Intown’s summer calendar runneth over with events for all ages and interests – from film and art festivals to concerts and variety shows. We’ve rounded up some of the must-see events and maybe a few that might be just under your radar.
The Atlanta Fringe Festival
The festival returns to East Atlanta for the fourth consecutive year, bringing hundreds of local and national performers together for a celebration of live performances from all over the theatrical spectrum. This year’s productions run a wild gamut, from family-friendly cabaret to puppetry, modern dance, aerial acrobatics, satirical comedy and everything in between, featuring a dozen companies from the Atlanta area. The festival is set to run June 4-7, with every act performing a 3-minute excerpt from their show at a free preview party Wednesday, June 3 at 7 Stages. More information, including advanced ticketing opportunities and company information for the 20 productions in this year’s festival, can be found at AtlantaFringe.org.
Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at The Fox
This year’s movie fest kicks off June 4 with 80s classic The Goonies, which won the Fox Facebook fan vote. Also on the schedule: Back to the Future – 30th Anniversary (June 6); Beetlejuice (June 18); The Princess Bride (June 20); Jaws – 40th Anniversary (July 16); The Breakfast Club – 30th Anniversary (July 18); Ghostbusters (July 30); The Sound of Music – 50th Anniversary Sing-Along (Aug. 2); Saturday Morning Cartoons (Aug. 15); Braveheart – 20th Anniversary (Aug. 15); Legends of Silent Film with The Mighty Mo and Ken Double (Aug. 16); and Frozen Sing-Along (Aug. 29). For more information, visit foxtheatre.org.
Movies In Central Park at Atlantic Station
Atlantic Station in Midtown has a summer-long list of recent hits and classics. All movies start at dusk on Thursdays (weather permitting) and admission is free. Blankets, chairs and picnics are welcome, while surrounding restaurants will be offering special takeout menus. The schedule includes: Jaws (June 4); Heavyweights (June 11); The Lego Movie (June 18); Super 8 (June 25); Independence Day (July 2); Dirty Dancing (July 9); Casablanca (July 16); 101 Dalmatians (July 23); Airplane! (July 30); Ferris Buller’s Day Off (Aug. 6); and The Wizard of Oz (Aug. 13). For more information, visit atlanticstation.com.
Virginia-Highland Summerfest
The weekend festival is June 6-7 with art, food and plenty of music. The Saturday lineup includes Sans Abri, The Georgia Flood, Cicada Rhythm, Heavy Chevy, Halem Albright Band and Southern Gothic. The Sunday roster features Taylor & Ciara, Nathan Angelo, Sailing to Denver and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk. For more information, visit vahisummerfest.com or facebook.com/vahisummerfest.
Tunes from the Tombs
Historic Oakland Cemetery will be rocking out on June 13 with a line-up of Georgia and Atlanta-based musicians headlined by Matthew Sweet. The roster includes Michelle Malone Band, Little Tybee, Eliot Bronson, Blair Crimmins and the Hookers, Sweet Auburn String Band, Caleb Warren and the Perfect Gentlemen, Blood On the Harp, Sourwood Honey, Max & Maggie, Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers and more. There will also be food from local food trucks. General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gates. Tunes From the Tombs runs from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and gates open at noon. This is a rain or shine event, and lineup is subject to change. No outside food, drink or coolers permitted. Attendees are allowed to bring blankets and low beach chairs only. Tickets are available online only at ticketalternative.com. For event updates, visit oaklandcemetery.com.
Good Gracious Show
The old-fashioned variety show with a modern twist is back June 7, 5 p.m., at Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points. This edition will have a “foodie” bent with Spice to Table chef Asha Gomez, Kimball House mixologist Miles MacQuarrie and members of Captain Planet’s Learning Garden on stage to talk food and drink. Also on the bill is comedy from Dad’s Garage, poetry from Kodac Harrison and music from Doria Roberts, Mr. Blue Sky and Takenobu. Tickets are $18 ($50 family of 4 package) at the box office or online through Ticketmaster. More details at goodgraciousshow.com.
Atlanta Cycling Festival
Details and events were still being worked out at press time, but this year’s event will be June 13-20 and feature bike rides, classes, parties and more. More than 2,000 cyclists took part in last year’s event. Find out details at atlantacyclingfestival.com.
Atlanta Moon Ride
Returning for its third installment, Atlanta Moon Ride invites cyclers to hit the streets on June 19 for a 6.5-mile bike ride through Atlanta’s coolest neighborhoods. Participants are encouraged to ride with flair – dressing in costume, decorative helmets, glow sticks, bullhorns – anything goes. The nighttime cruise will start and end at Piedmont Park, taking participants safely through a scenic and traffic-free route through Virginia-Highland, Little Five Points, Inman Park and finishing on the Eastside BeltLine Trail. The event will conclude with a private, festival-style after-party featuring a wide variety of vendors to enjoy, including eats from the city’s top food trucks, premium selections of cocktail and brews, live entertainment and more. The fee is $25 per rider and includes an Atlanta Moon Ride t-shirt and entry to the kick-off party starting at 6 p.m. Proceeds benefit Bert’s Big Adventure. For more, visit atlantamoonride.com.
Westview Summer Solstice Celebration
The 8th annual event is June 20 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Westview Village on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard (between Lucile and West Ontario avenues). The festival will feature a day of food, music, art and games. Neighborhoods will compete in the Best of the BeltLine BBQ grill-off, while DJs spin tunes. Tickets are $10. Visit westviewatlanta.com for more information.
Concerts in the Garden
This year’s series at the Atlanta Botanical Garden splits acts between the Midtown greenspace and the new garden opened in Gainesville. The Atlanta lineup includes: Josh Turner (June 20); Smashmouth, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Tonic (July 23); The Beach Boys (July 24); Colbie Caillat (Aug. 7); John Hiatt & The Combo and The Taj Mahal Trio (Aug. 21); Melissa Etheridge (Aug. 22); and The Mavericks and Los Lobos (Aug. 28). If you want to take a drive up to Gainesville, you can see Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell (June 13); The Temptations (July 11); and Scott McCreery (July 17). Ticket prices and times vary, so visit atlantabg.org for more information.
Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival
This year’s festival will be held June 27-28 in Historic Fourth Ward Park. There will be fine arts and crafts, a children’s play area, local food, live acoustic entertainment in the amphitheater and a new “emerging artists” pavilion. For more details, visit oldfourthwardparkartsfestival.com.