Top things to do in and around Atlanta this week

ATLANTA — Here is a look at some of the upcoming events in the Atlanta area.

RELATED: See things to do, fun events around town

May 15

Access for All Free Day at the High Museum

Join the High Museum for a day of free admission and drop-in programming for adults of all ages!

May 17-22

Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE

Phipps Plaza will be in full bloom May 17- May 22 as Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE, a globally acclaimed floral exhibition, makes its Atlanta debut at the property. Admire nature’s beauty and delight in a free, six-day flower show featuring 12 floral mannequins inspired by remarkable artists. On May 18, Phipps Plaza is offering visitors the one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet the talented floral teams behind Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE, view free floral demonstrations and shop for a fresh bouquet from local florists.

May 17-June 2

Universoul Circus

Experience breathtaking acrobatics, thrilling motorcycle stunts and cultural dances as the UniverSoul Circus celebrates its 30th anniversary back in Atlanta and its first time at Atlantic Station with a family reunion extravaganza! Reimagined with over a dozen culturally diverse presentations, including a never-before-seen trapeze show and motorcycle flips mid-air, plus an enhanced state-of-the-art lighting and sound system – Circus Cousins from Around the World brings amazing entertainment and fun to the Heart of Atlanta.

May 18

The Purple Experience

The Purple Xperience is a five-piece group hailing from Prince’s birthplace, Minneapolis, MN. They have been touring around the country bringing the greatest and most authentic production of Prince and The Revolution in the world to audiences of all generations. The event is at the Buford Community Center and is free.

National Astronomy Day at Tellus

To celebrate National Astronomy Day on Saturday, May 18, Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville is hosting their annual Star Party for astronomers of all ages. From 5:30 –7:30 p.m., visitors can gather in the Observatory for solar viewing, followed by lunar viewing from 7:30-11 p.m. Once evening falls, stargazers will be able to see the moon, the Gamma Leo constellation and the Hercules Globular Cluster from the museum’s state-of-the-art telescope. At 9:30, 10 and 10:15 p.m., visitors can embark on a guided ‘star walk’ on the museum grounds to view constellations and other celestial wonders.

Roswell Music Festival

There will be 2 stages, with eight bands performing between 1:00pm and 10:00pm in Historic Downtown Roswell. The music genre will be adult contemporary and will include bands featuring rock, jam, and Americana styles. Sister Hazel and Kevn Kinney are among those scheduled to perform.

Family River Day

Get ready for guided paddles, boat demos, water safety workshops, and more – all for free! This year, the Nantahala Outdoor Center is heading to Roswell for fun river activities led by experts, perfect for all ages and skill levels, workshops designed to help everyone feel confident in the outdoors, community booths, music, and a fantastic atmosphere celebrating diversity!

Red Bull Dance Your Style

Red Bull Dance Your Style, the global, all-styles street dance competition, announces its 2024 National Final will be hosted in the cultural hub of Atlanta on May 18th, celebrating the city’s deeply rooted culture and dance community. Prior to the showdown in Atlanta, the best dancers in the country will compete in regional qualifiers in Chicago, Memphis, Boston, and Los Angeles to earn the opportunity to compete in the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Final and Weekender in Atlanta. The event will include four days of dance programming and competition from Thursday, May 16 through Sunday, May 19.

May 18,25

Food and Street Art Tour on the Atlanta BeltLine

Discover the flavors of Atlanta with a stroll down the Atlanta BeltLine! Starting at Krog Street Market, named “one of the world’s best food halls” by Travel + Leisure, sample the diverse cuisines that make Atlanta a foodie town, while relaxing over refreshing margaritas. As you walk the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, uncover secrets behind the iconic street art, including ties to Hollywood, and see for yourself why the BeltLine is called the South’s largest outdoor art gallery.

May 19

Star Wars and More

The beloved film score program Star Wars and More with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra returns to Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta. This family-friendly symphonic concert will feature pieces from John Williams’ iconic film scores like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, and so much more!

Atlanta Streets Alive

The City of Atlanta will temporarily be closing sections of Peachtree Street to cars and open to people biking, walking, skating and more. Enjoy complimentary bike and skate valet, live music, + more from 1-5pm.

