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
– The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, April 7 - May 17 2026
Children’s puppetry performance at the Center for Puppetry Arts. More details
– The Price, April 8 - May 3 2026
Play at The Balzer Theater at Herren’s. More details
– Ain’t Misbehavin’, April 17 - May 10 2026
Musical at Legacy Theatre, Tyrone. More details
– Atlanta Film Festival, April 23 - May 3 2026
Big annual film festival at the Plaza Theatre and Tara Theatre. More details
– Turandot: The Atlanta Opera, April 25 - May 3 2026
Opera at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
– SIX: The Musical, April 28 - May 3 2026
Musical at the Fox Theatre. More details
– XPT: Xperimental Puppetry Theater, April 29 - May 3 2026
Puppetry performance at the Center for Puppetry Arts. More details
– Lakewood 400 Antiques Market, May 1-3 2026
Monthly antiques and collectibles market in Cumming. More details
– Spring Market, May 2 2026
Craft and vintage market. More details
– C10s in the City, May 2 2026
Classic GM truck show in the Summerhill neighborhood. More details
– International Festival, May 2 2026
Annual festival at Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek in celebration of the cultures of the world, with traditional foods, music and arts performances, global marketplace, children’s activities and more. More details
– Run with the Wolves, May 2 2026
Annual 5K and 1 mile races in Ormewood Park to benefit Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School. More details
– Tucker Day, May 2 2026
Annual community festival in Tucker, with parade, live music, local arts and crafts and other vendors, food trucks, children’s activities and more. More details
– Whine Walk Run 5K and International Food Festival, May 2 2026
Annual 5K run/walk and food festival in Piedmont Park in celebration of Caribbean culture and healthy living, with Caribbean and international foods, costumes and national attire, live music and performances, and more. More details
– Indie Craft Spring Experience, May 2-3 2026
Craft and vintage market at the Goat Farm Cultural Center. More details
– May-Retta Daze, May 2-3 2026
Annual arts, crafts and music festival at Marietta Square, with handmade goods in a variety of media, live acoustic music from local performers, festival food, hat parade, children’s activities and more. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, April 7 - May 17 2026
Children’s puppetry performance at the Center for Puppetry Arts. More details
– Ain’t Misbehavin’, April 17 - May 10 2026
Musical at Legacy Theatre, Tyrone. More details
– Scott Antique Market, May 7-10 2026
Monthly antiques market at Atlanta Expo Centers. More details
– Frida: Atlanta Ballet, May 8-10 2026
Ballet performance at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
– Garden Tour, May 9 2026
Annual garden tours of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County. More details
– O4W5K, May 9 2026
Annual 5K race in Historic Old Fourth Ward to benefit the Hope-Hill Elementary Foundation. More details
– M2R TrailFest, May 9 2026
Annual public arts festival in downtown Marietta, with art installations along parts of the Mountain to River Trail and in parks, music and dance performances, pet parade and more. More details
– Dunwoody Art Festival, May 9-10 2026
Annual arts festival held over the Mothers Day weekend at Dunwoody Village Parkway, with artists from across the country, food court, children’s activities and more. More details
– Sweet Auburn Springfest, May 9-10 2026
Big, free annual festival in the Sweet Auburn district, with live music, food, vendor market, parades, art, history tours and more. More details
– Atlanta Cycling Festival, May 9-16 2026
Annual festival with bike rides and other cycling-themed events across the city. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– Atlanta Cycling Festival, May 9-16 2026
Annual festival with bike rides and other cycling-themed events across the city. More details
– Taste of Alpharetta, May 14 2026
Annual food festival in downtown Alpharetta, with food from local restaurants, cooking demonstrations, dining events and more. More details
– Michelle Buteau: The Surviving And Thriving Tour, May 15 2026
Comedy show at The Tabernacle. More details
– Dreamhack Atlanta, May 15-17 2026
Annual gaming convention at the Georgia World Congress Center. More details
– Porchfest, May 16 2026
Annual music festival in Virginia-Highland featuring 100+ performances on porches and other spaces, food trucks, art vendors, local businesses and more. More details
– Kirkwood Spring Fling, May 16 2026
Popular annual community festival in Kirkwood, with tour of homes, 5K race, wing-cooking contest, artist market, food trucks, children’s activities and more. More details
– Pop-In for Family Fun: Rockets & Robots, May 16 2026
Free monthly themed family activities and crafts at Marietta History Center. More details
– Akaash Singh: Generational Triumph Tour, May 16 2026
Comedy show at The Tabernacle. More details
– Sherri Shepherd: Make It Make Sense Tour, May 16 2026
Comedy show at the Buckhead Theatre. More details
– The Great Ant Sleepover, May 16 - July 5 2026
Children’s musical at Woodruff Arts Center. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– The Great Ant Sleepover, May 16 - July 5 2026
Children’s musical at Woodruff Arts Center. More details
– MomoCon, May 21-24 2026
Big annual animation, comics, gaming and popular culture convention at the Georgia World Congress Center. More details
– Memorial Day Weekend Celebration, May 22-25 2026
Memorial Day weekend event at Stone Mountain Park, with fireworks and laser and drone show. More details
– Atlanta Micro Short Film Festival, May 23 2026
Annual festival of very short films at Limelight Theater. More details
– Brew at the Zoo, May 23 2026
Annual beer festival at Zoo Atlanta, with beers and other drinks from Georgia and elsewhere, live music, yard games, animal exhibits and more. More details
– Alpharetta Arts Fest, May 23-24 2026
Annual arts festival at the Grove in Wills Park, with artists from across the country, food from local restaurants and food trucks, children’s activities and more. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– The Great Ant Sleepover, May 16 - July 5 2026
Children’s musical at Woodruff Arts Center. More details
– Beauty and the Beast, May 26-31 2026
Musical at the Fox Theatre. More details
– Atlanta Fringe Festival, May 27 - June 7 2026
Annual unjuried performing arts festival. More details
– Peach Party Atlanta, May 29-31 2026
Annual LGBTQ+ festival with parties and other events at various Atlanta venues. More details
– Toddler Takeover, May 30-31 2026
Arts festival for young children at Woodruff Arts Center, with performances and music and art activities. More details
– Twilight of the Gods: The Atlanta Opera, May 30 - June 7 2026
Opera at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
– Basura, May 30 - July 12 2026
Musical at Woodruff Arts Center. More details
→ See June events