50+ Best Festivals in Atlanta: Spring and Summer

NOTE: Many of our spring festivals have been cancelled or postponed due to restrictions on public gatherings. We encourage everyone to be safe and avoid crowds at this time – but do feel free to peruse from the safety of your home the many awesome yearly events so you can plan for the future.

The South known for fun, which is why one of the most popular events are festivals in Atlanta. We’ve got the perfect list of festival fun for your spring and summer, with dates, places and hints about their family-friendliness. Take note of those marked with “365 Favorite!“ as it notates the festivals we love the most!

Whether you’re in the mood for a food festival, live entertainment, or lounging in the sun with a few thousand of your closest friends…with kids or without…we’ve got your best bets below.

March | April | May | June | July | August

March Festivals

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival

🌎 More Information | 🍹 21+ Only | 📍Atlantic Station

This festival showcases a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and barbeque eatin’. Your admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an ALL-YOU-CARE–TO-TASTE sampling of beer and bourbon. Some of the best barbeque vendors are on-site if you get hungry, all while enjoying seminars in the tasting theater and LIVE music all day.

St Patricks Day Parade

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Midtown| 🏆 365 Favorite

The popular Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade, an Atlanta favorite for the past 135 years, returns to the streets of Midtown. This year’s parade steps off at noon at the intersection of Peachtree and 15th street and continues down Peachtree to 5th Street. More than 2,000 dancers, musicians, llamas and Irish and local dignitaries are expected to march this year. The parade will feature one of the world’s largest Irish “walking flags,” a large flag carried — or, more accurately, worn — by dozens of participants.

Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Brookhaven

Coinciding with the timing of the Cherry Blossom Festival in both Macon and Washington D.C., this event takes place over Easter weekend. Be sure to bring your four-legged friends to the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival for a “doggone” good time at the Pet Parade. Live music, children’s village and and arts & crafts marketplace.

Big Stupid Parking Lot Carnival

🌎 More Information | 🍹 21+ Only| 📍Dad's Garage, Old Fourth Ward

Formerly BaconFest, what is now known as the Big Stupid Parking Lot Carnival is held at Dad’s Garage’s in Old Fourth Ward. A fixture in the Atlanta community, the kitschy festival combines troughs upon troughs of cold beer and food with hilarious carnival games -- like a hobo wine tasting, naughty face painting, and a drunken spelling bee that is manned by the best improvisers in the city. Selling out every year, all proceeds benefit Dad’s Garage. This is a NO PARKING event.

April Festivals

Festival on Ponce

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Druid Hills

The Festival on Ponce is an Atlanta arts and crafts festival set in the historic park, Olmsted Linear Park. Visitors will enjoy the gorgeous landscape designed by one of America’s most celebrated landscape architects, Fredrick Olmsted Sr. along with over 125 displays of fine arts and crafts, folk and “outsider art”. In addition to the fine arts, there will be a children’s area and local food and beverage. Attendance is Free.

Atlanta Streets Alive

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍 Different Streets Around Atlanta

Atlanta Streets Alive opens streets for people by temporarily closing them to cars to create a whole new healthy, sustainable and vibrant city street experience. This is a program inspired by open streets projects all over the world. Bring your bicycle or just your feet, and get ready to explore your community streets in a safer, healthier, more livable way.

Atlanta Film Festival

🌎 More Information | 📍 Various Locations

Now celebrating a 40+-year history, the Atlanta Film Festival is the area’s preeminent celebration of cinema. One of only two dozen Academy Award-qualifying events in the country, the Atlanta Film Festival showcases over 200 films annually to nearly 25,000 attendees across a ten-day event each spring. Each year, the Atlanta Film Festival receives nearly 5,000 submissions from 120 countries across the globe.

It has been distinguished as the ‘Best Film Festival’ by Creative Loafing, Sunday Paper, 10Best and Atlanta Magazine, as well as one of the ’25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World’ and one of ’50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee’ by MovieMaker Magazine.

