Giveaway ~ Atlanta JapanFest "Cooler Japan" 2016 tickets!

Want to learn about Japanese culture?  This year’s JapanFest “Cooler Japan,” offers an electric combination of cool tech-advanced modern Japan with a traditional twist.  It promises to be a fun weekend for the whole family!

JapanFest Weekend will be held on September 17-18, 2016, from 10 am to 6 pm (Saturday) and 10am to 5pm (Sunday) at the Infinite Energy Center (located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097).

We make Japanese culture COOL in our Children’s Area! Children will be able to make paper puppets and enjoy Kamishibai, a form of Japanese theatrical storytelling that uses paper puppets. They can also learn Japanese calligraphy, try on traditional Japanese clothes, make kites, color in Japanese coloring books, fold origami figures, and play with traditional Japanese tops and paper sumo wrestlers! For our modern counterpart, children will get to play with Samurai Borgs (Japanese fighting robots), Beyblade (modern Japanese tops), Hyper yoyos, and Kendama (modern cup and ball game).

Kids will also be given the opportunity to let their creativity shine. This year we will be featuring a 3D pen that will make their art literally stand off the page! And with our 3D aquarium, they can bring their art to life! Children will draw their fish, and after scanning it, they will be able to see their fish swim around our 3D fish tank. Everyone in your family will find something to enjoy at JapanFest!

If you need a pick-me-up from all the fun, JapanFest Konbini store and Japanese grocery store, Tomato, are providing tasty and unique Japanese snacks!  My son is looking forward to this!

Love music? JapanFest will feature a variety of musical performances sure to suit all ages and interests, including taiko drumming, J-Rock and J-Pop, and classical music. The festival will also feature Japanese dance performances, a kimono fashion show, and kabuki theater.

Want a selfie taken in Tokyo without the jet lag? Take a virtual trip to Japan with our Magical Photo booth. Take a picture in famous Japanese locations such as Mt. Fuji, Harajuku, or even a photo with a sumo wrestler! Other photo ops include the cute Japanese mascot Domo-Kun, who will be at the festival.

This will be our second year collaborating with anime convention, MomoCon. The Anime village is a section of the festival completely dedicated to anime products, anime viewings, and gaming. Keep Momocon is also sponsoring a Pokémon Go! Meetup. Capture and boost a gym, claim resources from Poke Stops and build your team, all factions welcome!

For fans of more traditional fighting methods, rather than Pokémon battles, there will be demonstrations of virtually every Japanese martial art in existence, including aikido, karate, kendo, kyudo, and sumo.

Shoppers will love the amazing array of Japanese goods available. Ginza-dori, organized by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia and named after Tokyo's famous shopping district, will feature Japanese ceramics, traditional Japanese clothing and accessories, and fun items such as masks and toys. For those who want to try on a kimono, the Konnichiwa Club will dress them in the latest kimonos from Japan.

Attendees are encouraged to purchase  tickets online to minimize waiting at the event entrance, as additional entrances are provided for pre-purchased ticket holders.  Individual tickets are available for sale until the day before the event (Though Infinite Energy Center ticketing system, AXS).  http://www.infiniteenergycenter.com/events/detail/japanfest-2016 .  The deadline for our corporate ticket package is August 10th for e-tickets https://japanfest.formstack.com/forms/ticket_package  (60 tickets and above)

Tickets are $10. Children age 6 or younger free. Teachers can bring students to JapanFest for free by applying online at www.japanfest.org. Larger organizations can purchase ticket packages online.

No pets other than guide dogs are allowed inside the convention center. For more information,  call 404-842-0736 or visit www.japanfest.org.

Sponsors:
Platinum-Delta, Gold-Aflcac, Coca Cola, Silver-Fisher-Broyles, Kumon North America,  TV Japan/NHK Cosmomedia America Inc., WSBTV-Channel 2, Bronze-American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Power Equipment Division; LeafFilter; Miura America Company; PriceWaterhouse Coopers; Sapporo USA, Inc; Temple University, Japan Campus; TOTO USA Inc; Fuji-Dexerials America Corporation, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport,  Inside Gwinnett Magazine, Panasonic Automotive Systems, Yamaha Motor Corp.U.S.A, Sakura-Atlanta Parent Magazine; Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; Ernst & Young LLP; Global Atlanta; Gwinnett Daily Post; Holiday Inn Gwinnett Center; Creative Loafing; Honda Precision Parts of Georgia; KPMG; Nidec Elesys Americas Corporation; Toppan Printing; Ume-Atlanta Braves, Kuraoka Clinic, Machida Family of Duluth

Doesn't JapanFest look awesome?  I can't wait to take my son! This will be a fun, educational experience for us both.  

