Decatur, Georgia is known for its bohemian culture, craft brews, and outstanding festivals. It’s the perfect place to escape for a day or a weekend. Read more for Free Things to do in Decatur GA – one of Atlanta’s ultimate FUN neighborhoods. Just a short drive from Downtown Atlanta.
This Georgia city right outside of Atlanta does not disappoint!
FREE THINGS TO DO IN DECATUR GA
DeKalb Farmers Market. Explore the farmers market open to the public, with so many new and interesting foods. There are often tastings and demonstrations, also.
Decatur Farmers Market. Everything is local and homegrown Decatur with sustainable and organic. The regular season/Full-size market is open from March 29 – November 15, 2023. 4-7 pm. During the winter, Decatur Farmers Market hosts a Winter Mini-Market on Wednesdays from 3-6 pm, rain or shine, from Jan. 25 through March 22.
Decatur Square is the historic heart of the downtown and is centered around the old DeKalb County courthouse. This 15-block walkable district includes dozens of unique retailers and 45+ local and national restaurants.
3rd Friday Monthly Celebration. Monthly celebration on April through October, with a street party that encourages the celebration of all that downtown Decatur has to offer while filling the streets with classic cars, live music, shopping and other free family fun. The celebration gets underway at 5:30 p.m.
Decatur Glassblowing Demos. Several times a year they offer free events with live glassblowing demonstrations and usually food, drinks, and music. These events are open to the public and family-friendly. See their Facebook page for dates, times, and details.
Secret Doors Decatur. Twenty-four artists created 32 fairy doors strategically located around the city. Grab your bicycle and scour the city (or check the website for addresses!) Thanks to Kaitlyn A. for this tip! (Note: they are currently closed making updates, so check back.)
Waffle House Museum. Visit the site of the first-ever Waffle House. You can’t drop by, though. You have to schedule it 48 hours in advance on their website! The Waffle House Museum in downtown Decatur turned 65 years old in 2020!
Storytime at Little Shop of Stories. Storytime is 20-30 minutes long on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. We love Thursdays when you can come in your jammies and have milk and cookies while you hear a great tale. Please note: During the pandemic, many of these storytimes are now virtual. Please check their website for virtual versus onsite events.
Oakhurt Porchfest. This grassroots community music event aims to be the city’s first fully crowdsourced festival. Grab a lawn chair or hop on your bike. Musicians of all kinds will grace porches throughout the neighborhood while folks on foot or bikes wander about, listen, hang out on lawns and sidewalks, and mingle with the neighbors. Check the website for updates and music line ups.
Wylde Center. Wylde Center manages four fantastic green spaces, which are free to the public. If you have a few dollars to spare, consider one of their classes for kids or adults. Founded in 1997 out of a need to provide opportunities to experience nature in an urban environment they now operate five green spaces in four different Decatur and Atlanta neighborhoods, open year-round for the community, for events, and for our educational programs. Wylde Center also provides one of the largest youth environmental and science education programs in metro Atlanta.
Sunday Music at Woodlands Garden. Woodlands Garden is open every day; it’s 7+ acres of forest and natural beauty. You can bring a picnic and explore on your own anytime, but it’s really fun to visit on a weekend during Sundays in the spring, summer and fall for music in the garden between 2 and 4 pm. It takes place in the screened pavilion. Other music events occur as announced. Performers are mostly local musicians who may be selling their CDs or have a tip jar. Check their website for event dates.
Decatur Arts Festival. Decatur’s big weekend spring festival is free to the public with live music, book signings, a kids’ art festival, an art walk, and much more. Check their website for dates.
Decatur Book Festival. This is the city’s big fall festival. Also free, it includes multiple stages and tracks including poetry, food and cooking, a children’s stage, a bandstand, and much more. Deemed the largest independent book festival in the United States. Check their website for dates.
