CATCHING FIRE

Fire in the Fourth Festival returns to O4W

The Old Fourth Ward Business Association will host the Fire in the Fourth Festival on May 21 from 3 to 11 p.m. The event will be held on Edgewood and Auburn avenues, between Boulevard and Jackson. The festival is free and open to all ages.

Paying homage to the historic Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, which devastated the Old Fourth Ward, the festival features live music, dancers and artists as well as bike tours, games, art displays, history presentations, and food and drink.

All proceeds from Fire in the Fourth will benefit the Old Fourth Ward Business Association.

Raising $10,000 in its inaugural year, Fire in the Fourth funded four new City of Atlanta trashcans and an O4W mural at Glen Iris and North Avenue. Proceeds also funded public safety initiatives that included a graffiti task force and a collaboration with City of Atlanta District 2 Councilmember Kwanza Hall’s ‘Year of Boulevard’ initiative for a community-wide clean car campaign to engage visitors, customers and residents to keep valuables out of sight.

“Fire in the Fourth strives to be a shining example for what a neighborhood festival can and should be,” says O4WBA Event Chairman and Noni’s restaurant owner Matt Ruppert. “Instead of wondering how money is going to be put back into the community, you can walk around and experience it on the street.”

Those looking for an upgraded experience can purchase tickets for the first time to the Tito’s VIP Fire Dome, featuring curated food and entertainment by Bone Lick BBQ, Venkman’s and Bantam Pub, each with their own menus and custom cocktails. Also returning this year are also a number of fan favorites like the Imperial OPA Circus; Hot Spot curated mini-performance stages; the Great Atlanta Fire-o-Rama; Soul Food Cypher; Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective; an antique fire engine show; Great Atlanta Fire of 1917 history presentations; a dedicated Kid Zone; and more.

A full list and details about Fire in the Fourth attractions can be found online at fireinthe4th.com.

By Isadora Pennington

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