The OCG Weekend Report is your source for weekend weather, events, features and breaking news in DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties.

Pull out the grills for the Labor Day weekend. It will be mostly sunny with temperatures warm but cooler. Expect a high on Friday of 93°, low 65°; high on Saturday 84°, low 59°; high on Sunday 85°, low 62°; High on Monday 87°, low 66°.

Georgia D.O.T. has suspended almost all lane closures for construction from 5 am Friday until 5 am Tuesday. Lanes might be closed for emergency maintenance and repairs when necessary. The only scheduled closures statewide are as follows:

• I-75 NB near Exit 218 (SR 20/81), Henry County
  10 pm Sun – 3 am Mon, 1 lane closed for race traffic
• SR 201 (N. Varnell Rd.) WB between N. Cherry St. and I-75, Whitfield County near Dalton
  8 am – 5 pm Sat – Sun, 1 lane closed for sewer line installation by Dalton Utilities
• SR 14 / US 29 EB between Harris St. and East Ave., Fulton / Coweta County
  7 pm Sat – 7 am Sun, 1 lane closed for maintenance

Weekend Special Events

Only events expected to bring congestion to major interstates and state routes are included here. For events in Metro Atlanta, see also an external special events calendar.

Weekend of Sept. 2-6

Metro Atlanta

Turner Field
Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets (Thurs 7:10 pm)

Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field
Georgia Tech Yellowjackets vs. South Carolina State Bulldogs (Sat 1 pm) (55,000 expected)

Georgia Dome
Georgia State University Panthers vs. Shorter University Hawks (Thurs 7:30 pm) (30,000 expected)
Chick-Fil-A College Kickoff Game (Sat 8 pm) (71,000 expected)

Georgia World Congress Center
Chick-Fil-A FanZone (Sat 12:30 – 6:30 pm) (30,000 expected)

Centennial Olympic Park
ESPN College GameDay (Sat 10 am) (5000 expected)

Downtown Hotels – Hilton, Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency, Sheraton
Dragon Con (Fri – Mon), Parade (Sat 10 am) 

Cobb Galleria Center & Cumberland Mall
US 10K Classic (Mon 7 am)

Revved-up Race Day Tailgate

If you can’t make it to the big race this year, why not invite friends and family over to watch the race and host a tailgate in your backyard? It’s the perfect way to gather fans around the grill and fuel up on championship food.

And there’s no one who knows winning food more than Chris Lilly, head chef of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q Competition Cooking Team, which has amassed 10 World BBQ Championships. The award-winning pitmaster recommends using a charcoal grill to bring out the best flavor of tailgate fare and shares a few tips to make your menu a success on the circuit.

Take the lead: Do as much as you can in the days before the party. Easy steps, like marinating meat or plating and refrigerating food platters the night before can make all the difference. Your food should be simple and enjoyed with one hand, standing up, and ideally without utensils.

Prepare for a crowd: Your choice of meat is where you can be value-conscious without compromising taste. Try chicken wings instead of chicken breasts. Grill hotdogs, but offer a variety of mustards and gourmet toppings, like grilled peppers or spicy corn relish. Choosing fare you find at the speedway will help bring the sights, sounds and smells of a race right to your backyard.

Hit the high groove: Don’t skimp when it comes to charcoal. Kingsford charcoal now features deeper, wider and longer grooves to catch the flame more quickly and burn longer. When lighting a charcoal grill, don’t allow lighter fluid to soak in before lighting the coals. Instead, add lighter fluid following lighter fluid directions, lighting immediately and letting the coals burn until they are covered in ash (about 15 minutes).

For more race day grilling tips and recipes, visit Facebook.com/KingsfordCharcoal.

Grilled Bratwurst with Chow-Chow

Makes:             8 servings

Prep time:             20 minutes, plus 4-12 hours for vegetable marinade

Cook time:             1 hour, 10 minutes

8            uncooked bratwurst sausages

8            hotdog buns

2            cans cola (24 ounces)

1            medium head cabbage, shredded

4            green bell peppers, diced

2            onions, diced

2             green tomatoes, diced (can substitute tomatillos)

1/2              cup salt

3             cups vinegar

2 1/2              cups sugar

1             tablespoon celery seed

1             teaspoon turmeric

In large container, combine cabbage, peppers, onions, and tomatoes (raw vegetables should equal 2 1/2 to 3 quarts). Mix with 1/2 cup salt, cover, and let stand for 4-12 hours. Drain well.

Combine vinegar, sugar, celery seed, and turmeric in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add drained vegetables and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Chow-chow can be served as a hot or cold topping. For canning, spoon into sterilized pint canning jars and seal. (Makes 3 pints)

Pour cola into small pot. Add sausages, bring to a boil. As soon as cola turns clear, remove sausages (about 4-5 minutes).

Preheat charcoal grill to 400°F. Place bratwursts on hot grate over direct heat for 2 minutes on each side. Remove from grill and place on bun. Top with a generous helping of Chow-chow.

Recipe created by Barbecue Expert Chris Lilly on Behalf of Kingsford® Charcoal

Courtsey of Family Features.