Ultimate Guide to Summer in Atlanta

By Joleen Pete

Published April 24, 2024

Artículo disponible en español.

Atlanta comes alive during summer. From family-friendly attractions and free admission days to memorable date nights and outings with friends, Atlanta is bursting with activity and opportunity.

Summer Fun at Atlanta’s Top Attractions 

Georgia Aquarium

There are two new experiences debuting this summer at Georgia Aquarium. Explorer’s Cove will combine two expansive touch pools with immersive technology to give guests an opportunity to respectfully engage with rays, guitarfish, sturgeon and sharks. A new dolphin presentation — Destination: Dolphin — will wow audiences of all ages through music, lighting and effects. Those looking for a truly immersive experience will want to sit in the soak zone. Another fun idea? Plan an under-the-sea sleepover, designed for ages 7 and up. Adult supervision is required. It’s perfect for larger groups and family reunions.

Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame

Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame celebrates its 10-year anniversary with an expansion and renovations. The popular attraction is set to close for a week this summer with a grand reopening in August bringing exciting new things to see. 

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Children, ages 8 and younger, will love a visit to Children’s Museum of Atlanta to experience “Animationland” from May 18 through Sept. 8. They’ll be invited to create stories using art and science as well as animation basics such as storyboarding, sketching and stop-motion movie making.

World of Coca-Cola

There’s a new immersive experience at World of Coca-Cola. In the Beverage Lab you’ll have an opportunity to get an inside look at Coca‑Cola beverage creation, sample formulas from the Vault and taste unreleased formulas. In the newly reimagined Scent Discovery, you can explore the Scent Library, learning about the five scent categories then put your nose to the test. 

National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Construction at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights began a 24,000- square-foot expansion in March. The upcoming three-story West Wing will include a café and three new galleries, including an immersive, hands-on Family Gallery geared toward children younger than 12. 

Cool Things to Do with Teens & Tweens

The Atlanta Ice Cream Festival takes place on July 27 at Piedmont Park. Enjoy great vibes while you indulge in sweet treats. It’s fun for all ages. 

Where: 1322 Monroe Drive

Play for the day or purchase an annual pass to Skyline Park at Ponce City Market for unlimited daily access to The ROOF, where you’ll find carnival-style games, mini-golf and more. Hang onto that pass come winter as it’s also good for ice skating.

Where: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

Ride SkyView Atlanta Ferris wheel for a unique view of Downtown 20-stories up and over Centennial Olympic Park.

Where: 168 Luckie St. NW

Thrill seekers will love a day spent at Six Flags Over Georgia and can make a splash at Hurricane Harbor after May 25. Visit in the month of June for the Summer Vibes Festival. Aspiring engineers or those who just love learning how things work will want to visit during CoasterFest on Aug. 17 and 18. 

Where: 275 Riverside Parkway, Austell, Ga.

The Splatter Studio offers guests a liberating, fun and immersive art experience. Splatter sessions are for all ages, and Acrylic Pour Painting sessions are recommended for ages 13+. Adult supervision required. Every first Saturday at 10 p.m. the Sandy Springs location hosts Black Light Night for glow-in-the-dark fun for ages 13+.

Where: 792 North Highland Ave. NE (Virginia Highland) and 5920 Roswell Road (Sandy Springs)

• Beat the Bomb Atlanta offers a unique immersive escape room experience where your team of four to six players will gear up in hazmat suits and advance through five high-tech video game rooms to earn time on the bomb clock. Disarm the bomb in the final room or be blasted with paint or foam, depending on your mission. Slime bomb mission coming soon. 
• There is nothing more nostalgic than a drive-in movie theater, and Starlight Drive-In Theater has been an Atlanta landmark for more than 70 years. Open seven days a week. Admission is $10 for adults and $1 for children.
• For IG-worthy photo ops head to “Let’s Fly” presented by Balloon Museum, on exhibit at Pullman Yards through June 9.
• Your 3rd Spot at Chattahoochee Food Works offers more than 80 games ranging from old-school video games to yard games.
• Andretti Indoor Karting and Games allows guests to get behind the wheel whether or not they have a state-issued license. However, those who do can participate in an Adult Race, provided they’re at least 54” tall and 15 years old. Without a license, tweens and teens of the same height can participate in an Intermediate Race. There’s also a classic arcade, laser tag, VR experience and bowling.

Nightlife in the A

• Puttshack puts a tech-infused spin on putt-putt, where you don’t have to keep score because the balls do. Adult supervision required; 18+ after 8 p.m.
• Don’t miss the gaming action at The Painted Duck, The Painted Pin or the brand new this summer – Painted Pickle – where you can play duckpin bowling, darts, shuffleboard, pickleball and more.
• Experience all the fun and remember it tomorrow with these fun alcohol-free things to do in Atlanta.
• Atlanta after dark is on another level. From the lively bars and low-key lounges to the vibrant venues for gaming or live music, you will never run out of options when it comes to exploring the nightlife in the ATL. Check out our ultimate guide to Atlanta nightlife.

