Clusterfest 2014

CL’s annual guide to Labor Day Weekend’s craziness, PLUS: 70 fall events!

There’s no wrong way to celebrate Labor Day weekend. Whether you’re in town for the Great Toothpaste Race (aka NASCAR’s Oral-B USA 500), a chance to trade notes with established and up-and-coming authors at the AJC Decatur Book Festival, or to watch culinary beefs settled at the Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival’s cook-off, this time of year leaves little excuse for folks to stay indoors. Per annual tradition, Creative Loafing has whipped up a guide on Clusterfest’s TM seven main events, including Dragon Con, Black Gay Pride, and the two Chick-fil-A Kickoff matchups. Check out tips, stories, and reflections from the people who know and love the festivals, big game, and parties. Once again, we also have the Fall Events Preview, with 70 of the best bets to hold you down till Turkey Day.

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CONTRIBUTORS:

Max Blau, Rodney Carmichael, Stephanie Dazey, Sarah Freeman, Gavin Godfrey, Chad Radford, Muriel Vega, Sarah K. Wilson

ILLUSTRATIONS:

Joseph Karg

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Dragon Con

Fri., Aug. 29-Mon., Sept 1.

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Marriott Marquis, Atlanta Hilton, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Westin Peachtree Plaza, and AmericasMart Building 1

www.dragoncon.org

$65-$130

Attendance: 62,000+

The Skinny: Dragon Con turns 28 years old this year. The annual gathering of costumed freaks and geeks from throughout the universe (and beyond), converging in the name of all things sci-fi and fantasy, has become an American pop culture institution, and an Atlanta legacy event. Whether you’re there to show off that Time Bandits costume you’ve spent the last year perfecting, roll a 16-sided die with the best gamers around, or scope out some cast members from “Star Trek,” “Firefly,” or “Battlestar Galactica,” old and new, the Walk of Fame is for you. All weekend long, puppet shows, late night debauchery, concerts, DJ dances, pro wrestling, the annual parade along Peachtree, costume contests, and the guest of honor banquet are all part of the program.

Highlight: Annual Dragon Con Parade on Peachtree Street: Even if you don’t fork over the coin to check out any of the official Dragon Con events, you kind of have to go check out the parade on Saturday morning. It’s free and open to the public, and where else are you going to see a platoon of “Star Trek” babes in Federation-issued dress marching alongside Batman, the Incredible Hulk, Orko, Panthro, Destro, Cobra Commander, various characters from the Whedonverse, G.I. Joes, Wookiees, and the largest gathering of Stormtroopers this side of Tatooine. And it’s a family-friendly gathering, so bring the kids, bring grandma, bring the droids. This year Ralph Macchio and Martin Kovey take up duties as Dragon Con’s parade marshals. Sat., Aug. 30, 10 a.m.

Word to the Wise: Chad Ramey, science and technology panelist and Dragon Con veteran says: “If I had to offer one piece of advice to a first-time con attendee it would be to make as much use as possible of the Dragon Con app to schedule your time at the convention. Since the convention is divided up into tracks, and spread across so much area, there is always a ton of activity at any particular time, and it is impossible to be everywhere at once. Planning which panels and events you’re interested in attending ahead of time helps decrease the chaos of the Con!”


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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
Oral-B USA 500

Sun., Aug. 31.

Atlanta Motor Speedway

www.atlantamotorspeedway.com

$39-$135

Attendance: 100,000+

The Skinny: The Atlanta stop on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series typically draws a crowd of 100,000 beer-thirsty racecar fans over the course of the weekend. With all that Bud Light flowing, it’s probably a good thing that the race is sponsored by Oral-B this year.

Highlight: The Fan Zone is where you’ll find all the party people. There’s also a circus-themed, pre-race party inside the Speedway. Expect a heaping portion of human cannonballs, trapeze artists, and motorcycle riders in cages. Also, there will be a lumberjack competition. Just putting that out there.

Word to the Wise: Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark says: “We turn Hampton, Georgia, into the fourth largest city in the state for this one weekend. Traditionally, we have people from all 50 states and a number of countries come to attend our event weekend. It is NASCAR’s one stop each year in Georgia, and we try to make it the biggest Labor Day party in the USA every year.

