Spring flowers are popping up everywhere and so are Atlanta art festivals. Filled with color, vibrance and undeniable creativity, these festivals aggregate talented arts from around the state and the southeast. The following selections are free and family-friendly, and most feature great food and live entertainment. Here are eight spring and summer art festivals worth noting on your calendar.
Chastain Park Spring Arts & Crafts Festival
Featuring more than 185 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craft persons, glass blowers, jewelers and more, the festival also offers visitors the opportunity to view artist demonstrations, enjoy live entertainment and participate in hands-on art activities. The award-winning, two-day festival will have a children's area in the adjacent green space, food trucks, beverages and a small stage for acoustic musical performances. Dogs are welcome.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, May 9; 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, May 10. Free. Inside Upper Chastain Park on Park Drive: 4469 Stella Dr., Atlanta, Ga 30327. Event details here: accessatlanta.com/chastainparkartsfest
Colors Festival of Arts
Artists and craftsmen arrive from areas around the Southeast, joining with Roswell and North Fulton artists to present a magnificent show. Entertainment is scheduled throughout the day and ranges from storytelling to vocalists and instrumentalists to dance performances. An array of food vendors are on hand to satisfy your appetite.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m., May 9 -10. Free. Roswell Town Square: 610 Atlanta St, Roswell, Ga 30075. Free parking and shuttle at Roswell City Hall. Event details here: accessatlanta.com/colorsartfestival
Dunwoody Art Festival
The Dunwoody Village area transforms into a whimsical artist market with fun for the entire family, and Dunwoody Village Parkway will become a shopper's paradise. Bestowed the trophy for the "Best New Event of 2010" by the Southeast Festivals and Events Association, Dunwoody Art Festival continues to attract the top artisans from across the country.
A fun-filled Kidz Zone will await youngsters with great rides, sand art, imaginative crafts and games. A relaxing stage with continuous live music will be located in the new food court, with Village Burger and other great eats from neighborhood restaurants.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, May 9; 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, May 10. Free. Dunwoody Village Parkway: 1400 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Atlanta, Ga 30338. Event details here: accessatlanta.com/dunwoodyartsfestival
Canton Festival of the Arts
The annual Canton Festival of the Arts features an artists' market with over 75 exhibitors from nine states, tempting food concessions, with a wine and beer garden, and live entertainment on the main stage. Enjoy Serenity Gardens, celebrating the art of living well. If you are interested in gardening, sustainability, incorporating nature into your life and all things green, this is the place for you. The Interactive Children's Experience offers hands on art activities for children, including mural painting, photography, drawing, dance, drama and more.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., May 16 -17. Free. Downtown Canton, Canton, Ga. Event details here: accessatlanta.com/cantonartsfestival
ARTucker 2015
ARTucker is an indoor art market that celebrates local Georgia art and artists. The show is open to all Georgia artists over 18 years old. Featured works and demonstrations include glass blowing, pottery, painting, hand weaving, photography and more.
5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Friday, May 29; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, May 30. Free. Tucker Recreation Center: 4898 Lavista Road, Tucker, Ga 30084. Event details here: accessatlanta.com/artucker2015
Decatur Arts Festival
Visit downtown Decatur on Memorial Day weekend for grand festivities, displays from 160 artists and continuous musical entertainment. Pre-festival activities abound as well. Enjoy an artwalk, author readings and book signings, a kids art festival, performing art stage, lantern parade and dozens of other activities. The primary festival begins May 23, but pre-festival activities begin as early as May 7.
Hours not yet announced. May 23 – 24. Free. Downtown Decatur, Decatur, Ga. Event details here: accessatlanta.com/decaturartsfestival
Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival
This two-day festival will once again be held in Atlanta's Historic Fourth Ward Park, conveniently located along the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail. Named "Best New Event" by the Southeast Festivals and Events Association, festivalgoers are invited to explore painting, photography, ceramics, glass, jewelry, woodwork, handcrafted items and an Emerging Artists Pavilion along the park's winding paved path. The festival also features live music in the amphitheater, local food vendors, drinks, a children's area, hands-on art demonstrations, games and more. Dogs are welcome. The festival will also provide additional bike racks for bicycle storage.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, June 27,; 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday, June 29,. Free. Historic Fourth Ward Park: 592 N. Angier Avenue, NE, Atlanta, Ga 30308. Event details here: accessatlanta.com/O4Wartsfestival
Piedmont Park Arts Festival
Piedmont Park Arts Festival showcases visual arts and family fun, presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces. The event will feature up to 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalwork, glass blowers, jewelers and crafters. Attendees are also invited to enjoy artist demonstrations, live acoustic music, a street market, children's play area, festival food and beverages, games and more. Attendees are also invited to enjoy and participate the Atlanta Foundation of Public Spaces' third attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for the Longest Chain of People to Pass through a Hula Hoop. Pets are welcome.
The festival will also feature a ticketed Preview Sales Party on Friday, August 14 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. hosted by Sean O'Keefe Events. Visitors may purchase any artwork on display for a $100 donation to the Piedmont Park Conservancy. Guests will be treated to cocktails, live music and hors d'oeuvres in the historic Greystone building. The event is a new annual fundraising tradition for the conservancy to show appreciation for their successful efforts to preserve and enhance Atlanta's "jewel" of a park.
Ticketed Preview Sales Party is 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Friday August 14; General Admission entrance is 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday August 15 and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday August 16. Free. Piedmont Park: 1071 Piedmont Ave. Atlanta, Ga 30309. Event details here: accessatlanta.com/piedmontparkarts
