Ultimate Guide to Fall in Atlanta

By Daniela Cintron

Last Updated September 4, 2026

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Artículo disponible en español.

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Atlanta. Not only becuase the weather is crisp and perfect, but also because the leaves across the trees in the City in the Forest turn yellow, red, orange, brown and all the colors in between. To enjoy it, you don’t have to go climb a mountain or drive out of the city. You just have to step outside and experience it across all the neighborhoods.

Here is your ultimate guide to enjoying fall in Atlanta.

Kids Play Free September

We get it. Kids are back to school and you are already missing all the summer fun activities, but you don’t want to break the bank. Well, Atlanta’s must-visit attractions let you keep the fun going. Kids Play Free September is a promotion that offers a variety of attractions where kids get free or discounted admission. The promotion runs Sept. 1-30 and you can secure your tickets online.

Hispanic Heritage Month

In Atlanta, we celebrate the contributions of Latinos year-round, but during Hispanic Heritage Month, we take it up a notch. Take a trip to Plaza Fiesta for the biggest Mexican Independence Day celebration in the city, enjoy the game at Los Bravos, shop from Latinx small businesses at Estamos Aqui Festival or enjoy some art by Latinx artists at the 6th Annual Placita Latina Exhibition and Nuestra Creación.

Get more ideas here to celebrate Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 across Atlanta. If you need kid-specific ideas, we have more than 12 here to help you look cool to your kids.

Fall Festivals

In the fall, you will always want to be outdoors in Atlanta, and festivals are the perfect way to enjoy the city, the outdoors, art, live music and do some shopping and endulging.

The list of fall festivals is endless. If you like shopping, check out Candler Park Fall Festival and Chastain Park Arts Festival. If you like to eat, drink and chill, Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Atlanta Chili Cook-off and Cabbagetown Chomp and Stomp must be on your list. If music is your thing, Shaky Knees Music Festival will give you that and more. Keep an eye on our weekly guide of things to do and plan put them in your calendar.

Atlanta Pride

Year-round, Atlanta celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, but in the fall, we celebrate big time.

Atlanta Black Pride events take place on Labor Day weekend and Atlanta Pride month is October. Don’t miss out on the largest pride festival in the Southeast.

Be sure to check out the LGBTQ+ guide to Atlanta, which includes bars and nightlife, neighborhoods, queer-friendly events and more.

Halloween

Halloween this year lands on a Saturday, and Atlanta is ready to get spooky. Check out all the Halloween events going on around the city, including the iconic Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade.

There is scary fun for the grown ups and not-so-scary fun for the younger ones.

Find the most unique Halloween costumes and make up in Atlanta and get ready for a scary good time.

Thanksgiving and Fall Break

Kick off Thanksgiving Day with the Invesco QQQ Half Marathon (don’t worry there are shorter courses, too) and show off your medal at dinner. Or spend the morning volunteering for a worthy cause. Here are more things to do Thanksgiving Weekend in Atlanta. Visiting or hosting family for the holidays? Here are things to do in Atlanta for every age group. Save your pennies with these free things to do in Atlanta with kids.

Music and Performing Arts

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is renowned as one of the county’s leading orchestras. Here’s what’s on the calendar this fall, performing at the Atlanta Symphony Hall:

• Air Supply — Sept. 11
• Mike Campbell with the ASO — Sept. 12
• Joshua Bell — Sept. 16
• La La Land in Concert — Sept. 26–27
• Opening Weekend with Nathalie Stutzmann — Oct. 1–4
• Brahms + Wagner — Oct. 8–10
• Don Lemon & DL Hughley — Oct. 9
• Malcolm Gladwell — The American Way of Killing — Oct. 12
• Guster with the ASO — Oct. 16–17
• Black Violin — Oct. 19
• America @ 250: Rhapsody in Blue — Oct. 22–24
• Matt McCusker — Oct. 23
• Family Concert: Halloween, Hogwarts & More — Oct. 25
• Disney’s Hocus Pocus in Concert — Oct. 30–Nov. 1
• Zade Dirani — Nov. 2
• Bach + Brahms — Nov. 5–7
• Fauré’s Requiem — Nov. 12–15
• Rocky in Concert — Nov. 16
• Schumann + Bruckner — Nov. 19–21
• Elf in Concert — Nov. 28–29

Alliance Theatre

• Purpose — Aug. 28–Sept. 20 at Coca-Cola Stage
• Carmela Full of Wishes — Sept. 1–27 at Goizueta Stage
• All Smiles — Sept. 12–Nov. 8 at Selig Family Black Box Theatre
• Mexodus — Oct. 2–16 at Coca-Cola Stage
• Like Father — Oct. 8–Nov. 15 at Hertz Stage
• Roob and Noob — Nov. 1–7 at Goizueta Stage
• A Christmas Carol — Nov. 14–Dec. 27 at Coca-Cola Stage

Fox Theatre

• Hamilton — Sept. 2–20
• Sara Bareilles — Sept. 24
• UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony — Sept. 25
• Little Big Town — Sept. 26
• Gente de Zona — Oct. 2
• Smokey Robinson — Oct. 3
• Cinderella — Oct. 16–17
• Outlander in Concert — Oct. 18
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) — Oct. 20
• The Ring in Concert — Oct. 21
• Brand New — Oct. 22
• Sonic Live in Concert — Oct. 24
• Buena Vista Social Club — Oct. 27–Nov. 1
• Waiting to Exhale in Concert — Nov. 6
• NieR: Orchestra Concert 12026 [YoRHa}] — Nov. 7
• Death Becomes Her — Nov. 17–22
• The Stray Cats — Nov. 27