“When you come to an event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, it’s not just the race, it’s the whole experience. We already have campers in line ... to hold their spot for our unreserved camping areas this past Saturday morning. That just shows you the passion the fans have.”


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Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game(s)

Thurs., Aug. 28 & Sat., Aug. 30.

Georgia Dome

www.chick-fil-akickoffgame.com

$35-$200

Attendance: 105,000+

The Skinny: For the second time since its 2008 inception, the game will be two games. Before the Saturday matchup between No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide and the West Virginia Mountaineers, the Boise State Broncos will be in town away from their blue-turf-covered Idaho digs to take on the No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels.

Highlight: Though the actual matchups take place at the Georgia Dome, it’s the Georgia World Congress Center that plays host to the ultimate pregame. The FanZone and tailgates will be the food-and-drink-laden preludes to the first whistle. The team marches from the FanZone to the Dome won’t be as costume-y as, say, Dragon Con, but it will arguably be just as rambunctious.

Word to the Wise: Chick-fil-A Bowl President and CEO Gary Stokan says: “Since we started in ‘08, Dallas followed in ‘09, Houston followed us. ... Everybody’s excited at the beginning of college football season, because everybody’s team is undefeated.

“The first kickoff game in 2008 was Clemson, which was ranked No. 9 in the country, and Alabama, which was No. 24 and coming off a 7-6 season. Alabama won the game big. And that week they were on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and that is the game that started Alabama’s run that they’ve had over the past six years.

“I love college football. The new College Football Hall of Fame, we were very influential in bringing that to Atlanta. I’m going look forward to Saturday, to seeing a dad and a young son come into the hall and see his eyes open wide. And who knows, that kid may aspire and be in the Hall of Fame someday.”


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Black Gay Pride Weekend

Pure Heat + Queendom Atlanta

atlantaprideweekend.com

Wed., Aug. 27-Mon., Sept. 1.

Multiple locations, including clubs, hotels, parks, pools, strip clubs, even a boat

$20-$175

Attendance: 50,000+

The Skinny:As the home of the largest black gay pride festival, we rarely focus on the L in LGBTQ. But for two party promotions companies, Traxx Girls and Queendom Atlanta Pride, catering to the ladies is what it’s all about. Traxx Girls is hosting a total of 20 events billed under its Pure Heat banner, according to the Atlanta-based DJ M. Pure Heat’s celebrity hosts this year include “Love and Hip-Hop” star Erica Mena and R&B singer Faith Evans. Meanwhile, Queendom Atlanta will hold it down with eight events, according to promoters T.C. and DJ Dimples, hosted by such high-profile LGBT artists/personalities as Blu of “Bad Girls Club” and rapper Siya. Visit atlantaprideweekend.com and www.xplosionentevents.com for detailed calendars of respective events.

Highlight: Queendom’s Russian Red party on Friday night at Krave Lounge is strictly for baddies like “Bad Girls” host Blu. Traxx Girls’ WETher Celebrity Block Party, a daytime event at Opera, will feature a new-artist showcase, dancers, and wet T-shirt contest.

Word to the Wise: When it comes to Pure Heat, DJ M says: “Think back to college, it was difficult to go to a class that was boring, right? You’d have a hard time staying awake. But when you went to P.E., it was easy, right? People fall asleep at the office, but you’re not going to fall asleep at the WET.”

As for Queendom, T.C. says: “We do turn up, but you’re not going to come to our party and see a twerk contest in the middle of the floor. ... You’re going to see quality people that know how to have a great time, but they’re grown and mature about it.”


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AJC Decatur Book Festival

Fri., Aug. 29 to Sun., Aug. 31.

Downtown Decatur

www.decaturbookfestival.com

Free

Attendance: 90,000+

The Skinny: Now in its ninth year, the Decatur Book Festival is bringing more than 600 authors to downtown Decatur. To kick off the weekend, Joyce Carol Oates will be the keynote speaker at Emory’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. With more than 15 stages featuring emerging and award-winning authors, discussions, panels, performances, art, and music, this is your chance to hear from the source about your favorite novel and discover a few new ones as well.

