Atlanta Outdoor Festivals

2008 Festival Update: Please note that due to the drought, the City of Atlanta has banned all major festivals from Atlanta parks, including Piedmont Park, where most of the major festivals normally take place. Refer to the websites for the specific festivals in order to learn about new locations and possible date changes.

The beginning of springtime means the beginning of Atlanta's outdoor festivals. Atlanta's annual outdoor festivals bring hundreds of thousands of people to the city, and a good deal of revenue. Most of the festivals have free admission, while there is a nominal fee for tours of homes and gardens. Here is a list of some of Atlanta's largest and most popular festivals:

Atlanta Dogwood Festival: The granddaddy of them all, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a longtime Atlanta tradition. An impressive artists market, numerous stages of local and regional music talent, the dog-disc competition, and a whole lot more make it one of Atlanta's most popular festivals. In 2008, the festival will be held at Lenox Square Mall due to the drought.

Inman Park Festival: Inman Park is a historic neighborhood filled with beautifully restored Victorian era homes. The annual neighborhood festival features a colorful parade, a tour of neighborhood homes, an eclectic artists market, and kids activities.

Fiesta Atlanta: Atlanta’s largest Hispanic outdoor family festival. Free Admission. Takes place at Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown Atlanta on Cinco de Mayo weekend. The date for 2008 is May 4th, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event features continuous live performances by national and local artists, vendor booths offering free product samples, arts and crafts, and authentic Latino foods.

SoCo Music Experience: Mid-May at Centennial Park. You must be at least 21 years old to enter. Wolf Mother and Cypress Hill will perform. The music festival also will include food vendors, SoCo & Lime Hurricanes, and a unique SoCo Lime Lounge experience.

Georgia Renaissance Festival: The largest themed festival in the Southeast, with plenty of colorful costumes, great food, and fun for the whole family. The festival is conveniently located just 8 miles south of Hartsfield International Airport.

Shake at the Lake: This fun and exciting theatre event takes place on the pier at Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park. The free event still requires a ticket that can be picked up at locations around Atlanta.

Sweet Auburn Spring Fest: This annual celebration in Atlanta's historic African American neighborhood honors the accomplishments of those who in the past who founded the thriving business community of Auburn Street, while encouraging the preservation and revitalization of the area. 10 stages of entertainment, an artists market, urban film screenings, a bridal expo, a business/technology expo, carnival and literary festival provide fun and education.

Atlanta Downtown Festival and Tour: This annual festival celebrates all that Downtown Atlanta has to offer. The 2008 date is May 17-18 and the festival takes place in the historic Fairlie-Poplar district. The festival is free and open to the public and will operate simultaneously with the Downtown Tour of Homes. The Festival includes live entertainment and an artist market. Festival hours are 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Sunday.