10 things to do in Atlanta this weekend
Access Atlanta Staff
It’s almost the weekend, Atlanta! And we have the inside scoop on events and festivals to add to your calendar.
Dive into Atlanta’s newest music festival, show love to your furry friend while supporting the Atlanta Humane Society, and immerse yourself in the diverse vibes of Atlanta’s top-notch Halloween festival in Little 5 Points. Fall has arrived, and Atlanta is the place to be for an exciting time. Here’s a rundown of this weekend’s most exciting events:
Friday Jazz
Dive into a classy Friday night experience at the High. Once every month, explore the museum after hours alongside live jazz music, light bites, and drinks. This event is perfect for date nights!
Location: Midtown at High Museum of Art - 1280 Peachtree St NE; Time: 6-10 p.m.; Date: Friday, Oct. 20; Admission: $25; Website: high.org
On Saturday, head to the ultimate fall fest in Marietta Square! HarvestFest is free and features plenty of activities for the whole family, including an artist’s market, touch a truck with firetrucks, police cars and tractors, a pie-eating contest, and much more.
Location: Cobb at Marietta Square - 50 N Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060; Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Date: Saturday, Oct. 21; Admission: Free; Website: mariettaga.gov
Atlanta Mimosa Festival
Get ready for an exciting 21-and-up party! Head to the Atlanta Mimosa Festival along the Eastside Beltline, where attendees can indulge in unlimited mimosas, catch college football games, enjoy lively entertainment, and so much more.
Location: Old Fourth Ward at Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park - 830 Willoughby Way NE; Time: Noon to 4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.; Date: Saturday, Oct. 21; Admission: $55; Website: bigtickets.com
Peters Street Pop-up
Enjoy the gorgeous fall weather while exploring the Castleberry Hill neighborhood at the Peters Street Pop-Up this Saturday. This artsy monthly event offers an elevated experience, highlighting ethics, sustainability, diversity, art, fashion, and community.
Location: Downtown at Castleberry Hill - 244 Peters St SW; Time: 1-6 p.m.; Date: Saturday, Oct. 21; Admission: Free; Website: eventbrite.com
Hapeville’s Downtown Live Chili Cook-Off
It’s chili season, y’all, and we’ve got the perfect event to warm you up. Head to Hapeville Saturday for an evening of fantastic live music, mouthwatering chili, and a lively, family-friendly atmosphere.
Location: Hapeville at Jess Lucas Park - 620 S Central, Hapeville, GA 30354; Time: 6-9 p.m.; Date: Saturday, Oct. 21; Admission: Free; Website: events.accessatlanta.com
Boo at the Zoo
Calling all Halloween enthusiasts! Get ready for a spooktacular time at Zoo Atlanta’s Boo at the Zoo, the ultimate family-friendly Halloween festival. Held during the last two weekends of October, guests can enjoy trick-or-treating, photo ops galore, themed entertainment, and a whirlwind of exciting animals like Komodo dragons and Gila monsters.
Location: Grant Park at Zoo Atlanta - 800 Cherokee Ave SE; Time: 9 a.m to 3 p.m.; Date: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22 and Oct. 28-29; Admission: Free with Zoo admission; Website: zooatlanta.org
Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade
While the iconic L5P Halloween Parade is the star of the show (mark your calendars for Sunday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m.), this festival is bursting with excitement from start to finish. Prepare to be captivated by a spellbinding artist market, live music, historical and haunted ghost tours, and a hair-raising 3D Haunted House.
Location: Little 5 Points - Moreland and Euclid Avenue; Time: 11 a.m. til dark; Date: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22; Admission: Free; Website: l5phalloween.com
Highball
This inaugural music festival features a stellar lineup, mouthwatering locally renowned food, and other entertainment, all set against the backdrop of the historic Pullman Yards. Artists include Band of Horses, Futurebirds, Wednesdsay, T. Hardy Morris and more.
Location: East Atlanta at Pullman Yards - 225 Rogers St NE; Time and Date: 3-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 and 3-10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22; Admission: $75+; Website: highball.live
Barks and Bites
Picture this: a doggie restaurant crawl along the Eastside Beltline where your precious pup can savor delectable dishes at dog-friendly restaurants while you indulge in delightful small bites and craft beer. As if that’s not exciting enough, know that you and your pup will be giving back too. The event is donating 10% of its sales from the Doggie Crawl to the Atlanta Humane Society.
Location: Old Fourth Ward at Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail - 661 Auburn Ave NE; Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Date: Sunday, Oct. 22; Admission: $69 with dog, $39 with no dog; Website: events.accessatlanta.com
Atlanta Streets Alive
Get ready for the ultimate open street block party at Atlanta Streets Alive on Sunday. Peachtree Street, from 15th Street all the way down to Downtown, will transform into an open playground for everyone. Walk, skate or even take your bike for a leisurely stroll through Midtown! Free activities and goodies will be scattered along the route, courtesy of Midtown’s fantastic local businesses.
Location: Midtown at Peachtree St - 1197 Peachtree St NE; Time: 1-5 p.m., Date: Sunday, Oct. 22; Admission: Free; Website: midtownatl.com