Welcome to August! It’s back-to-school time, but there are still plenty of outdoor concerts and movies, free splash pads, and even some indoor events for those sweltering August days.
Are you looking for things to do this August around metro Atlanta?
Below, you’ll find an overview of August events, plus activities that are free, cheap, or discounted. Sometimes we throw in a splurge alert item that we think is especially notable.
Please remember to verify every event before you head out! That’s why we provide so many links. We try to keep up with weather cancellations, but we don’t catch every one.
You may also be interested in:
August in Atlanta: top things to do this month
REMINDER:
Before making plans for a restaurant, special exhibit, concert, trampoline, or spa treatment, make sure to check Groupon for a deal! You can often save 50% or more.
Below these spotlighted events, you’ll find a rolling day-to-day calendar listing of August events.
♦ Enjoy FREE museum days in August
• The Georgia Aquarium offers you FREE admission on your birthday — so all of you AUGUST babies are in luck!
Details on the Aquarium offer
Can’t go for free? Check out this Groupon deal!
• The High Museum of Art hosts its Second Sundays FREE day on August 9, 2026.
Details on Second Sundays at the High
• The High Museum also hosts its FREE Access For All program on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 — you need to register in advance for this one.
• The Museums On Us program offers FREE admission to Bank of America cardholders at two metro-area museums on August 1st and 2nd. This includes the High Museum and Atlanta History Center, plus five other venues participating.
Details on Museums On Us
• The Marietta History Center hosts its FREE monthly Family Fun Day on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
• The Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville hosts its Free Family Thursday each month on the second Thursday, which is August 13, 2026. The free hours are 4 to 8 p.m.
• The College Football Hall of Fame offers FREE admission in conjunction with their Football Fest. Visit the Hall for free on August 22, 2026.
♦ Find FREE craft and DIY workshops in August
Take advantage of one of these FREE crafting events — just click through for details and to register.
In many cases, supplies are provided — but some events require a small purchase.
• Home Depot Kids Workshop — make a Rocket Game on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
• Lowe’s Kid Workshop — make a Paw Patrol project on Saturday, August 15, 2026. In conjunction with the movie, kids will bring the Dino Island Volcano to life.
♦ Have fun & get freebies at a back-to-school bash
There are tons of family fun days and backpack giveaways happening from mid-July through early August! Families can get freebies like school supplies, hair cuts, snacks, and more — often in a fun, festival-like atmosphere.
Find a back-to-school bash near you
♦ See the blockbuster exhibit Space Explorers: The Infinite — with a 20% discount
This is an immersive experience in virtual reality, inspired by NASA missions. It lets you embark on an expedition to the International Space Station, via VR.
On this journey, you will explore stunning 3D 360° cinematic VR filmed inside and out of the ISS, and discover what daily life in space is truly like. Space walk with astronauts and witness breathtaking views of our blue Earth from the vastness of space.
Through August 2, 2026, enjoy 20% off select tickets to Space Explorers
Get tickets
More info
Location:
Pullman Yards
225 Rogers St NE
Atlanta, GA 30317
♦ Have fun at your community’s National Night Out
National Night Out is a series of community-building events that traditionally take place on the first Tuesday in August. This year, that is Tuesday, August 4th.
At National Night Out events, you’ll often find free food, games, live music, bounce houses, and more. Often, you’ll get to explore public safety vehicles and meet K9 police dogs.
Each event is a little different. But at all of them you will get a chance to meet your local law enforcement officers and neighbors.
Find a National Night Out event near you
♦ Attend a Deep South Wrestling match — it’s FREE!
Deep South Wrestling puts on live shows that are completely FREE to attend (other than parking fees and concessions).
According to the website, Deep South Wrestling shows are family-friendly.
As far as sports go, this is probably a more intimate experience than you’re used to. You’re sitting close to the ring, and the wrestlers often interact with the audience.
Typical venues for pop-up shows are breweries, festivals, parks, and mixed-use developments.
Get more info + see the August schedule
♦ Celebrate National Frozen Custard Day
National Frozen Custard falls on August 8, 2026.
This year we have special deals from two ice-cream shops:
♦ Take in two days of free concerts at the Summer Shade Festival
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026
Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026
Grant Park
August in Atlanta is known for sweltering heat, but Grant Park is home to some of Atlanta’s oldest and tallest trees to provide relief.
The outdoor fun includes an artist market, food trucks, craft beer, kids bouncy house village, and a music line-up that just gets better every year.
Details on the festival + music lineup
♦ Teens work out for FREE at Planet Fitness in August
Thanks to a special offer from Planet Fitness, teens age 14 to 19 can work out for free all summer long, at any of the gym’s locations — there are about 40 of them in the extended metro Atlanta area.
Get more info on the Planet Fitness Summer Pass
♦ Register for the Kids Bowl FREE program
Kids Bowl Free is a family-friendly program that allows kids to bowl at no cost, all summer long. This is a great indoor option for days that are rainy or extra hot and humid.
Once your children are registered with the program, they can bowl two games a day for FREE, all summer long.
More info here
♦ Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
National Chocolate Chip Cookie falls on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
This is a day to celebrate America’s favorite cookie flavor — and bake shops around metro Atlanta will be offering FREE cookies and special deals to mark the occasion.
Find a cookie giveaway or deal
♦ Enjoy FREE outdoor summer concerts in August
The summer concert series are in full swing in June, with something going on every weekend. These events cover the extended metro area, including the suburbs.
Browse our special calendar for FREE outdoor summer concerts
♦ Take in a movie under the stars in August
There are FREE outdoor movies all month long, all over the extended metro area! You’ll find them at parks, shopping malls, town centers, and more. Some of them even include FREE popcorn!
