By Michelle Rice
What is your favorite sign of autumn? For southeast Atlantans, it’s the East Atlanta Strut, which this year is Saturday, September 24.
The Strut is sticking with the neighborhood wide “Porchfest” format, with the event’s presenting sponsor, Southern Feedstore, serving as the center of the action in the East Atlanta Village business district, and various hubs around the neighborhood featuring bands, shopping, food, and fun. After touring the neighborhood highlights, attendees can check out live music curated by Record Plug magazine at Sabbath Brewing and Argosy Restaurant.
The Rockin’ Road Trip party bus will be back, along with the East Atlanta Kid’s Club bus to ferry attendees to the hot spots. Or attendees can start at Strut headquarters in the East Atlanta Village farmers market and rent a bike from Pedego.
The Strut officially runs from noon until 6:00pm, but animal lovers can get a head start with Strut Your Pet, a wacky walk from Brownwood Park to the farmers market lot starting at 9:30am. It benefits Pet Buddies Atlanta.
Strut Your Bake is a rum dessert bake-off inspired by longtime neighbor Katherine Carter, who baked a legendary dessert that brought her the title of Ms. Rum Cake at the very first East Atlanta Strut in 1998. Taste the talents of the bake-off contestants to benefit the Free99Fridge program.
The Leaf Blower Madness tournament is back to test the skills of weekend lawn warriors. Contestants use their leaf blowers to propel a box through an obstacle course. This is a test of precision rather than raw power, and it’s open to battery powered and corded blowers, as well as gas-powered.
There’s also Llama Poop Bingo hosted by Wit’s End Llama Consortium and Metropolitan Studios, and the Roll Through the Strut classic car show.
Of course, an event like this doesn’t happen without volunteers, and the Strut makes volunteering especially worthwhile. Volunteers will earn a $50 donation to a nonprofit for each two-hour shift.
For more information or to sign up as a participant or volunteer, see https://eastatlantastrut.com or contact info@eastatlantastrut.com.
