Although we do love beer (and bourbon) festivals, there are plenty of other festivals to enjoy around Atlanta that don’t revolve around delicious hops. That said, the majority of them do have local brews involved among many other things. Local festivals offer a tasting of the vast culture in Atlanta, which is something you won’t want to skip out on, especially when considering this beautiful weather that we have been enjoying. With a city as culturally diverse as Atlanta, there are literally hundreds of festivals going on, and we couldn’t possibly list them all (if you know of one that we skipped, drop a line in the comments for others.) Here are a few that we have enjoyed, and are looking forward to this spring 2012.
Atlanta Spring Festivals 2012
- Festival on Ponce – Olmsted Linear Park Atlanta – April 14-15, 2012: This park is located between Atlanta and Decatur, and the festival offers up a lot of local fun. The Olmsted Linear Park Alliance has brought together local art, crafts, local food and beverages too. Entertainment will be all acoustic, to match the serene environment. Attendance to this event is FREE, and it’s a great opportunity to get out of the house and check out the local scene and beautiful park.
- Atlanta Dogwood Festival – Piedmont Park – April 20-22, 2012: The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a classic local attraction that brings tourists in from neighboring states as well. They are celebrating their 76th anniversary, and there’s no mistake for it lasting this long. This historic festival is full of things to do for the entire family. Live music, fresh brews, and a nationally renowned fine arts market. The list of events within this event are far too long to list. The last thing that you want to do this spring is miss this festival.
- SweetWater 420 Fest – Candler Park – April 20-22, 2012: The 420 Fest is quickly becoming a classic in Atlanta. Yes, it is happening during the Dogwood Festival, but the combination of a great musical lineup, craft beer, and cask ales might pull you away. At the very least, you might want to attend both festivals. As mentioned, the festival does include some might fine beer and music, but it also involves a 5k race. The racing package hooks you up with a healthy way to kick off the weekend, some great merchandise, and a wrist band that allows entrance to the festival.
- Atlanta Food & Wine Festival – Midtown Atlanta – May 10-13, 2012: This festival, at $150 a ticket, is probably the #1 festival in the Southeast for lovers of food and drink. Seriously, it is well worth the price. You will taste cuisine from some of the most talented chefs in the South. If you are strapped for cash, start saving now. Locals talk about this festival for 12 months out of the year.
Of course, there are plenty of other festivals. Many of the festivals that we left out (on purpose) tread on the tail of spring, and we consider to be summer festivals. That list will come in the future, but until then, go out and enjoy springtime in Atlanta. If you plan on attending other festivals this spring, drop a line and leave a comment for others.
Related articles
- Atlanta Beer Festivals Spring 2012 (setthetrotline.com)
- Spring Time Is Perfect for a SweetWater Brewery Visit (setthetrotline.com)
- Knoxville Celebrates 52nd Annual Dogwood Arts Festival (setthetrotline.com)
- What to Wear To… Atlanta Steeplechase (setthetrotline.com)
