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Athens Annual Events, January - June 2010 (December 11, 2009)

Many of the Classic City's annual happenings have released dates and details for the first half of the year, including Taste of Athens, the Robert Osborne Classic Film Festival, Athens Twilight Criterium, the UGA International Street Festival, Nationwide Golf's Athens Classic at UGA, and AthFest.

Christmas Spirits Holiday Tour Dec. 5 - 6 (November 16, 2009)

Celebrate the holidays Classic City Style with the Athens Historic House Museum Association's second annual Christmas Spirits Holiday Tour. The Association, along with Classic City Tours and Rose of Athens Theatre, brings holiday cheer to their four historic house museums on December 5th and 6th. The festive tour will take participants to the Church- Waddel-Brumby House, the T.R.R. Cobb House, the Taylor-Grady House, and the Ware-Lyndon House. Visitors will enjoy guided tours of each residence while noshing on delicious seasonal refreshments. Two original theatre vignettes by Rose of Athens Theatre are sure to put audiences in the holiday spirit.

Celebrate the Holidays in Athens, Georgia (October 26, 2009)

The holiday season is a perfect time to visit the picturesque college town of Athens. This bustling town illuminated with twinkling lights offers an incredible array of unique gifts, extraordinary events, and fine dining sure to please everyone of all ages. Athens' celebrated art galleries and studios showcase their one-of-a-kind artwork through open houses and special sales events. A full calendar of theatrical and musical performances highlights the variety of entertainment that Athens is known for. Athens is the perfect winter wonderland location for a holiday getaway with friends or family, and for anyone looking to take a break from hectic holiday errands or to entertain visiting guests.

Robert Osborne Announces Line-up for Sixth Annual Classic Film Festival (October 23, 2009)

To Catch a Thief, The Wizard of Oz and The Godfather II are among films selected for the sixth annual Robert Osborne Classic Film Festival, to be held March 25 - 28 at The Classic Center. Osborne, the prime-time host of Turner Classic Movies and columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, has picked nine classic films that, he says, "represent the breadth and variety of classic cinema from the 1920s to the 1980s."

Spend Halloween in Athens Hot Spots (October 20, 2009)

Athens nightclubs are world-renowned for their live music, and the scene doesn't get any better than on Halloween, when bands and fans dress in wild costumes. Make a weekend out of the ultimate adults-only Halloween party!

FALL FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS (September 28, 2009)

Fall is not just for football in Athens, Georgia. October is also festival season! A wide range of special events with live entertainment and local flavor abound in Athens this October.

2nd Annual Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage Dates Announced: April 21-25, 2010 (August 31, 2009)

Georgia's Antebellum Trail, the state's first official tourism Trail, presents the second annual Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage on April 21-25, 2010. The 100-mile trail, spanning seven communities from Athens to Macon, features events, tours and entrance into private historic homes not generally open to the public.

Bouldering Competition Registration Now Open (August 24, 2009)

Registration is now open for the first American Bouldering Series, known as ABS, season 11, a Bouldering Competition to be held at Active Climbing, the first indoor rock climbing facility in Athens. The 7,000-square-foot facility is located at 665 Barber St. and has been open since April 2009.
This is a local ABS 11 Season Opener.

Classic Luxury, Locally Flavored Renovation Underway at Foundry Park Inn & Spa (August 3, 2009)

The Foundry Park Inn & Spa, Athens's first boutique hotel, began a full scale renovation July 1 that will include updates to all of its 119 guest rooms and suites as well as meeting rooms. The Foundry Park Inn & Spa is fully updating every guest room while maintaining a gracious, classic look in keeping with its unique and historic setting.

Go Beyond the Hedges this Football Season with a Road Trip to Athens (July 21, 2009)

Football fans hitting the road to Athens, Ga. during the 2009 season will find one of the most vibrant, entertaining college towns on the schedule this year. In addition to sports, Athens is home to vibrant history, antebellum architecture and a vibrant restored downtown that serves as a backdrop for an array of museums, nightclubs, trendy shops, distinctive restaurants and a world-renowned music scene. A Football weekend in Athens involves much more than action at Sanford Stadium and tailgating. When the dust clears at Sanford Stadium, what else is there to do in Athens? A road trip weekend visit to Athens should include some of these "Top Five" attractions and activities:

Athens Heritage Walks Tours (July 8, 2009)

The Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation is pleased to announce Athens Heritage Walks, a new series of guided tours featuring some of Athens' most outstanding historic places. The series features tours through November of this year, honoring Athens' recognition as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Dozen Distinctive Destinations of 2009. Each tour is hosted by a distinctive Athens personality whose knowledge brings a unique and colorful perspective to local history. Tours are scheduled for places such as the Navy Supply Corps School, Boulevard historic district, UGA's North Campus, and the City of Winterville. Feeling adventurous? Join the Foundation and tour guide Ben Emmanuel on an Oconee River Historic Sites Canoe Tour.

AthFest Artists, Special Events, and Travel Packages Announced (May 26, 2009)

For the past 12 years, the AthFest music and arts festival has showcased the best in local, regional, and nationally recognized Athens-based talent. Everyday with Rachel Ray calls it "..one of the country's great indie music festivals." AthFest 2009 will be held June 25-28 and includes close to 200 bands, plus KidsFest activities, film screenings, the Flagpole Music Awards, and more. Travel packages are available.