Atlanta Dogwood Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Piedmont Park | 🏆 365 Favorite

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is the city’s oldest fine arts festival, and it is made possible thanks to the hundreds of superb artists who comprise the Artist Market each year. This spring, we welcome 260 fine artists from all over the country, including many from the Atlanta area. The Artist Market jurors received more than 1,100 entries this year and selected the top artists in a variety of categories. Be sure to check out the Artist Winners who are literally the best of the best! Don’t miss Family Friday.

Renaissance Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Fairburn | 🏆 365 Favorite

There is nothing as magical as the Renaissance Festival. Food and drink, rides and games, an artisan market, jousting, daredevils, hypnotists and more. Here are 10 reasons you should visit the Georgia Renaissance Festival!

Sweetwater 420 Fest

🌎 More Information | 📍Centennial Olympic Park | 🏆 365 Favorite

SweetWater 420 Fest blends music, entertainment, art and culture, all while respecting Mother Earth and has grown and evolved each and every year since 2004. Yes, 12 years ago this baby was born, at SweetWater Brewery as a small celebration and has evolved to the weekend-long, jam-packed Fest you know and love today at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

Albany Music Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Albany

Following the Snickers Marathon and Half Marathon, the Albany Music Festival offers an array of music, food, vendors and fun as visitors and locals alike come together to experience Downtown Albany.

Dogwood Days Antique Show and Sale

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Leslie

Antique show with lots of different antiques for everyone. A variety of antique merchandise from coin collections and Civil War memorabilia to furniture can be purchased at this annual festival. Stop by the tearoom for our famous chicken salad.

Sandy Springs Artsapalooza

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Sandy Springs

The event will include a children’s play area, local musicians, interactive art stations, plus up to 150 arts and crafts participants in every discipline. The festival location is in the heart of Sandy Springs, near interstate access and all things Atlanta.

Inman Park Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Inman Park | 🏆 365 Favorite

During the last full weekend in April each year, Inman Park proudly presents a neighborhood festival widely regarded as Atlanta’s most spirited and eclectic. The Tour of Homes Preview occurs the Friday prior to the festival. Tickets go on sale in March.

Americus Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Americus

Tickets for the event go on sale at noon on December 19, 2019. Premium Tickets are $75, which includes early entry into the event, a special hand-blown tasting glass and unlimited tastings. General Admission Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the gate, if available. Admission that doesn’t include any drinks are $10. There will be glass blowing demonstrations, live music, food vendors, and more! Kids 17 and under are free with a paying adult.

Annual Blue Ridge Trout Fest & Outdoor Adventures

🌎 More Information | 📍Blue Ridge

Fly-tying, fly-casting, casting pond, conservation and more! Visit your favorite vendors including fishing and outdoor gear, pottery, jewelry, clothing and more. Cast the latest fly-fishing rods and reels. Learn about trout fishing in Fannin County with local trout-fishing experts. Discover hiking, kayaking and cycling in Fannin County.

Spring Festival Presented by Wolf Creek Plantation Vineyards & Winery

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Americus

Join the festival for a day full of wine, vineyard and winery tours, shopping through awesome vendors and fun for the whole family. There will be live music and, as always, free tastings, free winery tours and free vineyard tours along with great case discounts.

Everett’s Music Barn Spring Festival

🌎 More Information | 📍Buford

The Historic Everett’s Music Barn annual spring festival & fundraiser. Music starts at noon with an old fashioned, covered dish dinner on the grounds at 5pm…Bring your favorite main, side, or special treat. Raffle drawings between bands.

May Festivals

Renaissance Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Fairburn | 🏆 365 Favorite

There is nothing as magical as the Renaissance Festival -- which continues in May. Food and drink, rides and games, an artisan market, jousting, daredevils, hypnotist and more.