Atlanta Ballet

• Passion & Pride — Sept. 18–20 — Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
• Cinderella — Oct. 16–17 — Fox Theatre

Pullman Yards

• AU Room Show — Aug. 27–Oct. 11
• The Art of Banksy: “Without Limits” — Sept. 25, 2026–Jan. 2027
• Black on the Block — Sept. 13
• Atlanta Art Fair — Oct. 1–4
• FUMED Expo — Oct. 10–11
• Up for Debate — Oct. 14
• Atlanta Magazine’s Whiskey Festival — Oct. 17
• Weekly Skate Night — Thursdays

Hot Concerts in Town

Atlanta has so many concerts happening in town every single day. Our indie music scene is on fire, but we also have big headliners in town. Here are some of Atlanta’s hottest concerts in the fall.

• Ed Sheeran — Oct. 3 — Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• KATSEYE — Oct. 15 — State Farm Arena
• Young Miko — Oct. 31 — State Farm Arena
• The Neighbourhood — Nov. 10 — State Farm Arena
• Doja Cat — Nov. 17 — State Farm Arena

Must See Exhibits

Plenty to see and do at Atlanta’s top attractions. Here are some great options:

Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Atlanta Botanical Garden has a full slate of seasonal programming this fall, with October bringing the return of Scarecrows in the Garden (Oct. 1–Nov. 1), when colorful creations from local families, schools, artists and organizations fill the grounds. Thursday evenings feature Fest-of-Ale, combining the scarecrow exhibition with specialty beers and live music, while the Great Pumpkin-Carving Festival on Oct. 22 adds a festive night of pumpkin carving, entertainment and seasonal treats. Families can also enjoy fall-themed activities on weekends throughout October, and food lovers can look for seasonal dinners featuring Atlanta chefs and Georgia-grown ingredients. As fall gives way to the holidays, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights returns Nov. 14, transforming the Garden with dazzling light displays through Jan. 10, 2027.

Georgia Aquarium

Fall brings plenty of ways to experience Georgia Aquarium beyond its signature galleries, with seasonal programming designed for families and adults alike. Haunted Seas returns Oct. 2–Nov. 1, transforming the aquarium into a spooky underwater experience with eerie décor, themed dolphin and sea lion presentations, mysterious characters, weekend trick-or-treating and haunting melodies. The aquarium also hosts special after-hours events throughout the season, including its Pride Kickoff on Oct. 9, an adults-only evening featuring music, immersive décor and access to the aquarium’s galleries. In addition to these special events, visitors can explore the aquarium’s expansive exhibits and catch daily animal presentations, including dolphin, sea lion, whale shark, beluga, manta ray and shark talks.

High Museum of Art

This fall, the High Museum of Art is celebrating its centennial with a packed lineup of exhibitions, special events and after-hours programming. Visitors can catch Amy Sherald: American Sublime through Sept. 27, along with I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders, Los Porfiados (The Stubborns) and Paper Trees, which continue into the fall. The museum’s 100th-birthday celebrations include a Centennial Block Party on Oct. 18, featuring live music, DJs, art-making and food vendors, as well as A Haunting at 100 on Oct. 30. Regular programming adds to the calendar, including High Frequency Fridays, Friday Jazz, free UPS Second Sundays, family programs and the Oct. 7 Recipe Revival, an evening exploring a historic High Museum cookbook.

Zoo Atlanta

Fall brings some of Zoo Atlanta’s most popular seasonal programming, with options for both adults and families. U at the Zoo kicks off the season Sept. 13 with a college-focused afternoon and evening, followed by Sippin’ Safari on Sept. 19, an adults-only evening featuring wine, live music and animal encounters. In October, the Zoo hosts an Educator Soirée on Oct. 3 before transforming for Boo at the Zoo on Oct. 17–18, 24–25 and 31, a family-friendly Halloween festival with costumes and trick-or-treating. Visitors can also take advantage of seasonal animal encounters and behind-the-scenes experiences throughout the fall, making the cooler months a great time to explore the Zoo’s habitats and wildlife.

Sports

Fall is a big season for sports in Atlanta, with the city’s professional teams and college programs bringing fans together across the metro area. The Atlanta Falcons headline the season with home games against the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while Atlanta United FC continues its MLS campaign into the fall. Basketball returns in October as the Atlanta Hawks begin their 2026–27 season at State Farm Arena, and college football adds another layer of excitement with Georgia Tech and other local programs taking the field. From football and soccer to basketball, there’s plenty to cheer for—and our guide has the full fall sports lineup.

Outdoors and Fall Colors

The weather is cooling and the leaves are changing. It’s a beautiful time of year to be in Atlanta. Here’s where to see fall colors in Atlanta.

Guide to Atlanta Hiking

There are so many ways to explore Atlanta’s outdoors, and fall is the perfect time to do it. Here are some outdoor activities the entire family will love. Discover new trails and see fall color with this guide to hiking and backpacking in Atlanta.

To be sure you don’t miss a thing, keep an eye on our calendar of events.

Daniela Cintrón is an award-winning journalist, editor and producer passionate about storytelling at the intersection of food, art, and culture. She is the senior content manager and editor for Discover Atlanta and has contributed to publications like the Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Magazine and Eater.

Originally Published August 30, 2025