ATLANTA -- Due to recent instability in the United States economy, many people are opting to stay in town for the Labor Day holiday. Vacations like these or “staycations” have become more popular since high oil prices have forced gas prices to top out at, sometimes, more than $4.00 per gallon.

According to an article by CNNMoney, the steady decline of gas prices could result in an increase in “last-minute” holiday travel. However, for those who want to stay in town and get their most “bang for their buck” there are plenty of choices near the Atlanta area to "take a load off" and relax.

Some Atlantans will choose to head out to the lake, Laek Lanier, for their Labor Day vacation.

ATLANTA – There are tons of fun events going on this weekend, in your area. We’ve listed a few of them for you to check out with your family and friends.

Bands, Brew and Boobie-Q will be held at SweetWater Brewing Company on Saturday. This event is being held to benefit the Team Zero to Sixty, who are raising money for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Race for the Cure. The event starts at 7:00 and SweetWater is located at 195 Ottley Drive in Atlanta.  

As a part of the Jazz on the Lawn series, Gwen Hughes will be performing her pop, jazz and bluegrass hits at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. This Atlanta based singer has performed in a number of cities from Paris to Prague. Her album is due out in early 2011. The concert will be held at 980 Briarcliff Road in Atlanta.

Alison Krauss and Union Station will be performing at the FOX Theatre on Saturday night. The two acts perform bluegrass and country.

The school bell will ring soon and many parents will send a child to kindergarten. This is always an emotional time for parents. For some, it will be sending your first born and for others it will be sending the youngest of four. Kindergarten is an important milestone in your child’s life. Your child’s maturity will grow tremendously this year and you’ll get to see a small glimpse of how your hard work over the past 5 years has shaped your child. It wasn’t that long ago that you held your precious baby in your arms for the first time. Where did the time go? Now it’s time to send that little baby off to kindergarten. For most this will be the first full school day, the first  year to ride the school bus, the first year to have homework, and the first year when peer influences begin to play a role.