Film festival
August 1 - 4, 2019
18.5 miles NW
Cobb International Film Festival screens dozens of films at Earl Smith Strand Theatre.
Atlanta events August 2019
Adult party at the aquarium
August 2, 2019 (7 p.m., VIP 6 p.m.)
0.5 miles NW
Adults can wander Georgia Aquarium enjoying DJ music, finger food, and cocktails from the full service bars during Sips Under the Sea for age 21+. Buy tickets online because none will be sold at the door.
Soap Box Derby race
August 3, 2019
2 miles NE
Design and build a car, and then race it downhill for prizes at Cool Dads Rock Soap Box Derby [website has sound], with music, food trucks, and activities at Historic Old Fourth Ward Park. The event begins with ceremonies, and then races usually begin at 12:30 p.m. Free to watch.
Alpharetta soldiers parade
August 3, 2019
25 miles north
Old Soldiers Day Parade includes a band at 9:15 a.m., a memorial service at 10 a.m., a parade at 10:30 a.m., and children’s activities. Free.
Family day
August 4, 2019 (12 to 4 p.m.)
22 miles north
Splash through sprinklers, play water games, make water crafts, try canoeing (ages 5+), and learn outdoor skills on Summer Adventures Day at Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell.
Science-fiction film festival
August 4, 2019 (11:30 a.m.)
30.3 miles NE
Something Wicked is a film festival that screens animation, fantasy, horror, and science-fiction at Southern Performing Arts Academy in Lawrenceville.
Yoga festival
August 9 - 11, 2019
multiple locations
Dirty South Yoga Fest promises “50 yoga classes by dozens of yoga teachers, wellness workshops, spa treatments, live music, clean eats, a local makers’ market, and photo booths” at Loudermilk Conference Center. The Friday kick-off party is at Mason Fine Art.
Free movies - parks
August 9 & Sept. 6, 2019
multiple locations
See free films outdoors at Georgia Movies in the Park in Canton, Cumming, and Dawsonville.
- August 9 - Wonder Park (Dawsonville: Park)
Wine party
August 10, 2019 (12 & 6 p.m.)
1.8 miles NE
Atlanta Summer Wine Festival offers 50 wines to taste with live music and a DJ at City Winery for age 21+. Repeats in January and April.
Pub crawl
August 10, 2019 (12 to 4 p.m.)
2 miles NE
A ticket to Pub Crawl on the BeltLine includes five complimentary beverages at multiple locations, plus special prices for food and drinks.
BBQ, blues, and bluegrass
August 10, 2019 (1 to 9 p.m.)
7.3 miles east
Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival [sound] offers blues and bluegrass music, a kids’ area, beer, and barbecue at Legacy Park, 500 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur. Children age 12 and younger are free.
Christian music festival
August 10, 2019 (12 to 11 p.m.)
36 miles NE
Ignite Atlanta features a variety of music and Christian speakers at The Bowl at Sugar Hill.
Reggae in the park
August 10 - 11, 2019
2.5 miles NE
Atlanta Reggae in the Park is a “celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture and music with live performances, artists, DJs, amazing food vendors, and a market” in Piedmont Park. Free.
Free concerts in Sandy Springs
August 11 & Sept. 8, 2019 (7 to 8:30 p.m.)
14.5 miles north
Concerts by the Springs are held on one Sunday a month at Heritage Green, 6110 Blue Stone Road. Bring food and drinks, or buy them onsite. Beach chairs and blankets are welcome. No smoking or pets. Free.
Party for a cause
August 15, 2019 (6 to 10 p.m.)
4.1 miles NW
A ticket to Eats & Beats gets you unlimited restaurant food, open bars, live entertainment, and a silent auction for charity at The Fairmont.
Monthly family festival
August 15, 2019 (5 to 9 p.m.)
22 miles north
Alive in Roswell has live bands, food trucks, craft beer, vendors, kids’ games, entertainment, and socializing in three locations connected by a free trolley (on Canton Street, in Roswell Square, and behind city hall). Free.
Underground film festival
August 15 - 17, 2019
2.6 miles north
Atlanta Underground Film Festival (AUFF) shows films and videos made by grassroots independent filmmakers who break conventional boundaries at Synchronicity Theatre.
Macon Film Festival
August 15 - 18, 2019
85 miles SE
Macon Film Festival screens independent films from around the world in historic theaters in downtown Macon, with celebrity guests and workshops.