Most of these series focus on movies that are rated G or PG, although you might occasionally find a PG-13 thrown in, so parental discretion is advised.
Browse our special calendar for FREE outdoor movies on the lawn
♦ Have fun at a festival in August
For festival details, just click thru the links.
These are all FREE or very cheap!
Or, you can also browse our complete 2026 Guide to Summer Festivals in Atlanta.
♦ See the Classic Lasershow, back at Stone Mountain a limited run (and FREE!)
Stone Mountain will bring back the Classic Lasershow that you remember so well — and it will be FREE to attend (but you still have to pay for parking).
It will run on select Saturdays in August and September, plus all of Labor Day Weekend.
More info on the Classic Lasershow event
♦ Immerse yourself in Bubble Planet
This is an immersive experience in which you’ll surround yourself with bubbles like never before! Step into a planet beyond your imagination with VR technology, themed rooms, and fantastical landscapes. Jump from one immersive space to the next and explore them all with your five senses!
Get 1-day tickets
Get a 6-month pass
Location:
Exhibition Hub Atlanta Art Center
5660 Buford Hwy NE
Doraville, GA 30340
♦ Play in these splash pads, spraygrounds, & interactive fountains
The splash pads and spraygrounds in Atlanta are a fun way for kids to cool off and play in the water, without going to a pool. No matter where you live in metro Atlanta, there is most likely a park with a water feature near you — and most of them are FREE.
The splash pad season starts in early May and goes through September at most locations. We’ve put together a handy list of splash pads, spraygrounds, and interactive fountains. The list is organized by county.
Find a splash pad or sprayground near you
♦ Have a close-up butterfly encounter
You can get up close to hundreds of flying butterflies at local nature centers and gardens. If you’re lucky, you may have a butterfly land on your hand or arm.
Each summer, there are opportunities to enter a butterfly house, also known as a butterfly conservatory or lepidopterarium. (These are different from outdoor butterfly gardens.) They are special facilities designed for breeding and displaying butterflies, often with an emphasis on education.
More info and find a butterfly house
♦ Take the kids to CHEAP movies at theater chains
Beat the heat and take the kids to a cheap movie!
Most of the national theater chains, plus some independent theaters, are offering cheap summer movies for families on a budget. They include AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Marcus Theatres, and more.
The family-friendly films are offered one to five times a week, usually in the morning or early afternoon. Prices range from $1 to $3, and are the same for kids and adults.
Details for each summer film series
♦ Visit “Dinoverse” for an epic journey to the Jurassic
Dinoverse: An Epic Journey to the Jurassic is a family exhibition where kids and adults can explore giant skeletons, interactive dino zones, and creative activities. Step through a time portal with a thrilling Virtual Reality experience and snap epic dino photos!
Get tickets
More info
Location:
Exhibition Hub Atlanta Art Center
5660 Buford Hwy NE
Doraville, GA 30340
♦ See a planetarium show for just $6
Did you know the Fernbank Science Center is one of a handful of ALWAYS FREE museums around metro Atlanta? You can check out the exhibits at no charge any time it’s open. (Don’t confuse the Fernbank Science Center with the flashier Fernbank Museum of Natural History!)
More info
And if you want to spend a few bucks, get advance tickets for a planetarium show for just $6, thanks to a special deal.
Get the Groupon deal
♦ Escape the heat with these indoor Candlelight Concerts
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations around metro Atlanta. These are live performances in intimate venues, lit by flickering candles. The concerts range from iconic classical music to tributes to pop artists like Adele and Queen.
For a limited time, you can use discount code ATL10CDL to get 10% OFF your purchase of up to four tickets.
Use the link below to browse the concerts and make your choice.
At checkout, enter the discount code ATL10CDL in the field that says “Voucher or Gift Card.”
Note that there are a limited number of discounts available.
BUT, you can use the discount code to buy tickets in other cities as well, if you’ll be traveling. Just change the location at the top of the webpage.
♦ Visit a summer farmers market
There is a farmers market happening somewhere on every day of the week in July. Check out our full schedule of markets, organized by day of the week and location. We also let you know which markets double EBT dollars.
Find a farmers market near you
♦ Find a FREE yoga class in a park near you
These outdoor yoga classes happen on Saturday mornings and weekday evenings, after work.
Find a yoga class near you
♦ Take a scenic drive
Too hot to hike? Then get in the car, crank up the AC, and take a scenic drive — without going far from home. The South Fulton Scenic Byway has been called the loneliest road in metro Atlanta — and it is so gorgeous, you won’t believe you’re still in Fulton County. Remember to make a plan for safe and hygienic bathroom breaks!
Get the route details
♦ Cheer on the Gwinnett Stripers at Coolray Field
It’s baseball season! If you’ve never been to minor league game, make time this spring to visit Coolray Field and cheer on the Gwinnett Stripers, the triple-A affiliate team to our Atlanta Braves.
A Stripers game is an affordable outing for families, and a perfect cheap date — with tickets starting at just $8 and special promotion days that bring added value. Everything about the experience is less expensive than a Braves game at Truist Field. Plus, you’re sitting much closer to the action.
View the schedule and get tickets
♦ Take some shady walks and easy hikes
It’s getting hotter and more humid — so head out early to one of these shady trails.
Just a Walk in the Park is a program in Tucker. It features guided walks at two different parks, on August 5th and August 19, 2026.
• Here’s a short list of some of our favorite shaded walks to do on your own:
The day-by-day August calendar:
This is a rolling list that covers the next week.
Please double-check everything! Especially with recurring events, it’s possible something is canceled and we didn’t catch it.
