This week
Sheep shearing demonstration and petting zoo, Cleveland. Pet animals, watch shearing and take home some wool. Alpaca and sheep wool for sale. Today, North Georgia Zoo, 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland. $5. 706-348-7279.
The Georgia Renaissance Festival, Fairburn. Medieval events and vendors including jousting, artist market, live music and pubs. 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day. Saturday-June 6, Georgia Renaissance Festival, 6905 Virlyn B. Smith Road, Fairburn. $19.95 adults, $17.95 seniors age 60 and older, $8.95 children age 6-12 and free for kids age 5 and younger. 770-964-8575.
Murrayville Day Festival and Parade, Murrayville and Gainesville. 11 a.m. Saturday, downtown Murrayville and Lanier Elementary School, 4782 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville. 770-534-1105 or 770-540-3308. Big Bounce, Gainesville. Food, activities. Benefits Our Neighbor, Inc. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Milton Martin Honda, 2420 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville. Donation.Historic Buford Spring Festival, Buford. Live music, vendors, kids' activities, barbecue cook-off and the Bona Allen Wine Tasting. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, downtown historic Buford. RSVP for wine tasting. 678-230-5499 or bodynature@bellsouth.net.
Spring Fling Festival, Dawsonville. Kiwanis 5K, 10K and fun run, food and garden-related booths, music and children's activities. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, downtown Dawsonville and Dawsonville Middle School. Free.
Upcoming
Trojan Triumph Festival, Gainesville. Barbecue plates, booths by North Hall High School clubs, organizations and athletics teams. Benefits the Renaissance program. 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 8, North Hall High School stadium, 4885 Mount Vernon Road, Gainesville. Free. sharon.hartis@hallco.org.
A Day at the Historic Courthouse, Jefferson. Auction, live music, 1908-themed music, children's activities, tours of the courthouse. Benefits the Jackson County Historic Courthouse Restoration Committee. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 8, Jackson County Historic Courthouse, 85 Washington St., Jefferson. $5 donation for tour. Tour for ages 15 and older. Space limited; RSVP for tour. 706-621-0489.
Official Grand Opening Celebration and Family Reunion, Cleveland. Babyland General Hospital new location. Free kids' activities, entertainment, prize drawings, music and Cabbage Patch Kid costume characters. Xavier Roberts, creator of the Cabbage Patch Kids, will attend. 9 a.m. May 8, Babyland General Hospital, 300 NOK Drive, Cleveland. Free. 706-865-2171.
"Creepy Critters Entomology" Gainesville. A home school series emphasizing bug collection techniques and bug themed crafts. May 10, 17, and 24 from 9:30-10:30AM. $45. Register online.
"Wildlife Science," Gainesville. A home school series focusing on the study, conservation and use of wild animal ecosystems. May 10, 17 and 24 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. $45. Register online.
Ongoing
"Tools for Living," Sautee. Exhibit of tools used to sustain early valley inhabitants. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Sautee Nacoochee Community Association History Museum, 283 Ga. 255 N, Sautee. 706-878-3300.
Story times, Hall County. Children can listen to stories, sometimes read by special guests. Various days and times at libraries in the Hall County Library System. Free.
"Waters of Time: The Chicopee Woods Story," Gainesville. Learn about previous eras and inhabitants of Chicopee Woods. 10 a.m. to p.m. Monday-Saturdays. Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. $3 adults, $2 children ages 2-12, age 1 and younger and members free. 770-535-1976.