This month, fall arrives. Friday, Sept. 22 may mark the end of the summer season, but as always, there’s a whole lot of reasons to find yourself out and about wherever AMLI communities are. This month marks the coming of Oktoberfests around the country, fall foliage, and a sizable helping of beer fests to keep you warm as the weather begins to cool. So, let’s get down to it. Turn the page on your calendars and start planning!
Atlanta
Sept. 1: Decatur Book Festival
Attend the largest book festival in the United States in historic downtown Decatur. Guests can enjoy author readings, book signings, panel discussions, live music, children’s activities and more.
Sept. 9: Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade
Join merrymakers on the Atlanta BeltLine with a lantern of your own. Participants must have a lantern and can sign up for one of several lantern-making workshops prior to the parade. The parade takes place on the Eastside Trail.
Sept. 22: Sips Under the Sea
This month’s late night at the aquarium is pajama-themed. Guests are encouraged to don their most comfortable sleepwear and enjoy cocktails, small plates, and a night with the fish sans the usual schools of kids.
Sept. 28: Best of Atlanta Celebration
Creative Loafing takes over Terminal West for a night of Atlanta-inspired live music, a dance party, food trucks, art installations, and more.
Austin
Sept. 8: Zilker Relays
Grab three of your fastest friends and join the relay! This 10-mile relay has each person running 2.5 miles and passing off the race off to a member of their four-person team. Refreshments are available for purchase and live music is on-hand.
Sept. 17: Austin Museum Day
Enjoy free admission to almost every museum in the Austin area. Participating museums run the gamut, from the Austin Toy Museum to the Blanton Museum of Art to the Texas Military Forces Museum.
Sept. 21-28: Fantastic Fest
Attend the largest genre-focused film festival in the country, courtesy Alamo Drafthouse. Movies from around the globe are screened in the genres of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and more.
Sept. 30: Texas Craft Brewers Festival
The Texas Craft Brewers Guild presents this annual fest dedicated to the best and brightest beers in the state. General admission tickets are 5, gates open at 2pm, and the festival is held in Fiesta Park.
Chicago
Sept. 1-3: North Coast Music Festival
The last big music festival of the season rolls into Union Park for one final hurrah before summer’s end. This year features the usual mashup of electronic acts and jam bands.
Sept. 6 & 13: Jazzin’ at the Shedd
This year’s weekly Jazzin’ at the Shedd performances are also winding down for the season. Attendees can roam the aquarium as well as enjoy live music out on the terrace with pristine views of the Chicago city skyline. Both performances are free for all with an Illinois ID.
Sept. 9: Chicago Bourbon & Barbecue Festival
There’s a brand new festival in town, and it looks positively delicious. Guests can sip samples of bourbon at a ticketed tasting, chicken and ribs are served, and there are two stages of live music—one for country western music and the other for a showcase of local bands.
Sept. 16 & 17: Lakeview Taco Fest
Celebrate the most famed food of foods at this street festival on Southport Ave. between Roscoe and Addison streets. Tacos of all sorts and beverages of all kinds are available, as well as live music entertainment and Mexican wrestling each day at 5pm.
Dallas
Sept. 14-17: Addison Oktoberfest
One of the biggest, best, and most authentic Oktoberfest experiences is just 20 minutes outside of Dallas. With an estimated 70,000 attendees, the fest guarantees a raucous celebration of polka, Teutonic eats, and Bavarian brews.
Sept. 16: Taco Takeover
If tacos are more your speed, try this tasting at The Foundry in Dallas proper. For about 0, you’ll get just over two hours of unlimited tacos and tequila, cocktails, and/or beer to wash them down. For a tad extra, guests can purchase VIP and receive access to a guacamole bar. Everyone has access to the bobbing for churros game, though.
Sept. 22-24: Greek Food Festival of Dallas
Opa! The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church hosts this festival that’s about more than just food. The fest also has dancing, a marketplace, live music, church tours, and more.
Sept. 23-Nov. 22: Autumn at the Arboretum
Tour the gardens at the arboretum to see over 150,000 fall blooming plants, 4,500 chrysanthemums, and oodles and oodles of pumpkins in the festive pumpkin village.