Courthouse Museum. The DeKalb History Museum is located inside the courthouse and is free to everyone. You’ll find exhibits on the Civil War, dairy farms, black and whites of the 50s and 60s, historical sites, and more. Thanks to Brandy B. for this tip!
Oakhurst Jazz Nights. Hundreds of jazz lovers will be headed to Oakhurst to picnic at sunset to enjoy some of the best jazz artists in the southeast. The Oakhurst Neighborhood Association announces another great season of free outdoor jazz concerts Thursdays in April & September. Join the Oakhurst group page for more information.
Mason Mill Park and Playground. Enjoy two uber-cool playgrounds (one for little minions and one for the bigger kiddos.) You’ll find shaded walking trails that include sculptures, a bridge, and a boardwalk, following a creek. Artists painted the old water buildings at the beginning of the trail, making it a colorful place for the kids.
Decatur Toy Park. Visit the playground at First Christian Church- across the street from the post office. It’s open to everyone- a large playground where people drop off toys they don’t want anymore for others to enjoy them. Bonus? You walk to get coffee at Dancing Goats next door. Thanks to Brandy B. for this tip!
Oakhurst Park. A 13-acre neighborhood recreation facility with two softball fields with lights, concession building with restrooms, picnic pavilion with restrooms, and a dog station. There are two lighted tennis courts, basketball courts with benches, gaga ball pit, and a playground area.
Glenn Creek Nature Preserve. A two-acre bio reserve of native Piedmont Habitat maintained by neighbors and owned by the City. Glenn Creek (formerly Hunter’s Branch) runs through the property and is part of the South Fork Peachtree sub-watershed.
Bonus: Decatur offers FREE WiFi in the city, too. Be sure to post your pictures to social media when you visit! Tag us on Instagram at @365atlantatraveler and we’ll share your adventure!
NOT FREE THINGS TO DO IN DECATUR, BUT WORTH THE SPLURGE
Date Night: Wild Heaven Craft Beer Tours. The tour isn’t free (though it is affordable!) BUT the beer is free when you purchase the tour. Thanks to the recent change in Ga laws, purchasing a tour ticket affords you 36 oz of beer while you are on the tour!
Decatur BBQ & Bands Festival – After more than 20 years of operation, Decatur is bringing back the live blues music and BBQ vendors this October.
Eddie’s Attic in Decatur is a great place to see up-and-coming bands, and the tickets are very affordable!
The Fernbank Museum of Natural History allows guests to travel worldwide and back in time as they discover dinosaurs, live animals, amazing places, ancient fossils, prehistoric cultures and new scientific discoveries. Throughout the year, new exhibits and experiences offer more to explore.
Stone Mountain Park is a popular family-friendly destination filled with fun attractions, a Scenic Railroad, a laser show on the side of the mountain, seasonal festivals, special events, lodging, and more.
SAVE YOUR PENNIES FOR THESE GREAT ACCOMMODATIONS
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR DECATUR VISIT
- YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
- MORE ATLANTA: 53+ THINGS TO DO IN ATLANTA
- STONE MOUNTAIN PARK: 17+ AMAZING THINGS TO EXPLORE
- CAMPGROUNDS: 40+ OF THE BEST CAMPGROUNDS IN NORTH GA
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DECATUR GA FAQ
What is Decatur, GA known for?
Decatur is known for their festivals. Some of the most popular festivals include Decatur Arts Festival, Decatur BBQ, Blues u0026amp; Bluegrass Festival, the Decatur Book Festival, the Decatur Maker’s Faire, The Decatur Craft Beer Festival and the Decatur Wine Festival.
What TV shows were filmed in Decatur, GA?
Decatur and Georgia, in general, have become very popular filming locations for shows like The Haunting of Hill House, Tell Me Lies, and Fear Street.
What are the top Decatur, GA attractions?
Decatur’s top attractions include DeKalb History Center, The Waffle House Museum, the Fernbank Museum Of Natural History, and Decatur Square.
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