Ultimate Guide to Fall in Atlanta

By Joleen Pete

Published August 20, 2024
Last Updated October 17, 2024

Articulo disponible en Español.

Atlanta unofficially welcomes in fall during Labor Day Weekend. This ultimate guide to fall in Atlanta has everything you need to know about fun festivals to attend, exhibits to see and how to fully experience the outdoors during the most beautiful time of year.

Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta

Don’t let the end-of-summer blues take hold. Gather your friends and family for a little Labor Day Weekend fun in the sun. Dragon Con is a must-visit convention for anyone into cosplay, super heroes, pop culture, gaming and more. You can attend the parade down Peachtree Street for free on Saturday, Aug. 31 beginning at 10 a.m. Here’s where to go before, during, and after Dragon Con. Film lovers might enjoy checking out the various film studios in and around Atlanta or even staying in an Atlanta hotel where a movie was filmed.

Also happening during Atlanta Labor Day Weekend– Atlanta Black Pride and Atlanta Hip Hop Day Festival.

Kids Free September

Discover Atlanta’s must-visit attractions with Kids Free September. Kids get in free at most attractions with Adult/ General Admission from Sept. 3 through 30 with this exciting promo. Learn more about each attraction and what they’re offering for fall family fun.

Fall Festivals

It’s festival season in Atlanta. Visit one of the many pop-up shops and annual fall festivals like Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park, Candler Park Fall Festival and Chastain Park Arts Festival for the perfect opportunity to start your holiday shopping early, all while supporting small businesses and artisans. Get your fill of great food and drink at Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Atlanta Chili Cook-off and Cabbagetown Chomp and Stomp. There are so many festivals to choose from in the fall. Keep an eye on this list of things to do in Atlanta this weekend.

Atlanta Pride

In most parts of the country, Pride is celebrated in June. Atlanta celebrates Pride in the fall. Atlanta Black Pride events take place Labor Day Weekend, and Atlanta Pride month is October. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

See Fall Colors

The weather is cooling and the leaves are changing. It’s a beautiful time of year to be in Atlanta. Here’s where to see fall colors in Atlanta.

Halloween

Whether you like to keep it cute or indulge in the scary, there is something for everyone around Halloween in Atlanta. Check out these spooky (and not-so-spooky) Halloween events in Atlanta. Here’s where to go thrifting in Atlanta to find the perfect Halloween costume.

Thanksgiving and Fall Break

Kick off Thanksgiving Day with the Invesco QQQ Half Marathon (don’t worry there are shorter courses, too) and show off your medal at dinner. Or spend the morning volunteering for a worthy cause. Here are more things to do Thanksgiving Weekend in Atlanta. Visiting or hosting family for the holidays? Here are things to do in Atlanta for every age group. Save your pennies with these free things to do in Atlanta with kids. If you’re looking for something special to do with your out-of-town guests, consider visiting a Michelin-rated restaurant in Atlanta.

Hispanic Heritage Month

In Atlanta, Hispanic culture is an essential part of who we are as a city and we commemorate it throughout the year, but during Hispanic Heritage Month, we elevate our celebration to a different level. Use this guide to celebrate in every corner of the city.

Dive deeper into Atlanta’s Latino culture by watching “Atlanta Con Sabor Latino,” the Emmy-winning docuseries that showcases and celebrates Latino culture and cuisine through the intertwined stories of Latinos who call Atlanta home.

Must See Exhibits

Don’t miss these upcoming, must-see fall plays, performances and exhibits in Atlanta.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta Botanical Garden has an extensive calendar of events with programming for all ages including classes and lectures on everything from beekeeping to art to gardening. The popular, Alice’s Wonderland Returns is on display through Sept. 15. Also on display until then is The Art of Bloom: a dk Gallery Exhibition — a gallery featuring four different artists’ interpretations of bloom. You won’t want to miss the colorful reflective collages by Lillian Blades in the Reflections in Bloom exhibit, through Sept. 29. Then there’s the Fest-of-Ale on Oct. 10, where guests can enjoy craft beers and live entertainment while exploring Scarecrows in the Garden.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is renowned as one of the county’s leading orchestras. With more than 150 concerts annually, the orchestra’s offerings include a wide variety of genres from pop and comedy to classical and holiday programming. Here’s what’s on the calendar this fall. 

