Cool Things To Do in September in Atlanta
Published August 23, 2024
Last Updated December 2, 2024
It’s September. In Atlanta that means it’s time for festivals, costumed aliens walking down Peachtree Street and food — glorious food.
Food Extravaganza
The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival returns to Historic Old Fourth Ward Park for a four-day celebration of incomparable food, wine, beer and craft spirits. More than 200 of the most celebrated chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and industry insiders will offer bites and drinks that showcase the exceptional flavors of the region. The festival runs Sept. 12-15.
Burger Bash
Some of the city’s and the nation’s leading chefs including personality Andrew Zimmern; Shai Livi of The Third Space; Billy Kramer of NFA Burger; and Nick Leahy of Vice Kitchen will duke it out for an all-day burger showdown at NFA Burger in Chamblee. The Burger Benefit takes place Sept. 22 and features four burger masters commanding the grill in shifts of 90 minutes. Last year the burger benefit raised more than $53,000 in support of The Giving Kitchen, an Atlanta-based nonprofit for hospitality workers. Tickets start at $30, which includes one burger and a side.
Spooky Time
As the haunt season approaches, NETHERWORLD is opening on weekends starting Sept. 20 and 21 and will continue for 34 nights of terror through September, October and November. For its 28th Season of Screams, the attraction is offering two terrifying new haunts, Wake the Dead and Mr. Grendel’s Birthday Party of Horrors. Also returning is Dr. Octane’s Bizarre Beverages featuring colorful, bubbling nonalcoholic drinks served in an optional collectible light-up glass. There’s no shortage of Halloween things to do in Atlanta.
Harvest on the Hooch
The Chattahoochee Nature Center is hosting the ninth annual Harvest on the Hooch Sept. 22 to raise awareness for the Nature Center’s Unity Garden, which has supplied more than 50 tons of fresh produce to North Fulton Community Charities food pantry. The event will feature food tastings from local chefs, live bluegrass music, garden games, samples from local craft breweries, face painting, and meet and greets with animals.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway will host a Fiestas Patrias celebration Sept. 17. The Mexican Consulate’s “El Grito — Mexican Independence Celebration” has been a local favorite for more than 19 years. Last year more than 60,000 people celebrated. Plan to go and enjoy a cultural experience that embraces heritage, entertainment and community. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month around Atlanta.
Baldie Con
Happening at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead, Baldie Con celebrates, empowers and unites women and children who are bald (Baldies) from alopecia, lupus, cancer or by choice. The three-day conference starts with a meet and greet on Sept. 27. There will be a Baldie Ball with an award ceremony and gala dinner on Saturday night. The weekend wraps up on Sept. 29 with a Sunday Jazz Brunch.
It’s so Sweet
The Sweet Auburn Music Fest, which takes place Sept. 28-29. The festival, located on Auburn Avenue, one of Atlanta’s most iconic streets, offers fun-filled entertainment, live music — everything from R&B to gospel to alternative favorites — international food court, national artists, celebrities and vendors of all types.
Forward Warrior
The annual Forward Warrior live art event is happening all day, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday, on Wylie Street in Cabbagetown.
Celebrate a President
Jimmy Carter turns 100 on Oct. 1, and the Fox Theatre is celebrating in a big way. Presented by Delta Air Lines, a variety of artists including Chuck Leavell, a Georgia resident and keyboardist for the Rolling Stones, D-Nice, Eric Church, Aren Morris and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus will take the stage Sept. 17 to present a musical extravaganza. The event is a fund-raiser for the Carter Center.
Sandy Springs Salutes Creativity
The Sandy Springs Fall Arts Festival returns on Sept. 14-15, featuring more than 150 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craft persons, glass blowers, jewelers and more. Here are more September (and fall) festivals to visit.
Dragon Con Takes Over
Dragon Con, the worlds largest multimedia, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film in the universe comes to Atlanta and, frankly, takes over the city. Walk the streets and meet thousands of costumed folks participating in the workshops, meet and greets with celebrities, the art show, and comic and pop artist alley. But, the biggest fun comes with the parade down Peachtree Street on Aug. 31. Among the celebrities appearing at Dragon Con, which takes place Aug. 29-Sept. 2, are: Gil Gerard, Erin Grey, Seth Green, Greg Grunberg, Cobie Smulders and Ming-Na Wen.
