Elsa Simcik

Latest posts by Elsa

Summer Shade Festival, Football Fest, and More Things to Do in Atlanta This Weekend

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 08/23/2023 - 9:39am

Bring the family to Grant Park this weekend for the annual Summer Shade Festival, with lots of kid-friendly activities. Photo courtesy of event

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your weekend list!

It's the last weekend of August, and while school is in full swing in Atlanta, so is summertime! Head to Grant Park for the free Summer Shade Festival, with kids' activities, music, art, and food. It's almost football time and fans can celebrate at the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday with Football Fest and Free Day --the event includes games, prizes, mascots, celebrity DJs, plus free admission to the museum. On Sunday, families eat ice cream AND help the community at Miss Mary's Ice Cream Crankin' in Roswell, with locally made ice cream, bounce houses, and face painting.

We have been busy updating our Atlanta Classes Guide, most recently discovering Free and Cheap Afterschool Programs Around Atlanta. You can also find us cruising the Atlanta BeltLine, finding the best things to do with kids along the way.

16 Best Things to Do in Atlanta August 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 07/30/2023 - 9:01am

Bring the whole family to Roswell’s Slip-N-Slide Extravaganza, and go slip-sliding away into the summer. Photo courtesy of Roswell

School is starting in Atlanta, but that doesn't mean summer fun is over! August in Atlanta is a great time to enjoy outdoor movies and concerts, summer festivals, and cool events.

Family calendars are heating up in Atlanta! August brings fun family events like Slip-N-Slide Extravaganza in Roswell on August 5 and the always popular Dinosaur Birthday Bash at Fernbank on Saturday, August 19. Every August, the City of Kennesaw parties with the community at its yummy event, Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival, which includes music, a kids' zone, and delicious barbecue (August 18 & 19).

Even as kids head back to school this month, there's still time for summer enjoyment on the weekends. Check out our Atlanta events list of Free Outdoor Movies in Atlanta and Free Atlanta Summer Concerts for inspiration. We also have guides to lots of your favorite Atlanta attractions like Zoo Atlanta, the newly remodeled Lego Discovery Center Atlanta, and Truist Park (plus the Battery)!

20 Best Things to Do in Atlanta July 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 06/30/2023 - 6:43am

I scream, you scream, we all scream for the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival on Saturday, July 22. Photo courtesy of the festival

Atlanta sizzles with family fun this month, starting with 4th of July fireworks and continuing with free concerts, shows, and festivals!

Kick off July with a bang at popular Atlanta attractions like Stone Mountain Park's Fantastic Fourth Celebration and Margaritaville at Lanier Islands Fourth of July Fireworks. Need more 4th of July fireworks, parades, and festivals? Make sure to check out Where to See 4th of July Fireworks & Events in Atlanta.

When you need air-conditioned fun with the kids, head to Atlanta's amazing theaters and museums. The hit Broadway musical Wicked will be at Midtown's Fox Theatre July 5-30. Roswell's got its popular Summer Puppet Series with a new show each week; we're especially excited about "That Puppet Guy's" Big Bad, Little Red Pig Show July 18-22. And enjoy indoor fun at Fernbank Museum of Natural History for Reptile Day on Saturday, July 22!

Since there's more summer fun to be had, we've got ideas for the whole season! Check out our Ultimate Atlanta Kids Summer Vacation Guide, which includes info about free outdoor concerts with the fam, awesome family-friendly summer day trips, and much more.

4th of July Weekend in Atlanta: Fireworks, Parades, and More Things to Do with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 06/28/2023 - 6:38am

Celebrate 4th of July in Decatur with awesome family-friendly weekend events, like the Pied Piper Parade at 6pm! Photo courtesy of the event

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this 4th of July weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your weekend list!

Kick off the first weekend in July with Independence Day festivities at beloved Atlanta attractions like Fantastic Fourth at Stone Mountain Park, with a fireworks spectacle following the new laser light show, July 1-5. Enjoy a fireworks show over the roller coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia (FYI, the best viewing spot is near the Superman and Justice League rides.) Party with the City of Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park's Look Up, Atlanta event. Find a complete list of all the awesome July 4th parades and events here: Where to See 4th of July Fireworks in Atlanta 202 3!

