With the arrival of spring comes festival season. Every weekend in April has a different Atlanta festival. The Southerner has your guide to Atlanta’s spring festivals.
The Festival on Ponce kicked off the season the weekend of April 5 and 6 in the historic Olmsted Linear Park. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, the small but lively festival packed itself into the small park along Ponce de Leon Ave. The sidewalks throughout the quaint parks were crammed with nearly 150 artists. Food vendors and live music were scattered about the venue. The Festival on Ponce provided an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend the first spring weekend.
The following weekend, April 11-13, the 78th Annual Dogwood Festival came to the heart of Atlanta in Piedmont Park. The festival hosted artists, food vendors, and live music events. But, unlike other festivals, the Dogwood Festival also held the Atlanta High School Art Exhibition (AHSAE), which featured the Art Throwdown Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m. The Disc Dogs Southern National Qualifiers tournament challenged both dogs and their owners with disc competitions on Saturday and Sunday.
The SweetWater 420 Fest, which once called Candler Park home, outgrew the former venue and has moved its location to Centennial Olympic Park. From April 18-20 The SweetWater Brewing Company’s 10th anniversary event hosts an artist market, various food vendors and a Relapse 420 Comedy Tent. The live musical performances at the SweetWater Fest range from Grammy-award winning artists to up-and-coming local musicians. Saturday, April 19, The SweetWater 420 Fest will also sponsor a 5k, where participants will race through downtown Atlanta and receive a beer at the finish line. Artists, musicians, and beer-lovers alike will come together at the SweetWater festival to have a fun weekend in Atlanta’s beautiful spring weather.
The 43rd Inman Park Festival takes over beautiful Inman Park April 25-27. The festival is known for its parade, which starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26. The event is home to the largest street market in Atlanta, with over 250 booths filled with art and antiques. Live music flows through the streets while food vendors sell typical fun festival food like corn dogs and funnel cakes. The Inman Park Tour of Homes also takes place at the same time and offers participants a look into the grand Victorian homes and beautiful bungalows of historic Inman Park.