Piedmont Park Celebrates 120 Years
Party like it’s 1989 as Piedmont Parks celebrates its 120th birthday and the 35th anniversary of the Piedmont Park Conservatory! The nostalgia-themed party will have food from local restaurants, cocktails, a silent auction and other throwback vibes. All proceeds will support the Piedmont Park Conservatory and its ongoing work to maintain and enhance Atlanta’s most visited public park. Find more information about the event here.
College Football is Back
September, of course, heralds the return of college football season. No matter your alma mater, there are bars all around town, which may show your team’s games, which means you can cheer along with like-minded fans. Find out Where to Watch College Football in Atlanta.
Gone Fishin’
Summer is winding down so it’s the perfect time to drop a line and enjoy a day of fishing. There are several places to fish including Jones Creek Park, Lullwater Park, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Morgan Falls Overlook Park, Sweetwater Creek State Park, Piedmont Park, Murphey Candler Park and Lake Lanier
Try an Omakase Restaurant
Omakase is a Japanese dining experience where guests leave the menu in the hands of the chef and receive a seasonal, creative and unforgettable dinner with a progression of small courses. Atlanta has several omakase restaurants, and two — Mujō and Hayakawa — were awarded MICHELIN STARS. But Atlanta has several others that offer amazing experiences as well. Try Omakase Table (West Marietta Street); Nagomiya (West Peachtree Street); Saito (Andrew Young International Boulevard); Taka Sushi (Roswell Road); MF Sushi (North Highland Avenue); Chirori (14th Street); Umi (Peachtree Road); and Brush (Peachtree Road). Brush, in fact, just started a “restaurant-within-a restaurant” concept by offering a chef-driven sushi omakase-only experience in addition to a regular dining experience.
News for Kids
Atlanta’s must-see attractions are stretching your summer fun – and dollars – with a September-only promotion for families. Kids free admission this September is available at most attractions and all offer exciting experiences. Plan your Kids Free September Atlanta discovery outing today. All offers start after Labor Day (Sept. 3-30).
Yellow Daisy Festival
Voted one of the top arts and crafts shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist magazine, the Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park draws more than 400 artists and crafters as well as food vendors, crafter demonstrations, live music and a beer garden. The festival, which takes place Sept. 5-8, is great family fun — and you can get a head start on holiday shopping.
Buckhead Arts Festival
Sip, shop and stroll in the heart of Buckhead at the Buckhead Fine Arts Festival Sept. 21-22. Presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, the outdoor event will feature more than 100 painters, photographers, sculptors, metalworkers, glass artists, jewelers and more. Enjoy a variety of food and beverage options from vendors and merchants in Buckhead Village.
Inaugural Street Festival
Hosted by Blacks in Technology Foundation, the Atlanta Street Food Festival & Bazaar takes place Sept. 2 at Westside Park, Atlanta’s largest park. The first-time festival is a family-friendly event with music, interactive demos and other entertainment. There’s even a dedicated children’s zone with games, activities and entertainment. Come hungry because it is a gastronomic adventure featuring an array of foods from the city’s finest chefs, food trucks and local eateries. There will be everything from barbecue to gourmet burgers to vegan delicacies.
Opera in the Yards
The Atlanta Opera Discoveries series continues the “Bohème Project” with two immersive productions at Pullman Yards. Produced by Tomer Zvulun, the project comprises repertory performances of a modern-day “La bohème” — with the COVID-19 pandemic in place of tuberculosis — with the Broadway show it inspired, “Rent,” which updated Puccini’s story of friendship, passion and art by setting it in the midst of the 1990’s HIV/AIDS crisis. Both performed on the same set, with the action taking place in and around the seated audience, the productions will feature different casts, and musical forces and will alternate nights for most of the run.
JapanFest
Celebrate 50 years of culture, friendship and cultural exchange between Japan and Georgia with JapanFest Sept. 21-22 at Gas South Convention Center in Duluth. Enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of traditional Japanese Rakugo, Kabuki, taiko drumming, martial arts demonstration and workshops in bonsai, calligraphy, ikebana flower design and Kimono fitting. Don’t miss the Japanese Food Court where local restaurants will offer bento boxes, rice bowls, ramen noodles, sushi, yahisoba and shaved ice. In addition there will be three traditional Japanese craftsman giving demonstrations in stone carving, Kumihimo braided cords and tatami weaving.
PGA’s TOUR Championship Returns
East Lake Golf Club hosts the PGA’s TOUR Championship Aug. 29 through Sept. 1.
Always keep an eye on our calendar of events for even more things to do in Atlanta.
Journalist Mary Welch writes business and lifestyle stories for local and national publications.
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