Atlanta in May offers great weather and some of the city’s most popular events. There is plenty on throughout the month, culminating in several big festivals and events held over the Memorial Day weekend.
May weather in Atlanta is usually sunny and very warm, ideal for enjoying the best of the city’s outdoor festivals and attractions. The average daily high temperatures in May is 79°F (26°C), with hotter days likely toward the end of the month.
Highlights of Atlanta’s May festivals include music festivals such as hugely popular Sweet Auburn Springfest and the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Decatur Arts Festival, the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival, and two festivals of Caribbean culture, the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival and the Atlanta DeKalb Carnival.
Other Atlanta events in May include the Atlanta Air Show, the Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes, Atlanta Field Day, and the Shaky Knees Music Festival, plus a variety of late spring festivals and arts and crafts festivals, garden tours, fan and hobby conventions, food and music events, and concerts and shows at Atlanta’s many performance venues.
There are many other things to do in Atlanta in May too. Outdoor attractions are ideal this month: a visit to one of Atlanta’s many parks, the BeltLine, or a scenic cemetery, or a trip out of the city to a nearby nature site or historic town such as Madison or Athens. Alternatively, Atlanta also has dozens of museums and historic houses, fantastic shopping, an excellent food scene, and one of the biggest aquariums in the world.
Interested in a specific type of event? See Atlanta’s calendars of upcoming:
– Comedy shows
– Beer and wine festivals
– Music festivals
– Musicals
– Food festivals
See also:
– Atlanta’s annual festival calendar
– Things to do in Atlanta
– Best time of year to visit Atlanta
!Event dates, venue and other details can change at short notice. Please check all information at the official website before making plans to attend an event.
→ See April events
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– Stellaluna, March 26 - May 19 2024
Children’s puppet show at the Center for Puppetry Arts. More details
– Fat Ham, April 3 - May 12 2024
Play at Alliance Theatre. More details
– Steel Magnolias, April 19 - May 19 2024
Musical at the Legacy Theatre, Tyrone. More details
– Atlanta Film Festival, April 25 - May 5 2024
Big annual festival of film with screenings and other events at various Atlanta locations. More details
– Die Walküre, April 27 - May 5 2024
Opera at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
– Cinderella and Friends, April 27 - May 5 2024
Ballet performance at the Gas South Theater. More details
– Another Sunrise: Identity & Conflict, May 1 2024
Operatic performance and panel discussion at The Temple. More details
– Shaky Knees Music Festival, May 3-5 2024
Annual festival of rock music, featuring 60+ bands. More details
– Lakewood Antiques Market, May 3-5 2024
Big monthly antiques and collectibles market in Cumming. More details
– Decatur Arts Festival, May 3-5 2024
Popular annual arts festival in downtown Decatur, with events including an art walk, music, artists market featuring artists from across the southeast, dance, comedy and theatrical performances, food and drink, children’s activities and more. More details
– Johns Creek International Festival, May 4 2024
Annual festival celebrating the diverse heritages of the people of Johns Creek, with international food, live music and other performances, global marketplace and more. More details
– Whine Walk Run 5K, May 4 2024
Annual 5K run/walk and celebration of Caribbean culture in Piedmont Park, with food, music, wellness activities and more. More details
– Tucker Day, May 4 2024
Community festival in Tucker, with parade, local musicians, scavenger hunt, children’s activities, food, vendors and more. More details
– Olde Town Conyers Taste of Spring Festival, May 4 2024
Community festival in downtown Conyers with food from local vendors, car show, arts and crafts show, family activities and more. More details
– Tequila Fest Atlanta, May 4 2024
Tequila-themed party at Atlantic Station. More details
– Run With the Wolves, May 4 2024
5K and 1 mile races in Ormewood Park to benefit Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School. More details
– The Shhh Show, May 4 2024
Comedy show at the Buckhead Theatre. More details
– Roswell Spring Arts and Crafts Festival, May 4-5 2024
Annual spring arts festival featuring 100 artists in various media, artist demonstrations, live music, food trucks and more. More details
– Alive Expo, May 4-5 2024
