SkaterAid is an annual skateboard and music festival in Decatur, Georgia. Bring your kids to the day long event and enjoy art, music and of course, skateboarding - all for a good cause!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2009
3:00-8:00pm
East Decatur Station
109 New Street (just west of the Avondale MARTA station off of College Ave) .
$10 admission/$5 for students
SILENT AUCTION OF ORIGINAL SKATEBOARD DECK ART:
SkaterAid hosts an annual art show, auctioning off original art made with old skateboard decks. See the "PHOTOS" link at their website to find your favorite. Check out the art "in person" at the Brick Store Pub in Decatur, Georgia, where it will hang from now until the event. Auction will be held at SkaterAid.
ACTIVITIES
Skateboarding
Bring your board and skate all day at SkaterAid. You'll need a special skater wristband, available at the door. There is no extra charge for the skater wristband, but you'll need to sign a waiver and check out the rules. Also, see contests, tricks, and shredding galore at the skateboard show hosted by Thomas Taylor of Stratosphere Skateshop.
Scavenger Hunt
Ages 10 and under. Search the SkaterAid event area for clues and win a prize.
ART
Skateboard Deck Art - Silent Auction
SkaterAids annual deck art auction will return again this year. Bid on your favorite at the Brick Store Pub, or at the event.
Photobooth Phun
Capture your memories of SkaterAid in an old-time automatic photobooth. No one will know what you're doing behind the curtain - unless you show them your photos of course.
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MUSIC
Bands
See a full schedule of SkaterAids bands at the Performances link as the event approaches. All bands are composed of students from area high schools.
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FOOD AND DRINK
Burgers, Dogs and More
Don't go hungry at SkaterAid! We'll have plenty to eat - burgers, dogs, chips, pizza and more. We'll also have plenty to drink, including cold beer if you're over 21.
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MERCHANDISE
T-Shirts
SkaterAid T-shirts in all sizes. This year - art by R. Land!
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PRIZES
Raffle
Lots of great prizes will be available through SkaterAid's annual raffle. Buy a $1 ticket and you'll have a chance to win gift certificates from area retailers and other great items.
SkaterAid Website: Click Here
Back Story;
SkaterAid was started in 2005 to celebrate the life of Ian Wochatz. A Decatur teen and avid skateboarder, Ian was diagnosed with an especially virulent type of brain cancer, and died on July 4, 2005 at age 15. SkaterAid provided a place for all those who loved Ian to honor his memory in a way he would have approved of...with music, friends and skateboarding.
SkaterAid's mission is to support families who are dealing with the tragedy of pediatric cancer. The first year, the proceeds of SkaterAid went to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta. In 2006, funds were channelled to the RET Foundation in honor of RET Thomas. In 2007 and 2008, all proceeds went to the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children.
Ultimately, SkaterAid is a place for teens to celebrate their youth. Whether flying through the air on a board, playing music, or hanging out with friends, you're only 15 once in your life, so....skate on. And shred for Ian.
DeKalb County Parks & Rec has one skatepark for 750,000, and it's in the far NW corner of the county.
ReplyDeleteThey should have at least 5 skate parks (and dog parks). It's amazing how many people in their 20's and 30's still skateboard.
There is a skatepark and dog park at Brook Run in Dunwoody - still owned by DeKalb County
ReplyDeleteYes, I think you are both referring to the same park...
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the only skate park DeKalb has, in the farest NW corner of the county.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've heard the Skate park at Brook Run is a money-loser.
ReplyDeleteI don't think skate parks in most parks are built to make money - they are built as parks. Gwinnett (they just won a national award for their parks last year) has at least 5 -6 that I'm aware of. There's no charge for most.
ReplyDeleteMany cities (even small ones) nowadays are building skate plazas which look much like a regular park but what you would expect to be a planter is actually a grinding rail, and the stairs leading to an elevated area with benches are all built with steel edging for skateboarding. These plazas don't have "bowls" and such and do not require staffing or much upkeep so they're great choices for city budgets.
Skateboarding isn't a trend. It's a viable physical, sometimes difficult individual sport. You'd be surprised how many 20 and 30 year olds skateboard for fun.
In fact, below is a link to almost 1200 skate parks all across the US - even in Alaska! If you click through the listings, you will find that most are free while some charge a $25 annual membership fee.
ReplyDeleteTo most communities - these parks are about offering some fun recreation to a group of people with a non-traditional sense of sport.
http://www.theskateparkdirectory.com/skateparks/index/
There is a charge to use the Brook Run Skate Park - it is a nice facility. I know Jeff Radar questioned if this was the best use of the county's money to keep supporting it. I have not heard what Dunwoody's plans for it are once the park is purchased from DeKalb - if ever.
ReplyDelete