Five Things to Do This Weekend (March 18-20)

Welcome to "Five Things You Need to Know for the Weekend," a Dunwoody Patch column that sifts through the long list of events competing for your time to offer our pick of five things worth doing with your time off.

Please email peter.cox@patch.com with any tips for this weekly feature, we'll try to get your events and announcements on our page and, hopefully, into this column.

1. Celebrate Purim events this weekend.

Sunday head to Big Top Purim at . Starting at 4:30 p.m. with fun and games, a 5:30 dinner, a parade at 6:15 and a Purim Shpiel at 6:30 p.m.

There will be a performance by the Ariel Mock-A-Beats.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $9 for kids and free for children 4-years-old and younger.

Check out the  at The Loft in Atlanta Saturday night. invites young adults to a Megillah reading, a screening of ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ and a question and answer session with actor and author Michael Showalter.

Showalter will also be discussing his new book ‘Mr. Funny Pants’ and having a book signing.

The event starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

will be putting on a starting at 9:15 a.m. Sunday. The full Megillah reading and Minyan starts at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel, which a children’s reading starting at 11:30 a.m.

A carnival will follow at noon, with a moonwalk, games and lunch.

For ticket information call 770-399-5300.

2. Cheer on your friends and family at the annual fundraising 5k put on by PTA.

Events also include a 1-mile fun run and a tot trot.

The Dunwoody Dash starts at Austin, goes through local neighborhoods and finishes back at the school. The race starts at 8:30 a.m.

Funds raised benefit Austin Elementary School.

3. Listen to the sounds of bluegrass. The is putting on Sunday at 7 p.m. The church’s bluegrass band, the Wandering Shepherds, will be playing bluegrass and gospel music along with reflections from Rev. Zack Martin.

4. Learn about summer camps in the area at the at Perimeter Mall and the at the .

Atlanta Parent Magazine is hosting the event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event will include exhibitors from day camps, overnight camps and summer programs in the area.

The Taste of Summer Camp is open house information center for all the MJCCA’s summer camps. The event runs from 10 to 11 a.m. Sunday, and includes children’s activities – an art project, storyteller and a chance to dig in the dirt.

5. Go see some live music. The Bad Neighbors play Saturday night at .  The Dunwoody band, which plays 80s rock, will be playing from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday. For more information call the Dunwoody Tavern at 770-394-4164.