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 10, 2025.
Details on Second Sundays at the High
• The High Museum also hosts its FREE Access For All program on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 — 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 2nd and 3rd. This includes the High Museum and Atlanta History Center.
Details on Museums On Us
• The Marietta History Center hosts its FREE monthly Family Fun Day on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
• The Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville hosts its Free Family Thursday each month on the second Thursday, which is August 14, 2025. The free hours are 4 to 8 p.m.
♦ 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 Space Odyssey project on Saturday, August 2, 2025.
• Lowe’s Kid Workshop — make a Pet Station on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
♦ Two days of free concerts at the Summer Shade Festival
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025
Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025
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.
♦ 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
♦ Visit Stone Mountain Park for half price
For a limited time, a Groupon deal lets you purchase the Attractions Pass for HALF PRICE — that’s just $19.99. We don’t know how long this deal will last, but we hope it will extend all month long!
PLUS, you can save 25% on a ticket to the NEW Zip Line Adventure Course — that’s just $29.99, for a savings of $10 when you buy through Groupon.
♦ 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 2025 Guide to Summer Festivals in Atlanta.
- Cobb International Film Festival
- Duluth Multi-cultural Night
- Kennesaw Pigs & Peaches Festival
- Alive in Roswell
- Pan African Festival
- Piedmont Park Arts Festival
- Grant Park Summer Shade Festival
- Cobb International Festival
- Pioneer Days Festival
- Dragon Con Parade
- Atlanta Hip Hop Day Festival
- Marietta Art in the Park
♦ See the Classic Lasershow, back at Stone Mountain a limited run
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
PLUS, for a limited time, a Groupon deal lets you purchase the Attractions Pass for HALF PRICE — that’s just $19.99. We don’t know how long this deal will last, but we hope it will extend all month long!
♦ 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
♦ Save $10 after 4 p.m. at the Georgia Aquarium
For a limited time this summer, there are big savings when you visit in the late afternoon.
Get tickets for $10 OFF when you plan a visit for after 4 p.m.
Plus, through August 17th, your evening visit includes Glow Nights, an experience inspired by the ocean’s bioluminescence with glow-themed photo ops, surprise character appearances, specialty food and drinks, live performances from jugglers, aerialists, and more!
More info
♦ 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
♦ Take the kids to CHEAP movies at theater chains
Beat the heat and take the kids to a cheap movie!
Four national theater chains with an Atlanta presence are offering cheap summer movies for families on a budget. They include AMC, Regal, Cinemark, and Marcus Theatres.
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
♦ 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.
More info and tickets
♦ 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
♦ See Alice’s Wonderland Re-imagined, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Check out this special exhibit, complete with topiary-like statues of Alice, the White Rabbit, a giant chess board, and more. You can also take advantage of Cocktails in the Garden, an evening event that features specialty cocktails available for purchase. Running thru Sept. 12th.
Details on visiting ABG
♦ 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.
• Cobb County Trail of the Month program will meet at East Cobb Park (Marietta), on August 30, 2025. Register in advance.
• Wednesday morning group walks at Mason Mill Park are lead by a guide on the third Wednesday of each month, starting at 10 a.m. That’s August 20, 2025. No reservation needed!
Just a Walk in the Park is a program in Tucker. It features guided walks at two different parks, on September 3rd and September 10th, 2025.
• Here’s a short list of some of our favorite shaded walks to do on your own:
- Stroll around the lake and thru the woods at Murphey-Candler Park
- Visit old homestead ruins on the nature trail at Mary Scott Nature Park
- Walk the paved trail at the Peachtree Creek Greenway
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.
