Spring Festival Guide

By Collin Kelley
Editor

The juggernaut of festivals begins in earnest this month, with five big events happening around Intown. From arts and crafts to food and beer, there is something for everyone’s taste.

Festival on Ponce
The spring edition of the popular festival will be held April 13 – 14 in the Olmsted Linear Park along Ponce de Leon Avenue. Visitors will enjoy fine art and crafts, folk and “outsider” art from more than 100 artisans, a children’s area, live acoustic music and the food trucks will be back, so come hungry. The food truck line-up includes Yumbii, Mixed Up, Tastee Truck, Freckled and Blue, Moosehead Kettle Corn, Roly Poly and Jalapeno Corn Dog. For a full line-up of artists and events, visit festivalonponce.com or visit facebook.com/festivalonponce.

Atlanta Dogwood Festival
The 77^th annual event will take place April 19 – 21 Piedmont Park. Hundreds of artisans will be on hand along with live music, a kid’s village with entertainment and activities and the Eco-Village with entertainment and activities. There will be plenty of food available, too, including funnel cakes, gyros, crab cakes, onion rings, kettle corn and much more. Also returning this year is the International Village with cultural performances from around the globe and a chance to help “power” and raise funds for the festival by riding an Eco Power Bike. Musical acts scheduled to perform include headliners Sara Evans and opening act Kurt Thomas Band on April 20 beginning at 7 p.m. Other acts slated to perform throughout the weekend are Von Grey, Men in Blues, Corduroy Road, Lauren St. Jane and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The 22^nd annual Disc Dogs Southern Nationals and the Atlanta High School Art exhibition will also be part of the festival. For full details on all the weekend’s activities, visit dogwood.org.

Sweetwater 420 Festival
One of Atlanta’s most eclectic events returns to Candler Park April 19 – 21 and will roll out with a fresh lineup of new offerings for 2013 in addition to the beer and live music. The SweetWater Experience will allow patrons to taste their way through more than 20 unique styles of SweetWater beers and enjoy presentations on topics about brewing and more. Chipotle will host Cultivate Beats – a battle of the bands style competition giving rising talent a chance to compete for stage time at this year’s festival. The Silent Disco will see DJ’s spinning live music while patrons wear a set of headphones to get down to the music. The music headliner this year is George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, along with Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears and many more. For full details about the weekend and to buy VIP tickets (also new this year), visit sweetwater420fest.com.

Sandy Springs Artsapalooza
This year’s Artsapalooza will be held April 20 – 21 as part of the ArtSSpring celebration. The event will include a children’s play area, local musicians, interactive art stations and 150 arts and crafts participants in every discipline. Visit sandyspringsartsapalooza.com for more information.

Inman Park Festival
The 42nd annual Inman Park Festival is set for April 27 – 28 with more than 150 fine artists in attendance. The centerpiece of the festival is the annual parade – floats, bands, local nonprofits and residents – which steps off at 2 p.m. (rain or shine) from near Krog Street and continues up Edgewood and Euclid to Austin Avenue. There will also be two days of live music on three stages, a Kidzone at Springvale Park, a dance festival at the Trolley Barn and food of all kinds from local restaurants. The annual Tour of Homes will also take place that weekend (more information on Page ?). Parking for the festival will be nearly nonexistent, so visitors are strongly encouraged to take Marta to the Inman Park station, bike or walk to the festival. For more, visit inmanparkfestival.org.