Spring is finally here and the great outdoors beckons. Here are some fun events and activities for you and your family to enjoy together.
While the artists’ booths at the Atlanta Dogwood Festival are more targeted towards the adults, there will be a special Kids Village with inflatables, face painting, and a 24-foot tall rock wall. There also will be booths set up for their partners the Atlanta History Center and Margaret Mitchell House with performances and specials crafts for kids.
- Ages: All
- When: April 15, 16, and 17
- Where: Piedmont Park
- Cost: Free
The Georgia Renaissance Festival gives families a chance to go back in time to medieval Europe. Attractions include street performers, jugglers, jousting knights, and acrobats. On top of that you could even eat a giant turkey leg!
- Ages: All
- When: Saturdays and Sunday from April 16 through June 15 and Memorial Day, May 30
- Where: Fairburn (I-85 Exit 61)
- Price: Adults $19.95, Seniors (60) $17.95, Children (6-12) $8.95, Children (under 5) free.
The Chattahoochee Nature Center is a fun place to visit anytime of year but in the spring they have several events that cater to families with younger kids, including Story Time by the River, where children can listen to stories about nature told with books, puppets and props.
- Ages: 3-5
- When: May 4, and June 1; 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- Cost: Adults $8, Seniors $6, Children (3-12) $5, Children (under 2) free
The Sweet Auburn Spring Fest is the largest street festival in the Southeast with an annual attendance of more than 500,000. Attractions include vendors of all types, at least 10 stages for performances, an area for kids and a craft marketplace as well as a movie festival.
- Ages: All
- When: May 6-8 Fri. 5-11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 2-8 p.m.
- Where: Auburn Avenue in downtown Atlanta
- Cost: Free
On Mother’s Day, the High Museum of Art will have a crafts area for families to create custom passports to use as they travel around the museum,viewing masterpieces from around the world.
- Ages: All
- When: May 8, 1-4 p.m.
- Where: High Museum of Art
- Cost: Adults $18, Students $15, Children(ages 6-17) $11, Children(under 5) Free; Fulton County Residents are free as well.
The Atlanta Jazz Festival is a large annual festival celebrating jazz, featuring famous and aspiring jazz musicians. More than 40 jazz performers will perform on numerous stages around Piedmont Park.
- Ages: 12 and up
- When: May 28-30
- Where: Check online for a full list of venues at atlantafestivals.com.
- Cost: Free
Stone Mountain will celebrate its 20th Anniversary over Memorial Day Weekend with a bang! Expect an extravagant light show with new song segments, fireworks and improved special effects.
- Ages: All
- When: May 27-30. Light show begins at 9:30p.m.
- Where: Stone Mountain Park?Cost: $10 for parking
There are also many activities you can enjoy all season long:
- Zoo Atlanta is one of the oldest zoos in the U.S. and one of only four zoos in the nation that has pandas. There are more than 1,300 animals your family can see and a petting zoo, which offers first-hand encounters with domesticated farm animals.
- Centennial Olympic Park has several free events on a weekly basis. Music @ Noon, just like it sounds, is a musical performance that takes place from noon to 1p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday WindDown consists of musical performances in the park’s Southern Company Amphitheater from 5:30-8 p.m.. Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day, a day full of entertaining and educational activities for children. June 26’s theme is “Great Outdoors” while July 24’s theme is “It’s About Sports.”And Fountain of Rings, a waterworks show that takes place four times a day in the center of Centennial Olympic Park is a synchronized water show featuring 15 different songs selections you and your family will probably recognize. All of these activities are free.
- The World of Coca-Cola offers cool shows and educational exhibits the whole family can enjoy. From the lifelike Coca-Cola polar bear and a 4-D movie, to the tasting center, where you can taste versions of Coca-Cola products sold around the world, it is definitely a hands-on experience.
- Don’t forget about the Atlanta CityPASS, ($69 for adults and $49 for children), which gives users admission to several major Atlanta attractions. Participating attractions include: the World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, Inside CNN Studio Tour, Zoo Atlanta, High Museum of Art, Atlanta History Center, Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
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Madeline is a senior at Centennial High School who is planning to attend Florida State University in the fall. She is spending her spring semester interning at Atlanta Metropolitan Publishing, Encore Atlanta’s parent company.