• Concert in the Park — Sept. 10
• “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” Live in Concert — Sept. 11
• “The Princess Bride” in Concert with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra — Sept. 13 and 14
• Season opener with Nathalie Stutzmann — Sept. 19 through 21
• Nathalie Stutzmann conducts Mahler + Shostakovich — Sept. 26 and 27
• Bernadette Peters with the ASO — Sept. 28
• “How to Train Your Dragon” in Concert with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra — Oct. 4 and 5
• The Black Jacket Symphony Performing Led Zeppelin’s “IV” — Oct. 11
• Gucci Mane: The Road to 1017 featuring the Atlanta Pops Orchestra — Oct. 12
• Haydn and Mendelssohn Symphonies — Oct. 17 through 19
• Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular — Oct. 27
• “Ghostbusters” in Concert with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra — Nov. 1 and 2
• Día de los Muertos Festival — Nov. 2
• Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Overture Concert — Nov. 3
• All Mozart with Stutzmann + Chorus — Nov. 7 through 10
• Stutzmann Conducts Bruckner — Nov. 14 through 16
• Grand Kyiv Ballet Presents: “Nutcracker” — Nov. 27
• Disney’s “Frozen” in Concert with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra — Nov. 30 and Dec. 1

Georgia Aquarium

This fall Georgia Aquarium will host a variety of programming and events including the 15th Anniversary of Dragon Con Night at Georgia Aquarium after hours on Aug. 31, Georgia Aquarium’s 18th annual Aqua Vino on Sept. 27 and the 2024 Pride Kickoff on Oct. 11. Haunted Seas begins Oct. 4., and kids are invited to trick-or-treat on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. starting Oct. 5. Be sure to pre-purchase your tickets for the spooktacular Sips Under the Sea Halloween on Oct. 25 and 31.

High Museum of Art

Don’t miss these exhibits coming to the High Museum this fall:

• Tyler Mitchell: Idyllic Space, through Dec. 1
• Panorama, through Dec. 1
• Patterns in Abstraction: Black Quilts from the High’s Collection, through Jan. 5, 2025
• Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, Sept. 13 through Jan. 19, 2025
• Kelli Connell: Pictures for Charis, Sept. 20 through Jan. 5, 2025
• Georgia O’Keeffe: “My New Yorks,” Oct. 25 through Feb. 14, 2025

Visit the calendar for special events like Studio Sessions, Student Art Pop Ups, High Frequency Friday events, Friday Jazz, Family Tours, member events and more.

Zoo Atlanta

While a visit to Zoo Atlanta is fun and informative any day of the year, we love checking out the fun and special events throughout the year. Don’t miss these upcoming fall experiences.

• Sippin’ Safari, Sept. 21
• Educator Soiree (Just for teachers), Oct. 5
• Family Pride Day, Oct. 6
• Boo at the Zoo, Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27

Guide to Atlanta Hiking

There are so many ways to explore Atlanta’s outdoors, and fall is the perfect time to do it. Here are some outdoor activities the entire family will love. Discover new trails and see fall color with this guide to hiking and backpacking in Atlanta.

Fall Fashion

The 2024 Atlanta Fashion Week (ATLFW) takes place Oct. 2 through 7 at Interlock Tower in Midtown, Atlanta’s Heart of the Arts. ATLFW aims to showcase the inclusivity of Atlanta when it comes to fashion, music, art and culture. FashionFest 2024 is a three-day street wear fashion event taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center Oct. 11 through 13. Want to learn more about fashion in the A? Meet Atlanta’s local fashion designers and discover where to support local designers and makers in Atlanta.

Can’t Miss Music Events

Atlanta attracts the biggest musical talents year-round. Here’s a peek at Atlanta’s music scene in 2024, including Usher at State Farm Arena three dates in October, P!nk in concert Nov. 14 and Justin Timberlake on Nov. 16. Candlelight Concerts in Atlanta take place at venues all over the city and include tributes to top artists like Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, Coldplay and more. Listen to a Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics at Nobu Atlanta Oct. 19 through 26. The Atlanta Opera launches a Discoveries Series immersive experience at Pullman Yards with a dual production of “Rent – The Musical” and “La bohéme” Sept. 19 through Oct. 6. Head to Old Fourth Ward Park for JAZZ in the Park ATL Oct. 26 and 27 to enjoy great food and music promoting peace and happiness.

To be sure you don’t miss a thing, keep an eye on our calendar of events.

Joleen Pete lives outside Atlanta with her husband and their son. On the weekends they enjoy going into the city for family fun and exploration. Joleen is the family travel and lifestyle blogger behind Love, Joleen.