The festivals don’t stop just because the summer is over. From EDM to Greek culture to manga, you’ll be too busy to notice the falling temperatures.
Geek friendly
AJC Decatur Book Festival
9/4–6
Meet more than 600 authors—from YA favorite Sarah Dessen to local Pat Conroy—on the Square at the largest independent book fest in the country. Roxane Gay and Erica Jong kick off the weekend with a keynote.
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Dragon Con
9/4–7
Don your best super hero costume and head to the hundreds of panels, signings, and parties during downtown’s nerdiest weekend. Expect everyone from Congressman John Lewis to True Blood‘s Kristin Bauer van Straten.
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Anime Weekend Atlanta
9/24–27
Autumn’s answer to MomoCon, attend anime and manga panels, concerts, screenings, and more in Cobb County. Don’t forget to cosplay!
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Neighborhood Get-togethers
EAV Strut
9/26
Classic cars, local bands, and a parade take over East Atlanta Village for this free fest. And because this is EAV, there’s a beard-growing competition.
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Duluth Fall Festival
9/26–27
20 live entertainment groups, a parade, and a doughnut 5K—this neighborhood shindig has it all.
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Atlanta Streets Alive
9/27
The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition shuts down Highland Avenue this time. Ride your bike/skateboard/rollerblades (anything but your car) through the closed off streets, also including parts of Boulevard and North Avenue.
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Art Happenings
Art in the Park
9/5–7
For almost 20 years, this Marietta staple has spotlighted more than 175 jewelers, painters, sculptors, mixed-media artists, and more in the Square and Glover Park.
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Yellow Daisy Festival
9/10–13
Buy crafts from more than 400 national artists at the 47th year of this Stone Mountain Park fair.
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5 Arts Festival
9/12
Don’t just see and buy the art, make it yourself. From a creative write-a-thon to paint by the numbers to dance workshops, get inspired at this Little Five Points happening.
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Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade
9/12
Join the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons to march down the Eastside Trail, lantern in hand, for the event that officially kicks off Art on the Atlanta BeltLine.
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Aerial Events
Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival
9/4–6
Ride—or just watch—hot air balloons at the 17th year of this Callaway Gardens event. If you prefer to stay more grounded, run a 5K, dance to live music, or check out the classic car show.
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Atlanta Warbird Weekend
9/12–13
Take a flight or at least a cockpit tour of a British Spitfire, a German FW 190, a SBD-4 Dauntless dive bomber, and more war planes at DeKalb Peachtree Airport. Nostalgia flies high with WWII reenactors, pin-up girls, and 1940s music.
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Music Festivals
House in the Park
9/6
Get down to local and international house music DJs at this free dance party in Grant Park.
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Atlanta Smooth Music Festival
9/12
Guitarist Tim Bowman, saxophonist Paula Atherton, and more play smooth jazz at this concert at the Atlanta Waverly Hotel.
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Trumpet Festival
9/12–13
BYOT (bring your own trumpet) to this Emory get-together. Practice in ensembles Saturday, then perform in a concert on Sunday. No auditions required for the all-ages event, but professionals are present to get you in tune.
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Music Midtown
9/18–19
Elton John returns to Atlanta for the Piedmont Park concert. Oh, and Sam Smith, Hozier, Van Halen, Drake, and Lenny Kravitz play, too.
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Campfest
9/18–20
This Clayton music fest recreates the summer sleep-away experience down to the cabins, crafting, dodgeball, and lip sync contests. Plus hear 15 bands, including Cold War Kids, play beach parties and acoustic campfire sets.
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TomorrowWorld
9/25–27
Grab a glow stick for the third year of the EDM festival in Chattahoochee Hills. Adam Beyer, Afrojack, and more spin sets.
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Cultural Celebrations
Atlanta Jerk Fest
9/6
We’re talking about jerk chicken here. This is the 10th year of the Caribbean culinary celebration at Panthersville Stadium, where one cook will take home the Atlanta’s Top Jerk Chef award.
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Bulgaria Festival
9/6
From folk dancing to a banitsa bake-off, the inaugural Pickneyville Park gathering honors Balkan culture.
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JapanFest
9/19–20
This Gwinnett Center event showcases Japan’s oldest and newest culture, from top spinning performers to a bike-riding robot.
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Ocmulgee Indian Celebration
9/19–20
Worth the drive: At the largest Native American gathering in the Southeast, 200-plus dancers, storytellers, and craftspeople come to Macon.
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Fiesta Georgia
9/20
Celebrate Latino culture, from more than 30 bands to food, at this Georgia International Horsepark party.
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Atlanta Greek Festival
9/24–27
For more than 40 years, this event has celebrated all things Greek, from gyros to dancing, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Opa!
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