Festivals in Georgia

Festivals Near Atlanta
The Atlanta Dogwood Festival takes place in spring, when flowers bloom. Held early April, the three-day event features hundreds of arts and crafts for sale, along with music, food, and the dogwood blossoms. The Atlanta Film Festival also takes place in April, featuring new short films and documentaries and chances to interact with the filmmakers.

July brings the National Black Arts Festival, showcasing the heritage and artistry of people of African descent. Centennial Olympic Park fills with an international marketplace, children's village, and music stage. Atlanta's diversity is celebrated at other festivals throughout the year, including the Atlanta Turkish Festival, the Festival Peachtree Latino, and the Martin Luther King Jr. March & Rally.

Athletic events include the Fourth of July's Peachtree Road Race 10K, the world's largest 10-kilometer footrace. The annual Atlanta Streets Alive event closes streets to cars to allow easy exploration by bicycle and on foot. In the suburbs outside Atlanta, enjoy the Big Shanty Festival that celebrates the region's Civil War heritage with a parade, arts & crafts, music, and more fun. The Roswell Memorial Day Parade is the biggest in Georgia.

Festivals in Central Georgia
The mid-state region, including Macon and Augusta, has its share of fun festivals and events throughout the year. One of golf's biggest annual events, the Masters Tournament, takes place in early April at the Augusta National Golf Club. April is also the season for the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, known as the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World. The 10-day festival takes place beneath delicate petals on more than 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees.

The festival includes a parade, concerts, and a balloon-glow event. During the festival, you can enjoy lantern light tours of Ocmulgee National Monument. Other towns in the region celebrate their heritage with local festivals. The Grovetown Heritage Festival takes place in late April, and the International City Fall Festival takes place in Warner Robins in late September.

Harness racing fans should time their visit to the Hawkinsville Harness Festival in April. The north Georgia town is the Harness Horse Racing Capital of Georgia, and the event combines race action with a family festival offering music, food, and crafts.

Festivals in Coastal Georgia
There's always fun along the shoreline in Georgia. The Savannah Music Festival in late March is the biggest music event in Georgia, bringing local and international performers to town over an 18-day period. Taste the best food in the South at great food festivals. During the Taste of Savannah in the fall, visitors enjoy great bites from the city's best restaurants. For traditional southern food, try another fall festival, the Wild Georgia Shrimp & Grits Festival, held in Golden Isles.

It's two days of cook-offs, demonstrations, and of course, tastings. In late October, feast at the Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival in Richmond Hill. Other festivals offer even more traditional food flavors. Enjoy the annual Labor Day Catfish Festival in Kingsland or the summertime Watermelon and Peanut Boiling Festival in Statesboro.

Festivals in Northern Georgia
There are great arts and crafts festivals throughout the year in this part of Georgia, including the annual AthFest Music & Arts Festival in late June. The event brings more than 150 bands and 50 artists to 15 venues and three stages in Athens. The Mecca Fest in Carrollton every October features local Georgia artwork, plus great food and performances from local talent including the Georgia Youth Ballet.

Mid-May's Geranium Festival in McDonough features local businesses, great art, food, and fun for children. The Sorghum Festival in Blairsville in October and the Mountain Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville, also in October, feature local heritage in the form of sorghum syrup and moonshine. Other events in northern Georgia include the Rome International Film Festival in September and the Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race and Festival in June.

Festivals in Southern Georgia
Lace up your running shoes for the Albany Marathon in March; there's a 1/2 marathon for those who prefer shorter runs. Prefer bike races? The marathon event also includes the SB&T Bike Race. Flower-lovers find plenty of festival fun in March and April. The annual Valdosta-Lowndes Azalea Festival, in early March, features flowers, classic cars, kids fun, a food court, and more than 150 arts and crafts vendors. In April, the Thomasville Rose Show & Festival shows off the fragrant flowers with a parade, music, crafts, and food.

One of the most unusual events on the annual calendar, the Fire Ant Festival in Ashburn in March includes a fire ant calling contest and giant fire ant maze, plus crafts, fireworks, and more fun.