Explore Athens
The Georgia Theatre was originally the home of the Athens YMCA from 1889 to 1919. After that, it was used for an array of different businesses, including a hotel, music store, and a furniture company. It became the Elite Theatre in 1935 and was later renamed the Georgia Theatre after a brief time when it was home to a Methodist Church. It was later victim to a fire in 2009 and has since been remodeled into the popular venue space that it is today. The Georgia Theatre hosts a variety of bands and events, and its iconic sign has been used by many for pictures and proposals. Visit their website to view their list of upcoming shows or check out their rooftop bar and restaurant.
Sanford Stadium, which has been recently renovated, is one of the most iconic places in Athens. It sits directly in the middle of UGA’s campus and has the capacity to hold 92,746 people. It is famous for the hedges that surround the field and is widely known as the greatest spectator stadium in the South. One of the best ways to experience Athens is by coming to a UGA football game. The whole dynamic of the city changes during football season. You can expect to see families and college students tailgating all over campus and its surrounding areas all day long on Saturdays.
The State Botanical Gardens are located in Athens and attract a large number of visitors of all ages. The property is 313 acres and is home to a stunning range of collections, displays and trails. The Botanical Gardens consist of several gardens including a Flower Garden, Heritage Garden, and International Garden. There are also several trails on the property that are great for walking or running. They offer a wide range of educational programs for adults with horticulture, ecological, culinary and artistic interests. Less formal programs, such as Garden Rambles, provide relaxing walks through the garden and focus on specific items of seasonal interest.
The Classic Center is northeast Georgia’s premier award-winning convention center and performing arts theatre. It is used for a variety of events including conferences, concerts, career fairs, weddings, trade shows, and more. Its downtown location makes it convenient and easily accessible. It offers a variety of venue options including a 2,100 seat theatre, several large ballrooms, boardrooms, an atrium, and a pavilion. The Classic Center is also home to the UGA Hockey Team each fall. There is always something exciting happening at the Classic Center that brings visitors into Athens and people from all over the community together.
This zoo is a popular place for people of all ages to come and see Georgia’s native wildlife. It is home to several different species of animals who are non-releasable and will live out their lives there serving as ambassadors for their species. It has a variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles. The zoo also offers several different educational programs for adults and children, including a summer camp. The cost of admission is free to visitors.
Established in 1980, the Twilight Criterium is an all day cycling event held in downtown Athens every April. This race has been recognized as the most insane criterium in the world and is the second stop on the National 2019 USA CRITS Series. In addition to the race, the streets are filled with vendors and other family-friendly activities. This unique downtown event is unlike any other!
AthFest is a three-day music festival in Athens that supports music and arts education by supporting their nonprofit AthFest Educates. It brings the best local and regional musicians together for a fun and exciting experience. Multiple events and venues are set up throughout downtown Athens in order to appeal to a broad audience with eclectic tastes and interests. There also is a designated block-long area of the festival for kids, so there really is something for everyone to enjoy during this weekend.
The Wild Rumpus is an annual Halloween festival in downtown Athens that draws people from all over the region. Weekend long festivities include a party for kids and families, a 5k and Fun Run race, a big parade for participants to strut their costumes, and several parties for adults with live music performances. This event invites people of all ages to participate and have a great time. Costumes are heavily encouraged for everyone- the crazier, the better. If you don’t like to dress up, you can always head downtown to watch the parade.
