Enjoying summer in Athens? Here are some things to do before UGA fall classes begin.

According to the University of Georgia's academic calendar, classes for the fall 2024 semester are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 16, which means Athens locals have about a month left to enjoy simple things like walking around UGA campus and being able to take South Milledge Avenue to get anywhere in a timely manner.

Though summers in Athens haven't been quite as deserted since 755 Broad and other luxury apartments were built so close to the downtown area, there are some activities that are still easier to do before the influx of college students adds 35,000 residents to the city's population.

Here are the Banner-Herald's picks for a few things to do in town before UGA classes start back:

Karaoke with the King

• LOCATION: Ciné (234 W Hancock Ave.)
• BUSINESS HOURS: Most Tuesday evenings from 8 p.m. to midnight (free admission)
• DETAILS: When it comes to hidden gems in Athens, Brian King's karaoke is one of the city's most sacred places. Making full use of the professionally-engineered sound and lighting system that the Ciné Lab uses for concerts, Karaoke with the King gives everyone the opportunity to feel like a rock star. Follow instagram.com/briandougk to find out when the next one is happening.

Lumberjaxe

• LOCATION: 510 N. Lumpkin St.
• BUSINESS HOURS: Sundays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 2 p.m. to midnight ($25 per person for 1 hour)
• DETAILS: Throwing a hatchet at a target is dangerous on its own, but sending one hurling through the air when other people are standing nearby can be absolutely nerve-wracking. Thankfully, the folks at Lumberjaxe are always nearby to make sure no accidents happen. This is a great activity to do with a friend, but is also an ideal option for relieving some stress after work.

Raising Cane's

• LOCATION: 795 Baxter St.
• BUSINESS HOURS: Open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
• DETAILS: It might seem silly to include a fast food drive-thru on a list like this, but anyone who has ever tried to navigate Baxter Street near UGA campus on a Sunday knows that Raising Cane's customer traffic routinely spills out of the parking lot and into the road. Other than Chick-fil-A, Cane's is the food that students seem to crave most, and for good reason: All they do is chicken and they do it well.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Enjoying summer in Athens? Here are some things to do before UGA fall classes begin.