Check out our calendar of events for summertime activities and fun all around the Peach State.

The idyllic 3,000-acre Barnsley Resort in Adairsville is the perfect backdrop for the All American Cookout & Fireworks, a family-friendly celebration of Independence Day, complete with a menu of cookout favorites, live music and lawn games. And don’t miss the magnificent fireworks display, which promises to illuminate the nighttime sky over the resort’s Jim Fazio-designed golf course.

Located just an hour northwest of Atlanta, Barnsley Resort is situated on the grounds of a historic former manor house and includes extensive outdoor activities, fine dining, a spa and other amenities, all encompassed within a charming English-inspired village layout offering 142 guest rooms spread out amongst the 55-room inn and 39 cottages ranging in size from one- to seven-bedrooms for you to choose from.

Calendar of Events

Review this calendar and plan to attend some of the best events Georgia has to offer.

Now–June 2
Georgia Renaissance Festival
Take a trip back to the Middle Ages at this Fairburn fest, where the whole family will love jousting competitions, costumed performers, live shows on 10 stages and more. Themes change every weekend.

Now–July 14
Dutch Art in a Global Age
Atlanta’s High Museum of Art’s visiting exhibit showcases more than 100 paintings, prints and objets d’art by Dutch masters including Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Willem Kalf and Rachel Ruysch. This arresting collection, on loan from Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, reflects the complex history of the 17th and 18th centuries.

May 3–5
Shaky Knees Music Festival
You’ll be dancing all weekend to live music by more than 60 bands of diverse genres. The list of 2024 headliners includes Foo Fighters, Noah Kahan, Queens of the Stone Age, Weezer, Arcade Fire and Billy Idol. Fuel up with creative bites from food trucks from around the Southeast.

May 9
Taste of Alpharetta
More than 60 local restaurants offer tasty bites and cooking demonstrations at this annual family-friendly foodie event. Who knows? As you sample signature appetizers, entrées and desserts from the area’s top chefs, you may discover a new favorite.  

May 18
Geranium Festival
This arts and crafts festival celebrates its 46th year with more than 400 artisans filling the main square and surrounding streets of downtown McDonough. Proceeds benefit McDonough’s Lions Club as attendees shop and sample from a variety of local food trucks.

May 18
Kenny Chesney’s Sun Goes Down Tour
Country superstar Kenny Chesney returns to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Sun Goes Down tour. Sing along to his top tunes and performances by Georgia’s own Zac Brown Band, Uncle Kracker and Megan Moroney. (For AAA Member-exclusive discounts on concerts and more, visit AAA.com/Tickets.)

May 24–27
Memorial Day Weekend at Stone Mountain Park
This holiday weekend event honors our troops and their families and officially kicks off the park’s annual Summer at the Rock programming. Ride the scenic railroad, hike to the top of Stone Mountain and take in the dazzling light show and fireworks display.

May 25–27
Atlanta Jazz Festival
Hailed as one of the South’s best free music events, this Piedmont Park festival showcases a wealth of jazz talent and highlights the music, culture and art of the genre with past performances by stars including Wynton Marsalis, Sélène Saint-Aimé and Ledisi.

May 25–27
Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament
Head to Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain to watch top watersport athletes compete for honors at this 63rd annual competition. While you’re there, enjoy live music, beach activities, food and fireworks.

May 31–June 1
Georgia Peach Festival
Taste why Georgia earned the nickname the Peach State while celebrating the state’s most famous fruit. See pageants crowning the Georgia Peach Queens, taste the world’s largest peach cobbler and enjoy a dazzling fireworks display in Fort Valley (or head to part two of the festival in Byron on June 8).

June 7–July 27
Copper Creek Farm Summer Fest
Celebrate some of the singular pleasures of summer at this Calhoun farm. Visitors can take their pick and explore a petting zoo, mine for gems, join a hayride, try their hand at milking a cow, snack on caramel apples and homemade ice cream and pick colorful sunflowers.

June 21–23
AthFest Music & Arts Festival
More than 100 bands and musical acts, from jazz to Southern rock to country, take stages in downtown Athens in the 26th annual festival. Revelers can shop from 70-plus artisans’ booths, all while supporting music arts education in the Classic City.

June 21–23
Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival
Celebrate emancipation with this lively weekend including a televised parade, a fly-over, marching bands, delicious food and more. This year marks an expansion to include 100-plus acres of revelry with live music on five stages.

June 22
Watermelon Days Festival
Cordele prides itself on its status as the Watermelon Capital of the World, and this festival celebrates the sweet fruit with more than 30 activities, including a parade, car show and a watermelon-throwing contest.

July 4
Blue Ridge Fourth of July Celebrations
This charming mountain town has been celebrating Independence Day festivities in its historic downtown since the 1950s. Kick it off with the Blue Ridge Freedom 5K at 7:30 a.m. followed by the Old Timers’ Parade at 10 a.m. The evening concludes with fireworks over Lake Blue Ridge at 9:30 p.m.

July 4
Savannah’s Waterfront Independence Day Celebration
Arrive early to this popular community event at the Savannah Convention Center. The day starts at noon with live music, food and activities to entertain the whole family. Then, pick a spot along the river as a dazzling fireworks display lights up the sky, starting at 9:30 p.m.

July 4
St. Simons Island Sunshine Festival
Celebrating Independence Day with neighbors and visitors has been a St. Simons Island tradition for more than 60 years. Revelers may take part in a 1-mile fun run or a 5K run at the Pier Village in the morning and enjoy a fireworks show at sundown in Neptune Park.