Duluth Arts Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Duluth

The new, two-day festival will be held in the fun, vibrant and culturally diverse City of Duluth and will feature approximately 86 painters, photographers, sculptors, metalwork, glass artists, jewelers and more during its debut appearance. Festival goers will also have the opportunity to view artist demonstrations and enjoy gourmet food trucks with healthy alternatives, live acoustic music, dance performances and much more. The festival is free to attend, open to all ages and are dogs are welcome.

Shaky Knees Music Festival

🌎 More Information | 📍Central Park, Atlanta | 🏆 365 Favorite

With 5 stages and more than 75 bands each year, Shaky Knees is a rock-lover’s dream. Since its inception in 2013, Shaky Knees has featured a diverse lineup ranging from world-renowned acts to up-and-coming artists. Shaky Knees is fast emerging as one of the premier mid-sized music festivals in the country. Take it from a music festival pro – these VIP tickets are worth every penny!

Chattahoochee Valley River Rally

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Hardley Creek Park, Atlanta

Get ready for the annual Chattahoochee Valley River Rally! The Chattahoochee Valley River Rally is a family-friendly, 3-mile paddle trip and community festival where all are invited to celebrate on the riverbank with live music, local food and artisan booths. The kick off with the launch of kayaks, canoes and paddle boards will be at Hardley Creek Park. Paddlers must provide their own boat. Inflatable boats are not allowed.

Chastain Park Arts Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Chastain Park

The Chastain Park Arts Festival will host its annual event at Chastain Park along Park Drive for approximately 185 artists and artisans. Visitors will enjoy fine art and crafts, a children’s area and local food and beverage concessions including the gourmet food trucks. Local acoustic musicians will enliven the atmosphere. This event is organized by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces and volunteer artists. Best of all, it’s entirely free to attend!

Sweet Auburn Springfest

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Historic Auburn Avenue District

The original Sweet Auburn Springfest is one of the largest outdoor festivals in the Southeast, according to the website. It is full of food, fun and entertainment for the whole family. Enjoy a kids fantastic fun zone, and international food court and more. Free.

Kirkwood Spring Fling

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Kirkwood

Get a warm welcome to our neighborhood with all the family-friendly fun of the annual Kirkwood Spring Fling & Tour of Homes. Start the day off with our 5K, stroll through our artists market, catch some live music with a bite to eat from local vendors or our BBQ competition, and let the kids go wild in the kids area. Best of all, admission is free.

MomoCon

🌎 More Information |🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Georgia World Congress Center

MomoCon is one of the fastest growing all ages conventions in the country. Fans of Japanese Anime, American Animation, Comics, Video Games, and Tabletop Games come together to celebrate their passion by costuming / cosplay, browsing the huge exhibitors hall, meeting celebrity voice talent, designers, and writers behind their favorite shows, games, and comics and much much more over this 4 day event. Whether you are an anime fan, gamer, comic reader, or just like watching cartoons, all are welcome at MomoCon!

Atlanta Jazz Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Midtown

Memorial Day Weekend festival which includes international, national and local musicians live on three stages; a Kid Zone with activities for all ages; food vendors offering BBQ, burgers, salads, Caribbean foods and much more; booths with clothing, art and jewelry! This is billed as the largest free jazz festival in the US.

Decatur Arts Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Downtown Decatur | 🏆 365 Favorite

Fine art, kids art, an artist market, performing arts, theatre and literary arts…there is something for everyone here all weekend. The Kids Arts Festival kicks off with a parade. Lineup begins at 9:30 am at the corner of Commerce Drive and Church Street. Marching begins at 9:50. Dress up your kids and decorate your strollers, bikes and trikes. Join the parade and show your artistic spirit! After the parade, enjoy arts and crafts, music, balloons, juggling, clowns, inflatables and much more. Most activities are free or for a small donation.

Also, don’t miss the pre-festival events like the Decatur Lantern Parade and the Artwalk, or Sidewalk Saturdays all of May.

