🛶 No Shortage of Spooky Events

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Good morning, Forsyth County,

With Halloween around the corner, there’s no shortage of spooky events this weekend to get you in the trick-or-treat spirit. But lately, the scariest thing in my life has been lurking in my own backyard: the dreaded Joro spider.

If you live in an apartment, or you’ve been lucky enough never to walk face-first into one of their webs, here’s what you’re missing. The Joro is an invasive species from East Asia that hitched a ride to Georgia about a decade ago and has been spreading like kudzu ever since. Their webs are thick, strong and stretched wide between trees, porches and mailboxes, which makes them almost impossible to avoid on an early-morning walk.

And if that’s not creepy enough, consider the name. “Joro” comes from Japanese folklore, where the Jorōgumo is a spider that transforms into a beautiful woman, lures men in, and then eats them. Happy Halloween, everyone.

The good news? Joros are harmless to people. Their fangs are too small to do much damage, so the worst they’ll do is ruin your morning and your hairdo.

– Chad

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THE DIGEST

Nashville-Style Heat Headed for South Forsyth

Spice lovers in south Forsyth won’t have to drive far much longer. Construction crews are at work on Dave’s Hot Chicken at Forsyth Town Center, which will be the chain’s first restaurant in Forsyth County. An opening date has not been announced.

The brand began in 2017, when four childhood friends pooled about $900 and set up a portable fryer and picnic tables in an East Hollywood parking lot. Word spread fast, lines stretched around the block, and the stand grew into a fast-casual chain with more than 390 locations around the world. The menu centers on Nashville-style chicken tenders and sliders. Heat levels climb from no spice to a top tier so hot that diners must sign a waiver to order it. The restaurant joins a growing lineup at Forsyth Town Center, where a Whole Foods Market is expected to open in early 2027.

Raiders Run the Table in Region 6-7A

North Forsyth volleyball closed out region play in style Tuesday. The Raiders beat Forsyth Central at Raider Arena to finish unbeaten in Region 6-7A and claim the region championship trophy. Senior Jayda Reece led the way with 16 kills. One of them carried extra weight, because it was the 1,000th kill of her high school career. The title caps a dominant fall for the Raiders. They entered the week on a 25-match winning streak with a 29-2 overall record after sweeping Lambert on Oct. 8. Lily Seabolt powered that win with 32 assists.

North Forsyth also made history in September, when it beat Denmark in the first outdoor varsity volleyball match ever played in Forsyth County. With state brackets now set, the Raiders enter the Class 7A playoffs as one of Georgia’s hottest teams.

Strings Among the Stone: Lambert Orchestra Takes Its Show to a Quarry

Lambert High School’s orchestra is trading the auditorium for something far more rugged. On Friday night, the ensemble will perform inside an active granite quarry. The working industrial site becomes an open-air concert hall for one night to raise money for the orchestra’s upcoming trip to New York’s Carnegie Hall.

The setting is more than a novelty. Towering quarry walls can carry sound like a natural amphitheater, and Forsyth County has hosted quarry concerts before, including past benefit events for Lambert and South Forsyth high schools. The orchestra has earned its invitation to the famed stage. It routinely receives superior ratings at state large-group evaluations, sends students to All-State orchestras and the Governor’s Honors Program, and has performed in the United States and Europe. Its members also mentor middle school string players and give concerts at assisted living homes across metro Atlanta.

Cumming Elementary Earns Statewide Honor for Student Growth

The Georgia Department of Education has named Cumming Elementary School a Title I Reward School. The honor goes only to the top 5% of Title I schools in the state that show the greatest academic improvement. The designation measures growth. It compares how all students performed on statewide assessments over the two most recent years. Only schools that receive federal Title I funding can qualify, and schools currently under state support or improvement status are not eligible.

