About Atlanta
Most known for its rich history and the historic homes that reside there, Atlanta is also at the forefront of much of the United States culture. Everywhere you turn in the ATL, you’ll find shopping and museums, delicious eateries, and enough art to last you days of sightseeing. Atlanta is also home to a number of sports teams including the MLB Braves and the NFL Falcons.
This city is the perfect metropolitan area for people who don’t quite want the fast-paced lifestyle of LA or New York City but still feel connected to the city life. Along with these great amenities, Atlanta is also an excellent place for hosting and attending different entertainment festivals. Needless to say, you’ll find something to interest you in every corner of this booming city.
Festival Options in Atlanta
As one of the United States' biggest metropolitan cities, Atlanta is a hotspot for major events at all times of the year. From small gatherings to events large enough for thousands of people, there are festival venues all over Atlanta. Regardless of what your festival is celebrating, you’re sure to find a good venue for your event. With that said, it’s also important to keep some other supplementary businesses in mind when planning a successful festival.
- Food and Drink
Any successful festival will have some type of food and refreshments available. Whether you choose to go with food trucks and snow cone vendors or you want to hire a kitchen to set up a tent, you’re going to need to find a good place to feed festival guests.
- Staging
Stages and mics are an important part of the entertainment at any festival, especially if you’re planning a music festival. After all, your performers aren’t going to want to walk around on the grass as they perform. Hiring a company to come set up a stage will help festival attendees see performers much easier.
- Tent Rentals
Depending on the type of festival you’re planning, tent rentals may also be a necessary consideration. Tents provide cover during inclement weather, and they also give guests a space to eat without much interruption from the sun, bugs, or birds. Beyond that, tents can be used for other festivities like games or equipment storage during the event.
- Attractions
For family-friendly outdoor festivals, renting attractions like rides and games will entice guests to stay longer and spend more money. On top of that, you’ll likely get better reviews if you’re keeping your guests interested rather than giving them one option for entertainment.
Festival Companies in Atlanta
From food trucks to equipment rentals, all the most important parts in planning a festival are available at businesses in the ATL. Using big-name companies to help in the planning process is fine, but nothing beats keeping business local, especially for an event like a festival.
- Local Green Atlanta
Local Green Atlanta began as a food truck and now has a brick-and-mortar storefront that offers healthy and affordable food for all. Its mission is to reduce health disparities in underserved populations by offering healthy meals to those communities. They also offer food truck rental services, which make them the perfect choice for hosting a festival in Atlanta.
A-1 Rentals
A-1 Party Rentals offer tent rentals for outdoor events. They also rent out tables, chairs, and other furniture that may be necessary for an outdoor festival venue. On top of that, they offer stage and dance floor rentals and mic rentals too. They’re basically a one-stop shop for all your festival furniture needs.
- Bluegrass Rides Event Rentals
Bluegrass Rides offers a variety of ride rentals ranging from bounce houses to classic carnival rides. For a family-friendly outdoor event, they have everything you need to optimize family fun. They also offer a variety of package deals too.
Pros and Cons of Hosting Festivals in Atlanta
Having a festival venue in Atlanta certainly has its perks but it’s also important to mention the drawbacks too. Let’s explore those right here.
Advantages
- Atlanta is incredibly populated
The population of Atlanta alone is dense, so you should have no issue in advertising and getting people to show up to your festival venue. With that said, it’s important to make sure you’re well-versed in crowd control to maintain a positive experience for everyone.
- It’s heavy in the music and art scene
Cities that are culturally diverse and have a strong sense of the arts typically see positive outcomes from festivals held there. Atlanta is a great spot for festivals because you’re more likely to attract people with unique interests.
- The weather is mostly cooperative
Winters are generally pretty mild in Georgia and the temperatures aren’t bad in spring and fall, so you have a wide timeframe to choose when to have your festival. While you may deal with some rain, the weather is generally pretty nice.
Disadvantages
- There isn’t much green space
In terms of outdoor festival venues in Atlanta, you’re pretty much limited to two green spaces. However, this rings true for most metropolitan cities, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
- Summers get hot
Summers in Georgia are notoriously miserable at times. With that said, you could always include a waterslide or another type of “cool down” attraction to keep guests comfortable and entertained.
- Parking may get tricky
As Georgia is a busy city, parking can be a little bit complicated for events with many guests. It may be helpful to find places to reserve parking for festival attendees only.
Famous Places in Atlanta
- Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park is considered the crown jewel of downtown Atlanta. It’s also the most well-known spot for various music festivals that are held in Georgia each year. On top of being a famous music festival venue, the park also has a splash pad that can be utilized during hot summer months.
- Piedmont Park
Piedmont Park is an icon at the heart of Atlanta. Its incredible greenery makes it a beautiful spot to host an outdoor festival. Throughout the year, most commonly during the summer and fall, you’ll find several different small-to-mid-scale music festivals and events happening there.
- Coca-Cola Roxy
The Coca-Cola Roxy is a music venue that opened in Atlanta in 2017 as a replica of the original Roxy located in Buckhead. The venue hosts a variety of musicians and entertainers throughout the year and has also been used as an indoor festival venue for musical artists. They also offer private events and an executive VIP lounge.
