Attention Bright Side Readers – check out the many events that are happening in Kennesaw right up to the first day of School! Packed full of fun — a great way to spend the last two weeks before school.
Rare Opportunity to Board the General Locomotive
The popular annual Railroad Rendezvous event returning to the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History on Saturday, July 22. A variety of activities celebrating the railroad and other industrial enterprises will be taking place throughout the day. Activities include an outdoor model train layout, small tractor display, blacksmithing demonstration, historic printing press demonstrations, a quilting display and an interactive model train display. An interactive exterior tour of the Museum’s Southern Railway Caboose will also be available.
Railroad Rendezvous also offers the rare opportunity to step aboard the General locomotive, made famous during the Civil War’s Great Locomotive Chase of 1862, and tour the cab of the historic steam locomotive. The “Board the General Experience” is $5 per person, children 3 years old and younger are free, proceeds will go to the Kennesaw Museum Foundation
All activities excluding “Board the General Experience” are included with regular Admission; $10 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, and $5 for Children. Tickets at Southernmuseum.org.
LEARNING DAYS OPEN HOUSE
Learning Days, located at 3920 Jiles Way, Kennesaw, 30144, invites our families to attend their open house on Saturday, July 22, from 1-3 pm. In addition to providing year round Private Pre-K, Learning Days also provides Infant, Toddler and Preschool care. Call 678-742-8004 for more information.
KENNESAW’S OUTDOOR MOVIE – JULY 22
The next Outdoor Movie Series is hosted by Kennesaw Parks & Recreation is July 22 at Swift-Cantrell Park. Mark you calendar to enjoy Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo (G) on July 22. Movies are shown on a giant inflatable screen on a large field at the park after sundown. Attendees are welcome to bring blankets, and chairs for their own comfort. There will be activities for the kids and vendors on-site beginning at 6:00 PM.
VIP Tents are available for rental at each movie. Four VIP tents will be available. The VIP Tent rental includes a 10’x10’ tent installed by Parks & Recreation staff, a 6’ table and 6 chairs. Tents will be placed towards the back of the viewing area, as to not block the view of other attendees. Tent rentals are $50. VIP tent renters can check in early beginning at 5:00 PM. and the tents will remain up until the end of the movie.
VIP Tents can be reserved Register online at https://secure.rec1.com/GA/kennesaw-ga/catalog, Click on “Special Events” and then “Outdoor Movie Series” to see a full list of opportunities.
SOLE KIDZ REGISTRATION
This program is a fun, flexible running program designed to get kids in the community active! The mission of Kennesaw Sole KIDZ is to promote a healthy, active lifestyle to the Kennesaw youth through a running based program. Meeting location is the at the picnic pavilions at Swift-Cantrell Park.
Registrations includes all sessions, two 5K registrations in the Kennesaw Grand Prix Series (Harvest Hustle on Sat Sept 9 and Nightmare on Main on Sat Oct 28), plus a t-shirt.
Parent Meeting: Tuesday, August 15 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM at the Ben Robertson Community Center (2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw, GA 30144). Pace Night is Thursday August 17, at 6:30.
The running program is held from August 15 until October 26 every Tues and Thusday for boys and girls, ages 4-12 at Swift Cantrell Park. Required – Sole KIDZ Shirts and running shoes with socks and bring a water bottle. Register online at https://secure.rec1.com/GA/kennesaw-ga/catalog, Click on Youth Sports and then Sole Kidz.
KENNESAW’S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT – TUESDAY AUG 1
A great way to celebrate the first day of school – Bring your kids, tell your neighbors, friends, family, that Kennesaw Police are hosting National Night Out – August 1st. at Swift Cantrell Park, Kennesaw, GA. 6-8 pm
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Kennesaw Police is hosting a “Touch-A-Truck” style event for NNO! Police, fire, ambulance vehicles will be here…. and a HELICOPTER or two! Of course, K9 Arrow will make an appearance! Join us at Swift Cantrell Park – a great way for all to learn about our first responders. Climb a firetruck, peek inside a police car, shake hands with a helicopter pilot, watch our K-9 Officer demonstrate his skills. These folks protect our community – 24-7!
FIRST FRIDAY CONCERT – AUG 4
The Kennesaw Downtown Development Authority and the Kennesaw Downtown Merchants Association are excited to announce the second annual First Friday Concert Series in Downtown Kennesaw. The next concert will be August 4, featuring: Run Katie Run. From 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., the community is invited to stroll through the Historic Downtown area, and enjoy an evening of shopping, dining and live music. The concert will take place at the Pedestrian Underpass/Tunnel Plaza off Main Street. Tables are available for reservation for $70. Tables will seat six individuals. To reserve a table, please visit city calendar of events at www.kennesaw-ga.gov/events.
SMITH GILBERT GARDENS BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT
A Garden With Wings,” the popular pollinator exhibit at Smith-Gilbert Gardens (SGG) featuring a kid-friendly pollinator garden and 1,500 square foot butterfly house, opened for the season on Tuesday, July 1, 2023. Visitors to the pollinator garden will see an inspiring collection of annuals, perennials and flowering shrubs that attract and support native pollinators like bumblebees, hummingbirds and butterflies. The recently expanded butterfly house offers an up-close experience with butterflies and the opportunity to see all stages of their life cycle. The exhibit is included with Garden admission and runs through the month of July.
Tickets must be purchased and reserved prior to arrival for all visitors and members. To purchase tickets, please visit https://smith-gilbert-gardens.com. All guests must have an admission ticket in addition to a Butterfly House ticket to be permitted inside. The exhibit runs through the month of July.
Butterfly Ambassadors will be on-site to answer visitor questions on select days throughout the summer. Staff will also have information available and answer any questions in the gift shop located in the main house.
“A Garden With Wings” is generously supported by Garden Members and the Smith-Gilbert Gardens Foundation. Smith-Gilbert Gardens would like to thank this year’s sponsors, Gentry Law Firm, LLC, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Cobb EMC Foundation and Cobb Travel & Tourism.