Cumming Elementary sits on Dahlonega Street near downtown Cumming and serves roughly 900 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of just five Title I schools in the Forsyth County system. The others are Chattahoochee and Chestatee elementary schools and Little Mill and Otwell middle schools. School and district leaders credited the achievement to teachers, staff, families and students working together. Schools that earn the honor typically receive a banner and a certificate from the state.

Rocket Launch Paints a Space Jellyfish Over Forsyth County

Early risers across Forsyth County got an unusual show Tuesday morning as a glowing, tentacled plume drifted across the predawn sky. The display came from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off at 6:33 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, hundreds of miles to the south. The rocket was carrying a cargo Dragon capsule on NASA’s CRS-35 resupply mission. The capsule is hauling more than 6,300 pounds of science experiments and supplies to the International Space Station.

The so-called space jellyfish appears when a launch happens shortly before sunrise. Rocket exhaust spreads out quickly in the thin upper atmosphere, where the sun is already shining even though it is still dark on the ground. The sunlight makes the exhaust glow as a broad cap with wispy trails. People reported seeing it from Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia and even Ohio.

CIVIL NEWS

Forsyth County Development Authority Regular Meeting
When: Thursday, October 15, 9:30 AM
What: The Development Authority supports business investment, expansion and employment opportunities in Forsyth County. Its regular meeting is listed on the county’s official calendar.
Where: Administration Building, as listed on the county calendar. The meeting’s exact street address and room still need verification before this item goes to the editor.

Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting and Public Hearings
When: Thursday, October 15, 5:00 PM
What: Commissioners meet to conduct county business. The planning department also advertises a public hearing during this meeting on the Forsyth County Comprehensive Plan update, which guides future growth and development.
Where: Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Suite 220, 110 East Main Street, Cumming, GA 30040.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Thursday

Books & Babies
When: Thursday, October 15, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
What: Sharon Forks Library invites babies from birth to 18 months and their caregivers for stories, songs, movement, rhythm, and rhyme that build early literacy skills. Free play follows the program, giving little ones time to explore while grown-ups meet other local families.
Where: Sharon Forks Library, Sharon Forks Meeting Room, 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming, GA 30041.

Toddler Tales
When: Thursday, October 15, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
What: Toddlers ages 18–36 months and a caregiver can enjoy age-appropriate books, action rhymes, songs, and movement at Post Road Library. The program is designed to support toddlers’ developing literacy and cognitive growth.
Where: Post Road Library, Post Road Meeting Room, 5010 Post Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Cumming Country Fair & Festival
When: Thursday through Sunday, October 15–18. Thursday 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Friday 4:00 PM – midnight; Saturday 10:00 AM – midnight; Sunday 12:30 PM – 10:00 PM
What: The fair, celebrating its 30th year, wraps up its run with four more days of rides, live entertainment, and fair food. Gate admission is $10 for ages 11 and up, and children 10 and younger get in free. Cash and credit cards are accepted, and ATMs are on site. There is no re-entry, and pets, coolers, and alcohol are not allowed. Sunday is the last chance to go this year.
Where: Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Four Scythes Haunted Attraction
When: Thursday, October 15, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Friday and Saturday, October 16–17, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Sunday, October 18, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
What: Pair a fair visit with a Halloween scare at Four Scythes. General admission is $20 plus tax during the fair, and a separate $10 fair admission is required at the gate. The attraction operates rain or shine, tickets are nonrefundable, and it is not recommended for children younger than 12.
Where: Horton Hall at Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Cherry Street Brewpub Live Music
When: Thursday, October 15, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
What: Cherry Street’s beer garden at Halcyon hosts a rotating lineup of solo and duo performers every Thursday through October. Grab dinner and a drink while you listen. If it rains, the music moves inside to the Brewhouse, which is restricted to ages 21 and older.
Where: Cherry Street Brewpub at Halcyon, 6640 Town Square, Suite 510, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

Twilight Tales
When: Thursday, October 15, 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM
What: Families can wind down the day with stories, music, and activities in Cumming Library’s children’s area. The program is geared toward toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary kids, and no registration is required.
Where: Cumming Library, Children’s Area, 585 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, GA 30040.

