This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Disclaimer for more information.

20+ Best Things to Do in Spring in Atlanta

ByPaige Watts

During the spring, Atlanta comes alive with blooming dogwoods, festival weekends, and weather that’s worth braving the pollen for. Here are some of my favorite things to do in Atlanta this season — and why I think spring is the best time to be in the city.

As an Atlanta local, spring is one of my favorite times of year. The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is back, Braves baseball is in full swing, and y’all know I can’t resist a rooftop cocktail.

With longer days and plenty happening around the city, spring is the perfect time to get back out and explore. From festivals to outdoor adventures, here are the best things to do in spring in Atlanta.

View across a calm lake in Piedmont Park in spring with the Atlanta skyline rising in the distance, surrounded by lush green trees under a bright blue sky.

Best Activities in Atlanta in Spring

1. Attend the Atlanta Dogwood Festival

Large bronze dogwood flower sculpture in honor of the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, overlooking a calm lake in Piedmont Park, with Atlanta’s skyline rising in the background beyond tree-lined shores.

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a long-standing Atlanta tradition, and one of the most beloved spring festivals. The annual arts festival takes place mid-April in Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta.

This huge festival showcases hundreds of incredible artists, food, international music and dance, and carnival games. The event is free to attend, though the fine art can get pretty pricey and hard to resist.

We go to the Dogwood Festival nearly every year. Read my guide to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival to know what to expect.

Book titled "What's With Atlanta?" by Paige Watts on a marble table. Surrounding it are a notebook, pen, and tulips.

Want to learn all about Atlanta? Check out my new book, What’s With Atlanta?: The Quirks, Personality, and Charm of the ATL. Whether you’re a local or are just passing through, this entertaining guide will answer all of your Atlanta questions.

2. Visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Formal garden at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens with neatly trimmed hedges and blooming flowers surrounding a fountain topped with a blue glass sculpture, with visitors walking along brick pathways in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is bursting with color in the spring. With spring blooms like daffodils, roses, and orchids, you’ll love spending a spring day exploring the 30 acres of gardens here.

You won’t want to miss their annual Orchid Daze event where you can see the orchids in bloom at the Fuqua Orchid Center. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is home to one of the largest public garden orchid collections in the world.

3. Visit Zoo Atlanta

Sun bear climbing on a wooden play structure in a leafy outdoor enclosure, surrounded by trees and natural habitat features, at Zoo Atlanta in Georgia.

Warmer weather means more animals out and about at Zoo Atlanta, and more chance to see them exploring their habitats! The zoo will be full of activity with your favorite animals like gorillas, tigers, and more out roaming.

During your visit, you can take part in zookeeper talks, animal shows, and photo ops to make the most out of your zoo experience. A spring trip to Zoo Atlanta is just what you need after a winter spent indoors.

The spring weather can be iffy, though, so here’s what you need to know about visiting the zoo in the rain (and honestly, rainy days are my favorite days to go because there’s hardly anyone else there).

Get your Zoo Atlanta ticket here.

Image of a travel kit for Atlanta, featuring a cityscape with light trails, and pages titled 'Atlanta Bucket List' and 'Atlanta Hidden Gems.'

Planning your first trip to Atlanta?

Get your FREE Welcome To Atlanta Kit, complete with a budget guide, hidden gems, travel planners, and more!

4. Go to a Braves Game

Hand holding a glass mug filled with a bright blue frozen drink at a baseball stadium, with the field and crowd visible in the background at a Braves game in Atlanta, Georgia.

Spring means baseball season! Catch an Atlanta Braves game at Truist Park stadium for an experience you won’t forget.

You can even pre-game by shopping, eating, and drinking at The Battery Atlanta entertainment district surrounding the stadium. Attending a Braves games is a full-fledged experience.

Get your tickets to a Braves game here.

5. Take a Ride on SkyView Atlanta

SkyView Atlanta, a large white Ferris wheel rising above Centennial Olympic Park, surrounded by trees and buildings under a partly cloudy sky, in Atlanta, Georgia

SkyView Atlanta is the Ferris Wheel towering over Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown Atlanta.

Spring is the perfect time to take a ride on SkyView Atlanta and get a birds-eye view of the city all in bloom, with the skyline sparkling in the sun. I’ve done this both in the spring and summer, and I prefer the ride in the spring when the city is starting to come alive again.

This also makes for a cozy date night activity when the night air is still just chilly enough to want to snuggle up together.

Get your SkyView Atlanta ticket here.

