Spring Festivals Guide

Spring Festivals Guide:

Fun things your family can do in Georgia and Alabama

Updated for 2018

Spring in the south is one of our favorite seasons of the year. We love getting outside and enjoying the fresh air, flowers and, of course, festivals. Here is a list of our favorite spring festivals in Georgia and Alabama.

March 16 – 25, 2018

International Cherry Blossom Festival (Macon, GA)

Each March, Macon becomes a pink cotton-spun paradise of delight as over 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom in all their glory. For 10 days, festival-lovers are treated to one of the most extravagant displays of springtime color in the nation as they visit the city referred to by Congressional Records as the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World.

April 13 – 15, 2018

Atlanta Dogwood Festival (Atlanta, GA)

An Atlanta staple for 80 years, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival (the city’s oldest outdoor event) features a nationally renowned-juried Fine Artist Market that includes sculpture, paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography and more. Enjoy music from two stages. Plus, there is a Kids Village featuring huge inflatables, arts & crafts and face painting for all ages, as well as the ever-popular 24-foot rock-climbing wall. Admission is free except for one VIP event, Backyard Barbecue and Brews, that requires the purchase of a ticket.

April 14 – 15, 2018

Baldwin County Strawberry Festival (Loxley, AL)

The Baldwin County Strawberry Festival is a much-anticipated local tradition held annually at Loxley Municipal Park. The festival features over 180 arts and craft exhibitors, a dozen different food vendors, carnival, children’s games, an antique auto show, exhibits and live music. And, of course, strawberry shortcake! Hours: 9am – 5pm

April 14 – 15, 2018

Calico Fort Arts and Crafts Fair (Fort Deposit, AL)

Come enjoy our southern hospitality. With hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees, Calico Fort is one of the oldest, largest and most popular arts and crafts fairs in the South. This outdoor show, on 6 acres, featured music, food, storytellers, portrait painting, ceramics, weavers, and antique alley. The Kids Zone includes pony rides, free petting zoo, train rides, inflatables and more. Hours: 9 am – 5 pm both days

April 14 – June 3, 2018 (Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day)

Georgia Renaissance Festival (Fairborn, GA)

The Georgia Renaissance Festival is a Renaissance-themed amusement park set in a 16th Century English Village. The Kingdom comes to life every Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day for eight spectacular weekends! Inside the Village, you’ll find Knights in shining armor, the Queen and her Court. Enjoy a marketplace filled with 150 artisan shops and a full day of endless entertainment. Features include 10 stages of circus-style shows, jousting knights, strolling musicians and comedic storytellers. The Georgia Renaissance Festival was voted as one of the top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2010. Located just south of Atlanta.

April 26 – 28, 2018

Thomasville Rose Show & Festival (Thomasville, GA)

Enjoy roses, roses and more roses! A Southwest Georgia Tradition for 95 years, the Thomasville Rose Show & Festival held in historic downtown Thomasville attracts more than 20,000 visitors each year. Apart from the roses, highlights of the festival include two parades, live music and street dance, fantastic food, arts & crafts, car and truck show, and more.

April TBA, 2018

Vidalia Onion Festival (Vidalia, GA)

Come celebrate the official state vegetable — the sweet Vidalia. Events include outdoor music concerts, arts and crafts festival, children’s parade, carnival, fireworks, street dance, an onion eating contest, and the Vidalia Onion Culinary Extravaganza. The Vidalia Onion Festival has been featured on The Food Network. It is recognized as one of the Five Don’t-Miss Festivals Across the U.S. by MSNBC and a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event.

April 28, 2018

Auburn CityFest (Auburn, AL)

Auburn CityFest is held on the last Saturday in April each year at Kiesel Park in Auburn, AL. CityFest is Auburn’s largest, FREE, outdoor festival featuring live music, children’s activities, arts and crafts and fine arts exhibitors, food, non-profit booths, and much more. Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

April 28 – 29, 2018

Inman Park Festival (Atlanta, GA)

Widely regarded as Atlanta’s most spirited and eclectic neighborhood event, the Inman Park Festival offers something for everybody – three stages of live music, kids activities, a tour of homes, a marvelous street parade, an artists’ market and some of the city’s best people-watching! Come early, stay late, and be our guests at Atlanta’s best street festival.

May TBA, 2017

Uptown’s RiverFest (Columbus, GA)

Starting Friday at 7 p.m., the Uptown Concert Series kicks off Riverfest Weekend with live music by XXX on the main stage at Woodruff Park and concludes with The Journey Tribute Band: Departure. The celebration continues Saturday at 10 a.m. as the Boy Scout Expo invades Woodruff Park with fun for all ages, featuring geocaching activities, Tomahawk throwing contest, outdoor cook-off, archery activities and more. Downstream, the Chattahoochee River will come alive for the Annual Uptown Dragon Boat Race behind the Coca-Cola Space Science Center.  The Dillingham Street Bridge will host food trucks and local eateries. Live music continues starting at 5:30 pm on the main stage at Woodruff Park featuring Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness, D.S.O.S, and the Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band – Sons of the Sailors.

May 12 – 13, 2018

Chastain Spring Arts and Craft Festival (Atlanta, GA)

Traditionally, this Festival falls on Mother’s Day weekend and each year, they pull out all the stops to honor Mom. Considered the #1 Mother’s Day event in Metro Atlanta, the Chastain Spring Arts &Craft Festival is a two-day outdoor event with an emphasis on the visual arts and family fun, located in the largest public park in Fulton County. The event features over 175 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craftspeople, glass blowers, jewelers and more. The Festival will also offer artist demonstrations, live acoustic music, a fantastic children’s play area plus festival foods and beverages with healthy alternatives.

May TBA, 2018

Chunnenuggee Fair (Union Springs, AL)

The Chunnenuggee Fair is an annual juried Arts and Crafts Fair sponsored by the Bullock County Historical Society. Come enjoy arts and crafts booths, a Fine Art show, live entertainment, children’s game areas, food court, and cake sale.

May 5 – 6, 2018

Cotton Pickin’ Fair (Gay, GA)

Return to 1910, where the Farmhouse, the Cotton Gin, and the Cotton Warehouse form a unique backdrop for a great day of 21st-century fun.  The Cotton Pickin’ Fair is Georgia’s original AgriTourism Event that began in 1972. Since then it has developed loyal patrons in the tens of thousands. Come watch a variety of skilled artisans and antique specialists, sharing remnants of farm life in days gone by.  New talent keeps the festival fresh and interesting while returning artists welcome loyal customers seeking to add to individual collections. The Cotton Pickin’ Fair was voted one of the top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.

May 26 – 27, 2018

Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic (Decatur, AL)

Come see more than 60 inflated hot air balloons! Main attractions include the Balloon Glow event at night and all sorts of very different hot air balloon flights during the day. Enjoy tethered balloon rides before dusk, live entertainment, food and the ever popular Alabama Jubilee Fireworks Spectacular. Visitors can also enjoy a tractor parade, a pedal tractor pull and all sorts of tractor demonstrations.