Variety Impact in Animation Award.
New programming includes the inaugural Animated Shorts Competition, a North American premiere of the anime “Sekiro: No Defeat,” and a sneak peek of DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island.” Attendees can also look forward to conversations with creators from Walt Disney Imagineering, Warner Bros. Animation, Marvel Animation, and more. Passes are on sale now, with individual tickets becoming available Sept. 18.
Additional Community Highlights
The Shakespeare at Sunset series returns to Avondale Estates Town Green this fall, presenting “The Taming of the Shrew” (Oct. 10), “The Merchant of Venice” (Nov. 14), and “A Christmas Carol” (Dec. 5) in collaboration with Georgia Classic Theatre.
Atlanta Public Schools has secured a $700,000 federal grant to develop community schoolyards, beginning with Crawford W. Long Middle School in South Atlanta. The grant, credited to U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams and Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, will help transform school grounds into neighborhood parks, addressing the fact that 18 % of Atlanta residents live more than a ten‑minute walk from a park.
These events and initiatives underscore Atlanta’s commitment to vibrant community life, family‑friendly entertainment, and the arts, offering residents ample opportunities to eat, learn, and celebrate together.
Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.