6. Have a Picnic in the Park

Paige and Kevin seated at a covered picnic table outdoors on a Mystery Picnic Date in Roswell, Georgia, with a table set for a casual meal. In the foreground, Paige wearing sunglasses takes a selfie; across from her, Kevin in sunglasses smiles. The table is covered with a patterned picnic blanket and holds plates, green glass bottles, and a shared platter of grilled food and fruit. Picnic tables and greenery are visible in the background.

Spring is the best time for a picnic in the park, and Atlanta has plenty of parks to choose from!

Pack or buy a lunch to-go, grab a picnic basket and a picnic blanket, and set out for Atlanta’s greenspaces like Piedmont Park, Grant Park, and Centennial Olympic park for an amazing picnic.

Want to add a little mystery? I love these Mystery Picnics where you get to solve clues to uncover local stops for your picnic items, and your final picnic destination is a complete mystery. AmazingCo offers Mystery Picnics in Atlanta for couples, families, and friends. You can choose from Atlanta locations like Midtown, Roswell, and Marietta — I’ve done Midtown and Roswell, and I highly recommend the Midtown one!

Check out my review of AmazingCo Mystery Picnic Dates here.

Book your Midtown Atlanta Mystery Picnic here.

7. Eat Your Way Around Town on a Food Tour

An inviting brunch scene at Buttermilk Kitchen in Atlanta, Georgia, on a black mesh table, featuring pancakes, omelets, biscuits, and salads, surrounded by hands and various drinks.

Want to experience some of the best restaurants Atlanta has to offer and get outside to enjoy this gorgeous weather? Take an Atlanta food tour! Atlanta offers plenty of culinary walking tours that will have your mouth watering from start to finish.

This Midtown Atlanta Food & Cocktail Tour lets you experience Atlanta’s gourmet food scene with a 4-course meal throughout Midtown’s best restaurants. Meanwhile, this Atlanta Local Food + Victorian Cemetery Tour explore the restaurants of historic Grant Park with a visit to Atlanta’s famed Oakland Cemetery. There are tons of options!

Book your Midtown Atlanta Food & Cocktail Tour here.

8. Have a Rollicking Good Time at the Georgia Renaissance Festival

Charming village scene at the Georgia Renaissance Festival with medieval-style buildings, a small pond with lily pads, and visitors walking among the trees on a sunny day

Travel back in time, and all the way down to Fairburn, Georgia, south of the city for the Georgia Renaissance Festival. The gates to Newcastle open in the spring through summer.

At this ode to a 16th century festival, costumes are encouraged, dinner is served in the form of giant turkey legs, and the entertainment is fit for both royalty and peasants. Every weekend has a different theme, so choose your adventure wisely.

I’ve been on so many different themed weekends (the Celtic weekend is my favorite). Read my guide to having a rollicking good time at the Georgia Renaissance Festival.

9. Attend the Smyrna Jonquil Festival

Round white pavilion labeled ‘Smyrna Market Village’ at the center of a small plaza, surrounded by shops, trees, and brick walkways in a quaint village-style shopping area at sunset in Smyrna, Georgia.

The Smyrna Jonquil Festival is a fun free festival that has craft booths, food trucks, and different types of entertainment each year, like magicians and escape artists.

You can expect the 2-day spring festival annually in late April. Admission to the Smyrna Jonquil Festival is completely free.

This is one of my favorite free spring festivals because it’s so chill. Read my guide to the Smyrna Jonquil Festival to know what to expect.

10. Go For a Hike

Clear mountain stream flowing over rocks through a lush green forest, surrounded by dense trees and vegetation, along the Unicoi to Helen Trail at Unicoi State Park in Helen, Georgia.

Take in the spring blooms all around Atlanta and throughout Georgia by going on a spring hike. There are plenty of easy walking trails in Atlanta, nearby state parks, and exciting mountain hikes just a short trip away.

My top picks in metro Atlanta include:

My top picks that are a short drive away include:

11. Walk Along the Atlanta BeltLine

Colorful street art on a long concrete wall on the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail in Atlanta, Georgia. The art features a robot, vibrant patterns, and a bird. A sidewalk with trees lines the right side on a bright, sunny day.

The Atlanta BeltLine is a paved mixed-use trail where you can walk, roller blade, bike, or even scooter. The BeltLine comes alive again in the spring when the locals come out to enjoy the great weather.

Take a stroll along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail to explore the Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward neighborhoods, stop a local restaurants for a bite or a drink, and explore food halls like Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market.

For a quieter walk, head to the Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail for a tree-covered, scenic stroll.

