It's hot out there and the election season is heating up as well, so take time on Sunday to sit in the shade at Piedmont Park, enjoy a few hot dogs at a free picnic while also registering to vote and hear from candidates.

Rainbow Day at Six Flags Over Georgia and Georgia Equality are teaming up on Sunday, July 1, from 5-9 p.m. at the Pavilion at Piedmont Park to offer up some free food while also handing out a heaping help of election season offerings. There will also be music and entertainment.

July 2 is the last day to register to vote for the July 31 primary.

Gay and gay-friendly candidates are being invited to the event as well, so picnickers can talk and interact with them in a relaxed setting and registering to vote, said Devin Barrington Ward, who is helping organize the event.

Georgia Equality hopes to take advantage of the popular picnic and register new voters and educate all people about the importance of the upcoming election primary July 31.

“Registering new LGBT voters continues to be a top priority for Georgia Equality, but equally important is making sure that those that are registered are checking their registration status and keeping their status current," said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, in a statement.

"When you change your address you need to register that with the Secretary of State office, in addition keeping up to date on which elected official's district you are in is of vital importance as well, especially since many of the legislative district have been redrawn due to redistricting,” he added.

Carmen Smith and Corina Jones, managing partners of Atlanta Premier Events LLC, the company that puts on the annual Rainbow Days at Six Flags, say they hope opening their free picnic and barbecue to voter registration ensures more LGBT involvement in the upcoming elections.

"With so many important decisions being made that will affect our community voting must be our top priority, Atlanta Premier Events commits to doing all we can to not only entertain the community but empower it as well," said Jones.

Photo: Participants of last year's Rainbow Days at Six Flags Over Georgia enjoyed some barbecue, too. The organizers of the Rainbow Days are holding a barbecue in Piedmont Park on Sunday with free food with Georgia Equality on hand to register voters. (Photo by Brent Rence Corcoran/RNZ Photography)