Free Senior Citizens Fair Set for Today

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us make our dollars as valuable as possible.

Here are some that will hopefully stretch your dollars to the max:

1. Today's Free Information Fair for Senior Citizens

Deal: Cobb Senior Services staff and the Senior Citizen Council of Cobb County are set to host their annual Information Fair today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will provide an opportunity for senior citizens to gather information on a number of topics—all in one stop.

Admission and parking are free. Seniors 55 and older, caregivers and adult children are welcome to attend.

Exhibitors will have information on elder law, advance directives, living wills, independent living, assisted living, identification fraud, Social Security, Medicare, social clubs, volunteerism, insurance, exercise and nutrition.

Blood pressure and skin cancer screenings will be available. Basic eye exams will be provided by the Marietta Lions Club. There will be several seminars throughout the day:

• Get Fit and Have Fun—10:15 a.m.
• Drive up Hungry; Leave Healthy—11 a.m.
• Everyday Tai Chi—11:45 a.m.
• It's All in Your Head—12:30 p.m.
• Home-Grown Fitness—1:15 p.m.

Location: Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway at Fairground Street, Marietta

Contacts: cobbcounty.org/seniors or 770-528-1445

2. Douglas County Night at the Atlanta Braves

Deal: Low-cost tickets are available for the event on Friday night at Turner Field.
All sales will benefit athletics programs of the Douglas County Parks and Recreation Department.

Time: 7:35 p.m. on Friday

Cost: $8 for upper pavilion tickets

Location: Turner Field, Interstate 75 south of the Interstate 20 interchange, Atlanta

Contact: Brandon Davis, 770-920-7130, BDavis@co.douglas.ga.us for tickets

3. Picnic on the Plaza

Deal: This preview party for Saturday's Taste of Douglasville features barbecued chicken, loaded baked potatoes, baked beans, cole slaw and strawberry-peach shortcake with whipped cream—all catered by Atlanta’s Finest. The event also will be accompanied by jazz, as well as music from "Raise the Praise" and a cash bar of wine and beer.

Hours: 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday

Cost: $15 or $12 for Cultural Arts Council members

Location: O'Neal Plaza between West Broad and Church Streets in downtown Douglasville

Contact: www.artsdouglas.org for ticket purchase

4. Taste of Douglasville

Deal: This 19th annual free event will include not only food, but also an outdoor arts exhibition, crafts, a Kids Korner and entertainment. The City of Douglasville and the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County are sponsoring the event and Picnic on the Plaza.

Samplings will be available for purchase from many of the community’s best restaurants, including established favorites like Gumbeaux, Irish Bred Pub, Fabiano’s, The Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Cold Stone Creamery and Moe’s Southwestern Grill, as well as newcomers to Douglas County, like Landmark Café, Lil Mama’s Soul Food and Three Dollar Café. Participating restaurants compete for Best Presentation, Most Sold and Best New Restaurant awards.

In the sold-out arts and crafts vendor market this year, CAC satellites—such as the Douglas County Arts Guild, Sweetwater Camera Club, DC Chamber Singers, C.A.S.T. and Douglasville Poets and Writers Group—will offer displays, demonstrations, interactive activities and information about their organizations. Perennial participant Bodin’s Tropicals will be offering exotic plants; Dallas Wheless will be selling gold chain by the inch; and Arts and Crafts for the Cure will display original watercolors and beach-themed crafts to benefit the Colitis and Crohn’s Foundation’s research.

Other artisans will present many different kinds of handmade jewelry, centerpieces, paper art, marionettes, fine art photographs, turned wood bowls, homemade dog treats, hand-embroidered children’s clothes, candles, soaps, wooden toys, temporary tattoos and even a local cookbook produced by an area square dance group. 

In case of rain, both the “Picnic on the Plaza” and Taste of Douglasville will be rescheduled for May 20 and May 21, respectively.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday

Cost: $1 per ticket with most samples priced from $2 to $4 (or 2 to 4 tickets)

Location: O'Neal Plaza between West Broad and Church Streets in downtown Douglasville

Contact: www.artsdouglas.org

5. Free Wii and Ice Cream

Deal: A free Ice Cream Social and Wii Bowling event is scheduled for Tuesday in Powder Springs for senior citizens. This activity celebrates Older Americans Month.

Hours: noon to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday

Cost: Free (registration required)

Location: West Cobb Senior Center at , 4845 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs

Contact: 770-528-8200 for details and registration