Georgia's Fall Season at Callaway Gardens

Its no secret that Fall in Georgia is always slow to arrive. It takes its time getting here and then disappears faster than we are ready for. Well, the milder Fall season has arrived. Its time to get outside and enjoy (mostly) cooler temperatures, cool breezes and the autumnal color of the leaves. One of the
most relaxing places we have in Georgia to enjoy the beauty of the Fall season is Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain.

Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Callaway Gardens’ 6,500 acres of pristine natural surroundings offer many breathtaking views of this scenic beauty. In addition to the changing colors of the leaves, Fall is when Callaway Gardens is set ablaze with 10,000 brilliant chrysanthemums including garden mums, florist mums and cascading mums. Chrysanthemum Season is definitely something to experience whether traveling by with your family or a large group.

The John A. Sibley Horticultural Center is one of the focal points for mums in the Fall. A fun surprise in the Sibley Center is the Collegiate Football Topiary Display. Mascots from some well-known universities in the Southeast are featured in topiary-form among floral displays in their school colors. A little later in the Fall, be sure to visit and enjoy the fairly rare cascading mums, which spill over their containers creating a waterfall of color, accenting the Sibley Center’s exotic plants, flowers and trees. And, there is a Fall Plant Sale providing the opportunity to take home some new finds.

As harvest season approaches, visit Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden for AutumnFest and find seasonal, family-friendly activities fit for all ages. Each Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature a different line-up of activities and demonstrations, such as:

* Scarecrow making, pumpkin painting (bring your own or pick and purchase one when you arrive) and leaf pounding crafts

* Scavenger hunts and hay bale mazes throughout Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden

* Demonstrations by potters, woodturners and the Georgia Gourd Society

* Nationally-acclaimed plein air "in open air" painters and dulcimers playing sweet sounds of simple stringed instruments of days bygone.

Be sure to stop by the 19th century-era Pioneer Log Cabin for a glimpse back to a time when life was, in many ways, much simpler – but also more difficult. There will be quilting demonstrations, corn dolls and other items on display reminiscent of the days when this two-bedroom log cabin was inhabited by families as large as 15.

After a morning or afternoon of outdoor fun, head to The Vineyard Green Restaurant & Spirits to enjoy Game Day specials on wings, drinks and appetizers, and catch the week's biggest college and professional football rivalries each Saturday and Sunday on an 80-inch projector screen – the biggest screen in town!

Callaway Gardens is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $18/adult; $15/senior 65+; $9 per child 6-12; children 5 and younger are admitted for free. Annual passes are a great way to visit most every day of the year for free. Some events have special pricing and ticketing.

For more information or to make a reservation for this array of Fall activities at Callaway Gardens, please call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-2592) or visit www.callawaygardens.com

The Fox Theatre Introduces Haunting “Ghost Light” Tours

For the first time ever, the Fox Theatre will host special Ghost Light Tours this Halloween with its resident ghosts. Guests will travel to spaces haunted by those who loved the theatre and the ground where it sits so much that they never left. They will take a walk in the footsteps of the Confederate soldier, pay their respects to the woman of the house and hear about Roosevelt and his work keeping the Fox warm in the winter. People have seen these ghosts and felt their presence, will you?

The Ghost Light Tours will take place on Saturday, October 26, Tuesday, October 29 and Wednesday, October 30; and will start at 7 pm and run every 20 minutes until 10 PM. Tickets are $25 each and available for purchase now at www.FoxTheatre.org, at the Fox Theatre ticket office or by calling 855-285-8499. The Ghost Light tours are not recommended for children under 10, and children under 6 are not permitted.

“We’re excited to spend our evenings with the Fox’s patrons,” says Roosevelt (Resident Ghost of the Fox Theatre Boiler Room – deceased, 1945). “It sure beats playing tricks on the workers.”

The Boiler Room is just one of the spooky stops included in the limited-time Ghost Light Tours. The special tours will feature the Fox’s resident ghosts and his/her histories, along with real accounts of unexplained events gathered from the Fox’s staff and contractors. Guests will also learn about the history of the lot before the Fox was built. Some of the other tour locations will include the Elevator, Dressing Rooms, Power Room, Sub-Basement areas including the Boiler Room, and the Stage Freight Elevator. Another fun fact that inspired the name “Ghost Light Tours” has to do with the superstitious tradition that ghost lights provide opportunities for ghosts to perform onstage, thus appeasing and preventing them from cursing the theater or sabotaging the set or production.

To sweeten the cauldron, the Fox Theatre has partnered with The Melting Pot in Midtown for a special “Dinner and a Tour” promotion to coincide with the Ghost Light Tours. The exclusive dinner package will include three delicious fondue courses, all for $29. For reservations, call The Melting Pot at 404-389-0099 and mention “Fox Theatre Ghost Light Tours,” and for more information visit www.meltingpot.com/mid-town-atlanta/specials.

To inquire about booking a private tour or a group of 20 or more, please contact the theatre at (404) 881-2100. For more information on the tours, visit www.FoxTheatre.org.

Dia de Muertos at @ATLHistCenter

On Sunday, October 27th, 2013, enjoy a day of cultural exploration during the Atlanta History Center’s annual family program, Day of the Dead or Dia de Muertos. From noon to 5pm, visitors of all ages enjoy learning about this ancient festival rooted in Mexican heritage that serves as a way for families to remember their deceased loved ones while celebrating their children and the continuity of life. Smiling faces, swirling brilliant colors, storytelling, elaborately decorated altars designed to honor lost family and friends, authentic Mexican food, music, and variety of performances are highlights of this celebration.

The Atlanta History Center has presented this annual family program in collaboration with the Instituto de Mexico and the Mexican Consulate with support by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council for more than eleven years.

This is a free admission day at the Atlanta History Center. Guests are invited to enjoy the outdoor festival, and if time permits, to continue their free day adventures with a variety of Atlanta History Center offerings from discoveries of signature and traveling exhibitions to historic house experiences and explorations of beautiful gardens and trails.

Food and drinks are available for purchase. For more information, please call the Atlanta History Center at 404.814.4000.