Greek Festival + Shrine Circus this weekend

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What's up, neighbors!

The Marietta Greek Festival is back Saturday at Holy Transfiguration on Trickum, and it's the one weekend a year you can get real souvlaki and spanakopita without making a trip into Atlanta.

Five bucks to get in, kids under 12 are free, and they run a complimentary shuttle so you're not circling the neighborhood hunting a spot.

We're planning to hit it Saturday for lunch. Weather is looking like low 80s and dry, which is exactly what you want for a festival that lives or dies on the outdoor stage and the food line.

Friday night, Avenue Live kicks off its season at The Plaza. Free music every Friday through October, BYO chair, grab dinner from one of the shops. Easy way to ease into the weekend.

If you've got kids who have never done a real big-top circus, the Yaarab Shrine Circus is at Jim R. Miller Park Friday night. Grounds open at 5, show starts at 7, and the fair food alone is half the reason to go.

Scroll down for the full weekend planner, this week's local news, and a few other things worth your time.

- Andrew

When was the last time you actually looked at your homeowners policy?

For most folks in East Cobb, the honest answer is "when we bought the house." Which would be fine, except home values around here are up $150K to $200K+ since 2020. If your policy hasn't kept up, your dwelling limit is probably short of what it would actually cost to rebuild today. That gap won't show up on your bill. It only shows up when you file a claim, which is the worst time to find out.

Peachy Insurance is Atlanta-based and built to make this kind of check painless. No call center, no upselling, no runaround. Just a licensed local agent who looks at your full picture and gives you a straight answer on where you stand.

Three things worth a quick look while it's on your mind:

Takes about 5 minutes. Free, no pressure.

Get a free coverage review OR text/call 770-520-7095 (Mon-Fri, closed weekends)

Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church
3431 Trickum Road, Marietta
11am-10:30pm
Saturday, May 16
$5 adults, kids under 12 free

This is the 36th year of the Marietta Greek Festival, which makes it older than most things in East Cobb.

Three days at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church right off Trickum Road, with Saturday being the full anchor day from 11am all the way to 10:30pm if you want the complete experience.

The food is the real thing: homemade spanakopita, souvlaki, gyros, keftedes, and loukoumades aka warm donuts drizzled in honey that disappear about 30 seconds after you order them.

Greek wine, beer, and ouzo at the Taverna for the grown-ups. The Hellenic Dance Program performs all weekend in what the festival proudly calls the South's only Greek amphitheater.

Kids have their own area with crafts, games, and a playground, which is the move when you actually want to sit and eat your gyro in peace.

One thing to know going in: there's no parking on-site.

Free shuttles run continuously from Simpson Middle School (3340 Trickum) and Mountain View Elementary (3151 Sandy Plains).

Plan for it and you'll skip the only stressful part of the day.

At $5 for adults and free for kids under 12, this is one of the easiest yes's on the spring calendar.

OPA.

This is the spot we go to when we want actual NY-style pizza without driving to a hipster spot in Atlanta. It's tucked into East Cobb Crossing on Roswell Road, and it's exactly what you want a neighborhood pizzeria to be. Casual, family-owned, no fuss. It's been here since 1997 (originally opened by John "Buddy" Capozzi), and Angelo Nizzari took it over in March 2025. From the reviews, the new ownership has only made it better.

The pizza is the headliner and it's the real deal. Thin crust, fresh mozzarella, sauce that tastes like someone's grandmother is involved. People drive in from across the metro for it. Beyond pizza, the chicken marsala and shrimp parm get called out a lot, and the calzones are big enough to split. Ask about the secret menu item, Al's Alfredo Garlic Cheese Bread with red sauce on the side. Locals talk about it for a reason.

Takeout is quick, dine-in is laid-back, and they've got beer and wine if you're staying. Good Tuesday-night call when nobody wants to cook.

Price: $$
Hours:
Closed Mon
Tue–Thu 11am–9pm
Fri–Sat 11am–10pm
Sun 12pm–8pm

⚠️ Heads up: A few reviews mention disorganized online ordering with missed or delayed orders. Phone-in or in-person is the safer bet.

🚗 See directions to Capozzi’s on Google Maps

Walking into a salon with no idea what you're about to spend is a special kind of stress.

