INSIDER GUIDE: Festivals

By Brian O'Shea

Atlanta has so many great events during the year that it's impossible to narrow the list to a top 10, but these events are some of the best and are sure to please.

April: Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Piedmont Park, Piedmont Avenue at 12th Street., Atlanta. 404-329-0501, www.dogwood.org
Midtown officially welcomes the outdoor festival season with this festival at Piedmont Park, which is Atlanta's urban playground of choice during the warm months. The Dogwood Festival boasts a large artists market, music on multple stages, dog competitions, food and beer tents, and -- of course -- dogwoods in bloom.

May: Decatur Arts Festival
Decatur Square, West Ponce de Leon at Clairemont Avenue. 404-371-8262, www.decatur-ga.com
The old courthouse square in Decatur is the headquarters for this festival of music and art. Included are an artists market, children's festival, performing arts, concerts and a related Garden Tour of public and private gardens in the Decatur area. This festival combines a small-town feel with the ease of mass transit access. The MARTA rail stop in Decatur is literally beneath the Square.

June: Roswell Magnolia Storytelling Festival
Roswell Historic District, Atlanta Street, Roswell. 800-776-7935, 770-640-3253, www.cvb.roswell.ga.us/storytelling.html
Find a seat under the big tent and get ready for some traditional Southern stories and music. Professional storytellers share the program with Southern musicians for this two-day festival in downtown Roswell, on Atlanta's northside.

July: National Black Arts Festival
National Black Arts Festival, 404-730-7315, www.nbaf.org
This 10-day cultural festival is too big for one venue. Included is an artists market at Greenbriar Mall, a vendor market at Underground Atlanta, a gallery crawl and live entertainment from various local stages. These include the Soul Suite, Underground Atlanta's spot for late-night showcases of soul and hip-hop. Events around town during the festival include visual arts, music, theater, spoken word, dance and literature.

July 4th in Atlanta: Peachtree Road Race, Salute 2 America Parade, Fireworks at Lenox
Peachtree Road Race: www.atlantatrackclub.org. Salute 2 America Parade: www.wsbtv.com.
Lenox Square: 3393 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, www.lenoxsquare.com, 404-233-6767
Independence Day is a full celebration in Atlanta, starting early with the Peachtree Road Race, a hilly 6.2-mile course from Lenox Square to Piedmont Park. The party then moves downtown for the Salute 2 America Parade, which steps off from Peachtree Street. July 4th night offers a wide range of fireworks shows, but the traditional favorite takes place at Lenox Square.

July-August: Georgia Mountain Fair, Hiawassee
Georgia Mountain Fair, 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee. 706-896-4191, www.georgia-mountain-fair.com
Escape the heat and humidity of an Atlanta summer with a visit to Lake Chatuge in the mountains of north Georgia. This festival boasts some of the top country music talent, plus cloggers, children's activities, food, crafts and exhibits.

September: Yellow Daisy Festival, Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain Park, U.S. Highway 78 East, Stone Mountain, 770-498-5690, www.stonemountainpark.com
Stone Mountain Park, built around the giant outcropping of granite for which the park is named, pays tribute to its native Confederate Yellow Daisies with this huge arts and crafts festival, featuring live entertainment, food and children's activities. The arts and craft show draws exhibitors from literally across the nation.

October: North Georgia State Fair, Marietta
Jim Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road S.W., Marietta, 770-423-1330, www.northgeorgiastatefair.com
It's a state fair, plain and simple. Marietta's version is not the only big fair that takes place in the fall in north Georgia, but it's one of the best -- with live concerts, a carnival midway, exhiibits, side-shows, food and more.

October: Atlanta Greek Festival
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Road, Atlanta. 404-633-5870, www.atlgoc.org/festival.htm
Whether you're more a fan of Greek music or the baklava, this festival delivers on both. The Atlanta Greek community organizes this festival, which includes, music, dance, food, gifts, clothing and handcrafted items.

More events of note:

January: Atlanta Boat Show, www.discoverboating.com/boatshows/atlanta
Feburary: Southeastern Flower Show, www.flowershow.org
March: Atlanta Auto Show, www.ajcautoshow.com
March: St. Patrick's Day Parade, www.stpatsatlanta.com
March: Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, www.georgiahorsepark.com
April: Inman Park Festival, www.inmanpark.org
May: Decatur Arts Festival, www.decatur-ga.com
May: October: Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival, www.mossycreekfestival.com
June: Atlanta Pride Festival, www.atlantapride.org
June: Decatur Beach Party, www.decatur-ga.com
Labor Day Weekend: Dragon.Con, www.dragoncon.com
September: Taste of Atlanta at Lenox, www.tasteofatlanta.org
October: Stone Mountain Highland Games and Scottish Festival, Stone Mountain, www.smhg.org
December: A Southern Christmas, Stone Mountain, www.stonemountainpark.com
December: Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour, www.mariettasquare.com
December: Festival of Trees and Holiday Parade, www.choa.org/festival