Some Cobb County residents watching the Academy Awards tonight will do so amongst a crowd.
At least two venues in the county will be telecasting the 88th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The three-hour awards show will be hosted by Chris Rock and airs starting at 7 p.m. EST on ABC. The ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will honor the best films of 2015.
The Marietta Daily Journal reports the Center for Family Resources is holding its 20th annual Red Carpet Gala fundraiser starting at 5 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre. The event will feature a red carpet runway, cocktail reception, silent auction, live auction, a ballroom dinner and a telecast of the Oscars. The event raises more than $300,000 each year for the nonprofit.
Another party is being held at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre on the Square. The Oscars watch party, which is free to attend, starts at 7 p.m. Cocktails will be available and visitors can fill out a ballot and guess the winners for a chance to win a 10-movie pass card, according to the MDJ.
Cobb County isn’t the only region celebrating the Oscars.
The Georgia Aquarium held Sips Under the Sea on Friday night. The Pre-Oscar cocktail party encouraged attendees to dress in their Hollywood best for a night of live music, signature cocktails, tapas and entertainment. Held after hours, attendees had the aquarium all to themselves and were able to cast Oscar prediction ballots.
For those Georgia residents who prefer the comfort of their home to walking the red carpet, viewers can print their own ballots.
According to International Business Times, the show can be live streamed by fans who don’t have cable television by using ABC’s streaming site here.
This year’s show has some controversy surrounding it, though.
“A lack of nominees of color has caused controversy in Hollywood and around the world,” IBT reports. “Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith are among many black celebrities and their allies who have decided to boycott this year’s Oscars to protest the lack of diversity among nominees. Rock will be in an important position for the Academy, as a black host whose comedy has often touched on issues of race in the U.S.”
For viewers watching the Oscars from home, the International Business Times is offering a printable ballot. Click here to read more and print off a PDF ballot.