Weekend Planner: Joe's Jazz, Emory Symphony, Covering the Cars, Touch-A-Truck, Girl Scout Yard Sale, Writing Awards and Earth Day

When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at , 321 W. Hill St., Decatur.

Why go: Spread a blanket and soak up the sounds. Joe Gransden and his band will play. Kids welcome.

Price: Free.

When/where: 8 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Emerson Concert Hall, at 1700 N. Decatur Road NE, Atlanta.

Why go: Mozart's "Coronation Mass," Brahms' "Nänie" and Britten's "Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes" will be performed.

Price: Free.

When/where: 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at , 515 N. McDonough St., Decatur.

Why go: Delmhorst has taken a brief vacation from her own literate songwriting to bring us CARS, a collection of songs by the band that defined an era.

Price: $12 in advance if ordered online, $15 at the door.

Touch-A-Truck

When/where: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at 120 W. Trinity Place, Decatur,  (the Callaway Building Parking Lot).

Why go: The dump trucks, fire trucks, tractors, police cars and motorcycles and  other vehicles owned by the City of Decatur and DeKalb County will be on display. If you ride your bike to the event, Decatur police will register your bicycle.  In the event that it is lost or stolen, registration will aid in its safe return. This event was rescheduled from March 3.

Price: Free.

When/where: 8 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at 94 Clarendon Ave., Avondale Estates.

Why go: Troop 85614 is having a yard sale to raise money for their trip to Savannah in late May. Donations of items are needed.

Price: Free admission.

When/where: 2 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the , 215 Sycamore St., Decatur.

Why go: Thousands of students in grades 4-12 from Georgia have taken part in this nationally judged competition in which they are asked to write letters to their favorite author explaining the influence that author has had on their lives. The Georgia Center for the Book and Decatur Library will host the winners, and guests will get to hear them read their letters.  There will also be brief remarks by a guest author and a reception afterwards.

Price: Free.

Earth Day at Oakhurst Community Garden

When/where: 12:30-4 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the Oakhurst Community Garden at 435 Oakview Road, Decatur.

Why go: The City of Decatur and the garden are working together to put on an Earth Day celebration. A parade starts the fun, but activities are scheduled througout the day, including plenty of stuff for kids. Check the schedule.

Price: Free admission.