Highlight: While literature is the festival’s main focus, this year there’s a new cooking stage with culinary demonstrations by nine authors. Also, the local literary and arts communities are joining forces with local artists Michael Germon and John Carroll to create large-scale collaged poems displayed in interactive structures.

Word to the Wise: Laura Relyea from Vouched Books says: “Don’t leave home without your map — and have a plan of attack before you head there. Go to the fest knowing who you want to hear and what you want to see, and the whole thing will be a breeze. Also, take a moment to mentally prepare for the crowds. This is the largest independent book fest in the U.S.A., after all.

“As far as the fest, it’s always incredible to have such a concentration of literary nerds in the same place at once. Awkward interactions abound! No, but really, we’ve got a really vibrant and supportive writing and reading community here in Atlanta, and this serves as a testament to that.”


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Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival

Sun., Aug. 31.

Panthersville Stadium

www.atlantajerkfest.com

$15-$25

Attendance: 10,000+

The Skinny: In celebration of Caribbean food and music, Atlanta’s spiciest festival features local restaurants cheffing up tasty traditional offerings such as ackee, saltfish, and curried goat, and, along with everyone’s favorite jerk cuisine, of course. Families can grab their sugar cane at a traditional market, peruse arts and craft vendors, or play it safe with more familiar game trucks and bouncy houses. This sensory overload offers an authentic slice of the Caribbean.

Highlight: At the jerk cook-off, watch as aspiring chefs, restaurant owners, and amateurs scramble to serve up the best jerk chicken, pork, fish, or tofu. This is serious business: Judges from Le Cordon Bleu College and elsewhere rate entries on presentation, taste, and texture. Competitors hop in the kitchen (er, stadium) around 2 p.m. and have three hours to perfect their masterpieces, so if you’re the kind who skips “Iron Chef” till the finale, swing by before 6:30 p.m.

Word to the Wise: Co-founder and Executive Director Glen Simmonds says: “The grills are going and that aroma permeates the facility. Then you have performances on stage and DJs playing, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes, bring a blanket so you can sit down and have a good time. If you eat beforehand — come ready to eat more! If you can’t make it out all day, come before 5 p.m. so you can beat the crowds.

“The first year of the festival took place in someone’s backyard, and we had about 1,000 people. We keep trying to add more elements so that folks can experience the full spectrum they would see if they were home in the Caribbean, or if they have visited the Caribbean, or just want to go there.”


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The Atlanta Weekender +
House in the Park

Thurs., Aug. 28-Mon., Sept. 1

Edgewood Avenue (Sound Table, Space 2, Erosol, the Music Room, Delightful Eatz) and Grant Park

$10-$50

Attendance: 1,000

The Skinny: In 2012, DJ Salah Ananse started the Atlanta Weekender, a four-day weekend of soulful dance events, as a lead-up to the annual fellowship for Atlanta house heads, House in the Park. Consider it a pre- and post-game warm-up for HITP’s 10th anniversary.

Highlight: With heavy-hitters DJ Kemit, Kai Alce, Ananse, and House in the Park founder Ramon Rawsoul holding down the fort Sunday at Grant Park, HITP is the hands-down favorite. But the Weekender kickoff, a Lovesexy Prince Tribute Party, is nothing to sleep on. “Women come dressed up like Vanity 6 and Sheila E.,” says Ananse. “We’ve had a couple of children pop up nine months later.”

Word to the Wise: Salah Ananse breaks it down: “House/soulful dance never died in the black community. It just went back to its roots, the underground scene. Once a year in Atlanta, we come out and show you how strong our community is.

“Atlanta’s soul dance crowd is a lot deeper than the usual house cuts most Top 40 DJs play. We love the song, but you probably won’t hear ‘The Perculator’ at all.

“Ladies, be prepared to dance — not work out! There are so many ways to be sexy and comfortable — African fabrics, jersey, stretchy jeans. There are plenty of options. Ripped up sweats? Nah!

“Gentleman, come prepared to dance. Tie your Timbs up and tighten your belt. ... The ladies expect you to dance with them. If you can’t dance, no one cares. Just move. There’s no judgment here.”


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