Lake Avondale. Source: Avondaleestates.org

Community events abound this weekend, providing an opportunity to commune with nature, shop local and have a picnic in the park to support an effort to install splash pads.

The Third Annual Avondale Estates Tree walk will be Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to noon. The event will be held on Lake Avondale along Lakeshore Drive, near the gazebo. It’s free to the public and will go on rain or shine.

More from the Avondale Estates Garden Club:

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The Avondale Estates Garden Club presents the 3rd Annual Avondale Tree Walk from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 23.  This conservation project is free, and all members of the public are invited, including children and families. The walk takes place rain or shine.

The registration area is in front of the gazebo, which is just steps away from our “Tree Huggers in Training” talks for children. Other tree talks for adults are also close by. The tree walk will begin after the talks. Arborists and landscape architects will lead six different routes in Avondale Estates. One of those is a walk around Lake Avondale for those who prefer or require a short walk.

Children who participate will get a picture book from Arborguard Tree Specialists. If Avondale Elementary and the Museum School have at least five students from their school attend the walk, they will earn a book about trees by distinguished author Gail Gibbons for their school library.

All who go on a tree walk will receive a booklet,“75 Native Trees of Georgia,” from the Georgia Forestry Commission.

A new feature this year is the “Ask the Arborist” table, giving attendees the opportunity to consult a panel of experts about their concerns or questions regarding trees in their landscapes.

The guides at this year’s tree walk will emphasize six major roles that trees play in our environment:

– Trees make oxygen

– Trees save you money (lowering your heating costs)

– Trees keep your drinking water clean

– Trees make useful things for you

– Trees keep streets safe

– Trees make city life fun

Special thanks to City of Avondale Estates, the Avondale Estates Tree Board, the Avon Garden Club and Arborguard Tree Specialists for their contributions to the 2016 Avondale Tree Walk.

Several Decatur shops will participate in Storefront Saturday on April 23 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“Decatur retailers will offer prizes, pop-ups, snacks, and specials throughout the day and the Decatur Arts alliance will provide Sidewalk Saturday performers all around,” a press release says. “Keep it Indie-catur at this special shopping event!”

Here are the details:

– 18 SPECIAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCES at shops, boutiques, galleries, and spas!

– 5 SIDEWALK SATURDAY ARTS PERFORMERS all around the square! Thanks to the Decatur Arts Alliance.

– 18 CHANCES TO WIN local restaurant gift cards! Enter the raffle at each participating business.

– 1 GIANT GIFT BASKET filled with $400 in goodies from local shops! Make a purchase at a Storefront Saturday shop, bring your receipt to the tent on the square, and enter to win. Enter up to 18 times with receipts from each of the participating stores.

Participating shops:

– Bleu Hanger

– Boogaloos

– Boutique Karma

– Collage

– Furry Tails

– HomeGrown

– Kismet

– Little Shop of Stories

– Natural Body

– Splash of Olive

– Sq/Ft

– Squash Blossom

– The Great Frame Up

– Treehouse Kid and Craft

– Tres Jolie

– Trinity Mercantile & Design

– Wild Oats & Billy Goats

– Worthmore Jewelers

On Sunday, April 24, CoanSPLASH will hold a Picnic in the Park to raise money to install splash pads at Coan Park. The event will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Coan Park, located at 1530 Woodbine Ave SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30317.

Over a dozen local restaurants in Decatur are participating in the event. Each restaurant is providing a food or side dish, with proceeds from the sales going to benefit the CoanSPLASH! project.

The participating restaurants are:

– Revival

– Greater Good BBQ / 2nd & Hosea

– Sun in my Belly

– Urban Pie

– Sweets, Treats & More

– Elmyriachi

– My Coffee Shop

– Kirkyard Public House

– The Spotted Trotter

– The Pullman

– Anna’s BBQ

– The Mercantile

– Dulce Vegan Bakery

The CoanSPLASH! wants to install a publicly-accessible splash pad in Coan Park by Summer 2017.

“Splash pads are a safe, simple way for people of all ages and abilities to cool off on a hot afternoon, and Coan Park’s convenient location and commitment to accessible play makes it an ideal location for such an amenity,” the CoanSPLASH! Facebook page says.