Alpharetta Arts StreetFest

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Alpharetta

This 3-day event will host more than 90 colorful artisans from around the country will showcase their works in the Alpharetta Historic District. This much anticipated festival will feature live music, cultural arts performances, entertaining children’s activities, and a variety festival cuisine.

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival

🌎 More Information | 🍹 21+ Only | 📍Midtown| 🏆 365 Favorite

Named “the only indispensable culinary Festival in the country,” by Josh Ozersky of Esquire and highly anticipated by guests, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival features nearly 100 classes, carefully-curated Tasting Tents and delicious evening dinners and events, all designed to showcase Southern food, drink and culture.

June Festivals

Suwanee Beer Fest

🌎 More Information | 🍹 21+ Only | 📍Suwanee

Recognized as one of the biggest and best craft beer festival in the Southeast. the Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest attracts people from all over the country to claim their share of unlimited tastings of over 350 craft beers. The event offers live music, games, local food vendors and a home brew contest in Suwanee Town Center Park.

Renaissance Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Fairburn | 🏆 365 Favorite

There is nothing as magical as the Renaissance Festival -- which continues in June. Food and drink, rides and games, an artisan market, jousting, daredevils, hypnotist and more.

Helen Balloon Festival

🌎 More Information |🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Helen | 🏆 365 Favorite

The South’s oldest balloon event and the United States’ only long distance hot air balloon race will begin (weather permitting) with a mass ascension of 30 bright and colorful hot air balloons, in North Georgia’s Alpine Village – Helen.

Virginia Highland Summerfest

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Virginia Highland

Celebrating 30+ Years of Art, Food & Fun. Saturday/Sunday Events Are Open to General Public.

Free Admission, Donations Greatly Appreciated. Artist market, 5K and Kid trot, food and two music stages.

Families enjoy visiting KidsFest, a special area for younger festival attendees with games, crafts, kid-themed entertainment and activities, many of which are free. This year’s expanded KidsFest will take place on Arcadia Street and in John Howell Park adjacent to Arcadia on Saturday and Sunday. At KidsFest, families will find creative pursuits, not inflatables and jump houses because at KidsFest, it’s all about art, music and creativity!

Roswell Lavender Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Roswell

The festival is a celebration of all things lavender and will feature the many varieties, uses, and folk remedies associated with this ancient plant. This fun event will take place on the grounds of Barrington Hall. Enjoy Demonstrations in the Carriage House, children’s activities, The Zen Zone—yoga, Pilates, aromatherapy, meditation and reflexology, music by Davin McCoy and others, lavender food samples, and a variety of vendors featuring fine art, crafts, antiques, specialty foods, plants, and garden art. There will be food trucks and booths and Lavender beer—a perennial favorite! Free parking and shuttle transportation. Free admission.

Tunes from the Tombs

🌎 More Information | 📍Oakland Cemetery

Tunes from the Tombs, Historic Oakland Cemetery’s annual all-day music festival features musicians performing in and amongst Oakland’s extraordinary monuments, mausoleums and renowned gardens.

Two main stages will host amplified artists, while buskers will perform on distinct vignette stages throughout the cemetery. From rock to folk, Americana to jazz and classical to everything in between, a variety of tunes will entice everyone to boogie down.

Soothe your stomach as well as your soul with good eats from Atlanta food trucks, which will be on-site serving a variety of tasty festival fare. Keep spirits alive with beer, wine, and soft drinks, all of which will be offered for sale on-site.

Festival attendees can also take a complimentary guided mini-tour of Oakland Cemetery, or have their fortunes read by Atlanta’s own, Esmere. Here are 6 Reasons You Should Visit Oakland Cemetery Before You Die.

Blue Ridge Mountains Wine and Jazz Festival

🌎 More Information | 📍Blue Ridge

Bringing hot jazz, great wines, fine art, and delicious cuisine while sitting on a hill top in the center of Mercier Orchards with beautiful panoramic mountain views. Enjoy delicious food prepared locally and listen to top jazz performers from the region.