Summer jazz
August 16, 2019 (8 to 11 p.m.)
3.9 miles SW
Hear great jazz once a month this summer during Jazz Matters at The Wren’s Nest. You are welcome to bring blankets, chairs, food, and beverages.
Pets in the park
August 17, 2019 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
0.3 miles south
Doggy Con features dog-related vendors, treats for dogs, an 11 a.m. pet parade, and a costume contest at Woodruff Park. Free.
Dinosaur day
August 17, 2019 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
4 miles NE
Enjoy games, crafts, and activities with dinosaur and birthday themes at Dinosaur Birthday Bash at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
Alien half marathon
August 17, 2019 (7 p.m.)
19 miles north
The popular Area 13.1 Half Marathon & 5K has an out-of-this-world theme at Riverside Park in Roswell.
Taste of Johns Creek
August 17, 2019 (4 to 9 p.m.)
21.9 miles NE
Buy $1 to $4 food samples from 20 restaurants, shop for art, hear live music, and visit the kids’ zone during Taste of Johns Creek at Chattahoochee High School. Free.
Pakistan festival
August 17, 2019 (3 to 10 p.m.)
27 miles NE
Celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day at Azaadi Mela, “with performances by top Pakistani artists, cultural dances, food, shopping, and much more” at the Infinite Energy Forum in Duluth.
Obstacle race
August 17, 2019
31 miles east
Rugged Maniac 5K Obstacle Race is a 3-mile race with 20 obstacles of walls, slides, fire, and mud, plus bands and beer at Georgia International Horse Park.
Piedmont Park Arts Festival
August 17 - 18, 2019
2 miles NE
Piedmont Park Arts Festival features 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalworkers, glass blowers, and jewelers. It has artist demonstrations, live acoustic music, a children’s play area, and food vendors at Piedmont Park. Free.
Gourmet dinner
August 18, 2019 (5 to 9 p.m.)
9 miles north
The $275 Give Me Five charity event includes a cocktail reception, “an exclusive and tantalizing five-course dinner with wine perfectly paired by five sommeliers,” and a live auction at 103 W. Paces Ferry Road NW for age 21+.
Fake wedding
August 20, 2019 (7 p.m.)
18.2 miles north
Attend an emotional wedding ceremony, have a drink and appetizers (included), and dance at a reception while you check out wedding vendors in action at The Big Fake Wedding Atlanta at Pontoon Brewing.
Coming-of-age rock musical
August 22, 2019 (8 p.m.)
8.9 miles NE
Teens navigate the confusing and troubled waters of adolescence in Spring Awakening, with an electrifying and hauntingly beautiful rock score and adult subject matter at OnStage Atlanta in Scottdale.
BronzeLens Film Festival
August 22 - 25, 2019
0.2 miles north
BronzeLens Film Festival screens films by or about people of color and holds workshops and panel discussions at Hyatt Regency Atlanta.
Go-Go’s musical
August 22 - 25, 2019
2.4 miles NW
Featuring 18 Go-Go’s songs (We Got the Beat, Heaven Is a Place on Earth, Vacation, etc.), musical comedy Head Over Heels is a giddy “marriage of power pop and pure farce” [Variety] at Actor's Express.
Funny, fast Shakespeare
August 22 - Sept. 1, 2019
0.6 miles north
Enjoy “an irreverent, hilarious, high-speed romp through all 37 of the Bard’s plays (and 154 sonnets) in two hours” during The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse.
Shakespeare tragedy
August 22 - Sept. 1, 2019
18.6 miles NW
Othello is the story of a general in the Venetian army, his new wife, and a manipulative man trying to drive them apart, at Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square.
Garden party for adults
August 22 - Sept. 26, 2019 (Thurs. 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.)
2.5 miles NE
Cocktails in the Garden invites you to explore the garden each week as you stroll with a cocktail, hear live music, and play games at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Admission fee, cash bar.
Atlanta attractions
August 22 - Nov. 30, 2019
multiple locations
These discount prices include all taxes and fees.
- Aquarium + CNN + Coca-Cola + 2 more
- College Football Hall of Fame
Free admission offer closed Aug. 15 & 19
- The King Center
- Legoland Discovery Center in Buckhead
- Planetarium show at Fernbank Science Center
Dionne Warwick
August 23, 2019 (8 p.m.)
1 mile north
Hear Dionne Warwick perform with a live orchestra, Peabo Bryson, and Deniece Williams at Fox Theatre.
