Things to Do in Gainesville

Click above to buy tickets to see Grey Gardens on a Wednesday, September 2 at 8 p.m. or September 9 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, September 3, 8 p.m.; Sunday, September 6 at 5 p.m. or September 13 at 2 p.m. Click on the links below for tickets on other days.

The community-focused Theatre in the Square fetes playhouse enthusiasts with riveting tales from classic, modern, and local scribes. Bursting onto the 225-seat MainStage is The Little Foxes, a familial yarn about trickery surrounding a husband's fortune. Recommended for ages 14 and up, the story brims with deceit, humor, and the complicated trappings of family life, especially for siblings that have trouble sharing stage props. Meanwhile, Circle Mirror Transformation examines the inner workings of acting class participants as they delve into their created characters while excavating the artifacts of their own personality. An off-Broadway hit, the play provides theater-goers with an amusing peek into the intricately convoluted minds of scene crafters.

Most guided sightseeing tours pose severe health risks—muscle atrophy, loss of bone density, and blinding rage, to name a few—due to the lack of physical activity. You’ve probably suffered one or all of those symptoms while on these tours:

The gorgeously renovated Strand Theatre is decorated in gold and crimson, with old-fashioned seats, a lobby chandelier, and retro plaster walls reminiscent of classic 1940s Hollywood theaters. Strand welcomes guests with its lit-up marquee, recalling the excitement our ancestors felt back when Chaplin vs. Kong was the biggest event of the year. Arrive 30 minutes prior to the 8 p.m. showtime for a pre-show organ sing-along, rousing the spirit of the silver screen. It's the ideal setting to see Tim Curry fight drag sharks.

For nearly seven decades, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has bridged musical gaps with an extensive catalog of Grammy-winning recordings that include symphonies, operas, and gospel and classical choral works. Once helmed by the chorale superstar Robert Shaw, the orchestra has produced six Grammy-winning releases in its 12 years under current director Robert Spano. Its allied institution, the Atlanta School of Composers provides training, support, and ear massages for hardworking contemporary artists.

Confined to plutonium-powered DeLoreans and unwieldy telephone booths, time travel is a dangerous and mischief-baiting activity. Instead, let history repeat itself as often as you can stand it with today’s Groupon: $42 gets two adults and up to four children or grandchildren (under 18) a yearlong family membership to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History (an $85 value). Individuals can purchase solo museum membership, including admission and member benefits for one person, for $30 (a $60 value).