Welcome to September! Fall begins this month, but the weather is still warm and pleasant. It’s time for apple orchards, corn mazes, woodland walks, county and state fairs, and plenty of weekend festivals!
Are you looking for things to do this September around metro Atlanta?
Below, you’ll find an overview of September events, plus activities that are free, cheap, or discounted. Sometimes we throw in a splurge alert item that we think is especially notable.
Please remember to verify every event before you head out! That’s why we provide so many links. We try to keep up with weather cancellations, but we don’t catch every one.
You may also be interested in:
- Fall Festival Guide: Things to do from Labor Day weekend thru November
- Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and hayrides
- Apple festivals and you-pick apple orchards
- Complete list of FREE outdoor concerts in 2024
- FREE outdoor movies: enjoy a night under the stars
- Free & cheap things to do this weekend
- Guide to 2024 fall farmers markets
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We strive for 100% accuracy on Atlanta on the Cheap.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
September in Atlanta: top things to do
REMINDER:
Before making plans for a restaurant, special exhibit, concert, trampoline, or spa treatment, make sure to check Groupon for a deal! You can often save 50% or more.
Below these spotlighted events, you’ll find a rolling day-to-day calendar listing of July events.
♦ Celebrate Labor Day Weekend
Friday, August 30 to Monday, September 1, 2024
What better way to celebrate labor than by relaxing!
Are you looking for something to do on a long, lazy holiday weekend?
Browse our Labor Day weekend list of things to do
♦ Get in some great people-watching at Dragon Con
Labor Day weekend, downtown Atlanta
Dragon Con is Atlanta’s premiere Labor Day weekend event — featuring the quirky and iconic parade on Saturday morning. Grab a MARTA train and head downtown for the best people-watching you’ll find all year. The streets and hotel lobbies will be lined with cosplayers!
Get the scoop here
♦ See the Classic Lasershow, back at Stone Mountain for just 4 nights — for FREE!
Stone Mountain will bring back the Classic Lasershow that you remember so well — and it will be FREE to attend (but you still have to pay for parking).
It will run for just four nights: Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, plus Sept. 7th.
More info on the Classic Lasershow event
PLUS, for a limited time, a Groupon deal lets you purchase the Attractions Pass for HALF PRICE — that’s just $19.99. That price goes up to $24.00 on September 14th.
♦ Take your dog for a dip in a pool
Doggy swim days are held at public swimming pools around metro Atlanta in late summer — just before the pools are drained and closed for the season. These doggy swim days are about the only time your pup will be welcomed into a municipal pool to splash, paddle, and play fetch.
Find a doggy dip day near you
♦ Enjoy FREE museum days in September
• The Georgia Aquarium offers you FREE admission on your birthday — so all of you September babies are in luck!
Details on the Aquarium offer
Can’t go for free? Check out this Groupon deal!
• The High Museum of Art hosts its Second Sundays FREE day on September 9, 2024.
Details on Second Sundays at the High
• The High Museum also hosts its FREE Access For All program on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 — you need to register in advance for this one.
• The Museums On Us program offers FREE admission to Bank of America cardholders at four metro-area museums on September 7th and 8th. This includes the High Museum, Tellus Museum, Atlanta History Center, and Center for Civil & Human Rights.
Details on Museums On Us
• The Marietta History Center hosts its FREE monthly Family Fun Day on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
• The Carter Presidential Library & Museum offers FREE admission on Saturday, September 28, 2024, in honor of the former president’s 100th birthday! There will also be a FREE mini film festival that will feature some of President Carter’s favorite movies — like Jaws, All the President’s Men, Rocky, Casablanca, and more.
♦ Have a blast at a fall festival
September festivals include the iconic events listed below. Click thru the links for complete details on each one — OR, just browse our complete guide to all the 2024 fall festivals and fairs.
