Things To Do in Atlanta This Weekend
Last Updated September 1, 2026
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Team Discover Atlanta has suggestions for things to do in Atlanta this weekend, Sept. 4, 5 and 6 – and Labor Day, Sept. 7.
Weekend Highlights
- Dragon Con
- Free Museums
- Aflack Kickoff Game
- Black Pride Week
- Mornings at the Zoo
- High Frequency Friday at the High
- AU Room at Pullman Yards
- Hip-Hop Festival
- Hamilton
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Georgia State Panthers
- Chance the Rapper
- More…
Happenings
Dragon Con Comes to Atlanta
In Atlanta, Labor Day means Dragon Con, the world’s largest multi-media, pop culture convention that focuses on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film. There’s so much to do — workshops, gaming, comic and pop artist alley, and contests — as well as celebrities. Among the celebrities will be Richard Dean Anderson, Sean Astin, James Marsden, Dina Meyer, Jack Quaid and Denise Richards.
But the biggest of all is the parade, which happens on Saturday at 10 a.m. and takes over Peachtree Street. More than 75,000 fans line the street to cheer the more than 3,200 costumed participants. Truly, it’s a must-see.
Check out Where To Go and What To Do Before, After and During Dragon Con.
Aflac Kick-Off Game
The 2026 Aflac Kickoff Game featuring Baylor and Auburn will take place Sept. 5 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium starting at 3:30 p.m. Even if you don’t have tickets, don’t worry; there is a lot of fun around the stadium. On game day, fans can attend an outdoor extravaganza at Tailgate Town presented by PNC and Team Walks, featuring live entertainment, food and interactive activations, as well as contests and giveaways from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Test your football skills at the Aflac Fan Experience at Tailgate Town at the Combine Challenge, play trivia for a chance to win game day prizes and cool off in the launch with shaded seating and refreshing misters. Don’t forget to watch the players walk from The Home Depot Backyard into the stadium a couple of hours before kickoff. Auburn is expected to do the team walk at 1:15; Baylor at 1:25 p.m.
Black Pride Week
For more than 20 years, Atlanta Black Pride Weekend has taken place over Labor Day, hosting more than 135,000 attendees. Weekend events include the Pure Heat Community Festival on Sunday at Piedmont Park, an Influencer Gala with a performance by Tamar Braxton on Friday, a Daydream Day Party on Saturday at 1100 Crescent Ave, and a Stasha Sanchez & Friends Drag Brunch on Sunday at Cirque. On Sept. 7 will be the Annual BBQ at the Georgia Beer Garden and RNB Monday featuring a performance by Saucy Santana. The largest Black Pride Event in the country will feature more than 25 events including workshops, celebrity hosts and performances, a comedy show, boat ride, a Pride pool party and a men’s empowerment brunch.
Free Museums
Bank of America’s Museums on Us returns for the first weekend in September, where cardmembers can get free admission to three local museums: Atlanta History Center (Sunday only), National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the High Museum of Art. The offer applies to one free general admission per cardholder.
Outside the Box
Outside the Box returns to the Children’s Museum of Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 5, inviting families to transform everyday cardboard into forts, bridges, towers and, frankly, wherever their imaginations lead them. Developed by the Children’s Museum of Atlanta team, Outside the Box encourages guests to explore engineering, collaboration and originality, while showing how everyday materials can be reused and reimagined. Cardboard from the exhibit will be recycled or repurposed following its run whenever possible.
New this year, the exhibit will feature seven original cardboard sculptures created by nearly 200 students from schools across Douglas County, with the student artwork displayed throughout the museum. Crafted in classrooms, the pieces showcase students’ approaches to design, construction and self-expression while bringing the themes of Outside the Box to life.
Dukes and Boots Festival
Head on down to Piedmont Park to the Atlanta Southern Soul-RnB Music & Food Festival (AKA Dukes and Boots) for an afternoon of soulful music and delicious Southern cuisine Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy live performances by K. Michelle, Pleasure P and Tonio Armani, among others. More than 20,000 people are expected to attend to enjoy the music and food along with dancing, a mechanical bull challenge, carnival rides, horseback riding and one-of-a-kind merchandise.
Honoring Handmade Items
Come over to the Outdoor Activity Center, Friday through Sunday, for the Atlanta Handmade & Harvest Festival on Richland Road SW. Enjoy walking outdoors while celebrating the spirit of handmade crafts, food and the harvest season.
Say ‘Good morning’ to the Gorillas
Want to beat the crowds and get an up-close-and personal look at how animals greet the morning (hint: not with coffee). Yes, Zoo Atlanta’s Mornings at the Zoo will feature gorillas on Sunday, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour on the public side of the gorilla area. Learn about gorillas and how they are cared for through observation, biofacts and a C&A with an interpretive guide. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and afterward you can spend as much time as you want saying good morning to the more than 1,000 animals that call Zoo Atlanta home.
Practical Magic Market
You no longer need to scour online shops for the perfect Halloween decorations. Instead, head over to East Atlanta Village for the Practical Magic Market on Saturday. The event features more than 25 local vendors with handmade goods, arts, crafts, candles, soaps, vintage goods, treats, food by Speakcheesy and drinks by Small Town Drinks. The market is for everyone — even dogs.
