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Best Free & Fun Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids May 2024

Every weekend in May features a blast from the past at the Georgia Renaissance Festival. Photo courtesy of the Festival
Every weekend in May features a blast from the past at the Georgia Renaissance Festival. Photo courtesy of the Festival
4/28/24 - By Elsa Simcik

From Mother's Day to Memorial Day, we'll be finding fun things to do all month long—May the 4th be with you!

Head outdoors this May in Atlanta for sunshine, warmth, and opportunities for kids to get out their wiggles. Families flock to FREE art festivals in May, including Chastain Park Arts Festival, Decatur Arts Festival, and Alpharetta Arts Streetfest. Each of these outdoor events have fun, interactive activities for kids in addition to local art for parents to purchase. Every weekend in May families can hit the Georgia Renaissance Festival, which has tons of things to do for kids. At the end of the month, families enjoy a long Memorial Day weekend, with special celebrations like a spectacular laser light show at Stone Mountain Park!

Plan for Mother's Day with Atlanta Mother's Day Brunches and check out these amazing summer day trips from Atlanta for Memorial Day weekend! We’re always adding more events to our Atlanta Events Calendar, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

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Best Things To Do in Atlanta with Kids this May

Georgia State Fair

Hampton
Through May 5, 2024
Georgia's State Fair promises carnival rides, children's attractions and carousels, live shows, concessions, a family magic show, a petting zoo, and more. It all takes place at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton. READ MORE

Heart Strings for UNICEF at Pullman Yards

Kirkwood
Through May 5, 2024
This family-friendly experience offers a glimpse into the lives of children around the world. Through exhibits and interactive activities, guests will gain a deeper understanding of UNICEF’s life-changing work—and have fun along the way. READ MORE

The Big Bounce America at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds

Lawrenceville
Through May 5, 2024
Kids can bounce, jump and slide their hearts out with this traveling bouncy house extravaganza. Participants will have unlimited access to four attractions--a sports-themed bounce house, a giant obstacle course, an air space themed slide/ball pit section and a deep sea adventure-themed bounce house. The main event is the "World's Biggest Bounce House," which visitors will have timed access to with their tickets.  READ MORE

Play Unstoppable Festival at LEGO Discovery Center

Buckhead
Through May 12, 2024
Visitors to LEGO Discovery Center get to join in the all-new Play Unstoppable Festival. Guests experience the brand-new exclusive LEGO Friends 4D movie and enjoy a festival of imagination, creativity, music and fun.  READ MORE

Georgia Renaissance Festival

Fairburn
Weekends through June 2, 2024
Huzzah, the Georgia Renaissance Festival is here! Time for turkey "legges," jousting, games, rides, and the artisan market. READ MORE

Balloon Museum Atlanta

Atlanta
Through June 9, 2024
Eighteen international artists have come together to create an extraordinary inflatable experience. Balloon Museum Atlanta: Let’s Fly at Pullman Yards, an original concept featuring works from the most inflated to the most colorful. READ MORE

Decatur Arts Festival

Decatur - FREE
May 3-5, 2024
Celebrate art in Decatur all weekend long with this FREE event put on by the Decatur Arts Alliance. Families enjoy an ArtWalk on Friday night, a festival on Saturday (complete with a kids' fest), and more artsy fun on Sunday.  READ MORE

Taste of Spring in Conyers

Conyers - FREE
Saturday, May 4, 2024
The City of Conyers invites the community to their annual Taste of Spring and Shine and Dine Car Show. Taste of Spring has live entertainment and fun for the kids. It also introduces the community to local restaurants around the Conyers area.  READ MORE

Roswell Spring Arts and Crafts Festival

Roswell - FREE
May 4 & 5, 2024
Parents and kids flock to this two-day outdoor festival in Roswell to check out paintings, sculptures, jewelry and more. Families also enjoy music, food trucks and performances.  READ MORE

May-Retta Daze

Marietta - FREE
May 4 & 5, 2024
Folks head to the historic Marietta Square for this two-day festival which features art, music, food and a kids' zone.  READ MORE

Super Spring Saturdays at Washington Farms

Bogart
May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2024
Take a drive to Bogart, GA (about 1.5 hour drive from Atlanta) to Washington Farms for Super Spring Saturdays! Kids will have the time of their lives on the farm with jumpy pads and slides, a petting zoo, paintball, wagon rides, and ziplines, just to name a few. The farm features lots of yummy food for sale!  READ MORE

