Soak Up Summer at These ATL Festivals

Soak Up Summer at These ATL Festivals

Summer is here, so it is time to celebrate! School is out and the weekends are full of exciting activities under the sun. Looking for inspiration? Here is a roundup of the hottest summer festivals to check out in the Atlanta area.

Flying Colors Butterfly Festival

This year is the  25th anniversary of this festival, held annually at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell. Bring the kids for a full day of animal encounters, education, food and fun in celebration of Georgia’s pollinators. Visitors can get up close and personal during the Butterfly Encounter and meet with pollinator experts to learn how to protect these hardworking insects.

Admission is $25 for the whole day and each ticket includes a specific time to enter the Butterfly Encounter. Plan your visit for Saturday, June 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or Sunday, June 2 from noon to 5 p.m. Learn more about the Flying Colors Butterfly Festival here.

Virginia-Highland Summerfest

Virginia-Highland Summerfest booths
Photo Courtesy of CultureOwl

Join the Virginia-Highland neighborhood for a weekend of family-friendly fun, fine art, live entertainment and more! Beginning Friday, June 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. through Sunday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Summerfest invites you to come celebrate summer with a variety of activities. Take part in the 5K Fun Run, try new flavors from local food trucks at Friday night Kickoff Party and stay for live music by Atlanta talent. An artisan market will also be open during the festival, featuring over 200 fine art booths.

Admission is free to everything except the Kickoff Party, which costs $10 for residents of Virginia-Highland and $15 for non-residents. The party benefits the renovations to John Howell Memorial Park. More information is available here.

Atlanta Ice Cream Festival

close up of ice cream at Atlanta Ice Cream Festival summer festivals

I scream, you scream, we all scream for 85+ ice cream options! Returning to Piedmont Park on July 27, the 15th annual Atlanta Ice Cream Festival is excited to offer dozens of food and non-food vendors, fitness demonstrations, wellness engagement activities and live music.

The best part: It is FREE to enter! Just bring some cash for your ice cream and shopping. Stop by between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. for a refreshing treat (or a few) and family fun.

Atlanta Underground Film Festival

close up of camera filming at the underground Atlanta film festival summer festivals

Known as the “Home of the Future Cult Classic,” the Atlanta Underground Film Festival plays films by local, independent filmmakers. Inside of Limelight Theater in Atlanta, the highly-anticipated event promotes and celebrates grass-roots movies that shine outside the boundaries of mainstream cinema. The festival also presents awards during the event, including Best Director, Best Documentary Feature, Best Student Film and more!

Interested in exploring new films? Join the Atlanta Underground Film Festival from August 16 to 18 for non-stop screenings and celebrations.

Piedmont Park Arts Festival

Atlanta's Piedmont Park

Browse over 250 artisan booths during this can’t-miss festival! The Piedmont Park Arts Festival is a two-day outdoor festival in the heart of Atlanta. Stop by for shopping, live entertainment and food from Saturday, August 17 to Sunday, August 18.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and admission is FREE. For more information, click here.

Fill your calendar up with Atlanta’s favorite events! Stay in the know with KNOWAtlanta by requesting your free copy of our relocation guide HERE. Visit the Atlanta News page to learn more about happenings, city features, builders and more.