Fall is coming, and that means festival season kicks up to high gear. Whether it is large music gatherings such as Music Midtown and the Imagine Festival, or small neighborhood fests and ethnically diverse celebrations (can anyone say ‘Opa!?), there is truly at least one festival in September for almost everyone. Here are some of the festivals in the upcoming weeks.
AJC Decatur Book Festival
Sponsored by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, this event is the country's largest independent book festival with a weekend of author signings, workshops and keynote speakers as well as music, food and children activities. During this Labor Day weekend, the AJC Decatur Book Festival will celebrate its 14th year, with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor featured as a guest speaker.
5-10 p.m. August 30; 9:45 a.m.-6 p.m. August 31., Sept. 1. Free. Decatur Square. 101 E. Court Square, Decatur. decaturbookfestival.com.
Hot air balloons
Hot air balloons fly into the night sky at the Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival that starts with the Friday Night Balloon Glow and continues throughout the weekend with balloon rides, a classic car show, music and a Kid Zone.
Aug. 30-Sept. 1. $24.95-$34.95. Callaway Resort & Gardens. 17800 US 27, Pine Mountain. 844-512-3826, callawaygardens.com.
Dragon Con 2019
Dragon Con takes over downtown Atlanta with a convention that features 3,500 hours of panels, workshops and gaming — all of which focus on science, fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film. Even if you are not into Spock or Captain Marvel, the parade down Peachtree Street is an annual favorite event. The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Sept. 1 on Peachtree Street and Linden Avenue and ends by the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
Sept. 1-2. Parade: Free. Various downtown locations. 404-669-0773, dragoncon.org.
Soul festival
Taste of Soul Atlanta (TOSA) is the largest festival west of Peachtree, according to its website. Enjoy soul music, southern foods, a Kidzone, 5K race and Soul in the City concert featuring Chante Moore, Issa, and K Camp.
Noon-9 p.m. Aug. 31 - Sept. 1. Free (except Soul in the City; starts at $35). 10 Northside Drive, Atlanta. tasteofsoulatlanta.com.
Jewish celebration
Noshfest is a two-day festival that celebrates Jewish culture with great food, crafts, interactive exhibits, dancing, music and even a bagel eating contest that awards a $500 prize. The event will be located at the Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, and tours of the temple will be offered.
11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sept. 1; 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sept. 2. Free. 1415 Old Canton Road, Marietta. 404-641-9201 marietta.com/noshfest.
Get crafty
The Yellow Daisy Festival is a four-day event that features more than 400 artists and crafters from 35 states in Stone Mountain Park. For 50 years, this festival has been a fun part of the metro Atlanta festival scene every fall. This year, the featured artist is Thomas Burns, a professor of illustration at SCAD. As always, there will be daily live entertainment, Children’s Corner activities and festival foods.
10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sept. 5-6; 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sept. 7; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 8. $20 park entry fee. 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd. Stone Mountain. 1-800-401-2407, stonemountainpark.com.
Hip-hop royalty
Since 2010, One Music Fest has been bringing urban progressive music to Atlanta. This year in Centennial Olympic Park, more than 50,000 music lovers will gather to listen to artists such as Gucci Mane, Rick Ross, Pharrell Williams, DMX and Koffee.
Noon 11 p.m.; Sept. 7; Noon - 10 p.m.; Sept. 8. $149-$750. 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., Atlanta. onemusicfest.com
A spooky good time
See horror, sci-fi, gore, creepy and dark comedy films during a scary, spooky weekend in mid-September. The 13th annual Atlanta Horror Film Festival is located at Atlanta’s Synchronicity Theatre.
Various times. Sept. 12-14. $40. One Peachtree Pointe, 1545 Peachtree St. NE, #102, Atlanta. 404-484-8636, atlantahorrorfilmfest.com/info.html
Music Midtown 2019
Since 1994, Music Midtown has been brought musical diversity, fun, and life for two days in September to Atlanta’s city center. This year at Piedmont Park, there are four stages with 30 musical acts, including Travis Scott, Cardi B and Billie Eilish.
Noon-11 p.m., Sept. 14; Noon-10 p.m.; Sept. 15. $100 - $1,250. 400 Park Drive NE, Atlanta. 888-512-7469, musicmidtown.com.
Arabic nights
The 14th annual Atlanta Arab Festival features a culinary tour of the Arabic world with a food court, shopping, music, dancing and cultural exchanges.
11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 14; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 15. $5 (children under 12 free). Alif Institute, 3288 Marjan Dr., Atlanta. 770-936-8770, alifinstitute.org/events/atlanta-arab-festival.
Buckhead bites
A benefit for Benefit Farm Chastain, the Taste of Buckhead features unlimited tasting events from more than 20 chefs and a VIP experience.
5:30-9:30 p.m. Sept. 19. $75 - $125. The Stave Room at American Spirit Works, 199 Armour Drive NE, Atlanta. 404-467-7607, tasteofbuckhead.org.
Feel the music
The Imagine Festival brings electronic music to Atlanta for lovers of the electrifying genre, adding a four-day music festival to the already-busy calendar. Artists include Diplo, Seven Lions and Rezz.
9 p.m.-1 a.m. Sept. 19: 4 p.m.-3 a.m., Sept. 20-21; 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sept. 22. $269 and up. Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1500 Tara Place, Hampton. 404-614-0006, imaginefestival.com.
Sweeter than…
As its website says, the Sweet Auburn Music Festival is where the “food is good and the music is great.” The festival offers a blend of music, people, food and entertainment — everything from R&B, gospel, rap to alternative.
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 27-29. Free. 320 Irwin St. NE, Atlanta. 678-861-7263, sweetauburnmusicfest.com.
Opa!
Enjoy Greek foods, entertainment, music and crafts at the Atlanta Greek Festival, located at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation.
5-11 p.m. Sept. 27; 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sept. 28; 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sept. 29. $5 (free children under 12). 2500 Clairmont Road, Atlanta. 678-701-6114, atlantagreekfestival.org.
Japanese culture
With next summer’s 2020 Olympics in the near future, Japan is on the minds of many. Take a virtual trip to East with JapanFest, hosting more than 120 vendors of Japanese goods and foods as well as 25 performers and workshops.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 21; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 22. $10, one-day pass, $18-two day. Infinite Energy Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 404-842-1400, japanfest.org.
MORE THINGS TO DO: A Guide to Atlanta Black Pride Weekend 2019
Strut your stuff
Join 10,000 people who go to East Atlanta to enjoy a funky parade and party at the East Atlanta Strut. The parade is located at Glenwood and Patterson Avenues. The Strut is a nonprofit that supports East Atlanta.
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 28. Free. East Atlanta Village, 520 Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta. eastatlantastrut.com.
Sandy Springs festival
The Sandy Springs Festival is two days of art, music, cultural performance, and a Chalk Walk Art competition, 10K and 5K races, children's programming and food. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 28; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 29. Free. Heritage Green, 6075 Sandy Spring Circle, Sandy Springs. 404-851-9111, heritagesandysprings.org.