Athens Named to Kiplinger's 10 Best Cities of 2009 List (May 26, 2009)

Athens Ranks fifth on Best Cities List. Kiplinger's Personal Finance has named its 10 Best Cities of 2009, selecting locales offering solid employment opportunities and the talent to create new, well-paying positions. A healthy job market means these cities will suffer less during the recession and will have a head start toward growth when the recovery takes off.

NOMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL ATHENS HOSPITALITY AWARDS NOW BEING ACCEPTED (April 9, 2009)

The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is now accepting nominations for two award programs to honor outstanding individuals in the Athens-Clarke County hospitality industry. The Louis Griffith Hospitality Leadership Award recognizes management-level employees for leadership in the local hospitality industry, and the Hospitality H.E.R.O.E.S. (Hospitality Employees Recognition of Excellent Service) Awards honor front-line staff for exceptional visitor service. The deadline for nominations is Thursday, April 30.

Athens Annual Events March - June, 2009 (February 16, 2009)

Spring brings with it the busiest schedule of the year for festivals in Athens, including such annual highlights as the Robert Osborne Classic Film Festival, UGA International Street Festival, Athens Human Rights Festival, the Twilight Criterium, and the Piedmont Gardener's Garden Tour, plus a variety of Arts Unleashed events. The first half of the year is capped off in late June with AthFest, a showcase of local music and arts. Plan your visit to Athens during one of these extra-special times!

Athens Named one of 2009's Dozen Distinctive Destinations (January 13, 2009)

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Athens, Georgia, to the list of 2009 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has annually selected communities across the United States that offer cultural and recreational experiences different from the typical vacation destination. From dynamic downtowns and stunning architecture to cultural diversity and commitment to historic preservation, the selected destinations boast a richness of character and exude an authentic sense of place. Athens is the first Georgia destination to receive this prestigious national designation since 2004, when Macon made the list.

Athens CVB and The Classic Center win Convention South Readers Choice Awards (January 9, 2009)

For the second year in a row, The Classic Center and the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau have been voted one of the South's preferred meeting destinations by the readers of ConventionSouth magazine.

Holiday House Museum Tours on December 13 (December 1, 2008)

Looking for some Holiday Cheer, but don't want to travel far? Discover the magic of the Museum Mile Holiday Tour and Open House on December 13 in Athens, GA. Experience four enchanting historic house museums, and watch a Victorian Holiday play unfold before your eyes. Museum staff will greet you with refreshments at each stop, and don't forget that some of Athens' finest restaurants and shops are only blocks away!

Athens Podtour Debuts (July 9, 2008)

An all-new Podtour of Downtown Athens is the latest in innovative tour products from the Athens Welcome Center and Classic City Tours. Tour athens YOUR way, with just a click.

Beat the Heat of High Gas Prices With a Summer Getaway to Nearby Athens, Georgia (June 12, 2008)

As the official start of summer draws nearer there is no better time to plan a getaway to Athens. With gas prices through the roof, Athens is a convenient and economical vacation destination. Exciting events are taking place all summer plus there are plenty of free anytime attractions, making Athens an ideal spot for singles, couples and families of all ages.

12th Annual Athfest to be Held June 18-22, 2008 (March 5, 2008)

ATHFEST 2008 will be held June 18-22, 2008, in historic downtown Athens, GA, a town long renowned for its thriving music scene. For the past eleven years, this annual music and arts festival has showcased the best in local, regional, and nationally recognized Athens-based talent. Over 150 bands and artists will perform over the course of the weekend, with most performances free of charge to the public. The festival also includes a juried artisan market, the Flagpole Music Awards show, KidsFest, and much more.

Future Gymnastics Stars Set to Compete in National Gymnastics Challenge (February 15, 2008)

The future stars of gymnastics will take the stage in Athens in the inaugural National Gymnastics Challenge presented by The Peoples Bank. The event will take place on Saturday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16 at Ramsey Student Center at The University of Georgia. Tickets go on-sale Saturday, February 16.

Valentines Day Getaway Ideas (January 29, 2008)

Athens' uniquely offbeat, yet cultured style is the perfect setting for celebrating the most romantic time of the year. A variety of world-class entertainment, fine dining, and first-rate accommodations await UGA fans and college sweethearts of all ages, or anyone who enjoys a good meal and a good time!

African American Heritage Tours of Athens (January 14, 2008)

In celebration of Black History Month, Classic City Tours will offer half-price tours of Athens' most significant African-American heritage sites on February 2nd, 3rd, 9th, and 10th.

Christmas in Athens 2007 (November 15, 2007)

There's no better time to visit Athens than the holidays. Christmas in Athens events and packages are now offered online at www.christmasinathens.org

Historic House Museums Holiday Open House Tours Dec. 14-15 (November 15, 2007)

The Athens Historic House Museum Association will introduce their new Museum Mile Tour of interiors with Holiday Open House Tours Dec. 14-15.

EVERGREEN: In Athens, Southern Heritage meets Trend-Setting Culture and Entertainment (September 12, 2007)

Athens, Georgia, is a vibrant college town that defines sophisticated southern culture. Visitors will discover a unique blend of southern heritage and contemporary entertainment in this historic town known for its performing and visual arts.