Arts & Entertainment
Atlantans Celebrate the West End and Sweet Auburn Festivals During Mother's Day Weekend
Thousands enjoy fun, food, and entertainment from the historic West End to downtown Atlanta.
Mother's Day Weekend was filled with fun, music, and great food throughout the Historic West End this weekend as residents celebrated "West Fest: The Hippest Festival South of I-20."
The West End Neighborhood Development Inc. (WEND) sponsored the annual event, which included a concert, dog parade, artist market and festival, and tour of historic homes.
The concert kicked off the weekend of events on Friday night with a performance by soul songstress Dawn McClain at the Wren's Nest Amphitheater. The West End Tour of Homes consisted of a self-guided walking tour of over a dozen Craftsman, Victorian, & Queen Anne-style private homes. The large majority of buildings in the district are houses constructed from 1870 to the 1930s.
Find out what's happening in Cascadefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The festival and artist market, on Saturday, included a dog parade, feature local artists and a live DJ. Also, Barry Corker, serenaded the mothers with selections such as, "Mother You Are So Beautiful" and "My Cheri Amor."
Atlanta City Councilwoman Cleta Winslow, who sponsored the event, said she was pleased with the turnout and enthusiasm over the event.
Find out what's happening in Cascadefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"I am so proud how the neighbors came together to bring the community together," Winslow said. "Community Unity is so important."
Not far from West Fest, another popular Atlanta event, the annual Sweet Auburn Festival, drew residents from Cascade and other parts of the city.
That popular event was held in downtown Atlanta on Auburn Avenue. Organizers said this year's event was planned to set the Guinness record as the largest in the world.
Ten stages of continual entertainment covered a wide spectrum of music from every taste and culture including: Parade of Cultures, Health Fair, Technology Expo, Kids Fantastic Fun Zone, Car Show, International Vendors Market Place and The Taste of Sweet Auburn.
"I love it here," said Historic West End poet Queen "Nef" Nefertitti. "This is where all cultures come together from around the world can to have fun and not expect violence."