12. Explore Nearby Georgia State Parks

Wide, shallow river flowing over scattered rocks, surrounded by dense green forest under a bright blue sky with small clouds at Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs, Georgia.

Get away from the city for the day and explore a nearby Georgia State Park. The state parks in the area offer hiking, fishing, wildlife spotting, camping, geocaching, and more.

There is just a $10 parking fee at Georgia’s state parks, so this is a budget-friendly spring activity as well.

Here are the Georgia State Parks near Atlanta:

13. Enjoy Dining Al Fresco

Colorful cocktails on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Atlanta city skyline, with tall buildings and a Ferris wheel visible in the background, at Skylounge Rooftop Bar on top of the Glenn Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dining outdoors is a great option for springtime. Enjoy the warm weather of the season at any of the city’s restaurants with outdoor patios or rooftop bars.

Many of Atlanta’s best restaurants have outside patios where you can dine, and plenty that are pet-friendly so you can bring your furry friend along. There’s no better way to usher in the spring season than by enjoying some extra time al fresco while you dine.

14. Go For a Bike Ride

Minimalist bicycle with bright orange rims leaning against a white brick wall on a quiet sidewalk.

As the temperature warms up and you want to get outside, a bike ride is a great option. You can take advantage of Atlanta’s best bike trails, like the BeltLine or the Silver Comet Trail, and enjoy the beautiful scenery and a unique way to see the city.

Springtime is a great time to get out and enjoy the Atlanta sunshine, get some fresh air, enjoy some exercise, and clear your mind of any stress.

15. Indulge at the Georgia Food + Wine Festival

Two glasses of white wine on a wooden table, with warm ambient lighting and a softly blurred background.

The Georgia Food + Wine Festival takes place in March at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta.

This annual festival is a delicious way to try food and drink from across the South. The festival is adults-only on Friday and Saturday, and all ages on Thursday and Sunday.

16-24. Enjoy Even More Atlanta Festivals

Outdoor artisan market at the Smyrna Jonquil Festival in Smyrna, Georgia with white vendor tents set up along a paved walkway, as visitors browse handmade goods and walk through the sunny plaza lined with trees.

I’ve already mentioned a few of Atlanta’s fun spring festivals, but there are so many more to enjoy. Check out these other popular festivals to add to your spring calendar:

  1. Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival
  2. Suwanee Beer Fest
  3. Georgia Craft Brewers Festival
  4. Atlanta Science Festival
  5. Chastain Springs Arts and Craft Festival
  6. Atlanta Film Festival
  7. Taste of Marietta
  8. The Atlanta Fair
  9. Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade
Laptop and tablet showing a travel itinerary for Atlanta. The laptop displays a day schedule, while the tablet shows a cityscape with "Atlanta" text.

Ultimate Atlanta 5 Day Itinerary

Your Atlanta vacation — planned for you.

Don’t spend any more time stressing about planning your Atlanta getaway. Get this done-for-you, fully planned itinerary!

Learn more here

Spring in Atlanta FAQ

What is spring weather like in Atlanta, Georgia?

Spring in Atlanta is a lovely time, with temperatures ranging from lows in the 40s to highs in the 70s. You can expect the weather to be warmer during the day and cooler at night. Spring is also the rainy season in Atlanta, so be sure to plan some rainy day activities for your trip.

What months are spring in Atlanta?

Spring in Atlanta lasts from March through May.

When is Spring Break in Atlanta?

Most schools will have their Spring Break in March or April. Atlanta Public Schools typically have their Spring Break in early April.

When is the spring pollen season in Atlanta?

The spring pollen season in Atlanta starts from late March to April, starting first with tree pollen and then moving on to grass pollen. The worst months for pollen in Atlanta are April and May.

Save on Atlanta’s Top Attractions

Want to save big on Atlanta’s top attractions? with the Atlanta CityPASS, you can save up to 50% on the cost of entrance tickets to 5 top Atlanta museums and attractions!

Get admission to your choice of 5 from the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and Zoo Atlanta, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Get your Atlanta CityPASS here.

Top Atlanta Tours

A guided tour is always a good way to get to know a city! Check out these top Atlanta tours.

Where to Stay in Atlanta

Find the perfect place to rest your head on your Atlanta vacation!

Craving More Atlanta Activities?

If you need more things to do while visiting Atlanta, check out these top posts:

Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

  • Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
  • Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
  • Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
  • Save on Attractions: Save 50% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.

Cheers!

Paige

Top Things to Do During Spring in Atlanta, Georgia

What’s your favorite Atlanta spring activity? Let me know in the comments!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

Similar Posts

4 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *