May in Atlanta brings perfect weather, blooming greenery, and a calendar packed with events for everyone. Whether you’re planning your weekends or entertaining out-of-town guests, here’s your guide to making the most of the city this month.
Festivals
Festival season hits full swing in May, offering countless ways to enjoy Atlanta’s perfect spring weather:
- Atlanta Film Festival (April 24-May 4) – Held at the Plaza Theatre & Tara Theater. Catch the final days of this renowned celebration of independent cinema showcasing emerging filmmakers and unique voices.
- Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade (May 3) – Held on the Southwest Trail. Join thousands of Atlantans for this magical evening where homemade lanterns light up the Eastside Trail, creating one of the city’s most photographable moments of the year. This event will feature vendor markets, food trucks, lantern-making stations, live music and more.
- Atlanta Fringe Festival (May 8-June 8) – Experience boundary-pushing performances across theater, dance, comedy, and more at this month-long celebration of unconventional art.
- Virginia Highlands Porchfest (May 17) – Wander through this charming neighborhood as local musicians transform front porches into intimate stages for an afternoon of free performances.
- Atlanta Jazz Festival (May 24-26) – Spread a blanket at Piedmont Park during Memorial Day weekend for one of the country’s largest free jazz festivals, featuring world-class performers against the city skyline.
- Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival (May 10-11) – Browse works from over 150 artists while enjoying live acoustic music and local food vendors at this beloved neighborhood event.
Sports
May means plenty of chances to cheer on Atlanta’s home teams:
Atlanta Braves at Truist Park
The defending division champions have a packed home schedule this month:
- vs. LA Dodgers (May 2-4)
- vs. Cincinnati Reds (May 5-8)
- vs. Washington Nationals (May 12-15)
- vs. San Diego Padres (May 23-25)
- vs. Boston Red Sox (May 30-31)
Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Catch the excitement of Atlanta’s passionate soccer culture with these home matches:
- vs. Nashville (May 3)
- vs. Philadelphia (May 17)
- vs. Cincinnati (May 25)
- vs. Orlando (May 28)
Museums
The High Museum
Atlanta’s premier art destination features several compelling exhibitions this May:
- Ryoji Ikeda: data-verse (Through August 10) – Experience this immersive, audiovisual installation exploring the intersection of art and data science.
- Kim Chong Hak, Painter of Seoraksan (Through November 2) – Discover vibrant works by the celebrated Korean painter.
- Thinking Eye, Seeing Mind: The Medford and Loraine Johnston Collection (Through May 25) – Your last chance to see this impressive collection of contemporary art before it concludes this month.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Explore the wonders of natural history at this beloved Atlanta institution, featuring immersive exhibits and 75 acres of outdoor nature experiences in the heart of the city.
- Fernbank After Dark (May 9) – Held on the second Friday of each month. Experience after-hours experiences geared towards adults including access to exhibits, live music, full bars, science demonstrations and more.
- Evening Hike (May 22) – Take a group tour of the Fernbank Forest after-hours (7-9 PM). If you can’t make it to this one, don’t worry; this is a repeated event. More dates can be found on their website.
- Morning Hike (May 17) – Similar to the Evening Hike, but in the morning! Takes place from 7-9 AM. This is also a repeated event.
Live Music Highlights
May brings some major musical acts to Atlanta:
- Pearl Jam (April 29-May 1, State Farm Arena) – Catch the legendary rockers during their three-night stand to kick off the month.
- Best Song Ever: One Direction Dance Party (May 9, Buckhead Theater) – Relive the hits at this themed dance night celebrating the boy band phenomenon.
- Post Malone (May 11, Mercedes-Benz Stadium) – The genre-blending superstar brings his arena tour to Atlanta.
- Morrissey (May 14, Fox Theater) – The iconic former Smiths frontman performs at Atlanta’s most beautiful venue.
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