Welcome to July! It’s time for fireworks, outdoor concerts and movies, splash pads, plus some indoor events for those hot and muggy July days.
Are you looking for things to do this July around metro Atlanta? This is your monthly guide to FREE & CHEAP FUN in the month of July.
Below, you’ll find an overview of July events, plus activities that are free, cheap, or discounted.
This month, we’ve thrown in some blockbuster exhibits that are splurge alert items in air-conditioned venues.
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.
July 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 July events.
♦ Celebrate Independence Day with fireworks
Independence Day celebrations begin the last weekend in June and continue through the first weekend in July — they’re not all on July 4th!
Our roundup of July 4th events includes fireworks, parades, free concerts, festivals, and more.
We also have an interactive map that helps you easily locate fireworks near you. Just click on the icon to get a link for more info. (On a mobile device, you’ll have to click the icon, then the name of the venue.)
View the list of fireworks & celebrations
♦ Opt for quieter Independence Day events WITHOUT fireworks!
If you’d like to celebrate America’s 250th birthday without the ear-splitting noise of fireworks, you have options!
They include festivals, concerts, parades, and drone or laser light shows (which light up the sky without the explosions!)
And of course, you can head to an afternoon or early evening celebration that features a concert or festival, and then leave before fireworks begin.
Find an event WITHOUT fireworks
♦ Take advantage of FREE museum days in July
• The Georgia Aquarium offers you FREE admission on your birthday — so all of you JULY babies are in luck!
Details on the Aquarium offer
• The National Center for Civil & Human Rights hosts a FREE admission day on Friday, July 3, 2026 in honor of America’s 250th birthday.
Details here
• The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum is offering FREE admission on Saturday, July 4, 2026 along with special activities and crafts, plus patriotic cupcakes.
More info
• The High Museum of Art hosts its Second Sundays FREE day on July 12, 2026.
Details on Second Sundays at the High
• The High Museum also hosts its FREE Access For All program on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 — you need to register in advance for this one.
• The Museums On Us program offers FREE admission to Bank of America cardholders at four metro-area museums on July 4th and 6th. This includes 7 different venues around metro ATL.
NOTE: some museums may be closed for the 4th of July on these dates.
Details on Museums On Us
• The Marietta History Center hosts its FREE monthly Family Fun Day on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
• The Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville hosts its Free Family Thursday each month on the second Thursday, which is July 9, 2026. The free hours are 4 to 8 p.m.
♦ Find FREE craft and DIY workshops in July
Take advantage of one of these FREE crafting events — just click through for details and to register.
In most cases, supplies are provided.
• Home Depot Kids Workshop — make a Go Kart on Saturday, July 5, 2026.
• Lowe’s Kid Workshop — make a Mini Toy Box on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
♦ Head to a FIFA World Cup celebration
With the FIFA World Cup in town, you’ll see soccer energy everywhere — not just inside Mercedes‑Benz Stadium.
Neighborhoods, parks, and downtown streets will be filled with fan festivals, live music, watch parties, food events, and cultural celebrations that make the World Cup feel like a city-wide block party.
There are huge fan fests and concerts planned for Centennial Olympic Park and the Decatur Square, as well as smaller events.
Find a World Cup-related event
♦ Teens work out for FREE at Planet Fitness in July
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.
There’s also a cheap Family Pass, so adults can bowl alongside their kids.
More info here
♦ Take a VR journey to the space station with Space Explorers: The Infinite
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.
Get tickets
More info
Location:
Pullman Yards
225 Rogers St NE
Atlanta, GA 30317
♦ Listen to tunes at FREE outdoor summer concerts in July
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 July
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
♦ Celebrate July food holidays with special deals
These silly food holidays exist for many reasons, including to celebrate a culinary tradition, promote a specific food, and boost the restaurant industry.
Quite often, restaurants and groceries will offer special deals in conjunction with a food holiday.
In July, we’re compiling deals and freebies on or around these dates:
♦ 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
♦ 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 indoor movies at theater chains
Beat the heat and take the kids to a cheap movie!
Several national theater chains, PLUS some local theaters, are offering cheap summer movies for families on a budget.
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.
There are even a couple of FREE options!
Details for each summer film series
♦ Titanic Echoes from the Past: An Immersive Exhibition in VR
Step into an extraordinary, guided VR journey and experience the story of the Titanic as if you were truly there. This one-of-a-kind immersive adventure blends history, cutting-edge technology, and powerful emotion—bringing the world’s most iconic ocean liner back to life like never before.
Get tickets
More info
Location:
Eclipso Atlanta
550 Somerset Terrace NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(located on the Eastside BeltLine)
♦ 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 a 10% discount on 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.
Browse concerts + buy tickets now
♦ Head to these festivals in July
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.
♦ 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
♦ 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
♦ 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
♦ Celebrate National Ice Cream Day
Sunday, July 19, 2026
There are usually deals and freebies to be had on this day, which falls on the third Sunday in July each year. And of course, we compile a list of them for your convenience — so you can get your brain freeze on!
Find a Nat’l Ice Cream Day deal
♦ Explore the dark side with Serial Killer: The Exhibition World Tour
A gripping, immersive experience into the dark psychology of real-life serial killers. Following its massive success in Europe, the collection is now making its U.S. debut in Atlanta before touring the rest of the country. Be among the first to experience this chilling true crime phenomenon!
Get tickets
Location:
Pullman Yards
225 Rogers St NE
Atlanta, GA 30317
♦ 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 $9 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.
More info
♦ Take some shady walks and easy hikes
It’s getting hotter and more humid — so head out early to one of these shady trails.
• 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
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