July 6, 21, 27 and 28
Sitton’s Cave Adventures
Cloudland Canyon State Park, known for its deep canyons, creeks and waterfalls, in Rising Fawn hosts adventurous ranger-led cave tours. All the necessary gear is provided to crawl through the mud, scale rocks and witness intriguing creatures as the group gets a look at the underground world.

July 26–27
Bragg Jam
This Macon event has been honoring the lives of local musicians Brax and Tate Bragg, who tragically died in a car accident, since 1999. The lineup will be announced in the months leading up to the event. In addition to the Saturday concert crawl, the 2024 festivities see the addition of a Friday night concert at the Capitol Theatre.

July 27
Atlanta Ice Cream Festival
Everyone screams for ice cream as at this 14th annual event in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Guests can sample bites, including plenty of gourmet frozen treats, from more than 80 restaurants and take part in activities including fitness routines set to live music.

July 27
Vann House Day
Chief Vann House State Historic Site in Chatsworth hosts a day of education about early 19th century life, with local craftspeople demonstrating skills such as basket weaving, quilting, blacksmithing and more. Bring the whole family to get a historically accurate perspective on what it was like to live in the 1800s.

July 30–Aug. 4
Funny Girl
Calling all Broadway and musical theater enthusiasts: Make plans to head to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre to see this show, which has one of the most beloved scores ever, with classic tunes such as “I’m the Greatest Star” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” Based on the story of real-life performer Fanny Brice (originally portrayed on Broadway by Barbra Streisand), the show chronicles her rise from a Lower East Side dreamer to a full-fledged star.

Aug. 1
Tin Cup Cruise-In
This fun gathering in the Cumming City Center kicks off a new series, with events happening the first Thursday of every month. The classic car show is hosted by the local favorite Tin Cup Grill (so the food offerings are guaranteed to satisfy) and anyone is welcome to bring their vintage ride to display.

Aug. 4
Georgia’s First Fourth
It’s a little-known fact that news of the signing of the Declaration of Independence didn’t make its way to Savannah until August, well after the official July 4 Independence Day. In honor of the delay, Wormsloe State Historic Site hosts this nod to history with the reading of the declaration just as it was shared back in 1776.

Aug. 10
Perseid Shooting Star Party
Join park rangers at Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge to see what’s predicted to be the year’s best meteor shower. Visitors are welcome to bring a blanket to the beach at Lake Rutledge where there will be talks by astronomers, live music and snacks before the sky puts on a show.

Aug. 10–11
Zach Bryan’s Quittin Time Tour
Rising country music superstar Zach Bryan leads an impressive lineup for two nights at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium this summer. The “Heading South” and “I Remember Everything” crooner is joined by Matt Maeson and Levi Turner for the Saturday show and Sunday night will feature Turner along with Sheryl Crow. (For AAA Member-exclusive discounts on concerts and more, visit AAA.com/Tickets.)

Aug. 16–24
Georgia Mountain Fair
The 73rd annual event in Hiawassee has something for everyone. Pick your favorite activities from a midway full of carnival rides, an arts-and-crafts show with plenty of treasures to take home, live music performances, a pioneer village with historical demonstrations of how life used to be and a host of festival food from barbecue to funnel cakes.

Aug. 30–Sept. 1
Labor Day Weekend Hot Air Balloon Show & Glow
Callaway Resort & Gardens, the 2,500-acre destination in Pine Mountain, hosts its annual Labor Day celebration. Play all day on Aqua Island’s inflatable obstacle course, soak up the sun at Robin Lake Beach or play a round of putt-putt. In the evenings, look up as hot-air balloons and a fireworks display fill the sky. 

Sept. 5–8
Yellow Daisy Festival
More than 400 artists and crafters converge at this annual event in Stone Mountain. Shop for some artful treasures, from holiday decor to jewelry and enjoy artisan demonstrations, live music and activities for little ones.

Sept. 5–Oct. 27
Oktoberfest
Experience the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States—54 years—in the Bavarian-inspired mountain town of Helen. Don your lederhosen or dirndl, dance to live music Thursdays through Sundays in September and nightly in October and snack on bratwurst and pretzels at the Helen Festhalle. Don’t miss the Oktoberfest Parade on Sept. 7.

Sept. 6
Dierks Bentley: Gravel & Gold Tour
The Grammy-nominated country star, known for chart-topping hits including, “What Was I Thinkin’” and “Every Mile a Memory,” takes the stage at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta for what is sure to be a high-energy show. (For AAA Member-exclusive discounts on concerts and more, visit AAA.com/Tickets.)

Sept. 13–14
The Princess Bride in Concert
Fans of the 1987 cult classic film won’t want to miss the opportunity to see it on the big screen at Atlanta Symphony Hall, with the award-winning score played live by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Nicholas Buc.

Sept. 14–15
Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration
This annual event at the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park celebrates the cultures of Southeastern Native Americans by showcasing storytelling, traditional crafts, live music and dance. Shop for an artful keepsake to take home, walk the winding park trails and sample Native American food at this Macon cultural destination.

Sept. 20–22
Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival
Augusta is a Georgia destination for the arts, and the diversity of offerings is on display at this annual event. More than 130 jury-selected artists share their creations, and five stages host performances, including dance, jazz, storytelling, acoustic music, pop and more.

Sept. 21
Skills of the Past
Georgia State Parks are committed to educating people about history, and at this 23rd annual event at the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site in Cartersville guests will learn about essential skills of the preindustrial age, such as building a fire, weaving and rope making.

Sept. 28–29
Duluth Fall Festival
This two-day Gwinnett County favorite kicks off with the area’s largest parade and includes a Donut Dash 5K; more than 180 arts and crafts purveyors selling their wares; continuous live music and dancing; and plenty of tasty bites, from caramel apples to corn dogs.