Summer Festivals and Celebrations 

Atlanta loves to celebrate and not just the holidays. Annual summer festivals include The Butterfly Festival (celebrating its 25th year at Chattahoochee Nature Center) as well as artists markets – Virginia Highland Summerfest, Piedmont Park Summer Arts Festival and Grant Park Summer Shade Festival. Film lovers and movie buffs will want to visit the Atlanta Underground Film Festival or attend a panel discussion at BronzeLens. Here are some other celebrations around Atlanta this summer.

• Atlanta History Center celebrates Black culinary heritage and explores the legacy of one of baseball’s greatest players, Henry Aaron, on June 15 in celebration of Juneteenth. The Henry Aaron exhibit continues through September.
• Visit Piedmont Park June 21 through 23 for the Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival. The Juneteenth Atlanta 5K Freedom Run takes place June 23.
• It wouldn’t be the Fourth (of July, that is) in Atlanta without the AJC Peachtree Road Race. The world’s largest 10K is back for the 55th year. Run the race, volunteer as a family or spectate from the finish line at Piedmont Park. 

Summer Patio Dining

Summer is the perfect time to dine outdoors. Check out our guide to the best patios by Atlanta neighborhood and enjoy the season in the sun.

Splish, Splash, Take a Dip

Cool off with a dive into the best hotel pools in Atlanta or swim for the day (or longer) in one of these rooftop pools.

Discover Free Things to Do

Get Outdoors

You don’t have to have a big budget to have a lot of fun in Atlanta. Affectionately known as the “the city in the forest,” Atlanta boasts incredible parks and trails for strolling, playing sports, riding bikes and relaxing.

Centennial Olympic Park

Play in the fountain, explore the gardens or attend a fun summer event at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

Where: 285 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW

Chastain Park

Chastain, a beautiful 260-acre park in Buckhead, has paved trails, a golf course, playground, ball field, public pool, horse park and an outdoor amphitheater for summer concerts.

Where: 3885 Northside Drive

Piedmont Park

Perhaps Atlanta’s best-known park, Piedmont Park is home to many of the city’s most iconic summer festivals, an aquatic center and splash pad to cool off in.

Where: 1320 Monroe Drive

Rodney Cook Sr. Park

This 16-acre park is located in Vine City on Atlanta’s Westside and features a splash pad for cooling off during the summer.

Where: 161 Joseph E. Boone Blvd.

Sara J. Gonzalez Memorial Park

The first park in Georgia to be named after a Hispanic individual, Sara J. Gonzalez Memorial Park offers an all-abilities accessible child- and family-oriented green space. It is wheelchair compliant throughout and focuses on accessibility in all aspects of its design.

Where: 2411 Coronet Way NW

Westside Park

The latest and largest jewel in Atlanta’s park system, Westside Park has transformed Bellwood Quarry into a 200-acre green space for plenty of outdoor fun.

Where: 1660 Johnson Road NW

Explore the BeltLine and Outdoor Art Projects

Check out all there is to offer along Atlanta BeltLine, from shopping to food halls and much more. Explore public art such as murals and sculptures by taking a self-guided tour of works produced by Living Walls and the OuterSpace Project or visit the Tiny Doors located all around the city.

Outdoor Movie Nights

Another favorite summer activity is catching the free outdoor movies offered around the city. Check out schedules for The Battery, Atlantic Station Screen on the Green or The Works for a free movie night under the stars.

Free Admission in Top Atlanta Attractions

Many Atlanta attractions offer free admission days. Visit websites to learn which days you can explore High Museum of Art, Atlanta History Center and Michael C. Carlos Museum for free. Admission is always free at the David J. Sencer CDC Museum and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Monetary Museum. Atlanta is also home to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, which is always free. The beautiful 35-acre grounds at Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum are free and include two lakes and formal gardens.

Summer Fun for the Entire Family

Between Atlanta attractions and immersive experiences, it’s easy to plan the summer vacation of a lifetime for kids in Atlanta.

Delta Flight Museum

This state-of-the-art museum offers a variety of interactive exhibits including the only full motion flight simulator open to the public in the U.S.

Where: 1060 Delta Blvd.

LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta

LEGO Discovery Center offers new, hands-on, interactive exhibits, rides and a 4D theater ready to welcome children of all ages and abilities.

Where: Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road NE

Sloomoo Institute

Guests of all ages will have fun at Sloomoo Institute – a 28,000-square-foot immersive playground oozing with color, sensory play and all things slime.

Where: 3637 Peachtree Road NE

50 Fun (Free & Cheap) Things to Do

Summer is a great time to explore the city. Check out our Check-in Challenge where you can explore 50 Fun things to do around Atlanta.

Joleen Pete lives outside Atlanta with her husband and their son. On the weekends they enjoy going into the city for family fun and exploration. Joleen is the family travel and lifestyle blogger behind Love, Joleen.