It’s almost spring in Atlanta and that means it’s time for the spring festival season to bring music, food and good times back to the city! Check out the line up of just a few of our city’s fantastic festivals below, some beginning as soon as this month. Visit each event’s website for more information, to purchase tickets where needed (some events are completely free!) and to get up to date about Covid protocols.
Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival
The 10th annual Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival takes place at Atlantic Station on February 26th featuring bourbon tastings and a wide variety of barbecue from vendors that are local favorites in the Atlanta food scene. Offerings will include brisket, whole hogs, chicken, sausage and sides galore. While you enjoy the bourbon and barbecue, there will also be bluegrass, rock and blues playing on the main stage. Also on tap is a gaming area which will include a cornhole tournament sponsored by Atlanta Cornhole. This event usually sells out, especially the VIP experience that allows you to enter the festival two hours early, so get your tickets now!
Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival – Saturday, February 26th 2pm – 6pm Atlantic Station – 231 18th Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30363
Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade
The Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade, first held in 1858, is an annual Atlanta favorite and the city’s longest running event. It returns to the streets of Midtown for the 138th time this year on March 12th, with a focus on honoring our local first responders. The parade kicks off at noon at the intersection of Peachtree and 15th Streets, and continues down Peachtree with over 2,000 dancers, musicians, and Irish and local dignitaries. Participation in the parade is not just an “Irish thing” though, as the parade also features individuals and groups from around the southeast including clowns, floats, bands, Bagpipe & Drum Corps, children, dancers, drill teams, and more on a day when “everybody is Irish.”
Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade – Saturday, March 12th 12pm – 3pm Peachtree Street at 15th Street – 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Atlanta International Auto Show
Atlanta’s first auto show was held all the way back in 1909, the first of its kind to be held in the Southeast. At that time 67 automakers applied to showcase their vehicles in a 64,000 square foot space. Today, you’ll see cars filling 500,000 square feet at the Georgia World Congress Center – it’s the largest annual event held in the facility. If you go you will see new and preproduction vehicles, prototypes, collectibles, antiques and special releases. Compare models that you might be interested in, and get a sneak peek at the all-new Ford Bronco, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Dodge RAM 1500 TRX and Subaru BRZ. Download the official International Auto Show app to guide you around the event.
Atlanta International Auto Show – March 17th – 20th Georgia World Congress Center
Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival
One of the biggest craft beer festivals in the southeast, the Suwanee American Craft Beer Festivals features over 350 craft beers for you to sample, many of which are special and/or new releases. There will also be local food vendors, live music, lawn games, and more. For anyone interested in a VIP experience, this special ticket gets you into the festival one hour early with access to additional food and beer options. There are also designated driver tickets available for those who want to enjoy the festivities without imbibing.
Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival – March 19th 12pm – 5pm Suwanee Town Center Park – 330 Town Center Avenue, Suwanee GA 30024
Festival on Ponce
This twice annual arts festival is held at the historic Olmsted Linear Park. Visitors to the festival will enjoy the gorgeous landscape of the park, which was designed by one of America’s most celebrated landscape architects, Fredrick Olmsted Sr. The artist market includes over 125 displays of fine arts and crafts, with an emphasis on folk and “outsider art.” In addition to the fine arts, there will be a children’s area, and an area filled with local food and beverage vendors.
Festival on Ponce – April 2nd – 3rd Olmstead Linear Park – 1451 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30307
Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Now in its 86th year, the Dogwood arts festival will return in April to fill Midtown Atlanta’s Piedmont Park with live music, arts and crafts, food booths and family-friendly activities. The festival includes a juried art competition recognizing artistic achievement in such categories as sculpture, painting, jewelry and photography. Another fun festival highlight is the Kid’s Village, which features arts and crafts, face painting, rock climbing and fun inflatables. While you’re at the festival, don’t miss the U.S. Disc Dog Southern Nationals, a world-class competition starring the top Frisbee dogs in the nation. The Dogwood Festival is also beloved for its regional, national and international musical acts, with this year’s lineup set to be announced any day now.
