Cool Things To Do in April in Atlanta

By Taylor Boser

Last Updated March 29, 2026

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Spring is in the air and Atlanta offers plenty cool things to do in the month of April, from Braves baseball to the Atlanta Fair and Panda Fest. Plus, 404 Day falls on a Saturday, this year, which means the city is going all out to celebrate.

Enjoy the Outdoors

Atlanta Dogwood Festival

Atlantans don’t need a calendar to tell us when spring starts. Spring in Atlanta begins with the annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival, celebrating 90 years. This popular festival, set in Piedmont Park, is packed with vendors selling sculpture, painting, pottery, jewelry, metal works and photography. It’s a great time to find a new piece to decorate your space. The festival is April 10-12. On Friday, the hours are noon to 9 p.m., Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with fireworks beginning around 9 p.m. On Sunday, the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SweetWater 420 Fest

The SweetWater 420 Fest returns with an eclectic musical lineup with headliners Umphrey’s McGee, Thievery Corporation, Chromeo, Watchhouse, Little Stranger, The Heavy Heavy, Cimafunk, The Moss, Sneezy, Lespecial and more. To accompany the music, there will be food trucks, an artist market, workshops and beer from the largest craft brewer in the Southeast. This year, the festival takes place at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, April 17 and 18.

Atlanta Streets Alive

Now that the weather has warmed up, get ready to take over Peachtree Street during Atlanta Streets Alive. This event, on April 19, will be from 15th Street to Alabama Street. There will be vendors along the way for shopping or grabbing a bite to eat at. Stay tuned because there will be more Atlanta Streets Alive events throughout the year on a variety of streets and in different neighborhoods.

Atlanta Fair

Get ready to hop aboard the rides and enjoy classic fair food at the Atlanta Fair. Popular attractions include the Expo Wheel, Alien Abduction, Scooter Bumper Cars and Silver Streak. Kids rides include Tea Cups, Scooby Doo Kiddie Train, Toon Town Fun House and PuppyRoll. The fair is located across from Center Parc Stadium at Georgia State University. Tickets are available at the gate. The fair runs through April 12.

Festival on Ponce

The annual Spring Festival on Ponce invites festival-goers to explore works from more than 100 painters, photographers, sculptors, glass blowers, jewelers and more. Find it at Olmsted Linear Park April 11 and 12. Attendance is free. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. There will be a children’s area plus local food and beverages.

Easter Weekend

Mark your calendars, because Easter is Sunday, April 5. Whether you’re looking for an Easter brunch, an egg hunt or other festive celebrations, explore our list of Easter events fun for the whole family.

Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes

Atlanta has wonderful neighborhoods, each with its own personality. The Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes provides an inside look at this eclectic ‘hood. You can purchase art at the Arts & Crafts Show or enjoy live music on three outdoor stages. A parade full of color is a must-see when attending the festival, April 25-26.

The Tour of Homes is April 24-26.

Monster Jam

Ladies and gentleman, start your engines because Monster Jam is back. The adrenaline-charged family entertainment event features monster trucks like you’ve never seen before. Cheer them on as they compete in the wheelie contest, a doughnut competition and freestyle, where each truck has two minutes to strut its stuff. See Monster Jam at EchoPark Speedway in nearby Hampton, Ga. On April 11, the Pit Party begins at 12:30 p.m. and the show starts at 5 p.m. On April 12, the Pit Party begins at 10:30 a.m. with the show starting at 3 p.m.

Run Like Hell 5K

Lace up those running shoes to explore historic Oakland Cemetery in the annual Run Like Hell 5K. As the largest cemetery run in the country, you can “run like hell” while the Oakland residents are “pushing up daisies.” All proceeds go to the restoration and preservation of Oakland Cemetery. The race is April 4 from 5 until 7 p.m.

Run Like Wild 5K

A fan-favorite race, Zoo Atlanta’s Run Like Wild 5K has already sold out, but you can still run the race virtually or come in person to cheer on the runners. Registration proceeds go to support Zoo Atlanta’s operations, including superior animal care, education and conservation. Runners will get to check out the all-new African lion complex, opening this spring. The 5K is April 25.

One-of-a-kind Events

404 Day

Basically a national holiday in Atlanta, 404 Day celebrates Atlanta’s culture, the people and the stories that made the city what it is today. From a parade in Downtown to a block party at Underground Atlanta, explore the full list of events set for the weekend of April 4.

Panda Fest

Panda Fest returns to Atlanta for the third time bringing more than 300 authentic Asian food options. There will be more than 20 live cultural performances from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Filipino traditions. While there won’t be any real pandas, you can snap a photo with the 15-foot panda inflatable. The event is April 3-5.

