Do you believe unlucky things will happen to you on Friday the 13th? If so, you may suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia, a known psychological condition — or you may just be mildly superstitious.
Yet according to TimeAndDate.com, some cultures regard the day as very lucky indeed, and people have even won millions of dollars in lotteries entered on this day.
One thing’s for sure:
Friday the 13th doesn’t come around often. In 2022, it happens just once, in May. And it won’t roll around again until January 13, 2023 and October 13, 2023.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of 13 things to do this Friday the 13th. They all reflect “luck” in some way. Because let’s face it, one person’s luck is another person’s misfortune.
Fun Fact: For a month to have a Friday the 13th, the first day must be a Sunday.
13 lucky things to do this Friday the 13th
1. Visit the mummies at the Michael C. Carlos Museum
The Carlos Museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the Southeast. To the ancient Egyptians, the number 13 was lucky. It represented the 13th stage of life — as in a glorious, eternal afterlife. And if you’re an Emory University grad, you’re in luck because the Class of 2022 is eligible for a FREE annual membership to the Carlos Museum.
Egyptian sarcophagus at the Carlos Museum
2. Take a hike at Hard Labor Creek State Park
Movie trivia time! Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives was filmed in metro Atlanta, and the scenes at Camp Crystal Lake were shot at Hard Labor Creek State Park. While it looks creepy on the screen, it’s a wonderful state park and a pleasant day trip out to Morgan County. Pack a picnic meal and enjoy the drive — luckily, the forecast says no rain on Friday, May 13th.
3. Be Greek for the day, at the Marietta Greek Festival
According to Greek Reporter, it’s Tuesday the 13th that is seen as an unlucky day in Greece — because of the fall of Constantinople on Tuesday, April 13, 1204. That makes this Friday the 13th a perfectly lucky day to attend the Marietta Greek Festival, to enjoy authentic Greek food, entertainment, and culture. Opa!
4. Stream one of the Friday the 13th movies
You’ll need a streaming subscription or free trial, because we were not lucky enough to find these horror classics on any of the totally FREE streaming platforms — although there are plenty of other shudder-inducing flicks available for free. Check out this guide by Slashfilm on where to rent or stream every Friday the 13th film in the series.
Better yet, visit VideoDrome, Atlanta’s last remaining video-rental store, and get a 1-week rental for $5. We checked, and they have several of the Friday the 13th movies in stock!
5. Adopt a black cat (or other pet) from LifeLine Animal Project
The shelters are full and Lifeline Animal Project is hosting a $20 adoption event during the whole month of May — including Friday, May 13th. Adoption fees are lowered to just twenty bucks through May 31st, and you may be lucky enough to find your new best friend.
Can’t adopt? Make a reservation to visit the kitties at Java Cats Cafe, with locations in Grant Park and Marietta. Odds are good that you’ll find a black cat there!
Monti was a little black kitten we fostered thru LifeLine until he was big enough to find his adoptive home.
6. Head to an Irish Pub for Friday happy hour
It may not be St. Patrick’s Day, but you can still invoke the famous luck of the Irish and head out for a pint of Guinness or a big plate of fish and chips. Eater Atlanta has put together this list of 9 great Irish pubs in Atlanta, but you may have your own favorite watering hole.
7. Walk with ghosts at Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was a lucky break for the Confederacy, although those who lost their lives there were not so lucky. Today, the site is known as the most haunted batttlefield in Georgia. People have reported hearing cannons, smelling gunpowder, and even seeing restless apparitions of soldiers. Others have said they walked through unexpected cold spots while hiking the trails. If you feel up to investigating these claims, take a drive out to Kennesaw Mountain National Park.
A Civil War era cannon overlooks Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield park. Credit: Deposit Photos
8. Have a butterfly encounter
Butterflies are considered a symbol of good luck. To some, they represent freedom, creativity, transformation, or spiritual growth. It’s still a bit early in the season, but you might see butterflies at the Freedom Park Bird & Butterfly Garden or the Tucker Butterfly, which are both FREE to visit.
And be sure to check out our list of gardens and parks that offer the chance to have a close-up butterfly encounter in a glass conservatory or mesh tent — and even hold one on the tip of your finger — every summer.
Photo courtesy of Dahlonega Butterfly Farm — go visit!
9. Take a selfie on the Jackson Street Bridge
In The Walking Dead, a handful of characters were lucky enough to survive the misfortune of a lifetime — a zombie apocalypse. This famous scene from the TV series made the Jackson Street Bridge the most famous selfie spot in Atlanta — it’s practically a Bucket List item for Atlantans. Have you posted your selfie on social media yet?
This scene made the Jackson Street Bridge the most popular selfie spot in Atlanta.
10. Visit Oakland Cemetery
This is another Atlanta attraction that is said by some to be haunted. Its most famous residents have certainly met a wide variety of fates, both lucky and unlucky. Take, for example, Margaret Mitchell — possessing the talent and good fortune to receive the Pulitzer for Gone With the Wind, but unlucky enough to be killed by a car while crossing the street.
By the way, tickets for the popular Oakland Cemetery Memorial Day & WWI tours are on sale now — and they will certainly sell out. Act now if you want to be one of the lucky ones to score tickets!
Margaret Mitchell is one of several famous residents at Oakland Cemetery.
11. Attend a performance of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors
Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors tells the story of two sets of twin brothers who are separated in a shipwreck, arguably one of the unluckiest events possible. Fate is on their side, however, and they have the good luck to meet up again, many years later. Shakespeare in the Ponce presents Comedy of Errors outdoors at Ponce City Market amphitheater this month, Thursday thru Saturday, thru May 28th.
12. Immerse yourself in the works of Picasso
Picasso was one of the lucky artists who enjoyed creative success and recognition during his lifetime — he had the good fortune to die a multi-millionaire at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of thousands of artistic works. Now, you have the good luck to attend Imagine Picasslo: The Immersive Exhibition, an amazing interactive exhibit at Pullman Yards. Words don’t describe the experience of stepping inside a Picasso. There are tickets available for this Friday, May 13th and beyond.
13. Take advantage of an offer for FREE food
Is there anything luckier than a FREE meal? We have two such offers for you this Friday, May 13th. You can get FREE fries at Burger King with any purchase. And you can check out the special name day promotion by Firehouse Subs — just click thru the link each day to find out if your first name makes you eligible for a FREE medium sub, just by showing your photo ID (must match the selected name for the day) — maybe you’ll get lucky!
14. Get a tattoo or piercing
Did you know that tattoo parlors often celebrate Friday the 13th with special deals? It might be a $13 piercing, a simple tattoo for $13, or $13 OFF a more elaborate tattoo. Give your local tattoo artist a call — you might get a lucky deal! Saints and Sinners is just one of local parlors offering deals this Friday.
15. Walk on the Doll’s Head Trail at Constitution Lakes Park
This is an Atlanta Bucket List item, so why not cross it off your list this Friday the 13th? The Doll’s Head Trail is a quirky and entertaining experience and an easy walk — and we have been extremely lucky with terrific weather this spring. Some may say the folk art displays — made from trashed dolls and other toys — are creepy, but we find them charming!
A doll’s head wedged in a tree stump at Constitution Lakes Park.
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Here’s what else is happening on Friday, May 13th:
Friday, May 13, 2022
