ATLANTA –- As an official kickoff to the fall season, Pike Nurseries is hosting its annual Gardenfest event on Thursday, Sept. 25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at all garden center locations.

While stocking up on autumn essentials, guests can take advantage of store-wide specials throughout the evening! All regular price items (excluding grills, propane, sod, pine straw, gift cards and services) will be 20 percent off. Customers can also enjoy complimentary wine tastings and appetizers.

Please visit www.pikenursery.com for local store information.

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Keep Cobb Beautiful will hold a free paper shredding event for county residents this weekend.

Household documents will be accepted Saturday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at Piedmont Church in Marietta. The event will only take paper products -- cardboard, plastic and other such items will not be accepted.

Attendees may also bring shoes to donate. Pairs of shoes should be bound or taped together.

Visit cobbcounty.org for more information about the event.

Piedmont Church is located at 570 Piedmont Road.

MARIETTA, Ga. -- The Celebrate Freedom Festival will kick off this year's event with a 5K and 10K race in Marietta.

Both events will be held Saturday, Aug. 30 at Jim R. Miller Park. Registration opens at 6 a.m., with the 10K scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. The 5K will be off and running at 7:40 a.m.

Awards will be given to the first finishers overall, the first masters finishers and the top runners in each age group. All participants will receive T-shirts, goodie bags and two tickets to Celebrate Freedom, a free Christian music festival featuring such artists as Steven Curtis Chapman, Montell Jordan and Tenth Avenue North.

The 5K costs $30 in advance, while the 10K is $35. The prices go up to $40 for the 5K and $45 for the 10K on race morning.

Visit rungeorgia.com for more information and to sign up.