What time does Morningside's Saturday start? On October 24 it starts at 8 a.m. at the church lot on North Morningside Drive, and everything else that morning works around that time.

The Morningside Farmers Market sets up every Saturday of the year from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at Morningside Presbyterian Church. This Saturday, two Morningside Lenox Park Association events also start at that market. The Monster Dash 5K starts and finishes there. The History of Morningside walking tour begins and ends at the market's information booth. The earliest start is 8 a.m. and the latest finish is 11:30. On October 24, the neighborhood's calendar runs on market hours.

The rest of MLPA's fall was spread out

October 24 stands out partly because the rest of the association's fall calendar moved around the neighborhood. The fall Concerts in the Park evening was set for September 18 at Sidney Marcus Park on Cumberland Road. The Fall New Neighbor Reception was held October 4 at Casseroles, 1393 North Highland Ave. NE.

Those two events were held at two different places on two different days. This Saturday brings two association events and the weekly market to a single address, 1411 N. Morningside Drive NE, in one morning.

The morning, by the clock

The busiest stretch is from about 9:45 to 10. The kids line up for their dash, 5K finishers are still coming in, and the history group gathers at the booth before heading out, all within a few minutes of each other.

The Monster Dash takes the first shift

MLPA bills the Monster Dash as a Halloween-themed, chip-timed 5K run or walk through neighborhood streets. Costumes are encouraged and the event is meant for families. The race starts at 8:30 a.m.

This post goes up on Thursday, which means packet pickup is open tonight and tomorrow. Pickup is at the church on Thursday and Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.

Registration costs more the longer you wait, and the next increase comes Saturday morning:

• Standard 5K: $45 through Friday, October 23, then $50 on race day
• Youth 5K, ages 12 and under: $25
• Kids Dash: $25 for ages 10 and under, run in age groups of 2 to 4, 5 to 7, and 8 to 10
• Groups of three or more: 10% off

The City of Atlanta's event listing says the race benefits the Morningside Lenox Park Civic Association. The race organizers ask people to park on the street only where it's allowed and suggest walking, biking or taking a rideshare. Shoppers heading to the market will be looking for the same curb space, so if you live within walking distance, walking is the easier choice.

The market fills the middle of the morning

The market runs its regular hours whether or not there's a race. It says it sells organically grown produce, local meats, breads and other goods all year, and that everything it sells is grown with organic practices or certified naturally grown.

Who shows up on a given Saturday changes. The market announces each week's lineup in its newsletter, so its online directory shows who sells there regularly, not a confirmed list for October 24. The directory includes:

• Farms: Crystal Organic Farm, Riverview Farm, Row by Rowe Organic Farm, Crop Culture Farm, Pinewood Springs Farm and Smyly Farms
• Seafood: Captain Don's Seafood and Shellbluff Clams
• Something to eat after a 5K: Little Tart Bakeshop, Elise Organic Ice Cream and Mantis Matcha
• For the dog who walked the 5K with you: Big Daddy Biscuits, which makes dog treats
• Pantry and makers: Honey Next Door, Dandelion Food & Goods, Barlow's Foods, Ancient Awakenings and Black Bird Makers

If you're running, the market's hours give you time. After an 8:30 start, a 5K walker still has a couple of hours to shop before the 11:30 close. You can also sign up for the newsletter on the market's site and see that week's lineup before you go.

The history walk leaves from the same booth

The History of Morningside walking tour was first scheduled for October 10. MLPA moved it to October 24 because of weather, and that's how it ended up on the same morning as the race. MLPA's main events page still shows October 10, but the tour's own event page gives the new date.

The tour runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and starts and ends at the market's information booth. MLPA describes it as a 60- to 90-minute walk through the history of Morningside and Virginia-Highland. It covers preservation efforts, the historic markers along the route, and how both neighborhoods fit into Atlanta's growth. Registration is required. MLPA keeps these tours small, so sign up through the association before Saturday.

The tour ends at 11:30, when the market closes. If you go, plan to shop before the tour or right as it ends.

Sunday moves to Herbert Taylor Park

On Sunday afternoon, the weekend continues a short distance away. The South Fork Conservancy is holding Tree Exploration + Leaf Printing on October 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Herbert Taylor Park, 1343 Pasadena Ave. NE. It's a guided tree identification walk through old-growth forest and champion trees.

Saturday happens on the street and in the market crowd. Sunday is a guided walk among some of the neighborhood's oldest trees.

Two more dates if you can't make it

If October 24 doesn't work for you, two more dates are on the calendar:

1. Saturday, November 14. MLPA has another History of Morningside walking tour scheduled. The South Fork Conservancy also has a volunteer workday at Herbert Taylor Park that morning from 8 to 9 a.m.
2. Saturday, December 12. Another Herbert Taylor Park workday runs at the same hour, 8 to 9 a.m.

Both workdays end at 9 a.m., an hour after the farmers market opens, so you can do the workday and still have most of the market's hours to shop.

If the history walk has you curious about what your own home adds to Morningside's story, I'm happy to help with that. Shawn Morgan follows these streets closely, house by house. Request a Free Home Valuation and we'll go over what your home is worth in today's market.