ATLOSCon: Providing You with an Authentic Southern Experience Since 2010

This post is the first in a series designed to give you more details about some of our ATLOSCon events. I am hoping to spotlight some of the classes, the Saturday evening party, and other social events. I want you to get a feel for the kind of things our group enjoys doing and to know more about the awesome fun planned for people who attend our conference.

Today, I want to write a little about the Stone Mountain Lasershow. On the Sunday of ATLOSCon, May 29, we'll meet on the big lawn at Stone Mountain at 6:30 pm to stake out our spot and eat a picnic supper. The show is free, and parking is $10 per car. People who are going hiking on Sunday afternoon will have already paid this fee and won't need to move their cars.

The big lawn faces a huge Mt. Rushmore style carving of Confederate generals on their horses. The size of this carving is just spectacular and something to see on its own, but when they start putting lasers, fireworks, and music with it, you get this ginormous, Southern, cheesy, fun experience.

Now, you may think Confederate generals and a lightshow on the side of a mountain is kind of rednecky, and let's face it, you are right. :) But it is rednecky in the best possible way, meaning that it is unpretentious, fun, and incredibly patriotic. If you can't imagine how people can combine a nostalgic love of the Confederacy and a passionate love of America, you haven't spent much time in the South. It's a strange pairing, but it's true.

I leave the lightshow everytime happy, having enjoyed cheesy music and animations, having been moved by the patriotic spirit of Georgia's people, and having been amused by Southern culture all over again. It's a little like going to a museum or going to see some piece of Americana. You'll love it!

Here's what Jenn says about it:

"The first time we went to the Stone Mountain laser show, it was only a month after we'd moved to Georgia from the Midwest. We had no idea what to expect.

The mountain itself is unusual--a big hunk of rock sticking out into the sky, with a relief of three Confederate Generals carved into the side. We walked all the way up to the top (about a mile, I think) and the view was amazing. And amazingly windy!

Later that day we found a spot to watch the laser show and quickly found ourselves surrounded by tons of people. I was thinking that the laser show would be some cool lights to go with whatever music was playing. WRONG. It's really laser animation, and my favorite was the animation of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (great song btw).

The songs--everyone knew the words to the songs and sang along. There were classic Americana songs, patriotic songs, and Georgia songs. I love how all of the Georgia songs were the finale, and I LOVE how everyone sang all of the words and cheered. It's definitely a uniquely Georgian experience!"

Here's a recent article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution about the new-and-improved lasershow that they are debuting just for us (okay, maybe not).

We hope you'll join us for ATLOSCon (this link is for registering, which you should do RIGHT NOW!) and for the Lasershow. Both are experiences not to be missed.