Festivals: Clusterfest 2015

How much seasonal jubilee can one greater metropolis cram into three days?

Summer loving is a blast, sure, but then the kiddos shuffle back to school and nights flirt with the idea of crisp. As we pack up white clothing, we start to get stoked for the fun that descends beginning with Labor Day weekend. Atlanta almost treats the annual like a challenge: How much seasonal jubilee can one greater metropolis cram into three days? As it turns out, quite a lot. With a slew of diverse festivities such as Dragon Con, Black Gay Pride, Decatur Book Festival, and more popping up simultaneously, our city morphs into a joyful chaos. The excitement summons folks from all over and all walks to share the common goal to get down. So get down we will. Because we love you so, we’ve highlighted the seven main events that take place over the weekend. We also spoke with the masterminds behind the mysterious mobile bar car that annually crawls Dragon Con, peddling boozy libations to energize weary cosplayers, rounded up the best stuff to eat while at Peachtree Center, and caught up with the Atlanta Black Pride Weekend welcoming committee. In an effort to keep the groove going, we also mapped out 77 of the best concerts, festivals, and other events between now and Thanksgiving.

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— Beca Grimm

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Decatur Book Festival

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Fri.-Sun., Sept. 4-6
?Free
?Downtown Decatur

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The Decatur Book Festival turns 10 this year, encouraging even more literate mayhem to break loose. A highly family-friendly event, the agenda includes plenty of sessions fit for kids such as children’s book I Will Chomp You! as presented by its author Jory John and illustrator Bob Shea. Grown folks have lots to enjoy, too, including keynote speakers Roxane Gay and Erica Jong, hot takes from the graphic novel universe, poetry readings, workshops, and more. www.decaturbookfestival.com.

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!READ MORE:
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!!Decatur Book Festival
Preview
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!!John Markoff’s love for ‘Machines’
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!!Write Club’s literary gut-punch
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Dragon Con

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Fri.-Mon., Sept. 4-7
?$40-$130
?Atlanta Marriott Marquis

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Whether or not you consider yourself a geek (which, by the way, is a pretty high compliment in this community), Dragon Con is an entertaining destination. There’s a reason we make a point to compile the best Craiglist Missed Connections each year in its wake: This is primo people-watching, y’all. Where else in the world could you catch a member of GWAR sucking face with Cat Woman? The romanticism runs deep alongside cosplay opportunities, panels, discussions, meet-and-greets, and endless photo ops. www.dragoncon.org.

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!READ MORE:
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!!What to eat at the Peachtree Center
food court
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!!The quotable Car Bar
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House in the Park

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Sun., Sept. 6
?Free
?Grant Park

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House in the Park takes its monthly house music event and cranks the thudding beats to 11 for this annual throwdown. Chicago-hailing DJ Ramon Rawsoul created the series when he thought to combine the glory of both picnics and one of his hometown’s most infamous genres. That was in 2005 and the grass-bound ass shaking hasn’t slowed since. The legendary Tony Humphries is slated to guest DJ this year’s official after-party at the Music Room, among other artists. www.houseinthepark.org.

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!!House in the Park, as told by graphic designer Melba Searcy
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The Atlanta Weekender

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Thurs.-Sun., Sept. 3-6
?$45-$200
?Various Edgewood Avenue venues

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Salah Ananse, DJ Kemit, Kai Alce, and Ramon Rawsoul double as the Atlanta Weekender’s curators and resident DJs. This year they serve up a stacked bill headlined by Tony Humphries, Alton Miller, Theo Parrish, and others to ignite several Edgewood Avenue dance floors. The event specializes in global soul, hitting such hip-loosening genres as Afrobeat, house, and soul dance. The Atlanta Weekender channels disco from the local scenes in Detroit, New York, and Chicago to stretch throughout ATL. www.atlantaweekender.com.

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!!The Atlanta Weekender, as told by dancer, singer, and house music head Cortney LaFloy
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Black Gay Pride Festival

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Tues.-Mon., Sept. 1-7
?Prices vary
?Various locations

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This family-friendly weeklong affair includes a slew of educational workshops, a health and wellness fair, and loads of killer entertainment. Black Gay Pride Festival runs a month before the larger Atlanta Pride Festival, lassoing in appearances from artists like Chris Brown, Monica, Veronica Vega, Cadillac Red, Mook, and more. As if that isn’t enough to fully sate all your groove thang needs, there’s also hip-hop karaoke, live comedy, a documentary screening, and a daytime dance party at Magic City. Top that (you can’t). atlblkpride.inthelifeatlanta.org.

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!READ MORE:
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!!Why Atlanta needs Black Pride Weekend
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Caribbean Jerk Festival

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Sun., Sept. 6
?$20-$25
?Panthersville Stadium

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Here’s an ideal occasion to bust out and don your most fashionable pants that stretch. You’ll need that extra room to accommodate delicious food indigenous to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Cayman Islands. That includes roti, curry, and the rumored-aphrodisiac mannish water. Pair such steamy nosh with equally sizzling dancehall, reggae, calypso, and soca and you’re sure to break even with calories consumed vs. those burned. There’s a Kid Zone, too, to help keep little ones busy with bingo and ludo. www.atlantajerkfestival.com.

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!READ MORE:
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!!The Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival celebrates
its 10th year
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Chick-fil-A College Kickoff Game

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Sat., Sept. 5
?$50-$247.50
?Georgia Dome

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Catch a whiff of some serious team spirit when the Auburn Tigers take on the Louisville Cardinals in this season-defining kickoff. The game marks the official start of college football season so clearly some light to moderate tailgating must factor into the plans. Pull on the appropriate color attire (for you rookies, that’s burnt orange and navy blue for Auburn, red and black for Louisville) and get ready to roar. Or, um, chirp? Whoever you’re rooting for, this game should prove a wild time, for sure. www.chick-fil-akickoffgame.com.

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PLUS

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!!Play Clusterfest BINGO (and win
passes to Afropunk!)
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!!8 massive
music festivals
at a glance
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!!Fall events preview
(festivals, concerts, arts events, and more)
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