BE THRIFTY AND FUN AT THESE 8 FREE ATLANTA ATTRACTIONS
Figuring out what to see while on vacation can be one of the best things about planning a vacation, but finding cost-friendly attractions can be difficult. As admission prices skyrocket, seeing everything on your list might not be in the budget, but that doesn’t mean that you will be sitting in your hotel room for the duration of your vacation. Atlanta has a multitude of free attractions for you to choose from, and there is something for every interest. Check out Atlanta’s top free attractions and have fun planning your vacation while staying under budget.
The Atlanta Jazz Festival takes place every year with events starting in early May and continuing until Memorial Day. The festival celebrates the art, music and culture of jazz. Past performers include Dwight Andrews, Reńe Marie and Experiment in Truth, Dida Pelled, Melvin Jones, Yonrico Scott Band, Ruby Red’s Band, Eddie Gomez and Chubby Stevens. In 2017 the Atlanta Jazz Festival celebrated the 40th anniversary of the festival with the “40 Days of Jazz” event. For 40 days leading up to the festival, jazz artists performed at different venues all over the city to promote the festival and commemorate past, present and future jazz artists.
Atlanta Jazz Festival
Exploring Atlanta’s Free Offerings
The Atlanta Jazz Festival is one of the largest free jazz festivals in the country and continues to grow each year. The 2017 festival welcomed 200,000 people, and the 2018 festival is expected to bring in even more. If you happen to find yourself in Atlanta during the month of May, be sure to stop by one of the many free events hosted by the Atlanta Jazz Festival.
The Krog Street Market is a great place to walk around and window shop. The market is held in a 1920s warehouse and strives to be as unique and creative as the building it was built into. At the Krog Street Market visitors will find a mix of restaurants and retail shops. The shops sell everything from dog toys and vintage clothing to gourmet chocolate bars.
Find antiques and jewelry at the Collective or handmade bath and body essentials at Mama; whatever your interest, the Krog Street Market has it. The restaurants at the market are well on their way to making Krog Street Market a must visit dinner destination.
Krog Street Market
If you are looking for something to eat after walking around, there are plenty of options. From tacos to sushi, every palate is represented. Indulge in authentic Neapolitan pizza at Varuni Napoli or enjoy Szechuan cuisine at Gu’s Dumplings. From window shopping to dining, the Krog Street Market is a good place to walk around with family or friends.
Planning Your Budget-Friendly Exploration
The Atlanta Ice Cream Festival was founded in 2010 and is held every summer in late July. This family- friendly event focuses
on everyone’s favorite dessert while promoting a balanced lifestyle through health and wellness activities. The festival hosts multiple events, including fitness events, a wide variety of vendors, musical entertainment and the 5k Fight Cancer Walk. Enjoy a scoop or three of your favorite ice cream flavor and then burn off some of the calories by playing Frisbee or hula hooping.
The Atlanta Ice Cream Festival holds competitions in ice cream eating, hula hooping, jump rope and Frisbee toss. Other events include yoga, a young chefs competition and double-dutch routines. The Atlanta Ice Cream Festival is the perfect way to spend a lazy July afternoon, so if you are in Atlanta in late July, be sure to swing by and grab some ice cream.
Centennial Olympic Park first opened in 1996 as a place for visitors and Georgia residents to gather and watch the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. The park has since become a memento to the 1996 Games and acts as an anchor for the thriving residential and commercial districts that have grown around the park. While at the park visitors can see the Fountain of Rings, visit the visitors center, take a self-guided audio tour, see the famous inscription bricks and grab a bite to eat at Googie Burger.
Centennial Olympic Park
The Fountain of Rings is an interactive fountain in the shape of the Olympic rings. The fountain plays four times a day and is one of the most photographed landmarks in Georgia. On the audio tour guests can learn about the history of Centennial Olympic Park and the landmarks within the park. Googie Burger is a unique experience, as the restaurant is located in Centennial Olympic Park. The restaurant serves an American favorite— burgers. Whether you want to go for a leisurely stroll or see the sights, there is something for everyone at Centennial Park.
The Piedmont Park Arts Festival is a two-day festival held each year in mid-August. The festival promotes visual arts and creates community through art. The 2018 festival will be held August 18th and 19th in Atlanta’s largest park: Piedmont Park. Over 250 artists will be featured at the 2018 festival. All visual arts will be represented, including paintings, photography, sculptures, leather work, metal work, glass blowers, jewelry and crafts.
The festival supports up-and-coming artists by shining a spotlight on them in the Emerging Artists Pavilion. Also featured at the festival are artist demonstrations, live music and food vendors. The Piedmont Park Arts Festival was named as one of the top arts festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, and any proceeds from the event go to support a local charity or scholarship that supports the arts. Admission to the festival is free.
Piedmont Park Arts Festival
Delve into Atlanta’s wealth of free attractions, from cultural festivals to historic landmarks. Start your budget-friendly exploration now
The Martin Luther King Jr. The Historic Site is dedicated to honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and his legendary movement for nonviolent social change. While at the site visitors can see the visitors center, D.R.E.A.M. Gallery, Behold Monument, Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream ” World Peace Rose Garden, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birth Home, Fire Station No. 6, Ebenezer Baptist Church and Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
In the visitors center guests can see the “Children of Courage” exhibit, which shows the challenges faced by children during the Civil Rights Movement and the “Courage To Lead” exhibit, which tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and the impact he had on the Civil Rights Movement. The D.R.E.A.M. Gallery is currently showcasing an exhibit titled “Georgia’s Global Peacemakers: The Carter and King Legacy,” which tells of the story of the close relationship between the King and Carter families.
Mural at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site
The Behold statue was sculpted by Patrick Morelli and unveiled by Mrs. Coretta Scott King in 1990 as a tribute to her late husband. The Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have a Dream” World Peace Rose Garden is one of five gardens dedicated to peace. The garden has 185 roses in a variety of colors that are designed in a starburst pattern to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s ideals.
Visitors can also see the home where Martin Luther King Jr. was born and lived in for 12 years. Fire Station No. 6 is now a museum detailing the desegregation of the Atlanta Fire Department where guests can see a 1927 American LaFrance fire engine.
Visitors can visit the church where Martin Luther King Jr. was a co-pastor and visit Dr. and Mrs. King’s graves at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
Ponce City Market is an ideal place for people to gather, eat and shop. There’s something for everyone in this attraction that boasts over 80 unique shops and restaurants. From eco-conscious jewelry and personalized stationary to edible cookie dough and fashion forward clothing, there is a lot to see at Ponce City Market. Learn about candle making at Candlefish or enter into the revival of the neighborhood hat shop at Goorin Bros.
Hat Shop. If you are looking for something to eat, there are numerous food and snack shops at Ponce City Market. From burgers and Szechuan-inspired meals to popsicles and gelato, there is something for every taste and hunger level. Ponce City Market is the ideal place to window shop with over 80 shops and restaurants.
Plan Your Shopping Adventure
The Marietta Square Art Walks are held every first Friday from March to November. Participating artists set up their art work in front of participating venues and visitors can walk through Marietta Square and see artwork by local artists. The walking tours are self-guided and open to the public.
Marietta Square Art Walk vendor
While planning and budgeting for a vacation can be difficult, Atlanta makes it easy with multiple fun, free attractions. From window shopping to free festivals, Atlanta has something for everyone to enjoy, and the best part is that it won’t cost you a thing. Worrying about admission prices is a thing of the past with Atlanta’s top free attractions.