Local friends, I'm giving away a four pack of tickets to JapanFest! Enter via Rafflecopter below! (Must live in metro-Atlanta area to be eligible to win)

Fun Fall Y'all! October Festivals in North Georgia

Fun things to do in North Georgia ~  October 2015 

44^th Annual Georgia Apple Festival and Arts and Crafts Show:

October 10-11 and 17-18

Saturdays 9-6, Sundays 9-5

Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main Street, Ellijay, Georgia

Antique Car Show – Saturday, October 10 (rain date October 11)

Parade in Historic Downtown Ellijay- Saturday, October 17

Over 300 vendors, (http://www.georgiaapplefestival.org/vendors.aspx) amazing food (spicy potato chips, German Bratwurst plate). Live entertainment – from music to clogging!

Adults are $5, kids under 10 are FREE!

Rain or shine! No pets allowed. (Pet boarding available on site)

Visit www.facebook.com/georgiaapplefestival or www.georgiaapplefestival.org for more information!

Blue Ridge 2015 Fall Arts in the Park:

October 10 and 11, from 10 am to 5 pm.  Downtown City Park.

Almost 200 booths full of arts, crafts, food and more! $5 admission, kids are free. There is some free parking and some paid parking, too. Visit www.blueridgearts.net/arts-in-the-park.html for more event information.

21^st Annual Heritage Days Festival – this festival takes place in downtown Talking Rock, Georgia on October 17 and 18 from 9 am to 5 pm. Shop booths filled with arts and crafts, antiques and collectibles. Enjoy bluegrass and gospel music. Free admission, both free and paid parking available. Www.talkingrockga.com

Fun Fall, Y'all! Hillcrest Orchards Apple Pickin' Jubilee!

Near Ellijay, Georgia, you will find a wonderful apple picking experience at Hillcrest Orchards.  We started coming here last year and were extremely happy to find everything the same when we went back this Fall.

We like to go during the week since we are a homeschooling family.  That way we miss most of the crowds, but still get to have a great time!

We love the huge variety of apples they offer.  You can pick them yourself, or buy premade, or customized bags of apples inside.  They have lots of great local products for sale, including jellies, cider, baked goods and more. 

Their Apple Pickin' Jubilee is offered on weekends in October.   In addition to picking your own apples, you can also do fun things like milk Buttercup the cow,  watch pig races and swimming pigs, visit the petting zoo and jump on the giant jumping pillow! 

There are Moonshine, Farmhouse and Apple museums,  wagon rides, pedal cart and trike rides, a kiddy corn maze, mini gold, cow train rides – whew!! 

For an extra fee you can take a pony ride or bungee jump, too. 

These apples are down front by the road - they are just for photos, no picking off these trees!

Try some delicious food while you are there:  BBQ, corn on the cob, boiled peanuts, funnel cakes, fried oreos, fried apple pies, apple fritters,  apple cider doughnuts, ice cream and fudge, apple cider and more are available to purchase.   (Get the doughnuts.  Get lots of them!! They are heavenly!)

Each time we visit, David likes to get a plastic apple sipper that comes filled with cold apple cider for $1.50.  He's holding it in the bear picture below.  They have some cute photo opps there, too!

If you go during the week like we do, the market, bakery and petting farm are open daily from 9 am to 6 pm.  Not all of the activities are available during the week.  You can call ahead to find out what they have the day you visit. 

Find out more by visiting their website .

Hillcrest Orchards is located on Georgia Hwy 52 (9 miles east of Ellijay) and their phone number is 706-273-3838. 

Stone Mountain's Yellow Daisy Festival is THIS weekend!!

We are way too excited here, because tomorrow, we get to go to The Yellow Daisy Festival! Yippppeeeee!   If you are a regular reader of Just Kidding Around Atlanta, you know how much we LOVE Stone Mountain Park.  It's one of the best attractions in Atlanta for families!  The Yellow Daisy Festival is just as fun as every thing else the Park offers up!  Shopping, festival food, shopping, music, shopping, and did I mention the fabulous shopping?!  Read on for all the details!

Stone Mountain Park hosts the 45th Annual Yellow Daisy Festival 

Voted one of the top three arts & crafts shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event and winner of multiple awards by the Southeast Festival and Events Association.

