By Collin Kelley
Editor
Spring is in full swing, which means we’re in the thick of festival season. If you love music, art and exploring other people’s homes, then there will be something to keep you busy all this month.
Buckhead Spring Arts and Craft Festival
The 3rd annual festival is set for Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Chastain Park. The festival will feature 175 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal workers, glass blowers, jewelers and more. The festival will also offer a children’s play area with sand art and inflatables, food and live music. More than 25,000 people attended last year’s event, and organizers are expecting a big turnout. For a full line-up of events and artists visit, buckheadartsfestival.com.
West End Night Under the Stars & Home Tour
The West End Neighborhood has scrapped the West Fest and focusing on music and its historic homes. The Night Under the Stars Candlelight Picnic and Concert will be held at The Wren’s Nest on Saturday, May 5, 7 p.m. and feature music from Julie Dexter and Grammy winner Kebbie Williams. Tickets are $25. The tour of homes will take place from noon to 5 p.m. that same afternoon. To buy tickets, visit atlantawestend.com.
Sweet Auburn Springfest
The historic Sweet Auburn district of Downtown comes alive with a weekend of music, activities, food and more on May 11 – 13. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Auburn Avenue is the focal point for the festival, which will feature a seniors pavilion, artists market, business and tech expo, car and bike show, heath and fitness fair, sports zone, a “Just for Women” zone, kids fun area, green pavilion and more. Organizers are encouraging attendees to take MARTA. No pets, cooler or distribution of fliers will be permitted. For more information, visit sweetaburn.com.
Kirkwood Spring Fling & Tour of Homes
The 10th annual Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Home is Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, at Bessie Branham Park, 2051 Delano Drive. The festival will feature an open air artist market, 5k run, live music, children’s area and food and beverage vendors. The home tour will showcase a diverse collection of building styles from classic Victorian to Modern designs. The tour of homes will be held Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available online now. The festival portion of the weekend is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and admission is free. Music continues to 11 p.m. and will feature No Parachute, Lauren St. Jane & The Dead Westerns, The Deadfields, Blair Crimmins & The Hookers, Noot d’ Noot and headliners Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics.All proceeds go to benefit the Kirkwood Neighbors Organization, a local nonprofit group dedicated community improvement.
For more information, visit www.kirkwoodfling.com.
Decatur Arts Festival
More than 160 artists from around the country live music, literary events, theater, dance and a parade are all part of the 24th annual Decatur Arts Festival set for Memorial Day weekend, May 26 – 27. Presented by the Decatur Arts Alliance, the festival includes art and artists from all disciplines and features hands-on participatory art as well as demonstrating and performing arts. All events are free. The weekend actually kicks off with the Art Walk on Friday, May 25, night from 5 to 10 p.m. with special events and artists at local galleries and businesses in Downtown Decatur. The Artists Market will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, while live music will be staged on the community banstand on the square featuring Doria Roberts, The Bonaventure Quartet, David McCoy and The Coming Attractions, Blue Moon and more. To see a full line-up of events, visit decaturartsfestival.com.
Atlanta Jazz Festival
The 35th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is a month-long event, capped off by a Memorial Day weekend festival in Piedmont Park, May 26-28. Performers this year will include Roy Ayers, The Robert Glasper Experiment, Ojeda Penn, Grace Kelly, Cyrus Chestnut, Kathleen Bertrand and the Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra. Music will run from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. all three days of the festival. There will be a May 25 kick-off show with Johnny O’Neal at Loews Atlanta Hotel. For tickets, details and the full schedule, visit atlantafestivals.com.