Intrigue Salon on Johnson Ferry has been in East Cobb for 40 years, and one of the reasons people stick with them is that they tell you exactly what your cut or color costs before you sit down.

Owner Jeff South converted an old oil and lube shop into the space that now houses 30+ stylists.

It just got named one of the Top 200 salons in North America for 2025.

They handle cuts for women, men, and kids, plus balayage, color, smoothing treatments, and wedding styling, working with Goldwell, Oribe, Aveda, and Arrojo.

What really sets it apart is seven stylist tiers at different price points.

You pick whichever fits your budget, and the head stylists run more than someone earlier in their career.

Regulars rave about John, Chad, Lanae, and Mary Jac, and a lot of clients have been with the same stylist here for 10 plus years.

One small heads up: reviews mention the music can run loud.

Hours:
Mon 9am-6pm
Tue 9am-8pm
Wed-Thu 8am-8pm
Fri 9am-7pm
Sat 9am-4pm
Sun Closed

🚗 Get directions to Intrigue on Google Maps

6 beds
5 baths
5,160 sqft
0.32 acres lot

A) $999,900

B) $1,110,900

C) $1,300,900

D) $1,100,900

Bobby Cox, the Hall of Fame manager who led the Atlanta Braves to 15 division titles, five National League pennants, and the 1995 World Series, died Saturday at age 84 after years of declining health following a 2019 stroke. Cox was a longtime East Cobb resident and the fourth-winningest manager in MLB history with 2,504 career wins.

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside two of his pitchers, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, with John Smoltz following a year later. Fans have been laying flowers at his statue at Truist Park since the announcement. Funeral arrangements have not been released.

Sources: East Cobb News | MLB

Gov. Brian Kemp signed HB 369 Tuesday, removing party affiliation from elections for Cobb County Commission, Board of Education, District Attorney, Solicitor General, Tax Commissioner, and court clerks. The law affects five metro Atlanta counties (Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Clayton) and kicks in with the 2028 election cycle. Sheriff races are exempt.

State Sens. John Albers and Kay Kirkpatrick of East Cobb were among the bill's main co-sponsors. Rep. Don Parsons of East Cobb voted against it, and Rep. Sharon Cooper was excused from the final vote. Cobb Commission Chair Lisa Cupid and Cobb District Attorney Sonya Allen have raised state constitutional questions about the law. For now, the partisan primary on May 19 is unaffected.

Source: East Cobb News

Hightower Trail Middle School has been recognized as a 2026 Georgia Military Flagship School by the Georgia Department of Education for its work supporting military-connected students and their families. Nearly 80 military-connected kids attend Hightower Trail, and the school provides wraparound counseling, staff training on military family experiences, and connections to JROTC pathways at feeder high schools.

Principal Dr. Hannah Polk said the school works to be "a place of consistency, care, and belonging" for kids navigating relocations and deployments. The designation puts Hightower among a small group of Georgia schools formally recognized for this work.

Source: East Cobb News

Avenue East Cobb just released its 2026 summer movie schedule, with free family-friendly films screening in The Plaza every Thursday at 6 p.m. through June and July. The lineup leans nostalgic: Wicked (2024), Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, Shrek, Cars, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, and The Princess and the Frog.

Seating is first-come, first-serve, so bring chairs and blankets. No outside food or drink, but takeout from the on-site restaurants is welcome. Rain or shine. Worth circling for the "what do we do tonight?" Thursdays this summer.

Source: East Cobb News

Judy is a one-year-old tuxedo cat who's been living her best life in foster care, charming everyone she meets, and waiting patiently while her siblings all got adopted before her. She's got a sleek coat, a big purr, and a heart that literally has a tiny hole in it. That last part sounds more dramatic than it is. The condition is called a ventricular septal defect, and she's had two echocardiograms that show she's doing well. You'd never know anything was different about her watching her tear around with a feather wand.

She's playful and curious but not chaotic. She likes a lively home, just not a circus. When she's done running the show, she'll find a soft blanket and curl up. She also plays independently, so you don't have to entertain her every second.

Judy has met dogs, cats, and kids and handled all of it with confidence, though she does best when introductions are slow and she gets to come around on her own terms. She gave a dog the nose-to-nose sniff and decided he was fine. She face-rubbed a couple of six and seven-year-olds into submission. She gets along great with the two adult cats in her foster home. She just needs someone willing to let her do things at her pace.