Thursday, September 5: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Friday, September 6: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Saturday, September 7: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 8: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Despite its growth from a small arts & crafts show to the four day event that it has become today, the Yellow Daisy Festival Presented by Humana continues to be a big show with a small-town feel. The mission of re-connecting families and friends with fun, shopping, live entertainment and good food has remained constant over the past forty-three years. Multi-generations of mothers, daughters and grandmothers meander the wooded trails together in search of the perfect item.

More than 400 artists and crafters from 38 States and two countries display their works for your appreciation and purchase. Daily live entertainment, Children's Corner activities, and crafter demonstrations throughout the event as well as fabulous festival foods.

Yellow Daisy Festival is free with paid parking admission. Vehicle entry to the park is $10 for a one day permit or $35 for an annual permit.

Children’s Corner Events

Musical Lineup

Crafters by Category 

FAQ

I will add pictures after our visit tomorrow, so come back this weekend! And if you are in Atlanta, make plans to visit The Yellow Daisy Festival - it's open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine!  You can knock out most of your Christmas shopping in one day!

UPDATE! 

We had so much FUN!! Here are some pictures ~ please try to go this weekend and check out this super-fun festival!!

Right inside the festival, looking towards the vendor section! Music stage is to the right.

We were the 2nd set of people in for this fun craft event hosted by Michaels.

We made some fun daisy-themed Mod Podge necklaces! 

Who doesn't love Bubbles?! 

Ford has a huge display set up - you can check out cars and trucks, play games for fun prizes, and enter to win a new Ford vehicle! We had a blast, and walked away with cups and reusable shopping bag prizes!

Looking from the Ford display over towards the back of one row of vendors! 

David won us each a shopping bag ~ he got the 2nd highest score of the day (as of 10:15 am, lol!)

Children's Corner. Nothing going on when we were there, except a sand art activity that cost $5 and up, depending on size.  

The vendors don't allow photos back there so I didn't take any others (the one below I asked permission for!)  Some of the cool things we saw today include: 

Brandles - candles made in containers of your favorite brands - think liquor bottles, soda bottles, etc., Homemade Sugar Scrubs, Maple Sugar Candy and Maple Syrups, 

Adorable Children's clothes, dolls, UGA signs, metal sculptures, Barbecue Sauces, awesome-smelling candied almonds and pecans, stone cutting boards, soaps, and so much more!! Lots of holiday-themed products for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas!  

I'm not kidding when I say you can do all your Christmas shopping here!

Tasty dips & soups to sample ~  and yes, we sampled and bought a little packet of butter garlic sauce for dipping your bread ~ yummmm!

For his treat, he chose grasshopper fudge (mint/chocolate, not the bug!)   Oh, and see his cool necklace? He made that, plus another one for his sister at the Michaels trailer! 

After walking through the entire Festival, he wanted to take a break under the shade for a few minutes to enjoy his fudge!

I was thinking there would be some great food trucks, but mostly saw restaurants there today  - Roly Poly, Chick Fil A, Sonny's, Moe's, etc.... there was a sushi/noodle truck and a grilled food truck, but it wasn't open when we passed by for this pic...

There was this food truck ~ and I was proud of myself for not trying a cupcake, they looked very good!

Plenty of shaded seats if you need a break or want to sit and eat ~ 

After we left the Festival, we drove around the mountain to the playground - it's a great big, circular play structure. David had a ball today! 

We LOVE Stone Mountain Park!! 

Thanks so very much for letting us visit the Yellow Daisy Festival today!

Stone Mountain Park provided me with a pass to attend the Festival and a t-shirt from the Yellow Daisy Festival in exchange for writing about the Festival.  However, all opinions in this post are my own and were not influenced by receiving these items from SMP.

The 44th Annual Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain!

Hey y'all!! So excited to share the details of the Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park! We attended the festival often when I was growing up - I haven't been in about 12 years, so I'm really excited to be going tomorrow with my son and my husband.  : )  I'll have some great pics to share soon!! If you live in or near Atlanta - you MUST come - this festival has so much to offer!!!

Information below is from the SMP press release...

Dates & Times: Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sept. 8, 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Location: Special Events Meadow at Stone Mountain Park

Price: Free; Parking is $10 for one-day permit


Stone Mountain, Ga. - Celebrating its 44th year, Stone Mountain Park’s Yellow Daisy Festival features more than 450 artists and is consistently voted one of the nation’s top arts and crafts shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine’s annual “200 Best” survey. This year’s show will be held September 6-9 at Stone Mountain Park’s Special Events Meadow.

