Kicks Country Fair at Verizon Ampitheater

Join RMM and Medieval Times Atlanta to FIGHT FOR THE CAUSE! *Win Passes*

We all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every where you look there are those pink reminders to get yourself checked and make sure all of your girlfriends and Mamas and sisters do too. Breast cancer is unfortunately prevalent in our society but there are scores of doctors and researchers out there working diligently to find a cure for the disease that plagues so many women.

For the second year in a row, Medieval Times, Atlanta has joined the FIGHT FOR THE CAUSE! That means that they will donate $1 for each NEW LIKE that the Medieval Times Atlanta Facebook page receives during the whole month of October. All donations will benefit Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University so it even goes to benefit the Atlanta area!

To support this important battle, one lucky Render Me Mama reader will win a Family Four-Pack of tickets to one of Medieval Times, Atlanta’s shows Sunday-Friday through the end of December! Medieval Times is one of my family's all time favorite Atlanta destinations so don't let this opportunity pass you by!

*GIVEAWAY ENDED! Congrats Carole S.! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!* 

Please help spread the word on your networks, via twitter #MTatlanta, and on Instagram @mt_atlanta and #MTatlanta. This is one battle we need to win!

State Fair Fun with My Loves

A couple of weekends ago we took the night and went to the North Georgia State Fair. It was nice to get out in the cooler weather and take a little time as a family. The boys were in complete awe at all the lights and sounds at first but it didn't take long for them to warm up to it and we had an amazing, relaxing night of nothing but pure fun!

I think the boys enjoyed the carousel the most which of course warms my heart to no end. I have always held a special place in my heart for the carousel myself and I love being able to share the joy.

Of course littles was too short to ride a couple of things that his big brother was able to and that led to some pretty effective pouting. Needless to say, he got an extra special treat to make up for it.

The warmth these little boys create in my life is immeasurable. I am one lucky mama. <3 p="">

Fall Comes to @FernbankMuseum!

Now that it is fall, the days are getting shorter, but they are getting more packed with things to do at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. The museum's schedule is loaded for fall with exhibits, family days, events, and lots of fun.

Just Opened:

Marco Polo: Man & Myth
On view through January 5, 2014
Experience the story of the ultimate adventure traveler, Marco Polo, and relive his epic excursion along the Silk Road in this incredible exhibition. Lasting thousands of miles and more than 24 years, it became a journey that can best be described as "the ultimate road trip.¡¨

Penguins
Showing through January 23, 2014
Set against a backdrop of dramatic snowy peaks and glacial crags, this IMAX film follows a brave king penguin on the journey of a lifetime. Watch our waddling hero dodge brawling elephant seals and hungry leopard seals in an effort to find his mate amid a colony of half a million penguins. Together they battle the elements to raise a chick in one of the wildest places on Earth.

Hidden Universe
Showing through January 2, 2014 Embark on an extraordinary journey into deep space. This IMAX film brings the farthest reaches of our universe to life with unprecedented clarity through images captured by the world¡¦s most powerful telescopes. Explore the earliest galaxies, watch stars being born in vivid clouds of gas and dust, tour the surface of Mars, and witness images of distant celestial structures, including stunning views of the Sun.

Upcoming Programs:

Martinis & IMAX Guest Mixologist Series
On select Friday nights, Fernbank Museum¡¦s Great Hall will transform into a sophisticated bar, featuring some of Atlanta's most well-known mixologists, creating specialty cocktails in celebration of Fernbank's Martinis & IMAX.

Featuring:
Chris Gianaras from 4th & Swift on October 4, 2013
Trip Sandifer from The Spence on October 11, 2013
Sarah Abouna from FLIP burger boutique November 8, 2013

Marco Polo Celebration Day
Saturday, October 12, 2013 Enjoy a taste of the Silk Road at this special event featuring some of the sights, sounds and tastes of the regions Marco Polo explored during his epic journey. Featured activities include: live Kung Fu performances, Chines lion dances, craft activities, falconer demonstrations, and samples from Cardamom Hill, Saba and Yum Bunz.