Wild Kratts at the Fox

Midtown
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Fans of the Kratt Brothers get to see the famous duo live in "Wild Kratts 2.0: Activate the Creature Power." This live, interactive experience brings the Emmy-nominated children's series to life, offering a unique blend of captivating storytelling, scientific exploration, and high-energy entertainment. READ MORE

Taste of Alpharetta

Alpharetta
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Rain or shine, locals and visitors alike will be treated to savory, sweet, spicy, and umami dishes from over 60 of Alpharetta’s best restaurants. Parents may purchase wrist bands for kids to access the kids zone for $15.  READ MORE

Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival

Acworth - FREE
May 10 & 11, 2024
The Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival is back at Logan Farm Park in Acworth. The event is free, but patrons can purchase taster tickets and a voting ticket to sample the competition. READ MORE

Chastain Park Arts Festival

Buckhead - FREE
May 11 & 12, 2024
With 185 local artists showcasing their talents at the largest public parks in Fulton County, the Chastain Park Arts Festival is serious about art. Visitors can check out and shop for paintings, glass designs, sculptures and jewelry. Kids will enjoy the children's area and the food trucks.  READ MORE

Dunwoody Art Festival

Dunwoody - FREE
May 11 & 12, 2024
Kids and grownups are sure to enjoy the Dunwoody Art Festival, including food, face painting, children's activities, shopping, and of course, lots of art.  READ MORE

Mother's Day Family Canoe Trip

Roswell
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Book a spot for the Mother's Day Family Canoe event at Chattahoochee Nature Center. Perfect for beginners and young family members (ages 5 and up), participants learn paddling strokes from trained staff members. The staff provides equipment and supervises races on Beaver Pond.  READ MORE

Backyard Campout in Kennesaw

Kennesaw
May 17 & 18, 2024
Families experience the great outdoors at this event put on by Kennesaw Parks and Rec. Campers play games, listen to professional storytellers around a campfire and watch the movie Shrek. READ MORE

Marietta Greek Festival

Marietta
May 17 - 19, 2024
Enjoy music, dancing, and Greek food at this beloved festival. Kids will enjoy the section with children's activities.  READ MORE

Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes

Kirkwood- FREE
Saturday, May 18, 2024
This popular spring festival always kicks off with a 5k in the morning, then continues all day with live music, a kids' area with inflatables, artist market, face painting, chicken wing-fling cook-off, and delicious food vendors. READ MORE

Virginia-Highland Porchfest

Virginia-Highland - FREE
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Listen to live bands performing on the porches of homes in the historic Virginia-Highland neighborhood. The Kids Corner at John Howell Park will host magic shows, craft activities, bubbles, and a bounce house. Food trucks and local vendors will also be on site.  READ MORE

Star Wars and More: The Music of John Williams with the ASO

Alpharetta
Sunday, May 19, 2024
This family-friendly symphonic concert features pieces from iconic film scores including many of John Williams' works: Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and much more. READ MORE

Memorial Day Weekend at Callaway Gardens

Pine Mountain
May 25 - 27, 2024
Visitors to Callaway Resort and Gardens during Memorial Day weekend can catch the Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament plus enjoy three nights of fireworks.  READ MORE

Animationland at Children's Museum of Atlanta

Downtown
Opening weekend! May 18, 2024
Join Tracey the pencil dog and her crew on a fantastically immersive journey to create stories using art and science at Children's Museum of Atlanta.  READ MORE

Memorial Day Weekend at Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain
May 24-27, 2024
Families head to Stone Mountain Park Memorial Day weekend to honor our troops at this four-day event. Visitors can enjoy Stone Mountain Park's attractions during the day and stay for the Lasershow Spectacular at night, or opt just to do the Lasershow. Following the show, spectators will be treated to a patriotic fireworks finale.  READ MORE

Alpharetta Arts Streetfest

Alpharetta - FREE
May 25 & 26, 2024
Families flock to the Grove at Wills Park (behind the Alpharetta Community Center) for the popular Alpharetta Arts Streetfest. Enjoy face painting, games, and crafts while checking out art, jewelry, and other wares from local artists. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Olde Town Conyers Pavillion
Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church
Callaway Resort & Gardens
Wills Park (Grand Lawn behind Alpharetta Community Center)