By Ceci Villanueva
More than 20,000 people came out to Grant Park on Aug. 22 and 23 for the 24th annual Summer Shade Festival, a final hurrah to summer filled with music, food, art, family fun and plenty of community spirit. Presented by and benefiting the Grant Park Conservancy (GPC) the free, two-day festival supports the Conservancy’s work in Atlanta’s oldest park.
“We loved seeing the park packed with people all weekend long. Summer Shade is a celebration of community, and it’s a joy to see such a strong turnout at one of Atlanta’s most cherished and historic public spaces,” said Michelle Blackmon, Executive Director of the Grant Park Conservancy. “We’re incredibly grateful for everyone’s support, and we’re already counting down to next year, which will mark the 25th edition of the Summer Shade Festival.”
This year’s festival offered something for everyone, from the live music of 25 bands playing on the Main Stage and at the Gazebo, to nearly 170 regional artists, makers and vintage vendors, as well as a wide array of delicious local eats and drinks.
Deep South Wrestling returned with high-octane, family-friendly matches that kept an enthusiastic crowd of kids and adults cheering and booing all through the weekend. Meanwhile, the new Kids Village offered younger festivalgoers a variety of activities, including music, gymnastics, robotics, toys, coloring, and more.
The Seed and Feed Marching Abominable was a cheerful and colorful addition this year, with the band making its way through the festival’s footprint and stopping to dance with festivalgoers on its way from Park and Berne Avenues to Loomis Plaza.
Another success was the festival’s new recycling program. Water towers located at key spots provided ice-cold water all weekend long, allowing visitors to refill their reusable water bottles or use the provided compostable cups. The program helped divert 40 pounds of waste.
Additionally, an aluminum recycling program in partnership with Peace of Mind Recycling saved 6,000 aluminum cans from the landfill.
As always, the celebration kicked off with the Adams Realtors Run for the Park 5K, with proceeds benefiting the GPC. Morning yoga, a bike valet, DJing by Port Royal, and plenty of fun activities rounded out the weekend and kept people entertained well into the evening.
The Summer Shade Festival is produced by and benefits the Grant Park Conservancy (GPC), the nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration, maintenance and beautification of Grant Park, Atlanta’s oldest and most historic public park. Founded in 1999, GPC leads capital improvements, preserves the park’s ecological landscape and brings the community together through events, programming and stewardship. The Conservancy’s impactful work is made possible by generous private and individual support, ensuring Grant Park remains a vibrant, accessible green space for all for generations to come. You can support their work here: www.gpconservancy.org/support.