MLK walking tour
August 23 - 31, 2019 (10 a.m.)
1.1 miles east
See where the great Civil Rights leader lived and worked on the 2.5 hour Martin Luther King Jr. History Walking Tour as you visit Ebenezer Baptist Church, the King Center, and the National Historical Park with an experienced guide. Highly rated on TripAdvisor.
Family puppet show
August 23 - Sept. 1, 2019
2.5 miles north
Meet the critters and creatures of Old MacDonald’s Farm, an interactive puppet show with songs at the Center for Puppetry Arts for age 2+.
Drama about cosmetics industry
August 23 - Sept. 1, 2019
17.3 miles NW
Sacrificing everything to become female entrepreneurs, Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden become fierce competitors in the real-life drama War Paint at Cobb Civic Center in Marietta.
Biblical musical
August 23 - Sept. 1, 2019
32 miles NE
Watch the Book of Genesis come to life with soaring music in Children of Eden, which focuses on the age-old conflict of parents and children through the generations, at Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville.
Ghost Tours
August 23 - Sept. 28, 2019
32 miles NE
Ghost Tours feature “Lawrenceville’s most interesting places and the stories behind its most bizarre events, hauntingly told with the charm and personality of a real Southern storyteller.” This 90-minute walking tour goes one mile and departs from Aurora Theatre.
Jazz on the Lawn
August 23 - Oct. 11, 2019 (Fridays 7:30 p.m.)
4 miles NE
Hear classic and contemporary jazz, swing, fusion, smooth, and blues with a ticket to Jazz on the Lawn at Callanwolde. Cash bar and BBQ food for sale.
German beer festival
August 24, 2019 (2 to 7 p.m.)
0.3 miles south
Celebrate German music, beer, and food (bratwurst, käsepätzle, pretzels, sauerkraut, schnitzel) at the family-friendly German Bierfest at Woodruff Park.
Family football festival
August 24, 2019
0.5 miles west
Peach Bowl Football Fest has games, face painting, cheerleaders, DJs, mascots, inflatables, and a skills challenge on the street in front of College Football Hall of Fame. Free.
Beverage tasting
August 24, 2019 (6 to 10 p.m.)
2.5 miles NE
Drink wine, beer, and spirits grouped by regions of the world at ATL Wine + Spirits Fest, with food for sale and live music on the promenade at Piedmont Park.
Dog walk
August 24, 2019
7 miles NE
Walk, Wag, N’ Run is a morning walk or run (1K or 5K) for people and their dogs at Lenox Park in Brookhaven.
Harley party
August 24, 2019
7.1 miles west
Harley-Davidson of Atlanta promises a free concert, food trucks, $3 beer, vendors, and family fun at the Anniversary Party. Free.
Indonesian dinner & cooking class
August 24, 2019 (5:30 to 8 p.m.)
14.6 miles north
Begin with wine and appetizers, help the chef prepare chicken & shrimp skewers with rice, and then dine with wine, salad, and dessert during the $80 Fusion Flavors Series: Best of Balil at Vino Venue in Dunwoody.
Train show
August 24, 2019
26.7 miles NE
Shop from 350 model-train vendors and see a few large working layouts at the Atlanta Model Train & Railroadiana Show at Infinite Energy Forum in Duluth. Held in January and August.
Dinosaur day
August 24, 2019 (5 to 9 p.m.)
33.9 miles NE
All-ages Prehistoric Pandemonium Extinction Party has real dinosaur fossils you can touch, reconstructed nests, activity stations, a tram ride to see dinosaurs up close, kids’ games, and food trucks at Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center in Buford. Free registration.
Grant Park festival
August 24 - 25, 2019
2 miles SE
Grant Park Summer Shade Festival features two music stages, food vendors, an artist market, a Saturday 5K run, and a kids’ zone at Grant Park. No dogs. Free.
Concerts in Alpharetta parks
August 24 - Sept. 14, 2019 (Saturdays 7:30 p.m.)
24.9 miles north
Bring a blanket and a picnic to hear “family-friendly performances by different Alpharetta based entertainment groups” at Brooke Street Park Summer Concert Series. Free.
Latino festival
August 25, 2019
2 miles NE
Peachtree Latino Atlanta [formerly Festival Peachtree Latino] offers music, dancing, arts & crafts, vendors, ethnic foods, and a kids’ zone in the meadows at Piedmont Park. Free.
