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🎃 Halloween fun in Norcross
Friday, Oct. 23 — Hey, it’s Hayden with my weekly Norcross newsletter. I traveled to Cloudland Canyon State Park last weekend and hiked around the edge of Lookout Mountain. Georgia has more than 60 state-managed parks, historic sites, and outdoor recreation areas.
The closest state parks to Norcross are Panola Mountain in Stockbridge, Sweetwater Creek in Douglas County, and Fort Yargo in Winder. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area’s Island Ford Unit in Sandy Springs is about 25 minutes away.
Stone Mountain Park, one of the state’s most visited destinations, is publicly owned but governed by a dedicated memorial authority separate from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ parks system.
⬇️ Quick roundup of things to know:
🎃 The city’s official Spirits of the Season lineup kicked off yesterday with Witches Night Out. Expect trick-or-treating on Halloween night in and around downtown.
🏎️ The sixth annual Deutsche Klassic German Car Show is downtown tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Several downtown streets will be closed from 6:45 a.m. to about 4 p.m., including Lawrenceville Street at Mitchell Road, Jones Street, Park Drive, South Peachtree Street at Holcomb Bridge Road, Wingo Street at Norcross City Hall, and Thrasher Street.
👻 The Lionheart Theatre Company’s spooky walking tour of historic downtown Norcross called Lawless Spirits runs through Sunday, Oct. 25, with two tours per evening at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The local nonprofit theater company has tickets available.
🍬 Trick-or-treating gets underway early in Norcross. On Wednesday, Oct. 28, city departments will pass out candy from 3 to 5 p.m. at 65 Lawrenceville St. as part of an event called “City Hall-oween.”
🍿 “Flicks & Frights” is at Thrasher Park on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m., featuring a screening of “Mutant,” a 1984 zombie movie filmed in Norcross.
Have a great weekend,
🖖 Hayden
🏀 Atlanta Hawks basketball is back! Our first home game of the 2026-27 season is tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. as the Hawks take on the Rockets for Opening Night, presented by State Farm. All fans will receive a Harry the Hawk T-shirt. Get tickets today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
City council defers discussion on lowering speed limits until December
🚗 The Norcross City Council deferred a discussion about lowering speed limits to 25 mph on all city-owned streets at its Oct. 19 policy work session, pending staff’s review of traffic analysis proposals.
Council Member Bruce Gaynor, who originally proposed the new speed limit ordinance, confirmed the citywide speed limit discussion will resume in December at the policy work session.
“The discussion item was for all roads, but we concluded that maybe two or three of them didn’t make sense,” Gaynor said. “What we would expect back is ‘these roads don’t make sense for these reasons, and this one does.'”
🚴♂️ Read more about lowering speed limits and the policy work session here.
Emily’s Trick or Treat to Cure Crohn’s & Colitis celebrates 10 years of Halloween fun
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CROHN’S & COLITIS FOUNDATION
💜 For ten years, Emily’s Trick or Treat to Cure Crohn’s & Colitis has turned love, friendship, and community into meaningful impact. Together, we are on track to raise more than $1 million for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, expanding resources and driving meaningful change for people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Join the Halloween fun! Trick-or-treating, games, arts & crafts, tailgating, face painting, music, a silent auction, and more!
🎃 Sandy Springs tomorrow, Sat., Oct. 24, from 2-4 p.m. Use Code RoughDraft for $5 off.
Mayor to discuss growth at State of the City address
📢 Community members are invited to attend the Oct. 27 Norcross State of the City address at the Public Safety Building Community Room on Buford Highway. The address begins at 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Craig Newton’s address will cover public safety, financial stewardship, road improvements, parks and trails, housing, and economic development, according to an announcement.
Highlights include the opening of the new Norcross Public Safety Building, ongoing street resurfacing, and plans for the Norcross Greenway.
🛤️ Read more about the annual address here.
🏀 Atlanta Hawks basketball is back! Our first home game of the 2026-27 season is tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. as the Hawks take on the Rockets for Opening Night, presented by State Farm. All fans will receive a Harry the Hawk T-shirt. Get tickets today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Council discusses downtown parking contracts
🅿️ The Norcross City Council discussed four contracts on Oct. 19 totaling $3.08 million to expand the parking lot around City Hall by about 55 spaces, with landscaping and a new brick plaza at the main entrance.
The construction timeline is nine to 12 months, with completion expected before the end of 2027. Public Works Director Len Housley said the three-phase project involves major coordination with abutting businesses and homeowners.
If things go according to schedule, Housley said city staff will work on permitting the project after awarding the contract, with the expected groundbreaking shortly after New Year’s.
🌳 Read about the parking projects here.
Three seats available on civic boards and commissions
🙋 Norcross is accepting applications to fill one seat each on the Tree Preservation Board, Architectural Review Board, and Historic Preservation Commission.
The city’s call for applicants said the volunteer opportunities give community members a role in protecting the city’s natural beauty, guiding thoughtful development, and preserving its historic character.
Each board or commission consists of five members serving three-year terms.
🏛️ Read about the city’s boards, commissions, and authorities here.
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