The Ultimate Guide to Summer Fun in Atlanta 2019 Edition

The heat and humidity won’t keep us inside this summer! There are too many fun and exciting things to do in Atlanta. To help you schedule your summer fun, we’ve compiled the ultimate summer events guide for our city. Below, you’ll find the area’s most popular festivals, a number of patio dining options, summer camps for kids, and the best spots to cool off and have some fun in the water.

Summer Festivals in Atlanta

Festivals in Atlanta take place all summer long. Beginning in June, you can experience festivals that celebrate food, drink, culture, history, music, art, and more. Some of the most popular festivals are included below.

• Atlanta Summer Beer Fest. On June 15, the Atlanta Summer Beer Fest kicks off. Tickets can be purchased in advance or the day of. For those in attendance, there will be 150+ beers, 35+ wines and ciders, live music, and an airconditioned DJ tent.
• Piedmont Park Chicken + Beer Festival. Atlanta is well known for its cuisine that follows southern traditions. On June 15, you can enjoy a selection of 65+ beers and try fried chicken from 10+ restaurants from Atlanta. Tickets can be purchased here.
• WOW! Afro Festival. On July 6, WOW! Afro Festival celebrates African culture through music, food, clothing, fashion, arts, and more. While this festival is now celebrated all over the world, it originated in Atlanta.
• Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival. Visit JCT Kitchen & Bar on July 14 for the 11^th annual Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival. You can enjoy tomato-based foods and beverages from dozens of chefs and mixologists. There will also be live music from The Spazmatics and The Foo’d Fighters.
• Atlanta Ice Cream Festival. On July 27, stop by Piedmont Park for the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival. Attendees can enjoy ice cream, gelato, and more. There will also an ice cream eating competition, live demonstrations, and a cancer walk benefit.
• Atlanta Balloon Glow. From August 1-4, you can take part in Atlanta Balloon Glow. Beginning at dusk each evening, hot air balloons will be lit up and tethered hot air balloon rides are available. You can also find food trucks, retail vendors, and activities for the whole family.
• Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Festival. Just a 20-minute drive from Atlanta, the 19^th annual Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass festival will be held on August 10. Experience the sights, sounds, and smells, of classic southern BBQ, along with original live blues and bluegrass music.
• Piedmont Park Summer Arts Festival. The Piedmont Park Summer Arts Festival takes place from August 17-18. It has been named as one of the Top 100 Arts Festivals in the Nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine. There will be over 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalwork, glass blowers, jewelers, and crafters.
• BronzeLens Film Festival. The ninth annual BronzeLens Film Festival takes place from August 21-25. Attendees can take part in film screenings, film workshops, master classes, the BronzeLens award show, and a luncheon.
• Grant Park Summer Shade Festival. This two-day event, which takes place from August 24-25 welcomes music and art lovers to Grant Park. At the Grant Park Summer Shade Festival, there will be an impressive music lineup, an artist market, and more. There will also be food trucks and beverage selections.

Atlanta’s Best Patio Dining Options 

There’s nothing better than enjoying drinks and dinner with friends outside on a summer evening. There are a number of dining options in Atlanta that offer patio seating. Whether you’re looking to try something new or want to stick with classic, southern cuisine, there are restaurant options for everyone. The places we’re featuring include:

• Midway Pub. Midway Pub’s lowkey neighborhood patio features snacks, burgers, and a rotating menu. Their drink menu changes daily, with a focus on craft beer. They also offer craft cocktails, seasonally selected wines, and a wall of whiskeys.
• Poor Hendrix. Located in the East Lake community of Atlanta, Poor Hendrix is a casual neighborhood bar and restaurant. At the bar, you can enjoy small plates of food that pair perfectly with their beverages. Their full menu features simple, classic dishes.
• Superica. Superica is located in a fully restored factory. Mexican and American foods are served. The large outdoor bar is perfect for enjoying drinks in the summertime.
• Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall. Located in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward, Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall is the first outdoor-oriented bar and restaurant to open along the Beltline’s Eastside Trail. They offer elevated campfire cuisine and focus on shareable dishes.
• Raging Burrito & Taco. Located in the nearby Decatur, Raging Burrito & Taco offers family-friend, cheap eats. The garden patio is a favorite among locals.
• Cypress Street Pint & Plate. Cypress Street Pint & Plate is located in Midtown. They have specials throughout the week and serve weekend brunch.
• Publico Atlanta. While dining on Publico Atlanta’s patio, you can enjoy lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, in addition to freshly made desserts.
• King + Duke. The patio at King + Duke is in a perfect location for people-watching. While dining outside you can enjoy their full menu or choose from smaller selections called Bites. They also have a selection of cocktails, canned beer and cider, wine, and spirits.
• Canoe. Canoe features an intimate setting with a view of the Chattahoochee River. Their seasonal menus are created by a celebrated chef and they take pride in their service.
• Table & Main. Table & Main features a bourbon bar and a charming garden patio. The southern tavern has received a number of accolades for their food.