High Frequency Friday
On Sept. 4, enjoy music played by some of the city’s most popular DJs while you explore the High Museum of Art’s special exhibition collections. Grab a drink, meet new friends and have a great time while getting some culture. Event is 6-10 p.m.
Live Entertainment
Roar of the Greasepaint at the Alliance
Two plays debut at the Alliance Theatre. “Purpose,” the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, spotlights the Jasper family reunion and how they’ve embodied Black political power and public virtue. But when an outsider shows up with questions, the facade begins to crack. At once biting, hilarious and deeply human, “Purpose” asks what we owe our families, our community and ourselves. “Purpose” will be on the Coca-Cola Stage Friday, Sept. 4 through Sept. 20.
In addition, “Carmela Full of Wishes” runs through Sept. 27 at the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families. Inspired by the award-winning picture book, “Carmela Full of Wishes” is a lyrical and heartfelt story celebrating family, imagination and the beauty of everyday life in a vibrant Latino community. The play is perfect for audiences ages six and up.
It’s “Hamilton”!
“Hamilton,” the play that changed modern theatre (not to mention history), comes to the Fox Theatre for an extended run through Sept. 20. The epic play is a revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition and the dawn of a new nation. Cheer on as Founding Father Alexander Hamilton fights for honor, love and a legacy that would shape a nation.
It’s All About the Gold
Au Room Show, inspired by the centuries-long fascination with gold, continues its run at Pullman Yards. The 100-minute production blends world-class aerial performances with powerful music and contemporary choreography inspired by humanity’s relationship with gold and wealth—spectacular LED visuals and a rich theatrical atmosphere transform the stage into immersive worlds where story, music, movement, lighting and design create an unforgettable evening.
Music
Hip Hop Festival
ATL Hip Hop Day is dedicated to Atlanta’s massive contribution to the hip hop culture and will be celebrated Saturday and Sunday at the Historic Old Fourth Ward Park. Enjoy live performances, DJs, emerging artists, celebrity guests, MC battles, B-Boying and B-Girling, youth programming, vendors and creators. Among the celebrity guests are Trap Beckham, known for the party anthem “Birthday Chick,” Texas rapper Spark Dawk and Chris Massey, Atlanta native actor and recording artist known for his role in Nickelodeon’s “Zoey 101”.
Son Rompe Pera at Terminal West
The Gama brothers and their band Son Rompe Pera will play on Sept. 3 at Terminal West. Born and raised in Naucalpan, on the outskirts of Mexico City, the band primarily plays cumbia, integrating Mexican Marimba music that is traditional in the folklore of their country, as well as other genres such as danzón, rock and ska.
Take a Chance
Chance the Rapper brings his “Coloring Book 10 Year Anniversary” Tour to the Coca-Cola Roxy Sept. 3. The Chicago rapper, whose accolades include three Grammy Awards and three BET Awards, is among the highest-grossing hip-hop touring artists.
Happy 50th
V-103 has been a part of the Atlanta radio and culture scene for… well, 50 years. And that’s why there will be a big celebration Sept. 6 at Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park. Raphael Saadiq will be featured along with special guest Ari Lennox.
More Concerts: Sept. 1-6
Gary Clark Jr.
Enjoy blues-rock with touches of soul as Gary Clark Jr. brings his signature guitar playing and powerful vocals to the Reynoldstown concert hall.
When: Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Eastern
Tickets: starting at $110
Social Distortion with Descendents & The Chats
Catch a night of classic and modern punk rock as standout bands deliver loud, fast and energetic sets at the Coca-Cola Roxy.
When: Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.
Where: Coca-Cola Roxy
Tickets: starting at $92
ONE PACT
Experience K-pop with polished choreography, catchy songs and high-energy performances in the intimate setting of Center Stage Theater.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.
Where: Center Stage Theater
Tickets: starting at $78
Cordovas
Hear roots rock and Americana filled with rich harmonies and laid-back sounds in this cozy, beloved listening room.
When: Thursday, Sept. 3 at 9:15 p.m.
Where: Eddie’s Attic
Tickets: starting at $20
HEALTH with The Callous Daoboys
Experience industrial rock and mathcore as HEALTH and Atlanta’s own The Callous Daoboys bring heavy, intense performances to The Masquerade.
When: Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.
Where: Heaven at The Masquerade
Tickets: starting at $57
Sports
Georgia Tech Football Set to Sting
Get your hot dogs at The Varsity, cross the bridge and then cheer on as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets sting the Colorado Buffaloes for the win Sept. 3 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. It should be a good year for the team as they are ranked eighth in the ACC, while the Buffaloes are lucky 13 in the Big 12 conference.
Panthers on the Prowl
On Friday, Georgia State Panthers football will host their season opener with fireworks and then (hopefully) a win against the North Carolina A&T Aggies. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with the kickoff at 7 p.m.