The Yellow Daisy Festival features more than 450 crafters and artists from across the U.S. The artists are selected from a pool of applicants by the Yellow Daisy jury to display their distinctive handmade work in categories including pottery, fabric, painting, jewelry, sculpture, fiber, photography, fine arts, and traditional arts and crafts.

The annual celebration attracts an estimated 200,000 shopping enthusiasts to the four-day event. The festival is a tradition for multi-generational shoppers searching for unique works of art.

“Each year it is amazing to see how many people have made it a tradition to come out to the festival,” said Janet Bell, Stone Mountain Park special events manager. “We see packs of grandmothers, mothers, daughters, neighbors and best friends coming together dressed in their yellow daisy outfits seeking that hot craft item of the year. They even get here before the festival officially opens at 10 a.m. to begin their shopping…and we don’t stop them!”

New for 2012 is the selection of two featured artists, rather than the traditional one artist. Featured artists have their work prominently displayed on all Yellow Daisy Festival marketing and promotional materials.

“Selecting two artists to feature is new for us. With so many quality crafters attending this year’s Yellow Daisy Festival, we wanted to better represent the various mediums of art,” Bell said. “The art selected features a beautiful textured painting of various women’s shoes called ‘Classy, Sassy, Comfortable, Fun’ and the other, a jewelry charm, called ‘A Charming Event’, features a woman sitting in a garden of yellow daisies and made of real flowers.”

Rosa McMurtray, creator of the “Classy, Sassy, Comfortable, Fun” art piece, originally from Zaragoza, Spain, creates beautifully textured paintings in her Decatur, Ga. studio and was selected as a featured artist in her first year attending the Yellow Daisy Festival.   "I was actually very emotional when I found out my work going to be featured for Yellow Daisy,” McMurtray said. “It is really an honor and I am flattered.”

Traveling from Madison, Miss. is the equally talented Mamie Herron. Herron, the creator of the “A Charming Event” charm is known for her creative and intricate charms, necklaces and bracelets and was selected as the other featured artist.

In addition to the unique arts and crafts, the festival offers festival food including the popular Happy Belly food truck. Soon to be featured in Travel Channel’s upcoming series “Mobile Meals,” Happy Belly serves up tasty dishes with locally grown organic ingredients. Other foods available include Sonny’s BBQ, Chick-fil-A, TJ’s Kettle Corn and more.

Throughout all four days of the Yellow Daisy Festival, there will be live entertainment on the festival’s main stage including Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins and NBC’s “The Voice” contestant Jordan Rager. Mullins, known for his 1998 hit single “Lullaby,” will perform Friday from 4:30 - 6 p.m. and Rager will perform Thursday from 4:40 - 6 p.m. Steel Magnolia, Country Music Television’s “Can You Duet?” winners will perform Saturday from 5:45 - 7 p.m. Singer-songwriters such as Dylan Altman, writer of Jake Owens’ “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” and others will perform Thursday from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. The festival main stage will feature 15 other live performances from bands such as the Yacht Rock Review, REMakes and Peachtree Station.

New this year, T.Rumble and the Kidz will be rapping up a storm of kid friendly songs in the festival’s Children’s Corner. The Children’s corner will also provide crafts, entertainment and face painting.

The Men’s Den is a great venue for the gentlemen and sports fans coming to the event that don’t want to miss the big game. The Men’s Den is outfitted with recliners and big screen TVs showing fall football.

Shoppers can stop by the Humana tent, the festival’s presenting sponsor, for free giveaways and to enter for a chance to win a Stone Mountain Park annual pass package good for four Mountain Memberships. Additionally, guests can stop by the Ford Experience Tour and check out the latest Ford vehicles and technology. The attraction offers skill competitions, interactive vehicles and the opportunity to win prizes, including a new Ford vehicle of your choice up to $30,000. Guests can also visit the Texas on Tour exhibit which features an experiential virtual trip to the Lone Star state and a chance to win a free Texas vacation.

For more information on the Yellow Daisy Festival, please visit www.yellowdaisyfestival.info. Listed in Frommer’s 500 Places to Visit with Your Kids Before They Grow Up and cited by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as one of “35 Natural Wonders in Georgia You Must See Before You Die,” Stone Mountain Park is located 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta. To get to the park, take I-285 to Exit 39B, Hwy. 78 East. Stone Mountain Park is Exit No.8 on Hwy 78. More information regarding Stone Mountain Park attractions and hours of operation is available at 770-498-5690 or by visiting www.stonemountainpark.com.