Taste of Atlanta

Foodies – listen up. Taste of Atlanta is a foodie’s paradise. An April 16 event (6 to 10 p.m.) at The Works celebrates Taste of Atlanta’s 25th anniversary as it aims to uplift the hospitality community, providing a space for chefs, restaurants and beverage artisans to show off their craft.

Afterward, the party continues at Your 3rd Spot where all ticket holders will receive complimentary entry and experiences passes from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Atlanta Film Festival

The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is one of the largest and longest-running film festivals in the country and this year is the 50th anniversary. Taking place April 23 through May 3, ATLFF welcomes more than 28,000 attendees to discover new independent, international, animated, documentary and short films. In addition to the screenings, there are Q&A panels with the directors, actors and crew members for a deeper look into their work.

Illumine at Oakland Cemetery

Experience Oakland After Dark during Illumine, with innovative lighting and art installations by local artists, interactive exhibits and live music. There will be multiple bars and a pop-up shop. This year’s Illumine dates are April 16-19, 23-26. Illumine runs from 7:30 until 11 p.m.

Space Explorers: THE INFINITE

Experience life as an astronaut onboard the International Space Station at the Space Explores: THE INFINITE exhibit. Using VR immersive technology, guests are transported nearly 250 miles above Earth. They will get a front-row seat to NASA’s Artemis I rocket launch presented on giant screens, connecting humanity’s achievements in orbit with the next chapter of deep-space exploration as the Artemis program prepares for its upcoming Artemis II launch. See the exhibit at Pullman Yards.

Serial Killer Exhibition in Atlanta

Serial Killer: The Exhibition World Tour is a gripping, immersive experience into the dark psychology of real-life serial killers. The exhibit showcases artifacts and includes a psychopath quiz. Take it to see if you’re a potential serial killer. Check it out at Pullman Yards.

Footwork: Where We Gather

The excitement for FIFA World Cup 2026™ is here. Dive deeper into the world of soccer by visiting the Carlos Museum at Emory University to see “Footwork: Where We Gather.” This temporary exhibit pairs traditional sports photography with new works by Atlanta-based photographer Sheila Pree Bright. See images from Atlanta United tailgates, Atlanta Falcons training camp and more. The exhibit runs until July 19.

Atlanta Ballet Golden Hour

Experience a radiant celebration of light and movement in Golden Hour, a series of spectacular vignettes performed by the Atlanta Ballet. They are sure to leave you breathless. Performances are April 3-5 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Atlanta Ballet The Golden Ball

Celebrate Atlanta’s dance education scene and its cultural and educational landscape during The Golden Ball. The event also will honor Atlanta Ballet trustee, Barbara Sanders Joiner, and will benefit Atlanta Ballet and Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. The ball is April 11 at 6:30 p.m. at The St. Regis Atlanta.

Feeling Sporty?

Atlanta Braves

Here are the Braves home games in April.

Atlanta Braves vs. Athletics, April 1 at 12:15 p.m.

Atlanta Braves vs. Cleveland Guardians, April 10 at 7:15 p.m., April 11 at 7:15 p.m. and April 12 at 7:20 p.m.

Atlanta Braves vs. Miami Marlins, April 13 at 7:15 p.m., April 14 at 7:15 p.m. and April 15 at 7:15 p.m.

Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies, April 24 at 7:15 p.m., April 25 at 7:15 p.m. and April 26 at 1:35 p.m.

Atlanta Braves vs. Detroit Tigers, April 28 at 7:15 p.m., April 29 at 7:15 p.m. and April 30 at 12:15 p.m.

Atlanta Vibe

Atlanta Vibe vs. Omaha Supernovas, April 2 at 7 p.m. at Georgia State Convocation Center

Atlanta Vibe vs. Orlando Valkyries, April 4 at 6 p.m. at Georgia State Convocation Center

Atlanta Vibe vs. San Diego Mojo, April 17 at 7 p.m. at Gas South Arena

Atlanta Vibe vs. Omaha Supernovas, April 19 at 3 p.m. at Gas South Arena

Atlanta Vibe vs. Indy Ignite, April 26 at 3 p.m. at Gas South Arena

LOVB Atlanta

LOVB Atlanta vs. LOVB Houston, April 4 at 5 p.m. at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion

Atlanta United

Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew, April 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta United vs. Nashville SC, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta United vs. New England Revolution, April 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks, April 6 at 7 p.m.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, April 10 at 7 p.m.

For more things to do in Atlanta, check our calendar of events.

A Chicago transplant, Taylor loves exploring what makes Atlanta the place to be. Name a popular festival, food hall or brewery to check out and she will be there.

Originally Published March 4, 2026