Ultimate Guide to Summer in Atlanta
Published June 13, 2023
Last Updated June 22, 2023
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.
Adulting Has Never Looked so Fun
Atlanta Places for Cocktails and Brews
Plan a night out with friends or get out and meet new people at one of Atlanta’s many bars, breweries and places to have a drink. Relax, socialize and listen to music while you sip. Want to learn more about Atlanta’s vast brewery and bar scene? Visit our Ultimate list of Atlanta’s bars, breweries and local beers.
Atlantucky
Created and owned by hip-hop group Nappy Roots, Atlantucky is gaining a reputation for great beers with an ever-changing menu, a fun environment and friendly staff.
Where: 170 Northside Dr SW suite 96
Biggerstaff
Biggerstaff Brewing Company not only features modern, traditional and unconventional beers but also coffees, pastries and a full kitchen offering New American cuisine, and it is open daily.
Where: 537 Edgewood Ave SE
Bold Monk Brewing Co.
Make a pilgrimage to this Westside brewpub inspired by Belgium’s monasteries. Bold Monk Brewing Co. offers a taste of Europe and a 2,500-square-foot beer garden with a full menu and live music.
Where: 1737 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW suite d-1
Georgia Beer Garden
Focusing on locally produced brews and spirits, Georgia Beer Garden offers a unique and rustic interior with an expansive outdoor beer garden.
Where: 420 Edgewood Ave NE
Hippin’ Hops
Hippin’ Hops offers indoor and outdoor seating with plenty of pub games and a menu heavy on seafood.
Where: 1308 Glenwood Ave SE
Hotel Clermont
The Rooftop at Hotel Clermont offers epic views accompanied by delicious daiquiris and street food.
Where: 789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
Max Lager’s Wood-Fired Grill & Brewery
Taste the flavors of Georgia’s oldest brewery restaurant, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Where: 320 Peachtree St NE
Postino Wine Cafe
Colorful, electric and nostalgic are the vibes you’ll get when visiting Postino Wine Cafe in Buckhead or West Midtown. A curated selection of wines and beers is offered, accompanied by upscale bar food or brunch.
Where: 3655 Roswell Rd NE Ste 300 (Buckhead); 1000 West Marietta St NW Unit 310 (Midtown)
SweetWater Brewing Company
Stop into SweetWater Brewing Company for tours, tastings and events to accompany the lineup of craft brews.
Where: 195 Ottley Dr NE
Urban Tree Cidery
Sit on the patio at Atlanta’s first cidery, named No. 1 cidery by USA Today. Urban Tree offers a variety of hard ciders, cider cocktails and local craft beers.
Where: 1465 Howell Mill Rd NW
Wild Leap Atlanta
Wild Leap Atlanta is a great Downtown spot to stop in for a post-game brew or a meet up with friends. The brewery is family- and dog-friendly with daily food truck offerings.
Where: 125 Ted Turner Dr SW
Dog Friendly Beer Gardens
You don’t have to leave your furry bestie at home. There are bars all around Atlanta that offer outdoor spaces to drink and be merry with Fido by your side. Elsewhere Brewing sells a non-alcoholic bacon seltzer can for the pups. Fetch Park is a dog-friendly social pub with Atlanta locations in Buckhead, Old Fourth Ward and at The Works. Make sure to read the Bark rules on the website before your visit.
Where: Elsewhere Brewing 1039 Grant St SE Suite B34; Fetch Park (Old Fourth Ward) 520 Daniel St SE; (Buckhead) 309 Buckhead Ave NE; (The Works) 1295 Chattahoochee Ave NW
It’s All Fun & Games
The Painted Duck, The Painted Pin and Painted Pickle
Don’t miss the gaming action at The Painted Duck, The Painted Pin or the brand new Painted Pickle – where you can play duckpin bowling, darts, shuffleboard, pickleball and more.
Where: The Painted Duck, 976 Brady Ave NW; The Painted Pin, 737 Miami Cir NE; Painted Pickle, 279 Ottley Drive (opening Summer 2023)
Your 3rd Spot
Your 3rd Spot at Chattahoochee Food Works offers more than 80 games ranging from old-school video games to yard games, all accompanied by cocktails and small plates.
Where: 400 Chattahoochee Row NW
Trivia Night
Dirty South Trivia runs weekday trivia nights all over Atlanta, including at New Realm Brewing and Monday Night Brewing, and Biggerstaff Brewing offers trivia as well.
Escape Rooms
Escape Rooms are a fun and challenging way to spend time with friends, family or on a date night. Check out the Harry Potter-themed room at Paranoia Quest Escape the Room or the top-rated Mastermind Escape Games Atlanta.
Have a Few Laughs
Bring a little levity into your life and check out these Atlanta favorites.
Atlanta Magic Theater
Combining magic and clean comedy, Atlanta Magic Theatre is known as “Atlanta’s longest running show.” It’s a memorable time for adults and families with kids as young as 10.
Where: 267 Marietta St NW
Dad’s Garage Theatre
A comedy improv theater offering scripted and improvised works, Dad’s Garage is an award-winning, nonprofit theater company that performs for more than 30,000 people annually.
Where: 569 Ezzard St SE
Dynamic El Dorado
Dynamic El Dorado offers a variety of comedic programming including stand-up comedy classes, performances in Spanish, LGBTQIA+ artists and more. Check the schedule for a variety of hilarious performances.
Where: 572 Edgewood Ave SE #116
The Laughing Skull
The Laughing Skull offers a variety of shows ranging from Best of Atlanta to open mic nights for budding comedians.
Where: 878 Peachtree St NE
Summer Patio Dining
The 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.
Where to Cool Off
Need to get in, on or near a body of water this summer? Atlanta has pools, kayaking, canoeing and more.
Find Frosty Treats in Atlanta
You deserve a cold treat this summer. (Or maybe your kids do.) Find the right local ice cream shop for you with our guide. But be warned: When you start browsing, you may have to stop what you’re doing and go out for ice cream. Head to Piedmont Park for the annual Atlanta Ice Cream Festival in July.
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 splashpad to cool off in.
Where: 1320 Monroe Drive
Rodney Cook Sr. Park
This 16-acre park is located in Atlanta’s Westside Vine City neighborhood 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 Rd 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 Boulevard, Building B, Department 914
LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta
The recently renovated 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 Rd NE Suite G-1
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 Rd NE Suite D
THE ROOF at Ponce City Market
Visit THE ROOF at Ponce City Market for carnival-style games, epic views and casual dining.
Where: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave 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.
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