Salsa Dance Night at Martinis & IMAX
Friday, October 18, 2013
Monthly Salsa Dance Nights bring Salsambo Dance Studio to Martinis & IMAX, offering incredible opportunities to enjoy Latin dancing (or appreciating the dance skills of others) with early-evening lessons for those who want a little practice before they heat up the dance floor.

Bourbon & BBQ
Sunday, October 20, 2013
This festive evening is hosted by the Artemis Guild of Young Professionals and includes finger-lickin¡¦ good plates by D.B.A Barbecue, specialty cocktails featuring Charred OakR Bourbon and Rye whiskeys, live Bluegrass by Muleskinner MacQueen Trio, souvenir Charred OakR shot glasses, a grand prize drawing, and some of Atlanta¡¦s most energetic young professionals.

Fright Night at Martinis & IMAX
Friday, October 25, 2013
Fernbank's frighteningly fun Halloween party is back. Enjoy bone-rattling live music by Bogey and the Viceroy, a devilishly-delicious drink menu featuring SVEDKA Vodka, a hideously-hilarious costume contest and enough fun to wake the dead.

Fernbank BOO-Seum Trick or Treat
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Dust off those costumes, practice your monster-mash and prepare your teeth for sugar overload. Ghosts, goblins, princesses and pirates are invited to Fernbank BOO-seum for a safe, not scary, trick-or-treating event for the whole family, featuring treats for kids in costume, games, music and more.

Wilderness at the Smokies

This past weekend, the boys and I took a mini getaway to the Smoky Mountains. We went one a quick weekend jaunt to Wilderness at the Smokies, an indoor water park and hotel. We spent most of our time playing and swimming but we also spent quite a bit of time at the all you can eat buffet. We are all exhausted AND stuffed to the gills. I hope we can go back sometime soon for a longer trip!

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.

Fall fun at @ZooATL

If you live in the Atlanta area, and you love the Atlanta Zoo this fall holds some great treats for you and your family! We love going to the Zoo and even just bought our first year's membership. With tons of awesome exhibits and especially the new giant panda cubs, there is definitely something for everyone. You can bet we will be spending a lot of time there while the weather is nice! 

First off is the School's Out! Camp. The best break for K-5th graders: School’s Out! Safari Day Camp, coming up Oct. 7-11, Oct. 14 and Oct. 15. Campers enjoy a day away from the classroom filled with exclusive tours, crafts and animals galore! Registration for Spring and Winter Safari Day Camps is also available online. 

  

Upcoming School Out! Camp Dates & Themes:

October 7-11* Cool Classification
October 14 Creepy Crawly
October 15 Nocturnal Creatures
November 25 Beaks and Feet
November 26 "Egg"-stravaganza
November 27 Taking Flight
November 29 The Great Migration
January 20 Phenomenal Primates
February 14 Rocking Rainforests
February 17-21* Passport to the Wild
March 14 Mad Scientists

*Available daily or entire week. Register for the full week and save $10!

Then of course there is the ever popular (and my personal favorite) Boo at the Zoo! Running Saturdays and Sundays, October 19, 20, 26, and 27th, It’s that time of year when Atlanta’s favorite fun family Halloween festival returns! Sample the treats, sights, characters and adventures of the whimsical Zoo Boo Town on four magical days with more than 1,500 animals from around the world. Boo at the Zoo! Activities will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Don’t forget your costume!

For the littles in your family, Atlanta Zoo also offers a variety of Toddler Programs. Stroller Cubs serves newborns to 2-year-olds, with social time for adults too! Adventure Cubs serves 3 to 4-year-olds and features a guided walk in the Zoo; an up-close animal encounter; and age-appropriate games, crafts and activities. Members get a discount!

October toddler programs:

Stroller Cubs: Silly Scales - Oct. 19 and 23
Discover more about scaly reptiles.
Adventure Cubs: Animal Outsides - Oct. 12 (One-Day) or Oct. 8, 15 and 22 (Series)
Learn how different animals live outdoors!

Lastly is the Family NightCrawler: Creatures of the Night event! All about the creatures that come out after the sun goes down, join in on Sat., Oct. 18 or 26 to learn about the creatures who come to life after the sun sets and about the animals who have inspired monsters. If you survive the night, wake up to a continental breakfast and an exclusive guided tour of the Zoo. Available for children six years old and up. 

Our Yard is Ready for Halloween!