Concerts in the Garden
August 25, 2019 (in Gainesville)
2.5 miles NE
See national acts at Concerts in the Garden at Atlanta Botanical Garden. You can’t bring food or drinks, but you can pre-order food on the website. The last concert on Aug. 25 is in Gainesville.
Chicken wings festival
August 25, 2019 (2 p.m., VIP 1 p.m.)
4.1 miles NW
Taste wings from 25 restaurants, hear local music, and enjoy a cash bar at Southern Wing Showdown at The Fairmont. Children age 10 and younger are free.
Taste of France
August 25, 2019 (3 to 5 p.m.)
14.6 miles north
A ticket to Discover France Wine & Food Festival includes unlimited tastings of French wine and food during a walk-around style event at Vino Venue in Dunwoody.
Free national park day
August 25, 2019
19 miles north
Entry is free at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area during Free Entrance Days in the National Parks.
Ice cream festival
August 25, 2019 (2 to 4 p.m.)
20 miles north
Taste 100 flavors of homemade ice cream, join an ice-cream eating contest, and visit the kids’ corner at Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ in Roswell Town Square. Buy tickets online.
Musical comedy
August 25 - 31, 2019
18.6 miles NW
The Disenchanted Disney princesses sing, dance, and poke fun at pop culture in their hilariously subversive renegade show for grown-ups at Lyric Studio on the Square in Marietta.
Dragon Con
August 29 - Sept. 2, 2019
Downtown Atlanta
Dragon Con is a giant popular-culture convention for science fiction, fantasy, gaming, art, comics, music, and film, with panels, contests, vendors, and a banquet in downtown hotels. A free Dragon Con Party in Woodruff Park is Friday (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Dragon Con Parade on Peachtree Street is Saturday (10 a.m.).
Black wine
August 30, 2019 (6:30 to 11 p.m.)
0.6 miles south
The wine at vinoTOSA is actually red and white, but it’s created at “the most prestigious Black-owned vineyards” and served amid artwork and music at 86 Pryor Street.
Art party
August 30, 2019 (6:30 to 11 p.m.)
1.4 miles west
See contemporary art, meet artists, drink cocktails, and hear DJ performances during Artosa Beyond as part of Taste of Soul Atlanta at 86 Pryor Street.
Decatur Book Festival
August 30 - Sept. 1, 2019
6 miles east
Decatur Book Festival has a book fair, author readings, signings, panel discussions, children’s parades & activities, live music, cooking demonstrations, poetry slams, writing workshops, and food trucks in Decatur.
Balloon festival
August 30 - Sept. 1, 2019
82 miles SE
The Hot Air Balloon Festival offers live music at 7 p.m., a balloon glow at dusk Fri. & Sun., fireworks Saturday, tethered rides weekend mornings & evenings, and a classic car show Saturday at Callaway Gardens.
Baseball
August 30 - Sept. 17, 2019
1.7 miles south
Watch the Atlanta Braves play an exciting home game at SunTrust Park.
Free concerts in Sandy Springs
August 30 - Sept. 27, 2019 (Fridays)
14.6 miles north
Bring a blanket or lawn chair, food and drinks (except alcohol, which is sold onsite), and money for food trucks to City Green Live for free concerts on select Fridays. Food trucks arrive at 6:30, and the band plays at 7:30 p.m.
Vegetarian festival
August 31, 2019
15.6 miles NW
Veggie Connection Event features vendors, speakers, cooking demos, and food samples at Smyrna Community Center.
Soul food & music festival
August 31 - Sept. 1, 2019 (noon to 9 p.m.)
1.2 mile SW
Taste of Soul Festival has southern food for sale and a kids’ zone at 10 Northside Drive. Optional brunch (Sunday 12 to 3 p.m.). Bring folding chairs for the free R&B and soul concert (4 to 9 p.m.).
Flashback music festival
August 31 - Sept. 1, 2019
16 miles NW
Flashback Festival is billed as Atlanta’s biggest R&B concert and features legendary artists at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre.
Art in the Park
August 31 - Sept. 2, 2019
18.6 miles NW
Marietta Art in the Park features fine art, chalk art, jazz, food trucks, and a children’s “interactive art area” in Marietta Square. Free admission.
Fireworks at the mountain
August 31 - Sept. 2, 2019
19 miles east
Labor Day Weekend celebrates everyday working heroes. It includes a daytime stunt-dogs show plus a 9:30 p.m laser show with fireworks at Stone Mountain Park.