Summer Camps for Kids

With school out for the summer, it’s easy for kids to get bored. To fight that boredom, Atlanta offers over 400 summer camps, ranging from day camps to overnight stays. While we couldn’t include all 400+ on the list, we’ve picked a variety to meet the interests of every child.

• Club SciKidz. This summer day camp offers 54 science and technology-themed camps. Kids can explore robotics, 3D printing, Minecraft adventures, Java programming, chemistry, video game creation, paleontology, and more. There are camps available for pre-K through seventh grade, which run in June and July. You can check out the locations here.
• Circus Camp. Throughout the day at Circus Camp, participants will work with highly-trained counselors to participate in circus-themed activities like magic, juggling, tightrope, and more.
• ART Station. Geared for children ages five to 13, ART Station’s summer camp runs from July 11-19. Their mission is to involve campers in a number of artistic activities in the performing, literary, and visual arts.
• Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse Camps. The Atlanta Shakespeare Company hosts summer camps for ages four through six. This year’s theme is Shakespeare Superheroes. They have four camps, separated by age and grade: Superheroes Sidekicks Camp (ages four to six), Shakespeare Superheroes (rising second to eighth grades), musical theatre camp (rising second to eighth grades), and stage combat camp (rising fourth to eighth grades).
• Camp Village. Camp Village works with more than 60 community partners to provide activities like chess, basketball, gardening, golf, public speaking, horseback riding, yoga, and more. Their summer program runs from June 11 to July 21.
• Grant Park Academy of the Arts. The Grant Park Academy of the Arts: Camps for the Creative and Curious is for children ages five to 11. One week sessions are available with focuses on music, art, creative writing, animal studies, and LEGO engineering.
• Camp Flashback. At Camp Flashback, kids can learn about what it was like to work on a farm in 1870. They’ll hand-crank ice cream, hand-dip candles, learn woodworking, plant a garden, and more. There are four sessions this year: June 17-21, June 24-28, July 8-12, and July 15-19.
• Critter Camp. Critter Camp is for animal, nature, and science lovers. Campers will learn about animals and their life cycles, habitats, and defense strategies. This year’s camp will focus on salamanders, frogs, turtles, lizards, and snakes.
• The Sensory Affective Play Camp. Children will have the opportunity to improve their self-esteem, expand their social skills, and regulate their emotions at the Sensory Affective Play Camp.
• Young Chefs Academy Camp Can-I-Cook. The Young Chefs Academy Camp Can-I-Cook features four experiences: baking, cupcakes, chocolate, and showdowns. During the three-hour, multi-day camp, young chefs can learn about the science of baking, new recipes, culinary tips and tricks, and more.

Fun in the Water in (And Around) Atlanta 

We know just how hot and humid it can get in Atlanta. If you’re looking to cool down, there are a number of places you can visit! From splash pads to pools, fountains, and beaches, we’ve listed some of the most popular water features and activities in and around our city.

• Acworth Slide. The Acworth Slide is the world’s largest inflatable water slide. It’s 35 feet high and 175 feet long. It’s located at the Dallas Landing Park and can be seen across the lake.
• Fountain of Rings. The Fountain of Rings is a zero-depth pool where children can run through water curtains and jets. It’s located in the Centennial Olympic Park. In addition to playing in the water, there are water shows four times per day.
• Geyser Towers. Geyser Towers, located at Stone Mountain Park, is a multi-level course with rope bridges and net tunnels. There are sporadic eruptions and multiple offshoots, so you can stay cool while climbing.
• Atlanta Botanical Garden. The Children’s Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden features a splash pad for children to play.
• Splash Fountain at Zoo Atlanta. Zoo Atlanta has a splash fountain in the KIDZone. There are a total of 18 water jets for kids to play in.
• Bethesda Park Aquatic Center. The Bethesda Park Aquatic Center has a number of features, including an indoor leisure pool and instructional pool, a giant waterslide, river channel, water play structures, water vortex, hydrotherapy benches, and wet classroom.
• Spray Pad at Old Atlantic Park. The spray pad at Old Atlantic Park is a fenced-in area featuring jets, buckets, and more for kids and families to enjoy.
• Margaritaville at Lanier Islands. Margaritaville at Lanier Islands is fun for the whole family. They feature water slides, a wave pool, water obstacle courses, paddle board, kayak, and pontoon rentals, and more.
• Acworth Beach at Cauble Park. You don’t have to drive to the coast to visit the beach. The Acworth Beach at Cauble Park is a large man-made beach that features white sand, swimming, volleyball nets, and picnic areas.
• Big Splash Interactive Fountain. At the Town Center Park in Suwanee, kids can enjoy the Big Splash Interactive Fountain.

Bey & Associates Wishes You a Cool and Sunny Summer

At Bey & Associates, our lawyers are dedicated to helping our clients with their personal injury cases. But we understand that taking a break from business is a good idea – especially in the summer. Enjoy the summer with your friends and family by checking out the places and events discussed above. Whether you’re trying something new or returning to an old favorite, you won’t be disappointed.