MAY FESTIVALS

Art, food and music all month long around Intown

Festival season is in full swing and that means weekends of arts, crafts, music, food and more. Check out our guide.

Fiesta Atlanta

The 8th annual Fiesta Atlanta will take place May 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown. Billed as the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the southeast, Fiesta Atlanta features a daylong celebration of Latino culture and heritage with continuous live musical performances on two stages by international and national recording artists. Mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing, a 5K race, arts and crafts and authentic foods are also part of the event. For more, visit FiestaAtlanta.com.

Sweet Auburn Springfest

The 30th anniversary festival will be held May 9-11 along Downtown’s historic Auburn Avenue, featuring three days of food, entertainment and information. Details were still be worked out at press time, but expect kids’ fun zone, senior citizens pavilion, a “Just for Women” area featuring resources and information, food and more. There will be live music from Gabe, Philip Michael Thomas, Jr., Venom, Melissa Cross, Big Greg, Free Byrd, Shae Mara from America’s Got Talent and any more. Visit sweetauburn.com for more information.

Buckhead

Spring Arts & Cra s Festival

The festival returns to the paths of Chastain Park on May 10-11 feature more than 175 artists representing all disciplines. Live acoustic music, a children’s play area make for a fun weekend for the entire family. There will also be food from local food trucks including Yumbii, Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q, Tastee Truck, King of Pops and more. Parking will be available in the marked amphitheater lots, but no festival parking will be allowed in the residential neighborhoods around Chastain. For more, visit buckheadartsfestival.com.

Kirkwood Spring Fling & Tour of Homes

The 12th annual Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes is set for May 17 at Bessie Branham Park. The day begins at 8 a.m. with a 5K road race, while the artist market will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be live music on two stages – one in the park and another in downtown – throughout the day and evening from The Hangarmen, Gareth Asher & The Earthlings, The Deadfields, Part-Time Weekends, The Well Reds, Sandzorn and Grinder Nova. A kids’ area, food from local vendors and a Barbecue Cookoff are also on tap. On May 17-18 is the Kirkwood Tour of Homes, featuring classic Victorian cottages to modern lofts and everything in between. Tickets for the home tour are $20. Admission to the festival is free, while proceeds from the home tour benefit the Kirkwood Neighbors Organization. For more, visit kirkwoodfling.com.

Atlanta Jazz Festival

The 37th annual music extravaganza returns Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25, to Piedmont Park. The line-up this year includes Ahmad Jamal, Airmen of Note, Bill Frisell, Ali Amir, Brian Hogan, Christian Scott, Cyrille Aimee, Darren English, Diego Figueiredo, Freddy Cole, Kemba Colfield, Roy Hargrove and many, many more. To see the full line-up and schedule, visit atlantafestivals.com.

Decatur Arts Festival

The 26th annual festival will be held Memorial Day weekend in and around downtown Decatur. The event kicks off May 23 with an ArtWalk around Decatur and the Oakhurst neighborhood to participating galleries and businesses. The giant artist market downtown will be open May 24-25 featuring vendors from all over the region. This year’s music line up is headed up by Kristian Bush from Grammy Award-winning Sugarland, as well as Larkin Poe, Bonaventure Quartet and many more. See the full schedule at decaturartsfestival.com.

Virginia-Highland Summerfest

Looking ahead, the 31st annual Summerfest will be held June 7-8 on Virginia Avenue between North Highland and Park Drive. There will be arts, crafts, a 5K road race, children’s area and live music. The music line-up was not available at press time. For more, visit vahi.org/summerfest.