- The Dragon Con Parade
- Pioneer Days in Cartersville
- Atlanta Hip Hop Day Festival
- Art in the Park on the Marietta Square
- House in the Park Music Fest at Grant Park
- Reynoldstown Wheelbarrow Festival
- Taste of Smyrna
- Canton Multicultural Festival
- Around the World in the DTL
- West Ponce Music Stroll
- Pup-a-Palooza in Johns Creek
- Taste of Snellville
- Sandy Springs Fall Arts Fest
- Alive in Roswell
- Atlanta Greek Festival
- Adair Park Porches & Pies Festival
- Urban Regatta in Castleberry Hill
- Chamblee Chalk Walk & Artist Market
- Buckhead Fine Arts Festival
- Suwanee Fest
- Shakerag Arts & Crafts Festival in Peachtree City
- Japan Fest
- Cumming Art Fest
- Roswell Fall Arts Festival
- Peachtree Corners Festival
- Taste of Canton
- Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival (Sandy Springs)
- Oakland Cemetery’s Sunday in the Park & Tunes from the Tombs
- East Atlanta Strut
- Alpharetta Art in the Park
- Riverfest in Canton
- Callaway Gardens Butterfly Festival
- Sweet Auburn Music Fest
- Duluth Fall Festival
- Serb Fest in Lilburn
♦ Get lost in a corn maze
The Buford Corn Maze was named one of the top 25 corn mazes in America by Country Living — so it’s highly recommended!
But that’s not all!
We have a huge list of corn mazes all over metro Atlanta, so you can find one in your neck of the woods. Some of them also feature farm markets, hayrides, haunted attractions, and more.
Find a corn maze
♦ Don’t miss the glowing pumpkin attraction at Stone Mountain
Opens September 14th, 2024!
The theme is “Play by Day; Glow by Night” and we recommend being there at dusk for the light-up attractions. Walk thru storybook scenes and enjoy a special Pumpkin LaserShow with fireworks. Discounts available!
Details & discounts for Pumpkin Festival
HINT: Thanks to a Groupon deal, you can get an Attractions Pass for 37% OFF for the Pumpkin Festival dates — that’s just $24.99! (Regular price is $40.)
Remember, Groupon doesn’t add fees to its prices!
♦ See Alice’s Wonderland Re-imagined, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Thru September 15th!
Check out this special exhibit, complete with topiary-like statues of Alice, the White Rabbit, a giant chess board, and more. You can also take advantage of Cocktails in the Garden, an evening event that features specialty cocktails available for purchase.
Details on visiting ABG
♦ Have some thrills at a fall fair
Who doesn’t love a day at the fair?
You can enjoy everything from thrilling carnival rides, to midway games, animal displays, great entertainment, and your favorite indulgences — whether it’s cotton candy, fried oreos, corn dogs, kettle corn, or whatever.
Fall fairs that open in September include these favorites.
Click thru not just for the details, but for all the DISCOUNTS & FREE admission days we have dug up for each fair.
♦ Save the date for Atlanta Streets Alive
Sunday, September 15, 2024
During Streets Alive, for four glorious hours, miles of Atlanta roads are closed to cars — and open for people to stroll, roll, bike, and play!
This fall, the route will stretch from Atlanta’s West End to Grant Park — connecting seven southwest neighborhoods via Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. and Georgia Ave.
Can’t make it? No worries!
Streets Alive will repeat in October and November.
More info on Streets Alive
♦ Visit an orchard to pick apples (or buy them)
Many of the North Georgia orchards open for apple-picking and fun farm days in September — and continue into October.
Want to take a fun, day-long excursion to Ellijay and the apple region?
Take a look at our handy guide to apple festivals and u-pick orchards.
♦ Horizon of Kufu: Take a virtual reality trip thru ancient Egypt
Horizon of Khufu has landed in Atlanta, completely reshaping the immersive experience. Step back into the golden age of ancient Egypt, where you can relive the reign of King Khufu and explore the iconic pyramids from 4500 years ago.
The 45-minute virtual reality experience costs $27 for adults, and $24 for kids, seniors, military, and students.
It’s located in the same building as the Illuminarium, at 550 Somerset Terrace NE, Atlanta 30306.
More info and get tickets
♦ View the Super Harvest Moon and partial lunar eclipse
On Tuesday, September 17th, the full moon will shine brightly in the Atlanta skies. It will be a Super Moon, which is perfect for amateur sky-gazers to enjoy — because you simply can’t miss it. The moon will appear full to your eyes a day before and a day after peak fullness, so you’ll have three days to view this celestial event.
