Atlanta has always been a music city, and while there are plenty of clubs around town to find live music, the best way to get your groove on is by oscillating between stages on a sunny afternoon at one of the many Atlanta music festivals.
From classic rock to dance music, hip-hop to jazz, there are music fests for every taste, and as you’ll see, one for every season too. We’ve pulled together metro Atlanta’s best, and have the scoop on what you can expect.
The Best Atlanta Music Festivals | Local Music Fests on our Bucket List | Summer Concert Series
Atlanta Music Festivals
APRIL
ATLANTA BLUES FESTIVAL
April 7 | Cobb Energy Centre
The 18th Annual Atlanta Blues Festival will be held April 7, 2024, at Cobb Energy Centre. This special night of emotive lyrics and guitar-driven accompaniment features performances by Tucka, King George, Pokey Bear, J-Wonn, West Love, and Lebrado.
SWEETWATER 420 FESTIVAL
April 20-21 | Pullman Yards | Atlanta
SweetWater 420 Festival in Atlanta blends music, entertainment, art, and culture, all while respecting Mother Earth and has grown and evolved each and every year since 2004.
And in 2024, it’s even better! SweetWater 420 Fest has returned to its roots – both musically and as a a contributor to the community! Just announced, the festival will be FREE to all patrons with a $10 donation to Waterkeeper Alliance – a community-based advocacy united for clean and abundant water.
Additionally, the lineup focuses on those killer jams you could hear coming out of the brewery during its early days.
MAY
SHAKY KNEES
May 3-5 | Central Park | Atlanta
Shaky Knees is the perfect weekend annual festival with over 60 bands and renowned acts for hipsters and fans of alternative music. Lesli even took her kids to this Atlanta music festival!
Skip the VIP pass and go all the way to platinum (if you can afford it). You’ll be doing it up right with a private open bar, shaded lounge seating, air-conditioned restrooms and of course, a private entrance and all access to this outdoor music festival.
ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL
May 25-27 | Piedmont Park | Atlanta
Atlanta Jazz Festival is regarded as one of the largest FREE jazz festivals in the country. An annual celebration of the music, culture and art of jazz begins in April and culminates each Memorial Day weekend, with an outdoor festival featuring jazz artists from all over the world.
You can check out the 2024 lineup here.
JUNE
TUNES FROM THE TOMBS
TBD | Oakland Cemetery | Atlanta
Tunes from the Tombs is held at the most unique music venue in Atlanta, Oakland Cemetery.
If you haven’t been to Oakland, it truly is a treat for the living. Get the RIP pass for special access to three stages of great talent, and be sure to take in at least one of the mini-tours where you can learn about Oakland’s ‘residents’.
ALPHARETTA BREW MOON FEST
June 1 | Downtown Alpharetta
The Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest is an annual beer festival in Downtown Alpharetta that also includes local entertainment. Rock the night away in Downtown Alpharetta with a true “Dancing in the Street” party featuring your favorite beers, and live music from Chuck Martin and the Line Up!
Bring your own chairs or purchase a table and enjoy the night with your closest friends!
8TH ANNUAL LAKE SHOW
June 1 | Lake Lanier Olympic Park | Gainesville
Kick off your summer at Jarrad Burch Foundation Annual Lake Show! Enjoy great food, great fun and, of course, great music, this celebration is capped by one of the best fireworks shows in the region!
Gates open at 6pm, music begins at 7pm, and the fireworks start at 10pm. Food trucks and beverages are onsite for purchase.
BLUESBERRY AND BEER MUSIC FESTIVAL
June 15 | Betty Mauldin Park | Norcross
Norcross has got the blues…in a good way! The Bluesberry and Beer Festival is held each summer in Betty Mauldin Park.
The festival features great blues bands from all over Georgia — and there’s some great beer and food too!
SEPTEMBER
MUSIC MIDTOWN
Not happening in 2024 | Piedmont Park | Atlanta
Note: Music Midtown will not take place in 2024 and has gone on hiatus. Their website states, “After producing legendary festivals over the last 3 decades that drew music fans from across the globe, we want to share that Music Midtown is going on hiatus this year. We encourage you to continue supporting live music in Atlanta and stay tuned here for future updates.”
IMAGINE MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Imagine Music Festival is taking a pause in 2024 and is expected to return in 2025.
Imagine Music Festival (IMF) is electronic dance music and immersive art festival that is held in Kingston Downs, GA.