May 25

ATL Dessert Festival

Enjoy sweet treats from 100 of Atlanta’s dessert makers! Free admission.

Silent Disco Party

Silent disco parties are back with your favorite local DJs and drink specials!

706 R&B Picnic & Food Truck Festival

Indulge your taste buds with a variety of mouthwatering delights from a wide range of food trucks. From savory burgers to sweet treats, there’s something for everyone! Grab a plate and enjoy the tasty offerings while basking in the serene surroundings of the Oakfuskee Conservation Center located on Kingfisher Lane in LaGrange.

May 25-27

Atlanta Jazz Festival

Atlanta Jazz Festival is regarded as one of the largest FREE jazz festivals in the country. An annual celebration of the music, culture and art of jazz begins in April and culminates each Memorial Day weekend, with an outdoor festival featuring jazz artists from all over the world. Piedmont Park hosts the event May 25-27.

May 26

Get out of town for Memorial Day

Enjoy a meaningful escape this Memorial Day Weekend to the Omni Grove Park Inn with curated experiences including The 1913 Barbecue dinner on May 26th featuring activities for all ages and local live music. Keep the whole family entertained in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains with pool games, outdoor crafts, movie screenings, golf tournaments and more.

May 31

Summer Kick-off Party

Head to Halcyon for a Summer Kick-off Party for the whole family. The blowout party to kick off Summer will be spread across the green space at Halcyon and Cherry Street. There will be games and prizes for kids, face painting, Don Q pouring samples, cotton candy characters, a dessert cart, live music and select adult and kids drinks from Cherry Street’s outdoor bar.

My 31-June 2

Sneaker Stories at Museum of Graffiti

The Miami-based Museum of Graffiti proudly announces its latest traveling exhibition, “Sneaker Stories” presented by Modelo, will come to Atlanta’s Ponce City Market for one weekend only, May 31 – June 2, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday. This free experience will explore the historical ties and evolving relationship between graffiti art and sneaker culture through informative displays featuring rare sneakers and their corresponding art inspiration.

June 3-9

Atlanta Fringe Festival

The Atlanta Fringe Festival is thrilled to announce its biggest, most ambitious outing yet with 28 performance groups from seven different states and Taiwan -- presenting live theater, dance, puppetry, comedy, storytelling and more. This year’s festival, which takes place June 3-9, 2024 across seven local venues, will also feature a free performance venue for family-friendly shows and activities; a free outdoor festival featuring Atlanta street performers; a variety benefit featuring local Atlanta talent; and audio artists whose work will be available exclusively on the Atlanta Fringe podcasting network.

June 8-9

39th-Annual Virginia-Highland Summerfest

The festival includes activities for kids, crafts, music, a 5K and more!

June 15

Bourbon Battle

Scofflaw Brewing Co. is thrilled to host their first-ever Bourbon Battle at their MacArthur Taproom. Local community teams will go head-to-head in the ultimate whiskey barrel-picking challenge.

Now-May 19

Brews & Bites Festival

The iconic food and beverage festival is back and bigger than ever with an extended five-weekend runtime at Six Flags Over Georgia, over 75 craft brews from local and national vendors, an exciting culinary menu and hands-on entertainment for the whole family.

Fridays through May 31

Sound Waves! at Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium is bringing back its music series, Sound Waves! Enjoy live music, enhanced lighting, and atmospheric elements along with access to the Aquarium’s galleries – all (yes, all!) included with General Admission or membership. The music kicks off Friday, April 26 running each Friday through May 31 from 5- 8 p.m. and is open to all ages. Specially-themed food and cocktails will also be available for purchase.

Weekends now-June 2

The Georgia Renaissance Festival

As soon as the gates to the village of Newcastle open, visitors are transported to a magical medieval theme park full of fun and whimsy. Over 100 skilled artisans inhabit charming cottages, creating unique one-of-a-kind treasures for your shopping pleasure. Strolling minstrels fill the air with music, and our colorful village characters are always ready to regale you with a joke, a story, or just plain silliness!


RELATED: SEE MORE THINGS TO DO AROUND ATLANTA