Atlanta Dogwood Festival – April 8th – 10th Piedmont Park
Atlanta Renaissance Festival
Every spring, the Georgia Renaissance Festival brings a 16th-century European country fair to the Renaissance fairgrounds south of Atlanta in Fairburn. With nearly 1,000 characters wearing period costumes, the Renaissance Festival offers visitors a variety of activities from jousting tournaments to glass-blowing demonstrations and sword-swallowing shows. And of course, don’t forget the festival food – who doesn’t love a turkey leg?
Atlanta Renaissance Festival – April 9th – May 30th Georgia Renaissance Festival – 6905 Virlyn B. Smith Rd., Fairburn, Georgia 30213.
Sandy Springs Artsapalooza
Brought to you by the same organizers as the Festival on Ponce, the Sandy Springs Artsapalooza is also a twice yearly arts festival, this time taking place on the streets of Sandy Springs. The spring event includes a children’s play area, local musicians, interactive art stations, along with over 150 arts and crafts participants in a variety of disciplines including painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craft persons, glass blowers, jewelers and more!
Sandy Springs Artsapalooza – April 16th – 17th Sandy Springs – 6100 Lake Forrest Drive, Sandy Springs GA 30328
Atlanta Film Festival
The Atlanta Film Festival is one of the largest and longest-running film festivals in the country and each year more than 25,000 independent film enthusiasts, movie fans and filmmakers descend on Atlanta to enjoy the best in independent film. Over a seven day period, more than 150 films will be screened at locations throughout the city, featuring a variety of genres such as documentaries, narratives, foreign films, experimental film, animation and local production. This year’s screening locations include the historic Plaza Theatre located in the Poncey-Highland area, 7 Stages Theatre in Little Five Points, Goat Farm Arts Center and Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
Atlanta Film Festival – April 21st – May 1st at venues throughout Atlanta
Inman Park Festival
Held annually in one of Atlanta’s most historic and colorful neighborhoods, the Inman Park Festival includes everything from a street market featuring local art, a 5k road race, an eclectic parade, and the Inman Park Tour of Homes showcasing the stunning Victorian homes of the late 1800s. There will also be children’s activities, local musicians and food vendors. The festival was started in the 1970s by Inman Park residents as a way to highlight the neighborhood and promote restoration of it’s historic homes.
Inman Park Festival – April 22nd – 24th in Atlanta’s Inman Park Neighborhood
Taste of Marietta
Taste of Marietta is the annual food festival that takes place in the historic Marietta Square every spring, showcasing more than 70 of Cobb County’s best restaurants and caterers. It is one of the oldest and longest running food festivals in metro Atlanta, with food samples, family-friendly entertainment, live music and more. Admission to the festival itself is free, with food samples ranging from $1 to $5. The festival’s Kids Alley features moonwalks, games, sand art, face painting and plenty more activities to keep all members of your family happy.
Taste of Marietta – April 24th in the Historic Marietta Square
Sweetwater 420 Festival
Come out and celebrate Earth Day and the best craft beer in the city with this Atlanta-based brewery’s annual festival in Centennial Olympic Park. Enjoy live music from local and national recording artists, an artist market, a 5K race, and of course a wide selection of SweetWater’s beverages. There will also be presentations taking place throughout the weekend from master brewers on the topic of all things beer related. Another highlight of the event is the Planet 420 Eco-Village, which is home to the environmental miracle workers who partner with Sweetwater to raise awareness of ecological Earth Day concerns. There will be hands-on workshops and information available to engage festival goers and educate them on ways that they can be more eco-friendly in their day-to-day lives.
Sweetwater 420 Festival – April 29th – May 1st Centennial Olympic Park
Shaky Knees Music Festival
With more than 60 bands each year, the Shaky Knees Music Festival has become one of Atlanta’s favorite annual music celebrations. Since it began in 2013, Shaky Knees has featured diverse lineups ranging from world-renowned acts to up-and-coming artists, all against a gorgeous Atlanta skyline backdrop. Some of the Southeast’s favorite food trucks will also be in attendance for your pre and post show munchies. Download the official Shaky Knees app before the show to stay in the know about all of the festival information.
Shaky Knees Music Festival – April 29th – May 1st Central Park – 311 North Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30308