Green lifestyle and wellness expo at the Gas South Convention Center. More details
– May-Retta Daze, May 4-5 2024
Annual arts, crafts and music festival in Marietta Square, with handmade arts and crafts show, local acoustic musicians, festival food, children’s activities and more. More details
– Love’s Labour’s Lost, May 4-26 2024
Play at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse. More details
– Wild Kratts Live 2.0: Activate Creature Power!, May 5 2024
Children’s performance at the Fox Theatre. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– Stellaluna, March 26 - May 19 2024
Children’s puppet show at the Center for Puppetry Arts. More details
– Fat Ham, April 3 - May 12 2024
Play at Alliance Theatre. More details
– Steel Magnolias, April 19 - May 19 2024
Musical at the Legacy Theatre, Tyrone. More details
– Love’s Labour’s Lost, May 4-26 2024
Play at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse. More details
– To Kill A Mockingbird, May 7-12 2024
Play at the Fox Theatre. More details
– Taste of Alpharetta, May 9 2024
Annual food festival in downtown Alpharetta, with food tastings from local restaurants, cooking demonstrations, dining events and more. More details
– Scott Antique Market, May 9-12 2024
Monthly antiques market at the Atlanta Expo Center. More details
– Peach Party Atlanta, May 9-13 2024
Annual LGBT+ celebration with music/dance events at various Atlanta locations. More details
– Wanda Sykes, May 10 2024
Comedy show at Atlanta Symphony Hall. More details
– Liquid Motion: Atlanta Ballet, May 10-12 202
Ballet performance at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
– M2R Trailfest, May 11 2024
Annual festival of public art in downtown Marietta parks and along the Mountain to River Trail, featuring local murals, sculptures and other public art, a mile-long juried art exhibit, live performances, pet parade and more. More details
– O4W5K, May 11 2024
Annual 5K race through the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. More details
– OMG Food Festival, May 11 2024
Hip-hop food festival at Atlantic Station, with DJ and live music. More details
– Cemetery Walking Tour, May 11 2024
Walking tour of Marietta City Cemetery in association with the Marietta History Center. More details
– Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade, May 11 2024
Annual parade along the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail featuring hundreds of lighted lanterns and live bands. More details
– A Night at the Museum, May 11 2024
Dance performance at the Gas South Theater. More details
– Alison Roman Gives Solicited Advice, May 11 2024
Cookery podcast live show at Variety Playhouse. More details
– Dunwoody Art Festival, May 11-12 2024
Annual Mother’s Day weekend arts festival in Dunwoody, with 130+ artisans, food, children’s activities and more. More details
– Chastain Park Arts Festival, May 11-12 2024
Spring arts festival in Chastain Park featuring 175 artists and artisans, food trucks, local musicians and more. More details
– Sweet Auburn Springfest, May 11-12 2024
Big, free family-friendly outdoor music festival in the Historic Sweet Auburn District, featuring gospel, jazz, R&B, blues, country and other music, international food, vendors, children’s activities and more. More details
– Turkish Food Fest, May 11-12 2024
Annual festival of Turkish food at the Istanbul Cultural Center Atlanta, with traditional foods and drinks plus children’s activities. More details
– Atlanta Cycling Festival, May 11-18 2024
Annual festival of cycling with events across Atlanta including rides, fashion show, food and drink themed rides, bicycle speed dating and more. More details
– The Preacher’s Wife, May 11 - June 9 2024
Musical at Alliance Theatre. More details
– Laureamor Y Emidilio, May 12 2024
Spanish-language comedy show at the Gas South Theater. More details
– Shakespeare Out of a Hat: Hamlet, May 12 2024
Improvised play at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– Stellaluna, March 26 - May 19 2024
Children’s puppet show at the Center for Puppetry Arts. More details
– Steel Magnolias, April 19 - May 19 2024
Musical at the Legacy Theatre, Tyrone. More details
– Love’s Labour’s Lost, May 4-26 2024
Play at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse. More details
– Peach Party Atlanta, May 9-13 2024
Annual LGBT+ celebration with music/dance events at various Atlanta locations. More details
– Atlanta Cycling Festival, May 11-18 2024
Annual festival of cycling with events across Atlanta including rides, fashion show, food and drink themed rides, bicycle speed dating and more. More details
– The Preacher’s Wife, May 11 - June 9 2024
Musical at Alliance Theatre. More details
