Tuesday Talk: Centennial Olympic Park amps up holiday programming

Tuesday Talk rounds up the latest Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) news you might have missed and also points forward to upcoming events on our campus.

Centennial Olympic Park was the world’s gathering spot during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and the Park will once again celebrate its global flavor this winter.

Two concurrent events are being staged at the Park each with a distinctive ethnic and cultural theme, transforming the 22-acre urban jewel into an International Winter Wonderland:

• With tickets going on sale today, the Chinese Lantern Festival returns to the Park, taking over the Southern Company Amphitheater area, and featuring more than 25 hand-crafted large-scale illuminations, artisan booths, food and beverage vendors and live entertainment. This year’s theme is “Into the Wild,” meant to bring attention to the plight of endangered species with lantern depictions of various sea and land animals. Get tickets here.
• As previously announced, a new event for the Park, the Christkindl Market Atlanta will occupy the South Park portion of the outdoor venue, with a Bavarian-style village. The four-week event includes traditional German food and beverages, and handcrafted products such as nutcrackers, ornaments, and toys. Admission to the Christkindl Market is free.

Both the Chinese Lantern Festival and Christkindl Market kick off on Nov. 22. The market will run daily from Nov. 22 through Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). The lantern festival runs nightly Nov. 22 through Jan. 5.

For more information about both of these events, go to: https://www.gwcca.org/copholiday/.

SAVANNAH SNAGS READERS’ CHOICE

Voted on by top meetings professionals who hold events in the South, the Savannah Convention Center, which is managed by the GWCCA, has captured a ConventionSouth Readers’ 2019 Choice Award.

“These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have contributed in determining that Savannah Convention Center indeed displays the commitment to professionalism, creativity, and services that they require,” ConventionSouth Senior Editor Marcia Bradford said via press release.

THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS

The National Minority Supplier Development Council Conference & Business Opportunity Exchange, designed to connect Corporate America directly to ethnic and minority-owned businesses, continues through Wednesday (Oct. 16) at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC).

Fan convention Walker Stalker Con, celebrating macabre entertainment including AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” returns to the Georgia World Congress Center from Friday (Oct. 18) through Sunday (Oct. 20). There’s plenty of scheduled appearances by “The Walking Dead” mainstays such as Norman Reedus and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, but this year’s convention offers some more variety, such as actors from HBO’s “Game of Thrones” including Richard Brake (The Night King), Pilou Asbaek (Euron Greyjoy) and Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) – along with pro wrestling legend Ric Flair. Woo! For tickets, click here.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) One Walk will take place on Saturday (Oct. 19) from 7:30 a.m. to noon at Centennial Olympic Park.

Defense of the 2018 MLS Cup title begins on Saturday (Oct. 19) as the Atlanta United take on the New England Revolution in the first round of MLS playoffs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Trying to right the ship, the Atlanta Falcons return to the home turf of Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday (Oct. 20) with a match-up against Super Bowl runners-up the Los Angeles Rams. Game time is 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, our across-the-way good neighbor, State Farm Arena hosts a pair of sold-out concerts this weekend: First up is rapper/singer Post Malone at 8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 18) with support acts Swae Lee and Tyla Yahweh, followed by country superstar Carrie Underwood’s “The Cry Pretty Tour 360,” featuring opening acts Maddie & Tae and Runaway June at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 19).