Witches Night Out at Halcyon
When: Thursday, October 15, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
What: Gather your friends for Halcyon’s annual Halloween ladies’ night, featuring music, dancing, shopping specials, pop-ups, photo opportunities, and giveaways. Come dressed for the costume contest at 8:30 PM, with prizes for the winners. Tickets are $17 and include your first cocktail or mocktail at Eclipse di Luna. The evening benefits The Place.
Where: Village Green at Halcyon, 6365 Halcyon Way, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

Friday

3rd Annual Community Touch-A-Truck
When: Friday, October 16, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
What: Kids can get a hands-on look at a variety of vehicles, from construction trucks to emergency vehicles, at Cumming City Center’s annual Touch-A-Truck. It’s a fun way for families to learn about the jobs these vehicles do around the community. The event is sponsored by STORsquare.
Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Family Fun Fridays
When: Friday, October 16, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
What: Kick off the weekend after school with games, puzzles, and activities at Denmark Library. Weather permitting, the drop-in program moves outside to the library’s Bookworm Garden. It’s designed for preschool and elementary-age children with a caregiver, and no registration is required.
Where: Denmark Library, 530 Fowler Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004.

Groovin’ on the Green
When: Friday and Saturday, October 16–17, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
What: Halcyon brings local acoustic musicians to the Village Green every Friday and Saturday evening through October. Pick up dinner, drinks, or dessert from a Halcyon restaurant and picnic on the lawn while you listen. Outside food and coolers are not allowed. Check Halcyon’s social media for each weekend’s performers and any cancellations.
Where: Halcyon Village Green, 6365 Halcyon Way, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

Concert in the Quarry: Mambo Vibes Quartet with the Lambert Orchestra
When: Friday, October 16, 7:00 PM (gates open at 5:30 PM)
What: The Lambert High School Orchestra and the Mambo Vibes Quartet bring salsa, Latin jazz, and Afro-Cuban music to the granite walls of a working quarry. Orchestra students perform alongside professional musicians, followed by a featured set from the quartet: Richie Vee on trumpet and vocals, Tony Castillo on piano, Frankie Quiñones on percussion, and Kenneth De Jesús on bass. Parking is free, with shuttles down to the quarry pit, and seating is at tables and chairs. Wear sturdy shoes, since roads and performance areas are dirt. Food trucks will be on site, or you can bring your own food; no alcohol is allowed under quarry rules. Ticket sales help the students reach their fundraising goal to perform at Carnegie Hall. Tickets are nonrefundable, including if the event is cancelled.
Where: Midsouth Aggregates Quarry, 3561 Peachtree Parkway, Suwanee, GA 30024.

Stereo Superstar at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater
When: Friday, October 16, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
What: Stereo Superstar brings a high-energy set of dance-rock favorites to the amphitheater as part of the concert series presented by The Providence Group. Admission and parking are free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome, but tents, coolers, outside food and alcohol, glass, cans, and smoking are not.
Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Saturday

Cumming Farmers Market
When: Saturday, October 17, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What: Shop for farm-fresh produce, locally raised meats, eggs and honey, homemade breads and desserts, jams, potted plants, and handmade crafts. The market sets up in the Vision Parkway lot, on the left just after you enter the City Center from Canton Highway, with parking in that lot and along Vision Parkway. Because of ongoing construction, the main street, amphitheater, and putting course areas are closed during market hours.
Where: Vision Parkway lot at Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Pink Out at Cumming City Center
When: Saturday, October 17, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What: Jazzercise Cumming hosts a special Pink Out dance-fitness class in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Wear pink, bring your friends, and get a workout in before the Georgia–Auburn game later in the day.
Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Saturday Family Storytime
When: Saturday, October 17, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
What: Post Road Library starts the weekend with stories, songs, dancing, puppets, and more. The storytime is aimed at toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary students, and the whole family is welcome.
Where: Post Road Library, Post Road Meeting Room, 5010 Post Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Introduction to Medicare
When: Saturday, October 17, 11:00 AM – noon
What: Independent insurance agent Michael Michaud walks adults through how Medicare works, including costs, health and drug coverage, and how to enroll in the plan that fits best. A useful session for anyone nearing eligibility or helping a family member sort through options.
Where: Cumming Library, Cumming Meeting Room, 585 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, GA 30040.