Mostly Mutts is a rescue org based in the Atlanta area. Head to their website to learn more about Judy and submit an inquiry to get the process started.

Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue
Kennesaw, GA (foster-based rescue; no public facility)
By appointment; inquire through website

🎪 84th Yaarab Shrine Circus & Fair - Jim R. Miller Park & Event Center | 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta | 7:00 PM | Tickets required; circus grounds open at 5:00 PM | More: cobbcounty.gov
The Shrine Circus is a legit big-top experience with acts, animals, and that particular brand of old-school spectacle you can't replicate anywhere else; grounds open at 5 so you can grab fair food and walk around before showtime.

🚀 Rockets & Robots Pop-In for Family Fun - Marietta History Center | 1 Depot St, Marietta | Check venue for hours | Check venue for pricing | More: mariettahistory.org
A drop-in science and imagination event at the Marietta History Center built around rockets and robots, which is the kind of Saturday morning that keeps kids talking about it on the drive home.

🐾 Paws Fest - Avenue West Cobb | 3625 Dallas Highway, Suite 470, Marietta, GA 30064 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Free | More: travelcobb.org
A two-day, pet-friendly outdoor celebration with activities for the whole family, so bring the dog and the kids and plan to stay a while.

🏛️ Marietta Greek Festival - Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church | 3431 Trickum Road, Marietta GA | 11:00 AM-10:30 PM | $5 adults; children under 12 free | More: mariettagreekfestival.com
A full day of Greek food, music, and dancing right in Marietta - complimentary parking and shuttle service make it easy, and the kids-free admission is a genuine bargain for a festival this size.

🥕 Marietta Square Farmers Market — Marietta Square | 41 Mill St | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM | Free | More: mariettasquarefarmersmarket.com
65+ vendors with peak spring produce, flowers, and prepared foods. The adjacent Artisan Market runs the same hours, so you can hit both in one trip.

🌸 Art Blooms Flower Walk — Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Rd, Kennesaw | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM | Garden admission | More: smithgilbertgardens.com
17 acres of gardens, 30+ outdoor sculptures, and the tail end of Art Blooms 2026 with temporary installations from regional artists. Beautiful, low-key, and a real change of pace from a festival weekend.

🎭 Footloose: The Musical (Matinee) — Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta | 3:00 PM | $41–$62 | More: earlsmithstrand.org
The full stage version of the 1984 movie with all the hits ("Footloose," "Holding Out for a Hero," "Almost Paradise"). Good pick for tweens and up. Matinee runs about two hours.

🎪 Yaarab Shrine Circus & Fair (Saturday shows) — Jim R. Miller Park | 2245 Callaway Rd, Marietta | 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM, & 7:00 PM | Tickets required; grounds open 10 AM | More: cobbcounty.gov
Four show times means you can work it around naps and the rest of your day. The grounds open at 10 AM so you can hit fair food and rides before the big-top show.

🎶 Music in the Park - East Cobb Park | 4902 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
The Friends of East Cobb Park concert series brings live outdoor music to the park's amphitheater area on Sunday afternoon, a genuinely easy low-stakes outing where kids can spread out on the grass while adults actually relax.

✝️ Kids Sunday Experience - East Cobb Church | East Cobb, Marietta GA | 9:00 AM | Free | More: eastcobbchurch.org
East Cobb Church's Sunday program for elementary-aged kids runs during the main service, so parents and kids can both have their own thing at the same time.

🥕 Marietta Square Farmers Market (Sunday) — North Park Square | Historic Marietta Square) | 12:00 PM–3:00 PM | Free | More: mariettasquarefarmersmarket.com
Smaller and quieter than Saturday with easier parking. Good post-brunch wander.

🎭 Footloose: The Musical (Matinee) — Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta | 3:00 PM | $41–$62 | More: earlsmithstrand.org
Sunday matinee option if Saturday is already stacked.

🎪 Yaarab Shrine Circus & Fair (Sunday shows) — Jim R. Miller Park | 2245 Callaway Rd, Marietta | 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM, & 7:00 PM | Tickets required; grounds open 12 PM | More: cobbcounty.gov
Last day. If you didn't make it Friday or Saturday, Sunday afternoon is the easier lift.

