Weekend Planner: 5 Fun Things to Do

1. True Story! The latest "night of tantalizingly true tales told by rogue writers and nervy journalists" will start at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, at Kavarna coffee shop at 707B East Lake Drive. Quite a lineup of writers: Melissa Fay Greene, Johnny Drago, Brian Bannon and Thomas Lake. Free admission.

2. Barbecue, Blues and Bluegrass Festival. This annual festival will start at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at The Solarium at Historic Scottish Rite at 321 W. Hill St., Decatur. There will be plenty of music, fun for kids, food, beer and other diversions. Admission is $9 in advance and $10 at the gate for ages 21 and up, $5 for 11-20 ad free for 10 and under. 

3. Caroline Herring at Decatur CD. For the second weekend in a row, Decatur CD is hosting an in-store performance. Caroline Herring will sing and strum at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. You can buy her new album, Camila. Free admission.

4. Author Carmen Deedy and illustrator Michael P. White will talk about their new children's picture book The Return of the Library Dragon at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the library. Free.

5.  Singer-songwriter Jay Brannan is celebrating the release of his latest concert recording, "Live at Eddie's Attic." Of course, there's no better place to do that than Eddie's Attic. The shows are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with tickets cosing $15 in advance, $18 online. Go to EddiesAttic.com or Ticket Alternative for tickets or more info.