The 43rd Annual Yellow Daisy Festival is almost here!

Just got the press release about one of the best arts & crafts shows around , and wanted to share with my Atlanta readers!!  If you haven't been, you've got to check it out!

Celebrating its 43rd year, Stone Mountain Park’s Yellow Daisy Festival (YDF) is one of America’s favorite and most well-known arts and crafts festivals. Featuring more than 400 artists, YDF is consistently voted one of the nation’s top arts and crafts shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine’s Annual “200 Best” survey. This year’s show will be held September 8, 9, 10 and 11 at Stone Mountain Park’s Special Events Meadow.

The Yellow Daisy Festival features 425 crafters and artists from across the U.S. The artists are selected from a pool of applicants by the Yellow Daisy Jury to display their distinctive hand-made work in categories such as pottery, fabric, painting, jewelry, sculpture, dolls, photography, fine arts and crafts and traditional arts and crafts. “One of the best things about the Yellow Daisy Festival is seeing the same shoppers year after year,” said Wendy Thomas, Stone Mountain Park Special Events Manager. “Generations of women come in groups to spend the day shopping and socializing; it is a unique aspect of this event.”  The annual celebration attracts an estimated 200,000 shopping enthusiasts to the four-day event. The event draws multi-generational shoppers as a family pilgrimage to shop for the hot craft item of the year. 

In remembrance of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, select YDF crafters are donating a piece of their artwork to be sold in a “We Remember” display. All proceeds from these sales will go to HeroBox, a non-profit organization that supports deployed American service members. More information about HeroBox can be found at http://www.herobox.org/. 

New for 2011, Yellow Daisy Festival shoppers can also enjoy accommodations right inside Stone Mountain Park at Marriott Evergreen Conference Resort. Yellow Daisy Festival Girlfriend Getaway Packages start at $209 a night, include a one-night stay at the newly renovated Marriott Evergreen Conference Resort, breakfast and a meet and greet with this year’s featured artist.

The Yellow Daisy Festival selected chARiTy elise as the 2011 Featured Artist. Originally from Maine, Elise has travelled the globe and currently resides in Tucker, Ga. Her artwork features designs including flowers, leaves, the sun, wavy lines and geometric shapes. This year’s featured artwork is a kaleidoscope design using vibrant colored acrylics on a 19 inch round masonite board. A glowing yellow daisy is predominantly situated in the center of the design. Her artwork will be included on all promotional and marketing materials for this year’s festival.   “It seemed like a perfect kind of design for such a tremendously vibrant festival,” said Elise.

In addition to the unique arts and crafts, the festival offers entertainment for everyone in the family and festival foods to meet a variety of tastes. Throughout all four days of YDF, there will be live main stage entertainment including the JaneDear Girls. The JaneDear Girls are a new breed of country music. They will perform their hit song “Wildflower” Sunday evening. The Children’s Corner will provide crafts, entertainment, face painting and Fair Hair.  The Men’s Den is a great venue for the gentlemen coming to the event that don’t want to miss the big game. The Men’s Den is outfitted with recliners and big screen TVs showing fall football.

Guests may also visit the 40th Annual Yellow Daisy Flower Show at Memorial Hall.  The theme for the 2011 flower show is “Daisy…Fabulous at 40!”  The Yellow Daisy Flower Show runs from September 9-11. The flower show is sponsored by the Redbud District of the Garden Club of Georgia. 

Shoppers can stop by the Humana tent, the festival’s presenting sponsor, for free giveaways and to enter for a chance to win a Stone Mountain Park Annual Pass Package good for four (4) Mountain Memberships. For more information on the Yellow Daisy Festival, please visit http://www.stonemountainpark.com/.

Or watch a slideshow of the event at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09o9uN_IVbI. Listed in Frommer’s 500 Places to Visit with Your Kids Before They Grow Up and cited by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as one of “35 Natural Wonders in Georgia You Must See Before You Die,” Stone Mountain Park is located 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta. 

To get to the park, take I-285 to Exit 39B, Hwy. 78 East.  Stone Mountain Park is Exit No.8 on Hwy 78. More information regarding Stone Mountain Park attractions and hours of operation is available at 770-498-5690 or by visiting http://www.stonemountainpark.com/.