🐾 Paws Fest Day 2 + Big Air Finals — Avenue West Cobb (3625 Dallas Hwy, Marietta) | 10:00 AM–4:30 PM | Free | More: avenuewestcobb.com
The Big Air Finals at 4:30 PM are the marquee dock-jumping event. Sunday tends to run quieter than Saturday, which is the better call if your dog isn't a fan of big crowds.

🎶 Avenue Live - Avenue East Cobb (The Plaza) | 4475 Roswell Rd, Marietta | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Free | More: avenueeastcobb.com
Every Friday through October, Avenue East Cobb sets up live music in The Plaza - grab dinner from one of the shops, pull up a chair (BYO tailgate chairs welcome), and let it be a proper Friday night without much planning required.

🎤 Karaoke Friday - Chaplin's Bar & Grill | Roswell, GA | Check website for hours | No cover typical | More: chaplinsbarandgrill.com
Chaplin's has been keeping Roswell weird since 1987 and karaoke runs six nights a week, so Friday is fair game - the patio is the move in May, and the vibe is genuinely chaotic in the best possible way.

🎸 Live Music Friday - The Third Door | 48 N. Marietta Pkwy NE, Marietta | Check website for set time | Varies by show | More: thethirddoor.net
A restored 1930s filling station turned speakeasy saloon right off Marietta Square, with a Prohibition-era cocktail menu and an intimate room that makes even a mid-bill act feel like a private show.

🎭 Footloose: The Musical (Opening Night) — Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta | 8:00 PM | $41–$62 | More: earlsmithstrand.org
Opening night for the Strand's run of the 80s musical. Walk to dinner first on the Square, walk to the theater after. Easy Friday night.

🤠 Line Dancing Night - Atlanta Hard Cider Co. & Atlanta Distillery | Marietta | Saturday 7-10pm | Free | More: atlantahardcider.com
Matt Miller leads free instruction the first hour, then spins line-dancing tracks until 10pm and stays on the floor to help dial in your moves. All levels welcome, so bring the boots even if you've never done a grapevine in your life - and you've got cider and cocktails right there to keep it loose.

🎸 Canyonland - Eddie Owen Presents: Red Clay Music Foundry | 3110 Main St, Duluth | 8:00 PM | Tickets required; check venue site | More: eddieowenpresents.freshtix.com
Red Clay Music Foundry is one of the better mid-size listening rooms in the metro, and Canyonland makes for a solid Saturday night out if you want live music with actual production value rather than bar-band background noise.

🎭 Footloose: The Musical — Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta | 8:00 PM | $41–$62 | More: earlsmithstrand.org
Saturday night option with the same show. Marietta Square works well for date night with dinner before, theater after.

The Avenue West Cobb, 3625 Dallas Hwy, Marietta

If you've got a dog and you've been looking for somewhere fun to actually take them this weekend, we can’t think of a better event.

Paws Fest is back at The Avenue West Cobb for year three, and the headliner is the kind of thing you don't see at a regular pet event.

DockDogs is in town for a real national-series competition aka actual athlete dogs launching off a dock to chase a toy. It's part agility, part swim meet, part standing-around-yelling-for-a-Labrador, and it's free to attend.

A two-day, dog-friendly outdoor festival held across the walkways and parking areas of The Avenue West Cobb. The DockDogs National Sportsmen's Series is the centerpiece. They roll in a full-size pool with a dock, judges set up shop, and dogs from across the region compete in three formats. Big Air Wave is the long jump, where dogs sprint down the dock and launch as far as they can off the end. Extreme Vertical is the high jump, with a bumper toy raised inch by inch until only one dog can grab it. Speed Retrieve is the sprint, racing the clock to grab a toy at the far end of the pool. Around the dock action you've got dozens of local vendors selling everything from handmade collars to small-batch dog treats, live music, food and drinks from The Avenue's restaurants, and plenty of room for your own pup to meet other dogs without it feeling like a chaotic dog park.

Both days run 10-4, so pick what fits your weekend. Big Air Wave heats kick off Saturday at 11:00 AM with another at 12:30 PM, and on-site registration and practice starts at 10:00 AM if your own dog wants to give the dock a shot. Mid-morning is the sweet spot if you want to get close to the dock without fighting crowds. Afternoons get warmer and busier, especially Saturday. Sunday tends to run a touch quieter and more family-paced, which is the better call if your dog isn't a huge fan of big crowds or hot pavement.

