Calendar

Please note: Some events may be postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please call or visit website prior to your trip.

n July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4 – The Winery Comedy Tour at Accent Cellars, 215 Auraria Rd., Dahlonega. Nationally recognized comedians travel the country tasting local wine and making new fans in this new comedy circuit that brings quality comedy to folks for a fraction of what comedy clubs demand. Times: 6:30-8 p.m. Admission: $13. Info/tickets/registration: www.universe.com. n May 7 – First Friday’s Bob Seger Tribute Band, 7-10 p.m., Historic Gainesville Square, 301 Main St., Gainesville. Enjoy the sounds of Mainstreet as the band recreates a “Seger Evening” with favorites like “Night Moves,” “Turn the Page,” “Still the Same,” and more. Info: 770-297-1141. n May 9 – Concert - North Georgia Chamber Symphony at Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville, 6:30-8 p.m., 1911 Sweetbay Dr., Gainesville. The Symphony will open with Georgs Pelecis’ Blossoming Jasmine (Anastasia Petrunina, violinist, and Denis Petrunin, vibraphone, soloists). Dag Wiren’s Serenade for Strings, a spirited four-movement satisfying serenade with a March as its final movement soon follows. Some of the other pieces on the program are Aaron Copland’s Prairie Night and Celebration from Billy the Kid, Leonard Bernsteins’s Danzon from Fancy Free, and a medley of James Bond themes. The Armed Forces Tribute and John Phillip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever will complete the concert. Masks and Social Distancing. Info: 706-867-9444. n May 15 – Cornelia Concerts 2021, 5-10 p.m., at 301 N. Main St., Cornelia. Come out, bring your lawn chair and enjoy music, craft vendors, food vendors and a lot more. Concert kicks off with Johnathon (JJ) Johnson, followed by Southern Stone Band and the Cherry Cherry Band (a Neal Diamond tribute band). Exile takes the stage at 8 p.m. Info: 706-768-9801. Buford Community Center n May 7 – Masters of Soul is a celebration of the legendary songs and performers that defined Motown and soul music. The 10-person cast consists of three lead male vocalists and three lead female vocalists backed by a fourpiece band of seasoned musicians who’ve been touring together for decades. The group performs tunes from Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, The Temptations, Barry White, The Four Tops and Diana Ross & the Supremes, and more. Tickets: $30$35. Time: 8 p.m. in the Sylvia Beard Theatre. n May 21 – Erick Baker in concert, 8 p.m. Admission: $30-$35. Presented in Sylvia Beard Theatre. Info: www.bufordcommunitycenter.com.

Dahlonega’s Historic Holly Theater n May 14-23 – Godspell-A Community Musical. A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a variety of games, storytelling techniques and hefty doses of comic timing. Performances: Fridays/Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Tickets: $15, $25. Socially distanced seating; seats are available for purchase in pairs or singles. Please wear masks inside theatre. Actors will be performing without masks but will maintain appropriate distance from patrons. n June 5 – The Return, the Ultimate Beatles Experience presented at 8 p.m. The Return got its sta rt back in 1995 when four young friends got together to play their favorite Beatles songs just for fun. The evening is a culmination of all that fun. Tickets: $27, $35. Info: 706-530-5162; www.hollytheater.com Elachee Nature Science Center n Thru May 29 – Live Animal Showcase, 2125 Elachee Dr., Gainesville. 45-minute showcases at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tour the exhibit (indoors) after the program. Admission: $5/adult; $3/child (ages 2-12); free/Elachee members. n May 4 – Virtual Science Night. Tree Biology on May 4. Free, but pre-registration required. Info: elachee.org; 770-535-1976. Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds n May 14 – Riley Green, 7 p.m., new artist offering “If it wasn’t for trucks” and other tunes at 1311 Music Hall Rd. Opening act, Andrew Chastain Band. Tickets: $47. n June 5 – Atlanta Rhythm Section and Orleans, two great Classic Rock bands, at 7 p.m. at 1311 Music Hall Rd. Info: 706-896-4191; www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com. Interactive Neighborhood Kids n INK is now open, but some rules now apply. Please check the website at www.inkfun.org. Times are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Info: $1 with paid admission to museum; Info: 770-536-1900; inkfun.org. Lake Lanier Islands Resort n May 22 – Full Moon Party, 7-10 p.m., at LandShark Beach. Dance under the stars, hang out on the beach by the outdoor fire pits, enjoy food and drink at LandShark Bar & Grill and round out the night with fireworks at 10 p.m. Owl Creek Band performs 8-10 p.m. at LandShark Landing. Cost: $14.99 per person. n May 29 – Jonathan Ingram Band performs 8-10 p.m. on LandShark Landing stage celebrating Memorial Day Weekend at Margaritaville. Cost: $14.99 per person. n May 30 – Dock Rock Radio, 8-10 p.m., performs on the LandShark Landing stage. Cost: $14.99 per person. n June 5 – Pick Up Line Band, 8-11 p.m., performs on the LandShark Landing stage. Cost: $14.99 per person. Info: 770-945-8787; www.lanierislands.com.