And of course, it wouldn't be Fourth of July in Atlanta without the annual AJC Peachtree Road Race, the biggest 10K in the world! Didn't get a number this year? You can still cheer on the runners and experience the holiday tradition on Tuesday.

Did we mention we’re running weekly giveaways all summer long? This week we’re giving away a Mommy Poppins beach towel. Plus, each entry also counts as an extra entry into our Ultimate Summer Giveaway, an all-included trip to Nick Resort Punta Cana! Find out how to enter on our Facebook or Instagram pages!

Where To See 4th of July Fireworks in Atlanta 2023: More Atlanta July 4th Parades and Events

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 06/18/2023 - 9:12am

Fireworks light up the night sky at Look Up Atlanta. Photo courtesy of the event

Things are looking up for 4th of July 2023 in Atlanta! Families have their pick when it comes to spectacular Fourth of July fireworks displays in Atlanta. Practically every Atlanta suburb and in-town neighborhood is putting on its own July 4th fireworks display, festival, and parade. Celebrate all weekend long with Stone Mountain Park's Fantastic Fourth Celebration or F ourth of July Fireworks at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, both kicking off July 1st and featuring nightly fireworks.

Most of the patriotic parties in Atlanta will take place on Tuesday, July 4th, from the Dunwoody Fourth of July Parade to Atlanta's internationally known AJC Peachtree Road Race! Read on for all the details about the best Fourth of July fireworks displays and events in Atlanta and find even more ways to make memories in our U ltimate Atlanta Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

Father's Day Weekend Things To Do in Atlanta: Plus, Honoring Juneteenth and More

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 06/14/2023 - 6:31am

Jared's Epic Blaster Battle comes to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this Father’s Day weekend. Photo courtesy of the event

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this Father's Day weekend and Juneteenth? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your weekend list!

Celebrate Father's Day weekend with Atlanta events like Family Food Fest on Sunday, June 18, where guests enjoy delicious fare from all over the world. If dad loves foam blasters (think Nerf guns), grab tickets for Jared's Epic Blaster Battle, a huge foamy battle at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. All weekend long folks have opportunities to honor Juneteenth at local events, like the Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival and Juneteenth at the Children's Museum of Atlanta.

Did we mention we’re running weekly giveaways all summer long? This week we’re giving away a Mommy Poppins beach tote, plus each entry also counts as an extra entry into our Ultimate Summer Giveaway, an all-included trip to Nick Resort Punta Cana! Find out how to enter on our Facebook or Instagram pages!

Atlanta's Free Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals for Families This Summer

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 06/09/2023 - 6:19am

Children can dance the night away at Avalon Nights outdoor music series. Photo courtesy of Avalon

When parents need activities that are fun and easy this summer, free concerts are music to our ears. Atlanta is full of these free concerts and music festivals during summer—families pack up a few tailgate chairs, blankets, snacks and drinks, and head to a nearby greenspace to hear live music and let kids run loose. We've rounded up the best outdoor summer concerts and music festivals all over Atlanta, from Duluth to intown and everywhere in between. And the best part? Every Atlanta event on our list is FREE! Most of these summer concerts happen after sundown so families won't be sweating to the oldies.

Want more free fun? Check our list of 40 Awesome Free Things To Do in Atlanta This Summer With Kids. For even more summer fun ideas (vacays, camps, backyard games), head to our Ultimate Atlanta Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

16 Great Spraygrounds and Splash Pads in Atlanta for Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 06/04/2023 - 6:01am

Swift-Cantrell Park is a great summer destination to cool down on the splash pad.Photo courtesy of the park

As this summer proves to be another hot one, you’ll want to let kids frolic in splash pads, spraygrounds, and fountains to cool off. Splash pads allow kids to be physically active, interact with others, and spend time outdoors. They even appeal to those toddlers afraid of large swimming pools. Put these budget-friendly (and some even FREE) splash pads in the metro Atlanta area on your summer bucket list.

If your family loves water activities, check out these Outdoor Water Parks in Atlanta for more summertime fun. You might even want to spend a day at one of these great Swimming Lakes and Beaches Near Atlanta for Georgia Families to cool off for the whole day!