The Grant Park Summer Shade Festival is always held during the last weekend in August. This year’s dates are Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25, 2018 and is the festival’s 17th year!
The Summer Shade Festival is a thriving, two-day in town festival in historic Grant Park, organized by and benefitting the Grant Park Conservancy.
No, sorry. Dogs are not allowed at outdoor festivals, per Atlanta city ordinance [Section 110-70(d).
No, sorry. Can’t bring those (or dogs either). And do you really want to bring your cat to a festival?
We strongly encourage all of our festival attendees to patronize the fabulous food vendors we have carefully and thoughtfully selected. We are proud of the wide range of cuisine offerings and are confident that there is something for every craving and budget. You will also find several free water stations throughout the festival, so stay hydrated! It's hot, even in the shade! Please keep in mind that this is a fundraiser for the Grant Park Conservancy and all the alcohol sales benefit the park. That means you are drinking for a good cause! For this reason, outside alcohol is not allowed.
Here's the answer.......Link to Google Maps
Over the course of both days, the festival gets 30,000 visitors on average. It’s a great place to meet your friends, grab a frosty beverage, do some people-watching and enjoy the free entertainment.
Yes! There has never been a charge for admission to the Summer Shade Festival.
There will be food vendors and an artist market at the festival for your eating & shopping pleasure!
Yes! Be sure to register for the Adams Realty 5K Run for the Park held Saturday morning before the festival. Hundreds of runners help kick off the Summer Shade celebration, and you can be one of them! Register here.
Children of all ages can enjoy the Summer Shade Festival Kids Zone. The Kids Zone features art activities, as well as active options such a bungee jump and more. Don’t worry- we’ll keep the kiddos entertained!
The festival opens at 10am on Saturday and ends at 10pm on Saturday night. The artist market is open until 7pm. The festival opens again at 11am on Sunday and wraps up at 7:30pm on Sunday evening.
Not to worry! Grant Park houses some of Atlanta’s oldest and shadiest trees to provide relief from the heat. Hence the name “Summer Shade Festival.” You can also visit one of several misting tents that will provide you with a cool spray as you meander through the festival. And of course, there will be plenty of cold beverages available to keep you hydrated.
A lot! You can visit our artist market with over 200+ original artists from around the country with both a juried and non-juried component. You can enjoy live entertainment at multiple entertainment venues featuring some of the best local talent in Atlanta. You can eat and drink your face off at one of the many food vendors and beer tents located within the festival. Looking for traditional festival fare or healthy choices? Don’t worry- we have both!
There is an EMT on hand to handle any injuries or medical emergencies that may occur during the festival.
The Grant Park Conservancy (GPC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration and enhancement of Grant Park. We need your support to continue their mission and keep Grant Park a world-class destination for all its visitors. Click here to learn more about becoming a member.
Expect traditional festival fare, such as corn dogs and funnel cakes, but also expect healthier options like salads and frozen yogurt. You will be able to choose from several food vendors serving up everything from BBQ and desserts to tacos and fried fish. Whatever you’re craving, you’ll most likely find something to satisfy your hunger.
There will be ample port-a-potties & restrooms available throughout the festival. Please refer to the Festival Map for exact locations.
Parking in and around Grant Park will be limited because of the Boulevard parking lot closure, so you're going to need to get creative! We hope you will consider using alternative methods of transportation to visit the park and attend the festival.
MARTA just announced a new route through Grant Park, route 832, which is a good option for getting here. Of course, you can also walk, rideshare, carpool, ride your bike and park it at the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition's Bike Valet, ride a Relay Bike, or ride an electric scooter! Don't ride your horse because there is no place to hitch it while you enjoy the festival, and pets are not allowed. If you do choose to drive, limited parking options will include the Cherokee lot (free) and Parkside Elementary (paid).
The Grant Park Summer Shade Festival is an annual fundraiser for the Grant Park Conservancy (GPC), a non-profit, membership-based organization committed to the restoration, renovation, beautification and maintenance of historic Grant Park.
