Atlanta

It's finally warm enough to begin enjoying some of the awesome outdoor activities that come along with summer in Atlanta. Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to kick off the season at one of Atlanta's nearby lakes or hop in the river and "Shoot the 'Hooch!"

Need another way to cool off from the summer heat? Visit one of the Atlanta area aquatic centers, run with the kids through a splash fountain, or scope out a public pool to take a dip!

Outdoor movies are a seasonal favorite in Atlanta! There are free outdoor movies all around the metro area, and it's so fun to pack a picnic and sit under the stars while watching one of your favorite flicks.

What do you look forward to most during Atlanta summers?

There's still time to get tickets for the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, happening May 31 - June 2 in Midtown. This is the food-lover's event of the year, with three days of educational classes, tasting tents, chef-hosted dinners, and more.

There are a wide range of packages and experiences available, with tasting tent tickets being the most affordable at $100. The tasting tents include unlimited sampling, with a wide variety of tasty bits, wine, beer and spirits available - so it's not like some other festivals where you pay per taste or use tickets.

In past years, the food has been fabulous. This is a must-go festival for Atlanta food fans! Get your tickets online.

This weekend, head on down to Bouckaert Farms, just 30 minutes south of Atlanta, for the first ever Chattahoochee Hills Country International Horse Trials. The three-day horse triathlon will feature amateur, professional and international athletes, and will even give you a chance to see some Olympian competitors!

The main attraction is three days of grueling competition that tests the training, ability, and strength of a horse, along with the connection between horse and rider. If you need a break from the horses, check out the other fun activities at the festival, including a shopping bazaar, food trucks, a beer garden, a kid zone, bars, rider meet and greets, and more. On Saturday night, festival goers are invited to enjoy a bonfire and live music performances.

Tickets start at just $11 for adults, $3 for kids. Get more information and purchase advance tickets online.

Photo via Facebook

Memorial Day Weekend is right around the corner! As usual, Atlanta will be full of fun events to entertain you during the long weekend. Jazz Fest returns to Piedmont Park, the always-popular Brew at the Zoo takes place at Zoo Atlanta, and across the metro area people gather to celebrate America's soldiers.

Take a look at some of the best Memorial Day Weekend events in Atlanta.

Pictured: Salute to the Troops at Stone Mountain Park

Party in the Park returns to Centennial Park for another great year of epic performances!

This year's concert, happening on Saturday, May 18, includes:

• Passion Pit (headlining)
• Ellie Goulding
• GROUPLOVE
• Yeasayer
• The Electric Suns

Tickets are a bargain at just $35. The fun kicks off at 3:15 p.m. with The Electric Suns, and rocks on until 11 p.m. Food and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. All-inclusive VIP ticket packages are available. Children under the age of 6 get free admission, so bring the family for an afternoon of music and sunshine.

Have you heard about Atlanta Streets Alive? It's a giant block party that's all about taking back the streets with pedestrian activity, bicycles, entertainment and more! In a city that's as car-loving as Atlanta, once and a while we need a reminder that people-powered transport is just as good!

These street events take place all over the world - and Atlanta's next installment is coming on May 19. For four hours, our beloved Peachtree will shut down to cars and fill up with bikes, stiltwalker, dancers, walkers, and all kinds of fun! The fall event drew 20,000 participants! This time the route runs from Ellis Avenue to just north of 17th Street.

To ride with a group, join the bicycle parade at 1:30 p.m. at Peachtree Street and Ellis Avenue. Dress up your bike - riders in the Great Atlanta Bicycle Parade have been known to get creative! Atlanta Streets Alive takes place from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Sunday May 19, running along Peachtree Street in Downtown and Midtown.

This Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, and Mexican restaurants all around Atlanta will be celebrating with tacos, tequila, and... well... more tequila. Where will you be celebrating?

Check out some of our picks for Cinco de Mayo action in Atlanta. Options include drink deals, pub crawls, and an outdoor festival celebrating Hispanic culture!

One of Atlanta's top attractions,  Georgia Aquarium, has added a fun, new option for visitors. For the first time, aquarium guests can add on an interactive dolphin experience. The Dolphin Encounter gives visitors the chance to go behind-the-scenes to meet, touch and feed one of the stars of the AT&T Dolphin Tales show.

In addition to the thrill of interacting and getting hands on with one of the ocean's most beloved creatures, the encounter also helps visitors learn about dolphin life. Participants get an up-close look at the many ways the Aquarium's trainers care for the dolphins, and even help out in a training session.

The cost for the program is $59.95 plus tax. Participants under 16-years of age must each be accompanied by a participating adult responsible for the minor, and guests must be at least 7-years old.

Didn't get your festival fix at last weekend's events? This weekend brings a few more chances to enjoy some great outdoor events (watch out, though - the forecast is calling for rain).

I'm hoping the weather holds out for one of my favorite events of the year - the Inman Park Festival. You can find great Mother's Day gifts in the artist's market, and if you go, don't forget to plan your trip around the parade on Saturday. Starting at 2 p.m. and winding through the festival area, the parade is always full of colorful characters and entertaining, creative costumes.

Also happening this weekend is the Jonquil Festival in Smyrna. This neighborhood festival has an artists market, live music, and a puppet show that's great for families. The Jonquil Festival takes place at Village Green.

Over in Sandy Springs this weekend you'll find a different type of festival happening - a beer festival! The 3rd Annual Heritage Sandy Springs Beer Fest will be held this Saturday, featuring more than 70 different brews for you to try. There will also be live music. Unlike the free festivals above, you will have to make a slight investment in this one. Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the door, which includes your tastings plus a souvenir glass and a $5 food voucher. Feel good about it though, your money goes to support Heritage Sandy Springs and other community projects.

Pictured: Inman Park Festival parade via Facebook

The Fitter & Faster Swim Tour is coming to Atlanta this June, giving swimmers the chance in interact and learn from swimmers that competed for the United States in the Olympics! Four-time medalist Kara Lynn Joyce and world-record holder Nick Brunelli will be on hand in Atlanta to interact with and coach swimmers. During the three hour event, participants will have the chance to watch the Olympians perform drills and demonstrations on a 100 inch screen, improve swimming technique by learning drills on land and in the water, ask personal questions in a Q&A session, wear real Olympic medals, and take photos with the Olympians.

The Atlanta clinic happens on June 22, 2013. This event is open to all ages, but is recommended for children and young adults ages 7 - 14. Registration is $79 in advance for swimmers. Parents and coaches may attend free of charge.