Denver
Sept. 1: Jazz Aspen Snowmass
For the 27th year, Jazz Aspen Snowmass brings jazzy tunes and vibes to the Aspen area. See acts like Daryl Hall and John Oates, Keith Urban, Maroon 5, and others over Labor Day weekend.
Sept. 1-4: A Taste of Colorado
Hop on over to Civic Center Park in downtown Denver to experience bites from over 50 Colorado restaurants, six stages of music without cover charge, kids activities, carnival rides, and unique shopping opportunities at an arts and crafts marketplace.
Sept. 15-17: Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
Nestle yourself in the heart of the Rocky Mountains to enjoy a bevvy of tunes and brews for this annual festival in one of the most scenic areas Colorado has to offer. The festival is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., but many smaller breweries such as Bonfire Brewing and Ska Brewing will also be on-hand. Festival headliners include Bonnie Raitt, Drive-By Truckers, and TajMo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band.
Sept. 24: Race for the Cure
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure returns for another 5K through the streets of Denver. The event begins early at 6:30am, with the race beginning at 8am, at the Auraria Campus. The race raises funds that go towards breast cancer research.
Houston
***We’ve postponed listing events in Houston this month out of respect for those affected by Hurricane Harvey and related events. We at AMLI wish our residents, their loved ones, and all of Houston the best.***
Seattle
Sept. 1-3: Bumbershoot
Bumbershoot takes over the Seattle Center for a Labor Day weekend of music, comedy, and film. Music headliners include Flo Rida, Lorde, The Roots, and Odeza. On the comedy front, headliners such as Margaret Cho, Jermaine Fowler, and Jamie Lee grace the stage.
Sept. 9: Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival
Say “cheese!” and eat it, too. The Seattle Design Center gets packed with artisan and farmstead cheese makers from around the state. Admission gets cheese fans three drink tickets and access to all cheese samples available.
Sept. 16: “Proteges Take Stage” Show
Emerald City Trapeze Arts presents this annual showcase of their up-and-coming talent. This free show will feature flying trapeze artists, circus acts, aerial arts and more.
Sept. 16 & 17: Tough Mudder
The infamous down and dirty Tough Mudder is back for another endurance-testing race through a challenging 5-mile obstacle course guaranteed to put contestants’ limits to the test.
Southern California
Sept. 1-3: Sawdust Festival
If you haven’t made it over to the Sawdust Art Festival yet, it’s now or never, because the yearly arts and crafts festival ends this month. Attendees get to participate in dozens of classes, shop the wares, and enjoy live entertainment of all varieties.
Sept. 1-3: Orange International Street Fair
Old Town Orange Plaza fills with cultures from around the world as part of the Orange International Street Festival. Experience worldly grub, costumes, food, and more.
Sept. 16: Anaheim Fest of Ales
Head on down to downtown Anaheim for the fest of ales, featuring brews from over 40 breweries, along with food pairings, games, and live music. Guests receive unlimited beer tastes and food pairings and there’s also a home brew competition if you think your latest batch has what it takes.
Sept. 16: Orange County Brain Tumor Walk
This walk aims to raise awareness of those afflicted with brain tumors and to help these individuals lead better lives. The event is hosted by the National Brain Tumor Society.
South Florida
Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Friday Night Sound Waves
Catch live music from everything ranging from oldies to Motown to reggae, all by local South Florida talent.
Sept. 16: Fort Lauderdale Margarita Festival
After a first successful year, the Margarita Festival returns offering guests unlimited specialty margaritas from over 20 different vendors and a chance to help the community. A portion of the proceeds from this event go to the charity HANDY, Helping Abused Neglected Disadvantaged Youth. Find the fest over at the delicious restaurant TacoCraft.
Sept. 23: Riverwalk Fall Festival
Hail the coming of fall in Espalande Park with carnival games, train rides, facepainting, and a host of family-friendly activities. This event is completely free, open to leashed pets, and no alcoholic beverages are allowed.
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View All Posts by Nick Kotecki