Marietta Square Center of Great 'Get Out' Weekend

Essential Marietta happenings for the weekend:

1. Just Go to Marietta Square. Seriously. Should you visit Marietta Square at nearly any point this weekend, something great is happening. We can start with the second First Friday Art Walk of 2011, in which stores, restaurants, art galleries, museums and boutiques feature artists and musicians.

The self-guided walk runs from 5 to 9 p.m., and maps are available at participating merchants, the Marietta Welcome Center & Visitors Bureau or online at www.artwalkmarietta.com. For information, call 770-429-1115.

At the same time, there's also the Brew with a View at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in which area musicians play from the stellar terrace at the theater's fourth floor. Go to the Strand Web site for information.

Finally, there's the year's debut of the Marietta Square Farmers Market, which will open no later than 9 a.m. on Saturday and run until about noon along the north side of Marietta Square. A great time to pick up locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers and more from dozens of vendors.

2. Experience the genius of Earl Scruggs. Yeah, many folks say they don't like bluegrass, but give them just a bit of Scruggs and they will change their tune. Scruggs may be most famous for creating the theme song to The Beverly Hillbillies, but his "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is essential music. Scruggs performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at the . For tickets and prices, call 770-528-8490.

3. Jazz Up Saturday Evening. The Cobb Symphony Orchestra Jazz visits the at 8 p.m. with a night of Sam Skelton and his Big Band. Visit www.cobbsymphony.org/cso_10-11_season.htm or call 770-293-0080 for information.

4. Learn that Silents Are Golden (and not really silent either). That's the big secret about truly great silent movie viewings.... they aren't soundless, celloid frames flickering on the screen. The folks at the Strand get that, so when they show the classic 1925 version of Ben Hur (not the Charlton Heston... this has Ramon Navarro!), they've done it right: Ron Carter will provide the soundtrack on the Strand's Mighty Allen Theatre Organ.

The movie starts at 3 p.m. but get there by 2:30 p.m. for an organ pops variety show and sing-along. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children, students, and seniors.

Visit www.EarlSmithStrand.org or call 770-293-0080 for tickets and details.

5. Volunteer at Kennesaw Mountain for Park Day. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is having a major volunteer event from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday with the collaboration of the Civil War Trust and History. Volunteers are needed to install a new amphitheater, build a small foot bridge, repair an erosion issue and clean the picnic area.

Those interested in volunteering should send an e-mail to Benita_Duling@nps.gov. Volunteers will not need to bring tools, but should bring gloves. Volunteers should be at least 10 years of age. Free T-shirts will be given to participants.

Information is also available at www.nps.gov/kemo or by phone at 770-427-4686 ext. 0.