Looking for things to do this summer? Here’s a list of festivals coming to Georgia

As the hottest and most active season of the year approaches, festivals galore are popping up all around Georgia. Here are some events close to home or just a few hours away.

Food and Drinks

For a family-friendly food truck experience this summer and even after the summer, Byron, Georgia, hosts a Food Truck Fridays event the second Friday of each month from March to November from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. They host interactive activities at each event that can range from live music to movies on the lawn, and more. Admission is free for all ages.

Macon’s fourth annual Mimosa Festival comes back on June 1 and 2 from 3 to 4 p.m. on both days. Even though there is such a small window of time to attend the all-you-can-drink mimosa fest, live music as well as an onsite food truck will continue long after last call both afternoons. Tickets are available for Saturday or Sunday for $10 for general admission and $30 for bottomless mimosas. Two-day passes will not be available, but you can get a discount if you buy tickets for both days.

There’s no better way to end off a day than on a stop for some sweet treats. The Atlanta Street Fest hosts 100 dessert vendors, from 1 to 6 p.m. for free general admission. However, to get in an hour early and make sure you get your favorite desserts, VIP admission tickets will be available for purchase while in stock for only 20$.

Music

Spend a day on the lawn in Culloden listening to great music at the R&B Southern Soul Festival, hosted by A1 Entertainment from 3 to 10:30 p.m. Two live bands will open the day followed by a host of middle Georgia DJs playing their sets of R&B, Blues, Southern soul music, and more. General admission tickets are $20 and food vendors will be present.

For a bit of a more soulful sound, the Parking Lot Praise Christian Parade and Music festival will be held at Woodruff Riverfront Park in Columbus, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. At 10, the parade will start, followed by the main music festival at noon, which will feature a wide selection of gospel artists as well as Spanish worship artists, dancers and more. General admission is free.

Culture

As far as Georgia culture is concerned, peaches remain our staple identifier. The annual Georgia Peach Festival returns to Fort Valley this weekend, from May 31 to June 1. Then it’ll head down the road to Byron for June 8.

The solely state-sanctioned food festival honors peach growers for their contribution to our state’s economy and to the food industry nationwide. Two weekends of food, entertainment and exciting activities for all ages will start as early as 7 a.m. on June 1 and end at 9:30 p.m. on each date. The festival has free general admission, but some activities may require a fee.

The CAG Caribbean Cultural Festival at the Clayton County International Park immerses those in attendance in a festival of rhythms, delicious cuisines and a full exposition of Caribbean traditions. The event takes place on June 22, from 12 to 8 p.m. with free admission.

Culture covers all types of communities whether on this earth or even those we’ve created. AugustaCon, a pop culture festival, will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Augusta on June 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This collectors’ mecca convention remains one of Georgia’s top conventions for any fandom. General admission tickets cost $20.

Wild cards

It’s rare to see a hot air balloon these days and even more rare to see 25 of them in a cross-country race. The 51st Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race and Festival spans from May 29 to June 1, where several hot air balloons race starting from Helen, Georgia, and using any part of I-95 as the finish line. For safety purposes, this event’s occurrence depends on weather conditions.

With it being such a popular fruit in the state, it would be odd not to consider going to the Watermelon Days Festival. It’s the oldest festival in Georgia and takes place on June 22. To honor farmers, brokers, brewers and buyers alike, the festival features competitions, attractions that retell the history of Georgia, live entertainment, and a fireworks show to finish it off. A parking fee is required for the event but general admission remains free.

This story was originally published May 29, 2024 at 4:01 PM.