Metro Atlanta Labor Day Celebrations & September Festivals

Labor Day Celebrations: There’s truly no other weekend like it: college football kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Dragon Con characters take over downtown, and countless festivals and celebrations fill city streets. If you want to join the fun, check out our list of the top events taking place around Metro Atlanta over the holiday weekend. Or, if you prefer to lay low, make note of the event locations to help avoid traffic delays!

Art in the Park: Marietta’s Art in the Park will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, September 5, through Monday, September 7.

Dunwoody Nature Center’s Butterfly Experience: In addition to up-close encounters with butterflies, guests can enjoy crafts, animal shows, educator-led programs and activities, music, magic, and more. The festival takes place September 5–6.

Dragon Con: This five-day event will be held Thursday, September 3, through Monday, September 7. The famous Dragon Con Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday on Peachtree Street.

Aflac Kickoff Game: Baylor will face Auburn at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 5, in this year’s college football kickoff game!

UGA vs. Tennessee State: UGA will host Tennessee State at 3 p.m. Saturday, September 5, at Sanford Stadium.

Georgia Tech vs. University of Colorado Boulder: Georgia Tech will host the Colorado Buffaloes at 8 p.m. Thursday, September 3, at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Stone Mountain Labor Day Weekend Celebration: Stone Mountain Park will celebrate Labor Day weekend with extended fireworks displays following the park’s laser shows Saturday, September 5, through Monday, September 7.

September Festivals & Events: Fall festival season has begun in Atlanta! Here’s our 2026 list of some of the best festivals taking place around Metro Atlanta this September.

Yellow Daisy Festival (September 10–13): Stone Mountain Park’s Yellow Daisy Festival is one of the country’s most popular and well-known arts and crafts festivals.

Chamblee Chalk Walk & Artist Market (September 12): This event will feature interactive art, family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and plenty of opportunities to explore and support more than 50 handmade vendors and performing artists.

Sandy Springs Fall Arts and Craft Festival (September 12–13): The event will include a children’s play area, local musicians, interactive art stations, and up to 150 artists and artisans representing a variety of disciplines.

Gwinnett County Fair (September 17–27): Enjoy concerts, carnival rides, livestock shows, fair food, and plenty of family-friendly fun at this year’s Gwinnett County Fair.

Hot Air Balloon Festival (September 18–19): Get ready for one of the most colorful and exciting events of the year at Lanier Islands Resort. The Hot Air Balloon Festival will fill the skies with color while offering live entertainment and one-of-a-kind experiences for all ages.

Shaky Knees Music Festival (September 18–20): This three-day event at Piedmont Park will feature more than 60 bands, making Shaky Knees a rock lover’s dream.

Newtown Park’s Pup-A-Palooza (September 19): This fun event will feature live music, a balloon artist, a pup mascot, pet-related vendors, and more. There will also be contests for Best Dressed Dog and Best Dog Trick.

Buckhead Fine Arts Festival (September 19–20): This two-day outdoor fine arts festival will feature approximately 100 painters, photographers, sculptors, metalworkers, glass artists, jewelers, and more.

Peachtree Corners Festival (September 19–20): Enjoy arts and crafts, live music, a car show, great food, and free parking at the Peachtree Corners Town Green.

Roswell Arts Festival (September 19–20): The 60th annual Roswell Arts Festival will feature artists, local entertainment, children’s activities, food trucks, and a healthy dose of small-town charm.

Suwanee Fest (September 19–20): Nearly 200 vendors and exhibitors, live entertainment, and one amazing parade are just a few of the highlights of this beloved fall tradition.

Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival (September 19–November 1): Don’t miss Stone Mountain Park’s annual “Play by Day, Glow by Night” event. The list of activities for children and adults is extensive, so be sure to visit the festival website for all the details!

North Georgia State Fair (September 24–October 4): One of the largest festivals in Metro Atlanta, the North Georgia State Fair will feature live music, petting barns, flower shows, fair food, and one of the largest carnival midways in the United States.

Avalon Fall Festival (September 26): Celebrate the start of the season at Avalon’s first annual Fall Festival. Bring the whole family for a morning filled with face painting, festive crafts, a bounce house, photo opportunities, and plenty of other autumn-inspired activities.

Duluth Fall Festival (September 26–27): The roots of the Duluth Fall Festival go back more than 50 years, and this year’s lineup will include fantastic food, live entertainment, arts and crafts, a parade, and much more!