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Joe Skopitz, assistant general manager of Centennial Olympic Park, is today’s Around Atlanta guest on the Christmas Day edition of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio! Built for the 1996 Olympic Games that were held in Atlanta, the park is now a central gathering space for a multitude of events held downtown.
Operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, Centennial Olympic Park is part of the Georgia World Congress Center and Georgia Dome family, and it serves as additional event space when events are held at those locations, such as the Final Four or SEC Championship. In addition, the variety of hotels and attractions that surround the park bring millions of visitors each year.
Just a sampling of the major attractions surrounding the park include the World of Coke, Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta SkyView, CNN Center and much more. There are also a variety of planned developments around the park that are expected to bring even more visitors – three more hotels are being built within three blocks, a new Post Centennial apartment development is being constructed on the opposite side of the World of Coke, and the new Atlanta Falcons stadium is under construction on the complex’s south side.
The No. 1 attraction at Centennial Olympic Park is the Fountain of Rings, the world’s largest interactive water fountain that is perfect for kids young and old. The fountain is currently closed for maintenance until Jan. 1, 2015, but upon reopening, it will play four times a day at 12:30, 3:30, 6:30 and 9 p.m.
The second most popular feature of the park is the historic attractions left from the Olympic Games. The park is still home to monuments from and tributes to the games, and it’s one of the last remaining places in Atlanta offering a glimpse of the games other than the artifacts that are now housed in the Atlanta History Center. Park visitors can enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the park on their smart phone.
Many additional activities can be enjoyed in Centennial Olympic Park throughout the year, including an ice skating rink now through Jan. 19, 2015. A perfect destination for families, the covered rink features theatrical lighting, holiday music and concessions. The rink is open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. during the break from school, and its hours will be 4:30 until 10 p.m. in January. Tickets are $12 per person, or $9 for a group or students.
Other upcoming events include the Race to End Homelessness benefitting Atlanta Misison, the Publix Georgia Marathon, Sweetwater 420 Festival and a variety of concerts, including the Foo Fighters, who will play a ticketed concert in the park on Oct. 4, 2015.
For more information on Centennial Olympic Park, listen to the full podcast above. To find out information about events, hours, parking and more, visit www.CentennialPark.com.
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The “Around Atlanta” segment is designed to showcase the best of metro Atlanta – the communities, attractions and special events that make this city great. To submit your event, community or attraction to the Around Atlanta edition of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, contact 770-383-3360.
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