May Festival Guide

By Collin Kelley
Editor

Festival season is in full swing Intown as just about every weekend has something fun, festive and unexpected on tap. Check out our guide.

Great Atlanta Pot Festival
With states voting to legalize marijuana last fall, organizers have resurrected the festival, which had run for more than a decade in the 90s and 00s. This year’s festival will be held Saturday, May 4, from noon to 7 p.m. at Freedom Park. There will be a march and rally for reform to cannabis laws starting at 11:30 a.m. in the park on the Moreland Avenue side and will proceed to Findley Plaza in Little Five Points. Back in the park, there will be an afternoon of music, speakers and information on legalization efforts in Georgia. Musical acts performing include Culture, Coupious Jones, Ghost Riders Car Club and Hair of the Dog. There will also be food vendors and a market featuring art and local crafts. For more information, visit potfestival.com.

Fiesta Atlanta
The 7^th annual Fiesta Atlanta will take place Sunday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown. Billed as the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the southeast, Fiesta Atlanta features a daylong celebration of Latino culture and heritage with continuous live musical performances on two stages by international and national recording artists. Mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing, a 5K race, youth soccer clinics and sponsor displays with free product samples, arts and crafts and authentic foods make Fiesta Atlanta a true multicultural celebration. For more, visit FiestaAtlanta.com.

Buckhead Spring Arts & Crafts Festival
The festival returns to the paths of Chastain Park the weekend of May 11-12. More than 25,000 attended last year’s event, and there will be something for everyone as 175 artists representing all disciplines sell and exhibit their creations. Food, live acoustic music, a children’s play area make for a fun weekend for the entire family. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Parking will be available in the marked amphitheater lots, but no festival parking will be allowed in the residential neighborhoods around Chastain. For more, visit buckheadartsfestival.com.

Kirkwood Spring Fling & Tour of Homes
The 11th annual Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes is set for Saturday, May 11, in the shade at Bessie Branham Park. The day begins at 8 a.m. with a 5K road race, while the artist market will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be live music on two stages throughout the day and evening from Hoosier Daddy, Eel Pie, Lauren St. Jane, Grinder Nova, Noot d’ Noot, No Parachute, Julie Gribble, The Deadfields and Moontower. A kids’ area will feature games and activities, while food will be provided by local vendors. Also happening on May 11-12 is the Kirkwood Tour of Homes, featuring classic Victorian cottages to craftsman bungalows to modern lofts and everything in between. Tickets for the home tour are $20. Admission to the festival is free, while proceeds from the home tour benefit the Kirkwood Neighbors Organization. For more, visit kirkwoodfling.com.

The Sweet Auburn Springfest
Annual attracting 350,000 attendees, this year’s street festival is May 10-12, featuring a three-day weekend of food, entertainment and information. Details were still be worked out at press time, but expect kids’ fun zone, senior citizens pavilion, a “Just for Women” area featuring resources and information, live music throughout the weekend, food and more. Visit sweetauburn.com for more information.

Atlanta Jazz Festival
The 36^th annual music extravaganza returns Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27, to Piedmont Park. The line-up this year includes Meshell Ndegeocello, Uri Gurvich Quartet, Rio Negro, Jacob Deaton and the Tribulation Band, Julie Dexter, Alexandra Jackson, Aaron Diehl Quartet, Jose James, Dominick Farinacci and many, many more. To see the full line-up and schedule, visit atlantafestivals.com.

Decatur Arts Festival
The 25^th annual festival will be held Memorial Day weekend in and around downtown Decatur. The event kicks off Friday, May 24, with an ArtWalk around Decatur and the Oakhurst neighborhood to participating galleries and businesses. The giant artist market downtown will be open May 25-26 featuring vendors from all over the region. Children’s events and art activities will take place on May 25 at the Decatur Recreation Center on Sycamore Street. You can also expect to find literary and theatre events happening throughout the weekend on the lawn of the courthouse, as well as live music and dance performances. See the full schedule at decaturartsfestival.com.