Voted Top 30 festival in the world by Fest300, and Top Ten Emerging Music Festivals by USA Today, the festival features multiple stages hosting the world’s top electronic musicians, DJs and bands along with captivating cirque-style acts & performances.
SUWANEE FEST
September 21-22 | Town Center Park | Suwanee
Suwanee Fest takes place in September and is an annual two-day celebration of the community held each year at Town Center Park.
This year, the festival is celebrating its 40th year with an 80s themed event! It’s going to be totally tubular! You’ll find a parade, entertainment, plenty of family fun (rides, games, inflatables), and so much more.
AC3 FEST
September 28 – October 1 | Atlanta
Part hip-hop music festival, part music business conference, the AC3 Fest is the place to be to enjoy the music, but also learn about the music industry.
Business tracks cover topics for the budding artist to the seasoned pros.
OCTOBER
AC3 FEST (cont.)
September 28 – October 1 | Atlanta
Part hip-hop music festival, part music business conference, the AC3 Fest is the place to be to enjoy the music, but also learn about the music industry.
Business tracks cover topics for the budding artist to the seasoned pros.
WIRE AND WOOD SONGWRITER’S FESTIVAL
October 11-12 | Downtown Alpharetta
Downtown Alpharetta comes alive with the stories behind the music at Wire and Wood, an outdoor songwriter’s festival.
The Wire & Wood Alpharetta Music Festival takes place at multiple venues throughout downtown Alpharetta, making this a beloved, family-friendly, FREE weekend event. Music will flow through the streets as talented artists perform their own songs with soulful melodies, magnificent vocals and expressive lyrics while interacting with the audience.
Wire and Wood was selected as one of the Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society.
WEST FEST
October 26 | Booth Western Art Museum | Cartersville
West Fest is a southeastern cowboy gathering that features cowboy, western, country, bluegrass, and folk music at the world-class Booth Western Museum in Cartersville.
Entertainment includes re-enactments of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Western music, Native American dancing, children’s bungee jumping, living history encampments, and more. Shop for Western art, jewelry, clothing, food, and pottery. Free children’s art projects and activities are also included with admission
West Fest is included with Museum admission.
HAMPTON PORCHFEST
TBD | Hampton
Come sit a spell and listen to a variety of musicians and genres while rambling through Hampton’s neighborhoods for PorchFest.
Hampton PorchFest features music from different genres — you’ll find everything from bluegrass and rock to Christian. There are even porches where you can sing-a-long!
Each porch that you visit will have performers for up to an hour, so plan to roam around town or pick a few of your favorites and hang out on the front lawn.
SUMMER CONCERTS ATLANTANS LOVE
Looking for a great community concert series? We’ve got them too. And…most of these are FREE to attend!
NIGHT MARKET (PEACHTREE CITY)
When: April through October
Mark your calendars for this monthly market held at night in Peachtree City. This monthly event at Drake Field invites adults to gather, sip, munch and take in good music.
Inspired by vibrant outdoor markets popular throughout Europe and Asia, night markets are social outdoor events where food, retail, and educational vendors offer a variety of fresh, local street foods, arts & crafts, and other family-friendly fare.
GLOVER PARK CONCERT SERIES (MARIETTA)
When: April through September
The Glover Park Concert Series features local and national acts on the last Friday of the month, April through September. The series features local and national acts in Glover Park on the Marietta Square.
The concerts are free but there are a limited number of front row seats for purchase. Those seats sell out quickly, so if you’re interested, mark your calendar to call for reservations at 8 a.m. the first working day of each month.
ALIVE IN ROSWELL (ROSWELL)
When: April through October
Alive in Roswell is a free, family-friendly festival with live music, held every third Thursday of every month April – October.
The festival is held concurrently on Historic Canton Street, Roswell Antique and Interiors Lot, and Historic Roswell Town Square. Free regular trolley service connects the free parking at Roswell City Hall and the Historic Town Square. Even your dogs are welcome at this one!
AVALON NIGHTS LIVE (ALPHARETTA)
When: April through October
Unwind after the work week with live music in The Plaza at Avalon every Friday from 6pm until 8pm. Dancing encouraged.
Kick back and groove to the tunes all season long. Grab your friends and family and get ready to dance the night away.