GA vs. AU Game Day Watch Party
When: Saturday, October 17, 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM (kickoff time TBA)
What: Watch the Georgia–Auburn rivalry live on the big screen at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater. Presented by Foresite Group, the watch party has free admission and free parking, with food and drinks available. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome, but coolers, outside food or alcohol, glass, cans, and smoking are not allowed.
Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Cooking for Food Allergies
When: Saturday, October 17, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
What: Health coach Elissa Larson, owner of Let’s Be Nourished and a former executive chef, explains what food allergies are, the different types, and meal ideas for cooking for someone who has them. The program is for ages 16 and older.
Where: Post Road Library, Post Road Meeting Room, 5010 Post Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Rainsticks
When: Saturday, October 17, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
What: Kids in grades K–5 can learn about the culture behind rainsticks, then decorate one to take home. The program is presented in partnership with Forsyth County Water & Sewer.
Where: Cumming Library, Cumming Meeting Room, 585 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, GA 30040.

Paws for Cocktails
When: Saturday, October 17, 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
What: Furkids hosts its annual fundraiser at its Cumming headquarters, with an open bar, dinner, live and silent auctions, live music, and more. Proceeds support homeless animals in the rescue’s care. Attire is dressy casual, and tickets are available through Furkids.
Where: Furkids Headquarters, 5235 Union Hill Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Carpool – A Tribute to The Cars
When: Saturday, October 17, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM (start may shift by about 30 minutes depending on when the Georgia–Auburn game ends)
What: Five Atlanta-area musicians recreate the sound, look, and feel of The Cars as part of the Fall Concert Series presented by The Providence Group. Admission and parking are free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome, but tents, coolers, outside food and alcohol, glass, cans, and smoking are not.
Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Sunday

Slide into Sundays with Jump N Jacks
When: Sunday, October 18, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
What: Cumming City Center and Jump N Jacks Moonwalks set up bounce houses, water slides, and games for an afternoon of family fun, weather permitting. Unlimited bouncing is $10, and a waiver and wristband are required to participate. Outside food and drinks are not allowed.
Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

Fall Sunday Music
When: Sunday, October 18, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
What: Relax on the Village Green with your favorite drink and live music presented by Galaxy Music and Arts. Make it a brunch outing at participating restaurants, including Cattle Shed Wine & Steak Bar, Cherry Street Brewpub, CT Cantina & Taqueria, Eclipse di Luna, and HOBNOB. Halcyon announces each week’s performer on its Facebook event page and Instagram story every Wednesday.
Where: Halcyon Village Green, 6365 Halcyon Way, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

BYO Book: Nonfiction Nook
When: Sunday, October 18, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
What: This casual, conversation-driven book group for adults has no assigned reading. Each month centers on a new theme, and October’s topic is the Native American Experience. Come to talk about a book you’ve read or simply join the discussion; the library offers reading suggestions if you want a place to start.
Where: Denmark Library, Denmark Meeting Room, 530 Fowler Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004.

WEATHER

Thursday

87° 🌡️ 62° | ☀️ | 1% | 💨 5 mph W

Friday

85° 🌡️ 49° | 🌤️ | 5% | 💨 8 mph WSW

Saturday

66° 🌡️ 43° | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 14 mph N

Sunday

65° 🌡️ 42° | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 14 mph ENE

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 74ºF
Temperature readings taken from Lake Sidney Lanier the night before publication

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