Ongoing Events
I SPY! Comes to the High
“I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders”, the largest exhibition of Walter Wick’s work, is at the High Museum of Art, where museumgoers will marvel at his imagined landscapes and intricate impossible worlds. “I SPY! “and “Can You See What I See” are just two of Wick’s most renowned works on display from Aug. 28 through Jan. 3, 2027.
Wick has captivated readers across cultures and generations with his award-winning magazine illustrations and books. His immersive large-scale photographs feature miniature worlds, optical illusions, search-and-find games, and puzzle challenges, reflecting his unique approach to layered visual storytelling. Meticulously designed, hand-built and assembled, his complex images bring together art, craft and technology. Through Wick’s lens, everyday objects become portals to imagined landscapes and intricate, impossible worlds, inviting viewers of all ages to explore visual stories that transcend age and time.
‘Paper Trees’ Exhibit Open at High Museum of Art
The exhibit “Paper Trees” is open at the High Museum of Art and remains through Feb. 21, 2027. Featuring nearly 50 prints, drawings and sculptures from the High’s collection as well as loans from the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking and Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, the exhibition traces different schools of thought in the depiction and representation of landscape and the natural world.
In addition to a selection of 19th- and 20th-century prints and works on paper from the High’s American collection, the exhibition features modern and contemporary works from across the museum’s collecting areas, including folk and self-taught art and decorative arts and design. Together, the works put forth the tree as the primary visual vehicle for the study of nature, from unfinished sketches to finished works.
Center for Puppetry Arts Explores Stop-Motion Animation
Center for Puppetry Arts has opened the special exhibition, “Frame by Frame: The Art of Stop Motion Animation.” The exhibition, running through Nov. 1, explores how stop motion combines puppets, scenery, human hands and patience to bring still artwork to life.
High Museum Presents Playful Exhibit on Carroll Slater Sifly Piazza
The High Museum of Art presents on Carroll Slater Sifly Piazza, “Los Porfiados” (The Stubborns). It is a group of monumental, interactive sculptures by Chilean creative studio gt2P, the 10th in the High’s multiyear series of inclusive and playful projects on its outdoor space.
Inspired by the classic roly-poly wobbling toy, known in Chile as “mono porfiado,” the installation comprises a landscape of 14 inflatable, limber sculptures, some measuring up to 17-feet tall, and invites visitors to interact with their pliable surfaces. These sculptures come to life through human interaction and play, transforming the Piazza with collective movement that explores collaboration and the construction of public space. When activated, the sculptures become a living metaphor for resilience, understood not as rigidity but as adaptability: The capacity to move with others, to be displaced and to return to balance through shared effort, persistence and care. Each sculpture responds to individual action while also becoming part of a larger whole, created by accumulated gestures. The exhibit will remain through Nov. 29.
Amy Sherald Works on Display at High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art has opened an exhibit of Amy Sherald paintings. “Amy Sherald: American Sublime” is the largest exhibition of her work to date. Featuring a broad range of paintings made from 2007 to 2024, the presentation includes many of Sherald’s most iconic works, along with rarely seen paintings spanning her career. See it through Sept. 27. To enjoy the exhibit with smaller crowds, consider the museum’s VIP Nights.
Born in Columbus, Ga., Sherald has deep ties to Atlanta and to the High. She trained as a painter in the city and graduated from Clark Atlanta University. In 2018, the High awarded her its annual David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art and Art History,
See Niki in the Garden at Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an encore exhibition, “Niki in the Garden,” featuring Niki de Saint Phalle’s monumental sculptures. The artist first exhibited in the Garden 20 years ago.
The French sculptor was known for her massive works, and the Garden is featuring 40 of them, in what is believed to be the largest showing of her art ever in the United States. The often-playful, extremely colorful sculptures include Grand Step Totem (weighing in a 2,000 points) and Large Yelling Man, towering as 16.5, will be on display through Sept. 6.
Southwest Arts Center Hosts Annual Quilt Festival
The 18th annual Quilt Festival at Southwest Arts Center continues through Sept. 5. The festival provides an opportunity to celebrate the artistry, history and tradition of African American quilting. See exhibits, take a class, enjoy lectures.
T. REX Exhibit Open at Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Fernbank Museum of Natural History has opened the exhibit, “T. REX: The Ultimate Predator.” Meet the entire tyrannosaur family and learn the truth about the most iconic dinosaur in the world through life-sized models, specimens and interactives. Explore how a T. REX grows from a small, fluffy, turkey-sized hatchling into a towering, bone-crushing predator. See the exhibit through Sept. 7.
Children’s Museum of Atlanta Exhibits ‘Wild Kratts Ocean Adventure‘
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is exhibiting “Wild Kratts Ocean Adventure.” The exhibit, created by Minnesota Children’s Museum in collaboration with the Kratt Brothers Company, enables kids and families to explore various animal habitats and the creatures within them. The exhibit focuses on cultivating STEM skills in children ages 3 to 9 and invites guests to explore animal habitats from around the globe, discover creature powers and go on missions to foil the villains’ nefarious plans. The exhibit continues through Sept. 13.
This article updates weekly with brand new things to do in Atlanta for the weekend. Feel free to bookmark it for next weekend. For more weekend events, check our calendar.
Originally Published January 5, 2026
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