Northeast Georgia History Center n Each Wednesday, at 2 p.m., The Northeast Georgia History Center presents a livestream for the general public to enjoy via Facebook or YouTube Live. Each Friday, the facility presents special Member Livestreams for local and digital members. Digital membership is $3/month or $35/year for member livestreams and more. Check negahc.org for the upcoming May digital event calendar. Info: 770-297-5900; www.negahc.org. Voices of North Georgia n The first half of the upcoming 52nd annual season (2020-2021) will be virtual. Its fall and Christmas performances will be shared through social media. Info: www.voicesofnorthgeorgia.com.

Sailing Calendar

For the sailing calendar, visit www.lakesidenews.com.

Variety of new boats Margaritaville Waterpark Guaranteed reservations Complimentary water toys On-water boat instruction Insurance Maintenance Cleanup Slip fees Trailer, towing, launching Loan payments Property taxes

By Jane Harrison

Been just dipping your toes in Lake Lanier? Experience all the lake has to offer May 22 at the inaugural Lake Life Festival at Lake Lanier Olympic Park. “We wanted to put something together for the community that’s experiential and reintroduces everyone to all the opportunities the lake provides,” said organizer Eric Larsen.

The resulting event will soar above the water with fly board acrobats, get gnarly with wake boarders, and even elicit some excited yelps. Larsen expects that with all the diverse activities, lake-area dwellers might feel like tourists in their own town.

The LLOP special events manager listed a boatload of vendors and demonstrations. Title sponsor Pull Watersports is expected to show off feats of balance and bravery with surfers hanging ten behind wake boats. Lake Lanier Flyboard will propel athletes above the water. The Dixie Dock Dogs will get more than their paws wet with tricks that entertain and amaze.

Fest goers can board fishing boats where captains will show kids how to cast and take families on cruises.

Visitors can hop in a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard, courtesy Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club. Elachee Nature Science Center naturalists will enlighten folks about the lake’s fish, wildlife and aquatic plants.

Boat service businesses will offer tips on how to get boats ready for a fun and worry-free season. Northeast Georgia Health System will host water safety programs.

As of mid-April, Larsen was still finalizing what he described as an “opportunity to rediscover everything you can do on the water.” He said that although most activities are land-based, attendees who want to get immersed or splashed might want to wear water shoes and clothing they don’t mind getting wet. Food trucks and a beer and wine tent will also line up on the LLOP grandstand plaza.

Gainesville tourism director and LLOP Executive Director Robyn Lynch touted the former Olympic venue as “the city’s premier access to Lake Lanier for our community.”

“The Lake Life Festival will give local businesses, non-profits and clubs that focus on lake life an opportunity to showcase their particular specialty to those that embrace lake life,” she said. “Our goal is to host 1,000 visitors throughout the day, however with the popularity of outdoor/lake recreation, I would not be surprised if we see a much larger crowd.”

Larsen said the festival could grow to a two-day event in the future.

Enjoy the Lake Life Festival on May 22.

When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. May 22. Where: Tower Side, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd., Gainesville What: On-the-water demonstrations, exhibits, tours, safety and nature programs, food trucks, beverage tent Admission: Free Info: www.lakelanierolympicvenue.org.

By Jane Harrison

More boaters can now moor up at Lake Lanier Olympic Park for Food Truck Fridays and other fun events coming up this summer. An additional courtesy dock that can hold 10-14 boats, depending on size, has been installed on the park’s tower side.

“The dock was donated by a neighborhood that is replacing it with a new dock,” said LLOP Executive Director Robyn Lynch. “We only had to pay to have it moved and do some minor maintenance.” The popular lakeside venue can now accommodate up to 24 boats.

Improvements are also in the works across Clarks Bridge Road on the park’s boathouse side. The decades-old restrooms, long time eyesores that had been closed and replaced with portable potties, were being demolished in early April. New facilities are scheduled to be completed in August.

PHOTO BY VICKI HOPE A community dock has been donated to the LLOP complex.