The September full moon is also known as the Harvest moon.
What’s more, there will be a partial lunar eclipse of the Super Harvest Moon!
When & where to view the Super Harvest Moon
◊ Celebrate silly food holidays
Restaurateurs and retailers really roll out the freebies and deals on these made-up food holidays!
There are two big ones in September, and we always compile a list of everything you can get for free and cheap on these days!
- National Cheeseburger Day — September 18th
- National Coffee Day — September 29th
♦ Find FREE craft and DIY workshops in September
Take advantage of one of these FREE crafting events — just click through for details and to register.
In many cases, supplies are provided — but some events require a small purchase.
• Home Depot Kids Workshop — make a Field Goal Game on Saturday, August 7, 2024.
• Lowe’s Kid Workshop — make a Harvest Hayride on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
• Decatur Makers’ Family Build Night — happening on Wednesday, September 25, 2024
♦ Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
This immersive exhibit lets you step into a Van Gogh painting as you explore his life and work through 360-degree digital projections and a virtual reality excursion through the French countryside. It’s running all month long — so you can treat your mom for Mother’s Day!
More info and tickets
♦ Head to these FREE outdoor concerts & movies
The summer concert series and outdoor movie series are still in full swing, with something going on nearly every weekend.
Browse our special calendars for:
◊ FREE outdoor summer concerts
◊ FREE outdoor movies on the lawn
These events cover the extended metro area, including the suburbs.
♦ Wander through a pumpkin patch
It may be a wee bit early to start thinking about Halloween decor — but the pumpkins are ready in the fields and calling to you, Come take us home!
Find a pumpkin patch to visit
♦ Experience the magic of a Candlelight Concert
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations around metro Atlanta. These are live performances in intimate venues, lit by flickering candles. The concerts range from iconic classical music to tributes to pop artists like Adele and Queen.
More info and tickets
♦ Titanic: An Immersive Voyage
This NEW immersive exhibit just landed at the Exhibition Hub Art Center, on Buford Highway at I-285. It allows you to virtually hop aboard the Titanic and walk through life-sized recreations of parts of the infamous ship.
You can also:
- Discover an impressive collection of artifacts related to the Titanic’s short life
- Relive the ship’s final dramatic moments from a lifeboat in an immersive room
- Dive into the depths of the ocean aboard a virtual submersible and discover the RMS Titanic’s wreck site
- Learn about the story of the Titanic—from its creation to the crash and aftermath
♦ Celebrate Oktoberfest at a local brewery
It may still feel like summer, but Atlanta’s breweries are gearing up for season of Oktoberfest celebrations, starting each year in late September.
We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite Oktoberfest events — take a look and raise a glass!
♦ Visit an autumn farmers market
There is a farmers market happening somewhere on every day of the week in September. Check out our full schedule of markets, organized by day of the week and location. We also let you know which markets double EBT dollars.
Find a farmers market near you
♦ Get outside for some woodland walks and easy hikes
Enjoy the cooler, less humid days on one of these easy trails.
• Cobb County Trail of the Month program will meet at Green Meadows Preserve (Marietta), on Septembe 14, 2024. Register in advance.
• Wednesday morning group walks at Mason Mill Park are lead by a guide, starting at 10 a.m. each Wednesday. No reservation needed!
• Here’s a short list of some of our favorite shaded walks to do on your own:
- Stroll around the lake and thru the woods at Murphey-Candler Park
- Visit old homestead ruins on the nature trail at Mary Scott Nature Park
- Walk the paved trail at the Peachtree Creek Greenway
♦ Take a scenic drive
Get away from the bustle of the city without going far from home. The South Fulton Scenic Byway has been called the loneliest road in metro Atlanta — and it is so gorgeous, you won’t believe you’re still in Fulton County.
Get the route details
♦ Play in these splash pads, spraygrounds, & interactive fountains
No matter where you live in metro Atlanta, there is most likely a park with a water feature near you — and most of them are FREE.
The splash pad season goes through September at most locations. We’ve put together a handy list of splash pads, spraygrounds, and interactive fountains. The list is organized by county.
Find a splash pad or sprayground near you
The day-by-day September calendar:
