ATLANTA’S FALL FESTIVAL SCENE

The fall season is here, welcoming a bounty of festivals and annual events. Join the locals each weekend and see what makes Atlanta unique, whether you’re looking to experience live music from all genres, search for handcrafted local treasures or taste a fresh harvest of cuisine.

BY LIESL MERKEL

Yellow Daisy Festival

If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind shopping, unique holiday gifts and maker demonstrations, this festival is for you. The four-day event takes place at Stone Mountain Park Sept. 7-10 and features more than 300 juried artists and artisans, including 100 artists brand new to the festival. www.stonemountainpark.com

Music Midtown

An edgy lineup of more than 30 artists takes over Piedmont Park on four stages Sept. 15-17. Expect genres of rock, hiphop, pop, electronic and much more, creating sounds to permeate Atlanta’s popular green space. Headliners P!nk, Billie Eilish and Guns N’ Roses will take the stage along with Flume, Lil Baby, The 1975, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Pitbull, Incubus and many more. Grab a bite at one of the food vendors where all tastes are accommodated, from vegan to gluten free – and even the corn dog crowd. www.musicmidtown.com

Grand Tasting Midtown

Atlanta’s signature tasting event –Taste of Atlanta – celebrates 21 years with several Grand Tasting events throughout the city this year, including Grand Tasting Midtown on Oct. 19. Grand Tasting Midtown will commence at the aptly named Epicurean Atlanta Hotel’s rooftop terrace with a backdrop of the city. Sample incredible food from Atlanta’s top chefs and restaurants and sip uniquely crafted beverages. Check out Grand Tasting Alpharetta, too, happening Sept. 7. www.tasteofatlanta.com

ELEVATE Atlanta: Roots, Renaissance & Renegades

Atlanta’s annual citywide arts event celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip-hop this year with ELEVATE: Roots, Renaissance & Renegades. Held Sept. 22-Oct. 15 every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, ELEVATE explores Atlanta’s hip-hop legacy and the future of the art form with free arts programming across the city. Expect gallery openings, outdoor photography exhibitions, panels, hands-on experiences, dance parties, games and much more, all curated by local artist Melissa Alexander. www.elevateatlart.com

Sunday in the Park

A cemetery might sound odd for a nice afternoon outing but the final resting place for many of Atlanta’s most famous residents has hosted gatherings since the Victorian era. On Sept. 24, Sunday in the Park will feature the music festival Tunes from the Tombs with headliners Fireside Collective and Jon Stickley Trio and local favorites Black Lion Reggae and The Aint Sisters. Explore Oakland with tours of the cemetery, plus food trucks, a craft area, costume contest and much more. www.oaklandcemetery.com

Atlanta Streets Alive

After a four-year hiatus, Atlanta Streets Alive is back, showcasing the power of open streets by temporarily closing them to vehicular traffic. On Sunday, Sept. 24 from 2-6 p.m., a three-mile stretch of Peachtree Street in Downtown and Midtown will be open to pedestrians, bikes, scooters, skateboards, strollers and more. Events along the route will include a special Green Market at The Hub at Peachtree Center with DJs from Scratch Out Loud, a performance from Poetry vs. Hip-Hop and live R&B music. The free Atlanta Streets Alive will also happen on that same route on Oct. 24 and Nov. 19. www.letspropelatl.org

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Atlanta Food & Wine Festival

Indulge in the best cuisine the South has to offer with a can’t-miss weekend, Sept. 20-24. Curated dining experiences, demonstrations, in-restaurant dinners, spirited tasting tents and unique seminars are all part of the weekend plans. Historic Fourth Ward Park will host chefs, mixologists and farmers offering food and beverage tastings, themed competitions and even an additional tasting day on Friday, all centering around the theme of All Roads Lead to Atlanta.

www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com

Día de Muertos

Delve into one of the many celebrations around the city to commemorate Day of the Dead, the holiday of remembrance of friends and family members who have passed away. Oakland Cemetery, in partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico and the Institute of Mexican Culture, hosts Día de Muertos on Nov. 5. All ages will enjoy traditional dancing, authentic Mexican food, entertainment and altars decorated to honor the dead. Atlanta Symphony Hall hosts a vibrant Día de Muertos program on Oct. 29 that will celebrate Mexican heritage and Latino cultures with a memorable celebration through music. www.oaklandcemetery.com / www.atlantasymphony.org

ONE MusicFest

The Southeast’s largest two-day urban progressive music festival offers a true Atlanta experience, celebrating 50 years of hip-hop this year. Held at Piedmont Park in Midtown, this year’s two-day outdoor festival happens Oct. 28-29. The eclectic mash up of urban artists includes top names and local talent such as Janet Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, Brent Faiyaz, Megan Thee Stallion, Nelly, Killer Mike, Goodie Mob, Waka Flocka and many more.

www.onemusicfest.com

Atlanta Pride Festival

The largest gathering of LGBTQ+ people and allies in the Southeast, Atlanta Pride Festival features music, marches, educational and social events, and a signature parade. More than 250 booths will be available at the festival in Piedmont Park Oct. 14-15. The official kickoff party at Georgia Aquarium starts the weekend off on Friday, Oct. 13, while events including the Dyke March, Trans March and Bi & Pan March will be held on Oct. 14. The annual Pride Parade starts Oct. 15 at noon and draws more than 100,000 people to cheer and show support along the route through Midtown. www.atlantapride.org

Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO

Atlantic Station has hosted many dazzling Cirque du Soleil performances under the Big Top, and the new show ECHO will enchant audiences Nov. 5-Jan. 21, 2024. Expect the magic of a captivating Cirque du Soleil performance with extraordinary elements involving acrobatics, live music and stagecraft. www.cirquedusoleil.com

InnovATL

The world’s creators will meet in Atlanta Sept. 26-Oct. 20 for InnovATL, a citywide gathering spotlighting the rising stars in Atlanta’s innovative ecosystem of entrepreneurs and creators. Included in the events lineup is the popular A3C Festival and Conference, Sept. 28-Oct. 1. Atlanta’s music, tech and culture festival showcases artists, producers and DJs from around the world and connects up-and-coming artists with influential hip-hop artists and innovators.

www.innovatl2023.com

THIS FALL! SAILING INTO FERNBANK

Sponsored in part by

Frances Wood Wilson Foundation.

Select Evenings Nov. 10, 2023 - Feb. 25, 2024

A WORLD OF WOW