Bring your dog on a leash (this is required, not optional), water and a bowl, sunscreen, and a small towel if yours likes to charge into the splash zone. Kids do great here, especially the ones who love dogs but don't have one at home. The shops and food at The Avenue make lunch easy, so plan to grab a bite between heats. If your dog runs hot in crowds, plan a shorter visit, catch one DockDogs heat, then walk it off through the quieter end of the property.

Free admission, free parking at The Avenue. Dogs must be leashed at all times. Water stations and shaded areas are typically set up across the event footprint. Restrooms are available throughout the shopping center, so you're never far from one. The event runs rain or shine, but check social media if the forecast looks ugly because the dock events can be paused for lightning.

Even friendly dogs can get overwhelmed at a big event like this. Reactive dogs, anxious dogs, and dogs who don't love being approached by strangers are not going to have a great time. If yours falls in that category, leave them home and come solo. You'll still have a blast watching the competition. And if you've been on the fence about getting a dog, this is a great low-pressure way to see a hundred different breeds in one afternoon without committing to anything.

If you financed or leased your car, there's a good chance gap insurance is already baked into your policy. It's a smart thing to carry, but it's also one of the most misunderstood pieces of an auto policy.

Why it exists: A new car can lose 20% or more of its value the first year, but your loan balance doesn't drop that fast. If the car gets totaled early on, standard insurance only pays out what the car is currently worth, which can leave you owing thousands on a vehicle you can't even drive. Gap insurance closes that difference.

What gap insurance covers:

What it does NOT cover:

When it stops being useful: Once your loan balance dips below your car's actual value, gap insurance stops earning its keep. That's why a lot of people drop it after a few years.

The bigger takeaway: it's easy to assume you're more covered than you really are, especially when you've got a stack of policies and add-ons you barely remember signing up for. Knowing what each piece of your coverage actually does is the difference between a stressful claim and a smooth one.

Not sure what your auto policy actually includes? Your Peachy agent will walk through every line with you and make sure it still fits where you are today.

👉 Learn more about Peachy Insurance

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center is staffing up ahead of its brand-new tower opening, which adds 200+ private rooms and an expanded neonatal ICU. The 633-bed hospital (a Level I Trauma Center) is hiring across the board: registered nurses, patient care techs, surgical and trauma support, plus food service, environmental services, transport, and admin roles. Benefits include tuition reimbursement, child care assistance, and adoption support.

👉 Browse openings

Lockheed Martin Marietta has 100+ openings on the C-130 production line and the F-22 and C-5M sustainment operations. They're hiring electrical wiring fabricators, tool and die makers, flight line associates, systems engineers, RF engineers, and aircraft maintenance support staff. If you've got mechanical or technical skills, this is one of the best-paying employers in town, with strong programs for early-career hires and veterans.

👉 Browse openings

Marietta City Schools (the separate district from Cobb County Schools) was just named a 2025 Top Workplace and is hiring teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodians, and food service staff for the 2026-27 school year. They've also got a substitute teacher pool worth a look if you want flexible part-time work close to home.

👉 Browse openings

Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags White Water are deep into summer hiring at both parks. Open roles include lifeguards, ride operators, food and beverage team members, security, costumed characters, EMTs, parking attendants, and aquatics leadership. Perks include free park tickets, weekly pay, scholarships, and free access to other Six Flags parks for employees. Solid first-job territory for teens and college students home for the summer.

👉 Browse openings

Town Center at Cobb has 100+ retail openings posted across stores like Build-A-Bear, Bath & Body Works, Finish Line, Hollister, Vans, Abercrombie, and The Children's Place. If you've got a teen hunting for a first job, or you want a part-time gig with an employee discount, the mall is the easiest one-stop shop. Hiring runs on a rolling basis, and most stores accept applications directly through their own systems.

👉 Browse openings

Bonus help (free): Goodwill of North Georgia's career centers offer free resume help, computer access, job coaching, and a 16-week Technology Career Program at the Smyrna center on South Cobb Drive. Walk-ins welcome.

👉 Visit Goodwill Career Centers