With Daylight Savings on the horizon, it was time to gather a handful of spring events that I’m aching to attend. Naturally, since this is Two-Sided Southern, these seven events are an eclectic mix of high brow and down home things I’ve been dying to do around the Southland. From can’t-miss theater and celebrity chef dinners to corn dogs, football and seafood festivals, there are so many things to do this spring around the South. With this list, you can indulge both sides of your personality—go a little high brow one weekend and down home the next.
Of course, I think it’s perfectly lovely to dress up for a high-end coursed dinner and then turn around and put on jeans and boots for a rowdy Zydeco festival eating crawfish off newspaper. If you feel the same, read on.
- High Brow – “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” at The Fox, Atlanta
March 8-13, 2022
Above all, I’ve been loving seeing live theater again. The Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series has been incredible to attend this year. I already caught “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Tootsie” in the last couple of months and can’t wait to see “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” next week. The show will be in town for seven days. The story is about The Temptations’ incredible comeuppance from the streets of Detroit to be international stars with recognizable music beloved by people around the world.
I didn’t realize until I started researching the group that The Temptations had 42(!) top ten hits during the career with 14 reaching number one. Hopefully you can catch the show from March 8-13. If not, try to snag tickets to “Jesus Chris Superstar,” which is soon after from April 19-24, 2022. It will be followed by “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” from May 20-22, 2021. All three shows are part of The Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series and are at the top of my list of things to do this spring.
Photo by Emilio Madrid.
- Down Home – Taste of Marietta, Marietta, Ga
April 24, 2022
Spend Sunday on the adorable, historic Marietta Square floating from white tent to white tent snacking on funnel cakes and corn dogs with me. In other words, this big annual food festival on the Marietta Square is my favorite kind of down home, low brow extravaganza. And it’s free for everyone to join! Expect bouncy houses, corn dogs, trampoline jumps for the kids, live music and more. I can’t wait to tell my kids about this one. I adore these big outdoor, walkable events that happen all around the South at this time of year. Therefore, there’s nothing like a frozen lemonade, some fried foods and perusing all the handcrafted work by Southern artisans on display.
- High Brow – David Sedaris at The Fox, Atlanta
April 11, 2022
I remember the first time I read “Naked” in college. I was wowed by this original voice out of nowhere. Since then, David Sedaris has been cracking me up with his salty signature wit. I know I’m not alone. This will be a tough ticket to get, for sure, but I’m going to give it my all. Above all, it’s my dream to see him in person. This time, he’ll be celebrating the release of two books: “The Best of Me” and “Carnival of Snackery.” I know I have two Fox Theatre events already, but I couldn’t skip recommending either of these things to do this spring.
- Down Home – Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
April 16, 2022
Ok, if you’re like me, you love a seafood festival. And a music festival. I am weirdly obsessed with Zydeco music and find it such a fun happy sound. I also adore that this the annual Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival says they “boil up a beaucoup of fun!” It sounds so fun to nosh on crawfish all day and hear the best Zydeco bands from around the South. Kids are welcome and there are plenty of activities for tots, as well as arts and crafts to peruse. There’s a 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run for those that want to burn off the brews and crawfish with a jog.
- High Brow – Easter at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN
April 14-17, 2022
A weekend at Blackberry Farm celebrating Easter? My. Dream. I love Easter. I love the colors, the dresses, the suits, the little white shoes on kids, the baskets, the candy, the adults dressed as bunnies, squealing children, and the community coming together. Moreover, I love getting to spend Easter at a beautiful resort like Blackberry Farm. It sounds idyllic and quixotic. This is what is on their lineup for that weekend: Catch Easter service, Easter egg dyeing, cookie decorating, a wildflower hike and family bingo. Then the coup de grace? The Blackberry Farm crew puts together “The Great Easter Egg Hunt” on their sprawling mountain Main House lawn. Swoon.
- Down Home – G-Day UGA Spring Football Game, Athens, GA
April 16, 2022
It’s been years since I’ve been to a G-Day game in Athens. It’s The University of Georgia’s annual Red v. Black Spring Game. In addition to the game being an awesome chance for fans of the 2021 National Champions (had to be said) to get a glance at the 2022 team, it’s a fun day in Athens for everyone, including kids. Remember to bring your see-through bag!
- High Brow – May Day Celebration Dinner at Old Edwards Inn, Highlands, NC
May 15, 2022
Hands raised if you’re a fan of celebrity chef and author Chadwick Boyd… Ok, put your hand down now. I’m so pumped for this cocktail party-slash-dinner party to celebrate May Day. Old Edwards Inn is one of my favorites and I always seem to visit in the fall and winter. I’m aching to get to go during the spring. There will be live music for the event and Chadwick Boyd describes the menu as “opulent, yet refined; a Southern indulgence, a procession of dishes comprised of regional ingredients that have been coaxed out of the ordinary.” How’s that for a description? It’s $185 per person, and completely worth it. Moreover, he’s only one of the amazing personalities coming to Old Edwards Inn this spring. In other words, check out the whole lineup here.
