Culture and Entertainment in Buckhead

Everyone heads to Buckhead to experience Atlanta’s fine dining scene, upscale shopping, and sparkling nightlife. But this neighborhood of historic streets nestled among modern high-rises and leafy parks has much more to offer than culinary indulgence alone. Alongside trendy dining establishments and more shops than you can sample in one weekend, you’ll find art galleries, museums, theaters, and music venues. In other words, Buckhead is pulsing with culture and entertainment.

Chastain Memorial Park

Boasting more than 260 acres, Chastain Memorial Park is Atlanta’s largest city park. In addition to the park’s jogging paths, playgrounds, swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course, and horse park, Chastain Memorial Park is home to the Chastain Arts Center. With a history dating back to 1968, Chastain Arts Center is a long-established leader in the Atlanta arts community.  Housed in early 20^th-century historic buildings, the Center offers year-round classes, exhibits local artwork, and lures visitors with its gift shop selling unique, handmade items. 

Chastain is also home to the Cadence Bank Amphitheater, where you can find outdoor entertainment to rival any conventional, indoor theater. Pack a picnic dinner, complete with candles and a bottle (or two) of wine and enjoy a relaxing evening beneath the starlit sky as a who’s who of national acts graces the stage each summer. The park is also home to the Buckhead Spring Arts & Crafts Festival and the Chastain Park Arts Fall Festival, making the Buckhead area a great place to visit any time of year. 

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center

Anyone visiting Atlanta with children should make a beeline for LEGOLAND® Discovery Center in the heart of Buckhead at Phipps Plaza. It’s a wonderful place to spend a rainy day and let your imagination soar. Here, LEGO® worlds come to life and everyone can get involved. Watch LEGO® characters in action at the 4D Cinema, hop onto interactive rides, try out the Build & Test area for race cars, and test your skills alongside expert builders at the Master Builder Academy. If you’re feeling brave, check out Pirate Adventure Island where children and adults can build a sandcastle, create a treasure map and pirate ship, and battle fellow shipbuilders. 

LEGO® is fun for adults, too. Come to Adult Night on the third Thursday of the month and let your inner child out to play. It’s your chance to linger as long as you like examining every detail of the tiny Atlanta reproduction in Miniland®. Test your engineering skills at the Earthquake Tables. And don’t forget to visit the LEGO® store and bring home a special surprise for someone small.

Atlanta History Center

Explore the many stories that make up Atlanta’s rich history at Atlanta History Center. This collection of different museums, exhibits, and historic buildings gives visitors enlightening glimpses into past eras, helping us interpret and understand where we came from. You can easily spend an entire day there (and come back for more). Build in an afternoon to stroll through 33 acres of enchanting gardens and award-winning exhibitions. 

Begin at the History Center atrium in the main building, where you’ll find changing exhibitions, the museum shop and a variety of dining options from coffee and baked goods to hearty seasonal fare. Venture beyond the main building and discover the beautiful Swan House, a private mansion built in 1928. Then, change your perspective and visit Smith Family Farm for insight on rural life in an 1840s farmhouse. Enrich your knowledge of frontier Georgia even further inside the authentic Wood Family Cabin. Finally, the Kenan Research Center makes original source materials available to anyone interested in Atlanta’s storied past.

Buckhead Theatre

Nightlife in Buckhead gets a big boost from the energy and activity emanating from Buckhead Theatre. This historic 1931 building was restored in 2010 and now hosts a variety of performances and events, including lectures, comedy, Broadway plays, concerts, and more. Come here to immerse yourself in Georgia’s vibrant musical soul in an entertainment space that remembers its heritage while staying on the cutting edge of arts and entertainment. 

Live concerts are enhanced by numerous monitors broadcasting from the stage and an expanded bar area keeps fans well watered on the lower level. The upstairs area features a spacious special events space, and The Lounge, outfitted with velvet couches and a private bar, which is available to concert-goers for an additional fee. The Buckhead Theatre offers visitors the perfect spot to grab a drink before, during, or after a show. 

PATH400 Greenway Trail

Atlanta prides itself on building green spaces for residents and visitors alike to get outdoors, stay fit, and enjoy the benefits of nature right in the middle of the city. PATH400 is part of this city-wide network of parks. It’s a favorite spot for Buckhead walkers, joggers, bikers, and pet owners to get out for some fresh air and exercise and will eventually join with the Atlanta Beltline in the south. 

There’s more than greenery to view as you jog, walk or bike along PATH400. Keep your eyes open for five special art walls featuring murals by local artists. They’ll give you ideas to mull over, a splash of color in your day, and a genuine taste of Atlanta’s art scene right outside for everyone to enjoy.