– Sound and Screen Finance Forum, May 14-16 2024
Networking event for entertainment industry professionals and investors. More details
– We Them One’s Comedy Tour, May 17 2024
Comedy show at State Farm Arena. More details
– International Street Festival, May 17-18 2024
Street festival in Chamblee in association with International Night Market Atlanta, with food vendors, street performers and more. More details
– Marietta Greek Festival, May 17-19 2024
Annual festival of Greek food and culture at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Marietta, with traditional foods, music and dancing, vendors and more. More details
– Kirkwood Spring Fling, May 18 2024
Annual spring neighborhood festival in Kirkwood, with tour of homes, 5K race, wing-cooking contest, artist market, food vendors, children’s activities and more. More details
– Garden Tour, May 18 2024
Annual tours of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, visiting several private gardens in Cobb County. More details
– Porchfest, May 18 2024
Annual music festival featuring a large number of performances on neighborhood porches in Virginia-Highland, food trucks, vendors, children’s activities and more. More details
– Moorish Renaissance Festival, May 18 2024
Annual cultural event in Washington Park celebrating Moorish food, art and music. More details
– Ormewood Park Makers Festival, May 18 2024
Annual street festival in Ormewood Park featuring local makers, live music, food, artist market, workshops, classes and more. More details
– Pop-In For Family Fun: Music, May 18 2024
Monthly free family day at the Marietta History Center. More details
– Hasan Minhaj: Off With His Head Tour, May 18 2024
Comedy show at the Fox Theatre. More details
– Black Music Honors, May 18 2024
Annual awards ceremony with live performances at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
– Atlanta Women’s Expo, May 18-19 2024
Annual women’s lifestyle convention at the Georgia World Congress Center. More details
– Indie Craft Experience Summer Market, May 19 2024
Craft and vintage market at Monday Night Brewing Garage. More details
– Beauty and the Beast, May 19 2024
Ballet performance at the Gas South Theater. More details
– Michael Carbonaro, May 19 2024
Magic performance at The Eastern. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– Love’s Labour’s Lost, May 4-26 2024
Play at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse. More details
– The Preacher’s Wife, May 11 - June 9 2024
Musical at Alliance Theatre. More details
– MomoCon, May 24-27 2024
Annual convention of anime, animation, comics, video games and other games at the Georgia World Congress Center. More details
– Atlanta R&B Wine, Food & Music Fest, May 25 2024
Wine festival with live music, food, wine education and more. More details
– Whitney Cummings: Big Baby, October 25 2024
Comedy show at Atlanta Symphony Hall. More details
– Alpharetta Arts Streetfest, May 25-26 2024
Annual arts festival at the Grove at Wills Park, Alpharetta, with 100+ artisans, street performers, food, children’s activities and more. More details
– Giselle, May 26 2024
Dance performance at the Gas South Theater. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– The Preacher’s Wife, May 11 - June 9 2024
Musical at Alliance Theatre. More details
– Celeste Barber: Backup Dancer, May 29 2024
Comedy show at The Tabernacle. More details
– David Spade, May 31 2024
Comedy show at Atlanta Symphony Hall. More details
– El Águila Descalza – Luna De Mier, May 31 2024
Spanish-language comedy show at the Gas South Theater. More details
– Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Season 5 Tour, May 31 2024
Drag performance at the Buckhead Theatre. More details
– Lakewood Antiques Market, May 31 - June 2 2024
Big monthly antiques and collectibles market in Cumming. More details
– How Sweet The Sound, June 1 2024
Gospel music competition at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
– Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest, June 1 2024
Street party in downtown Alpharetta with local beers and live music. More details
– Bark Meow-Ket, June 1 2024
Craft and pet vendor market at The Lawn at Uptown Atlanta, plus food and pet adoptions. More details
– Butterfly Festival, June 1-2 2024
Annual family festival at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, with live butterflies, pollinator educators, native plant sale, food, live entertainment and more. More details
– Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers, June 1-30 2024
Play at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse. More details
– Georgia Bridal Show, June 2 2024
Wedding trade show at the Gas South District. More details
→ See more June events