By Caren West
This year’s lineup features Deep South Wrestling, vintage treasures, and more than 140 artists—all in support of Atlanta’s oldest park.
Atlanta’s oldest public park will once again come alive with music, art, and local flavor when the Summer Shade Festival returns to Grant Park on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24,. Now in its 23rd year, the free, two-day event is hosted by the Grant Park Conservancy and serves as its largest annual fundraiser—supporting year-round efforts to preserve, maintain, and enhance the park’s 131 acres.
This year’s festival runs from 10:00am to 10:00pm Saturday and from 10:00am to 6:00pm Sunday, with a packed lineup of activities for all ages. Visitors can expect live music on two stages, a curated artist and vintage market, local food and drink, and free family programming—all set beneath the canopy of one of Atlanta’s most historic green spaces.
“This is more than a festival,” says Michelle Blackmon, Executive Director of Grant Park Conservancy. “Summer Shade is an opportunity to bring the community together, celebrate local culture, and highlight the importance of preserving this iconic park for future generations.”
The Main Stage and Gazebo Stage will feature performances throughout the weekend. More than 140 artists and makers will be spread throughout the park, with a curated vintage market by GVG Events (formerly Georgia Vintage Goods) surrounding the recently restored Milledge Fountain—a project completed by the Conservancy and honored with a 2022 Atlanta Design Award for historic preservation.
Additional programming includes two daily performances by Deep South Wrestling, the Kids’ Bouncy House Village, face painting, and the Sunday morning Move & Groove activation hosted by the Grant Park Parents Network. Visitors can also enjoy yoga on the lawn, dancing under the trees, and a bike valet for cyclists.
The weekend kicks off early with the Adams Realtors Run for the Park 5K on Saturday at 8:00am, a neighborhood race that winds through the park’s historic streets and raises critical funds for the Conservancy.
Founded in 1999, the Grant Park Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the stewardship of Atlanta’s oldest park, which was established in 1883. The organization leads ongoing restoration, ecological care, beautification, and community engagement efforts year-round.
“Events like Summer Shade allow us to honor the park’s legacy while creating new connections with the city around us,” said Blackmon. “The best part? It’s completely free and offers something for everyone—families, art lovers, vintage collectors, foodies, music fans, and event enthusiasts alike.”
For the full schedule of events, 5K registration, or information on how to volunteer or donate, visit summershadefestival.org or gpconservancy.org. Festival updates are also available via @grantpark.atlanta on Instagram and facebook.com/SummerShadeFestival.
