In town this week, we have First Friday fun, a Labor Day road race, a theater festival and  a couple of music legends stopping by.

Thursday, Aug. 31 

12th Annual Atlanta Black Theatre Festival and Creative Arts Conference at The Douglass Theatre

Running from Thursday to Saturday, there will be staged reading of new works, masterclasses, stand up comedy and film screenings at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival. Don’t be confused by the name as the event is being held in Macon this year. The festival kicks off with an African Drum Ceremony presented by the Tubman Museum outside the Douglass Theatre at 6:15 p.m. The weekend’s full schedule is available here. 

Tickets from $17 available at eventbrite.com; 355 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., 31210; (478) 742-2000; douglasstheatre.org

Friday, Sept. 1

First Friday Downtown 

September’s First Friday will feature a storytelling event from the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival at Hotel 45, “The Green Man: An Arts Show” at Quill at The Woodward Hotel and the Macon-Bibb Emergency Management will have their first ever open house. A full list of events can be found at the  First Friday Facebook page. 

Saturday, Sept. 2

The Doobie Brothers at The Macon Coliseum

Soft rock legends, The Doobie Brothers, are celebrating their 50th Anniversary with a stop in Macon on their North American tour. Vocalist Tom Johnson will not be performing at the Macon show but the rest of the band will be. 

8 p.m.; $22 tickets and up available at ticketmaster.com; 200 Coliseum Drive, 31217; (478) 803-1593; maconcenterplex.org

Sunday, Sept. 3

Women’s Weekly Pickup Soccer Game 

Hosted by the Middle Georgia Women’s Soccer League, these pickup games are a stress and commitment-free way of getting back on the field for former (or even current) soccer players. Participants are encouraged to bring water and one dark and one light shirt (for team drafting).

3 p.m.; Free: 4510 Raley Road, 31206; More information can be found on the Women’s Pickup Soccer Game’s Facebook page. 

Monday, Sept. 4

46th Annual Macon Labor Day Road Race 5K, 10K and Fun Run

What’s a national holiday without a road race? This Labor Day race features a fast point-to-point course, chip timing, and a family-friendly atmosphere. For the running nuts, this race is also a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.  

7:30 a.m.; $20 for Fun Run, $35 for 5K or 10K signup at racerpal.com; Race starts at 2951 Vineville Ave., 31204; macontracks.org

Tuesday, Sept. 5

Díana Thompson-Brewer at the McCorkle Music Building at Mercer University

Soprano Diana Thompson-Brewer performs “At First Sight,” a song cycle that chronicles the life of a woman through the lens of loving a Black man in America. Thompson-Brewer will be accompanied by Christopher Cooley, the composer of the song cycle.

7:30 p.m.; Free: Neva Fickling Hall in the McCorkle Music Building at Mercer University 1329 Adams St., 31201

Wednesday, Sept. 6

Book signing featuring John Lynskey and Chuck Leavell at Capricorn Sound Studios

Before the Allman Brothers Band, there was the Allman Joys. Drummer Bill Connell was just out of high school when he joined the ABB precursor. His book “Allman Joy: Keeping the Beat With Duane and Gregg” is a memoir of his time with the band. Co-written by John Lynskey and with a  forward to the book penned by former ABB musician Chuck Leavell, both Lynskey and Leavell will be on hand at Capricorn Studios for book signing. 

6 p.m.; Free; 530 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., 31210; (478) 257-5327; capricorn.mercer.edu