BUFORD COMMUNITY CENTER TOWN PARK (BUFORD)
When: May through August
The city of Buford hosts a free summer concert series on the sprawling lawn of their Town Park each summer from May – August.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES (NORCROSS)
When: May through September
Enjoy the “sweet sounds of summer” in downtown Norcross, at the free summer concert series, which runs May through September in Thrasher Park.
Grab a chair, a cooler (no glass, please), and a few friends and come enjoy downtown Norcross and all musical genres and the sweet sounds of summer!
GROOVIN’ ON THE GREEN CONCERT SERIES (LOGANVILLE)
When: May through September
Get your groove on at Loganville’s summer concert series. Live music takes over the Town Green (235 Main Street Loganville, GA) at 7:30 p.m. on the third Friday of each month from May through September.
Food and drink vendors are on hand or you can bring your own picnic. Beer and wine is permitted.
SUNSET SIPS (ROSWELL)
When: July through September
The Chattahoochee Nature Center is the place to be on Sunday evenings for Sunset Sips.
What better way to wrap up the weekend than an evening under the stars listening to live music! On the 2nd Sundays from July through September live music fills the stage at CNC’s outdoor listening room.
Bring a picnic dinner, a blanket, or purchase a table on the Ben Brady Pavilion. Enjoy a date night, or a night out with friends, as nature provides the perfect backdrop for the evening outside.
MARGARITAVILLE AT LANIER ISLAND (GAINESVILLE)
When: Summer
Can’t make it to the ocean this summer? Lake Lanier Islands in partnership with Margaritaville has live music along the beach each weekend.
ROSWELL RIVERSIDE SOUNDS CONCERT SERIES (ROSWELL)
When: April through September
The fourth Saturday of the month, August – October, come out to Riverside Park for free concerts in Roswell.
The concert series offers a laid back environment surrounded by beautiful scenery, playgrounds, and trails along the Chattahoochee River.
Bring your chairs, picnic blankets and friends to this unique Roswell tradition. Come out and enjoy both familiar and new genres of music performed by creative, lyric-driven artists.
BRANCH BLOCK PARTIES (FLOWERY BRANCH)
When: August through November
Each one of these family-friendly block parties in Flowery Branch has a different theme and something for everyone. Look at the music schedule to find when your favorite genre of music is playing. Oh, and did we mention they have a beer garden too?!
TUNES BY THE TRACKS (STONE MOUNTAIN)
When: September through October
Tunes by the Tracks is a free concert series held each Friday night in September and October from 7pm – 9pm in Stone Mountain Village.
Concerts will be held in the Municipal Parking lot and will feature a number of well-known artists. Beer and wine will be available for sale. Bring a lawn chair!
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES (VILLA RICA)
When: June through August
Free concerts at the MILL Amphitheater in Villa Rica all summer long. This year’s events will be held June 1, July 20, and August 3.
WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN CONCERT SERIES (DOUGLASVILLE)
When: June through August
Bring your lawn chair and enjoy smooth jazz, R&B and blues music each Wednesday for Wednesday Winddown during June, July and August on O’Neal Plaza in Douglasville.
SUMMER STAGE CONCERT SERIES (DULUTH)
When: June
Grab your blankets, chairs and picnic baskets for this summer concert series on the Duluth Town Green.
The first free concert on Town Green in 2024 will be on June 1 and will feature POP 2000! Hosted by *NSYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick, they’re kicking it back to the early 2000’s with performances by O-Town, Ryan Cabrera and LFO.
Summer Stage Concerts are free to attend, so, grab your lawn chairs, pack a cooler and let’s rewind to the early 2000’s!
HOME BY DARK CONCERT SERIES (ALPHARETTA)
When: April through September
Home by Dark is a concert series in Alpharetta held directly behind Alpharetta City Hall at Brooke Street Park. Bring a blanket / lawn chairs, picnic, and friends for a night of stories, songs, and inspiration you’ll never forget.
Admission is FREE. Concerts start at 7:30pm.
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO GEORGIA
- YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
- DAY TRIPS: 31 Day Trips From Atlanta That Should Be Top of Your Bucket List
- ATLANTA: 53+ Things To Do in Atlanta You Should Not Miss (From Locals in the Know)
- OUTDOOR MOVIES: 13+ Free or Cheap Outdoor Movies in Atlanta
- DATE NIGHT: It’s Date Night Atlanta: 50+ Ideas for Romance and Fun
WHERE TO STAY IN ATLANTA
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