UPDATED on 6/08/2021 — It appears that the 19th annual Summer Shade Festival will NOT take place in person in 2021.
This letter on the festival website indicates that it will continue the “Un-festival” format introduced last year, but will return in 2022.
You may be interested to know that the Atlanta Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park will take place in August in 2021.
You may also be interested in:
- The Dragon Con Parade in downtown Atlanta
- The Piedmont Park Arts Festival
- The Summer Shade Festival in Grant Park
- Doggy Con Pageant & Costume Contest in Woodruff Park
- Marietta Art in the Park Festival on Labor Day Weekend
- Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park
Content below the line is from a previous year and is not current. For more info, visit the festival website.
It’s time for the 17th annual Grant Park Summer Shade Festival! This popular festival takes place this weekend, on Saturday, August 24th and Sunday, August 25th, in Grant Park. Festival admission is FREE.
August in Atlanta is known for sweltering heat, but Grant Park is home to some of Atlanta’s oldest and shadiest trees to provide relief!
The outdoor fun includes an artist market, food trucks, craft beer, a Kids Zone, and a music line-up that just gets better every year. All the details are below, including the music line-up, list of food vendors, and tips for getting there and parking.
Festival hours:
- Saturday — 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday — 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
View the festival’s Facebook event page.
Artist Market
More than 200 artisans and craftsmen will be selling their goods — including art, photography, oil paintings, jewelry, silver, metal work, wood items, sculpture, blow glass, ceramics, pottery and more.
The artists market is open till 7 p.m. each day.
View the list of participating artists.
Food
You can expect traditional festival foods like corn dogs and funnel cakes — as well as healthier options like chopped salads and frozen yogurt.
The 2019 food vendors include:
- The Pickle Food Truck
- Gyro Chef Mediterranean
- Alkaline Junkie
- ISland Noodles
- Just Loaf’N
- Coles Backyard BBQ
- Tex’s Tacos
- King of Pops
- D & G Festival of Foods
- Mix’d up Burgers
- Dunwoody Cafe
- Georgia Party Dogs & Quesadilla Gourmet
- N7 Kream Lab LLC
- Repicci’s Italian Ice & Gelato of Atlanta
- Lisa’s Creperie
- Lil Ice Cream Dude’s Cool World
- The Pup Truck
- Lemonade Mixology
- Dogs On Wheels Hotdogs
- Banjo Cold Brew
- S&J’s Woodfired Pizza
- Sno-Angel Delites
Kids Zone
There are plenty of FREE activities in this year’s Kids Zone, including arts and crafts stations.
You can also buy tickets (or an unlimited activity wristband) for the kids to experience the bungee trampoline, obstacle course, giant slide, or toddler’s playland.
VIP Lounge
Want to upgrade your experience?
While most of the Festival is free, you can purchase admission to the VIP Lounge, which gives you access to:
- private tent with seating
- complimentary small plates from local caterer
- 5 drink tickets for beer, wine, and cocktails (only 4 drink tickets on Sunday)
- private, air-conditioned restrooms and misting stations
- souvenir cup
The VIP Lounge is located adjacent to the Grant Park pool.
You must be 21 or over to enter the VIP Lounge, and you’ll have to show your ID to drink alcohol.
Tickets for VIP admission are limited and may sell out.
VIP Lounge hours:
- Saturday, August 24th — noon to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, August 25th — 12:30 to 5:00 p.m.
VIP pricing:
- Saturday –$55 (plus a $4 fee)
- Sunday — $50 (plus a $4 fee)
- Both days — $90 (plus a $6 fee)
Get VIP lounge tickets through Freshtix.
Know before you go
Dogs are NOT allowed on the festival grounds. You know the drill — it’s an Atlanta city ordinance. Please don’t bring a pet of any kind and expect the rules to flex for you.
Outside alcohol is not allowed, but you can purchase adult beverages on site.
You’ll find several free water stations around the park, as the weather is expected to be hot. You can also visit one of several misting tents that will help you cool off.
Check out the festival highlights in this video!
The music line-up
Saturday
10:30am — Nirvana Yoga & Healing Sound with Sonic Yogi
12:00pm — Pharr
1:00pm — Yes Ma’am
1:55pm — Jimmy Galloway Guitar
2:50pm — The Front Porch Session Players
4:05pm — R.A.H
5:00pm — A$H
6:00pm — Samba Tipo Exportação
7:00pm — Mausiki Scales & the Common Ground Collective
8:30pm — Lil John Roberts presents STRIPPED
Sunday
12:00pm — Brother Moon
1:15pm — Captain Crimmins
2:25pm — COT Band
3:50pm — Cicada Rhythm
5:10pm –Blair Crimmins
Getting there and parking
Parking in and around Grant Park will be limited. PLEASE consider alternative means of transportation.
If you do choose to drive, your parking options will include the Cherokee lot (free) and the lot at Parkside Elementary School (paid).
Of course, you can also walk, rideshare, carpool, ride your bike or rent a Relay Bike, or ride an electric scooter!
If you bring your own bicycle, you can park it safely with the the the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s bike valet.
The closest MARTA station to the festival is the King Memorial MARTA station on the blue/green rail line. You can walk from the station, but plan on it taking 35 minutes. (Or, you can rent a Relay bike at the station).
MARTA Train and Walk/Bike Directions
- Take a blue or green line train to the King Memorial MARTA station
- Go to street level and turn left on Grant Street/Hillard Street.
- Walk two short blocks to Memorial Drive and turn left again.
- At Cherokee Avenue turn right — Cherokee will take you straight to the park.
View the MARTA guide for getting to the Summer Shade Festival.