Ride the Rails Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Blue Ridge

A five-mile round-trip ride by railroad motor car, traveling through the Iron Bridge over the beautiful Toccoa River and then back to the Historic Mineral Bluff Depot. Take a ride on a genuine railroad hand car. Visit the large HO Scale model railroad inside the depot.

Peachtree Corners Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Peachtree Corners

The fun begins with a free Friday night concert. It continues Saturday & Sunday with over sixty arts & crafts exhibitors, Car Show, live music, kids amusements and lots of great food! The venue is located on a shaded tree-lined street with plentiful free parking just steps away from all activities.

July Festivals

Southern-Fried Gaming Expo

🌎 More Information |🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Marriott Renaissance Waverly

The Southern-Fried Gaming Expo features more than 250 arcade, pinball and console machines, the third annual Southern-Fried Pinball Tournament, tabletop gaming, a vendor expo, exciting programs and guest speakers, movie screenings, and other special events. Almost all the games are FREE with your ticket.

Plains, Trains and Fireworks

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Americus

This new-ish Sumter County festival has grown to approximately 3,000 people… and other groups have gotten involved to provide children activities, face painting etc. It has become a fun family event with a band, dancing and beautiful professional fireworks. Sam Shortline brings in passengers and it’s have a wonderful time.

August Festivals

Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Downtown Oakhurst

Fun for everyone surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of classic southern BBQ from metro Atlanta staples along with 7+ hours of original live blues and bluegrass music from aspiring and accomplished local/regional/and national acts to Decatur, Georgia in the heart of Oakhurst. This is a family friendly event that is fun for all ages; kids 12 and under are free.

Piedmont Park Arts Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Piedmont Park

This event will feature up to 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalwork, glass blowers, jewelers and crafters! The Festival will also offer artist demonstrations, live acoustic music, an Emerging Artists Pavilion, a children’s play area, plus festival foods and beverages with healthy alternatives.

Dunwoody Butterfly Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Dunwoody Nature Center | 🏆 365 Favorite

This year’s event will feature two enormous Butterfly tents – each filled with hundreds of live butterflies. Join us for a day of great activities including a Birds of Prey show, live animal encounters, games, educational booths, crafts, music, food and drinks. Early member preview begins at 9:00 a.m. with general admission starting at 10:00 a.m.

Note: Due to the popularity of this event, pre-purchased tickets are the ONLY way to ensure admission into the event, and also save you a little money in the process.

Here are 22 Other Things To Do at Dunwoody Nature Center.

Summer Shade Festival

🌎 More Information | 🚸 Family-friendly| 📍Grant Park

For more than a decade, Atlanta art and music lovers have flocked to Grant Park each August to bid adieu to summer at the Summer Shade Festival. We’ve got two days of outdoor fun planned for all ages including a 5K Run for the Park, food trucks, craft beer, an entertaining Kids Zone and a music line up that just gets better every year.

You won’t want to miss the Sunday morning Grant Park Farmers Market. And did you know you can ride your bike to the festival and park it for free with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Bike Valet? So, bring your blanket, bring the whole family, but don’t bring any pets, and spend summer’s final weekend at the Grant Park Summer Shade Festival.

Mercier Orchards Hard Cider & Craft Beer Festival

🌎 More Information | 📍Blue Ridge

Beautiful outdoor setting in the center of Mercier Orchards with beautiful panoramic mountain views. See all your favorite brewers and get some great food. Live music and more.

Looking For More?

Do not miss our list of the best Fall Festivals in Georgia like Music Midtown in the city, the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade in East Point or the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay. Fall is one of the state's most gorgeous seasons, so we have a post just for those special events.

If music is your thing, then check out our post about noteworthy Music Festivals in Atlanta, guaranteed to rock your weekend. We're listing everything from hip hop to alternative to country.

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