There’s nothing quite like fall here in Atlanta! From the beautiful changing leaves to the cozy vibes and fun happenings, there’s always something fun to do to celebrate the city’s favorite season! We’re stoked for all the spooky happenings, delicious fall flavors, and of course, fall festivals!
Without further ado, here’s our ultimate Atlanta fall bucket list!
If your fall bucket list needs more local art and community vibes, don’t miss Atlanta’s inaugural Cumberland Art Festival this October! The inaugural Cumberland Art Festival launches in Atlanta on October 17–18, 2026 at One Cumberland (100 Galleria Parkway), featuring 125 artists from across the country, local food and drink vendors, a Kidz Zone, and live entertainment.
It’s a family-friendly weekend celebrating local art, makers, and community.
Don’t miss Porches and Pies on October 3 for pies, music, and community fun! If your fall bucket list includes cozy neighborhood vibes and seasonal treats, head to Porches and Pies, Atlanta’s annual neighborhood pie festival in Adair Park. Expect live entertainment, family activities, local vendors, and a pie bake-off—with proceeds benefiting Adair Park Today.
Enter a surreal and colorful world of bubbles and let your inner child run wild! This massive bubble experience gives you the chance to learn all about the magic of science and immerse all five of your senses into the vibrant world of oversized bubbles, balloons, soap, and more!
Celebrate Cryptids, Creatures & Community Legends at Little 5 Points this October! If your fall bucket list includes peak Atlanta Halloween vibes, don’t miss the Little 5 Points Halloween Festival & Parade, returning October 17-18, 2026 with a Cryptids, Creatures & Community Legends theme.
The 2-day festival features an artist market, live music, ghost tours, a pet costume contest, food trucks, and the parade on October 18 at 1:00 PM.
Join thousands of readers at the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur Square this October! Perfect for crisp fall days in the ATL, the annual Decatur Book Festival returns to Decatur, Georgia with author panels, book signings, kids’ activities, live music, food, and a huge Saturday Street Fair on Decatur Square.
Shop local at Sandy Springs’ new nighttime market — free entry and family-friendly! Add this fresh fall outing to your autumn bucket list: Sandy Springs is launching a monthly Night Market this fall at River Springs Shopping Center featuring 30+ local farmers, food producers, artisans, and specialty vendors.
The market runs the first Thursday of September, October and November from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and is free to attend.
Jackson, GA transforms into Hawkins for a spooky Stranger Things weekend! If your fall bucket list includes peak spooky season vibes, plan a Halloween-themed fandom weekend in Jackson, GA combining the Halloween in a Small Town convention and Hawkins Weekend with Stranger Things tours, panels, celebrity appearances, immersive experiences, a 5K, live ’80s tribute concert, shopping, and more. The events run together so visitors can enjoy a full weekend of Stranger Things–themed activities.
Dress in costume and enjoy Halloween classics with the Atlanta Symphony under the stars. For a perfectly spooky-but-family-friendly fall night, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs its Halloween concert at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre on October 11, 2026, featuring spooky classics, film score favorites, pre-show activities, and costume-friendly fun. Lawn tickets start at $10, with premium reserved table seating also available.
The best way to get into the Halloween spirit is by carving a pumpkin of course! Atlanta has tons of great pumpkin patches around, where you can find the perfect jack-o-lantern for you!
Atlanta Pride is a huge celebration of queerness, and you don’t want to miss out! Wear your best pride merch, grab your rainbows (and your iced honey lavender oatmilk lattes… I know) and celebrate being exactly who you are! Get all the details for Atlanta’s spectacular Pride weekend here!
Fall is the absolute perfect time to take a little trip from the city and wander through a field of yellow sunflowers! Get all your fall photos, enjoy the beauty of nature, and, of course, bring a bouquet home to brighten your kitchen!
Fausett Farms will open up this fall for all your sunflower desires. You can keep up with their opening dates on their website here!
As Atlantans, we’re so lucky to have so much green space in our city. And that means, as the seasons transition into fall, we get to watch the leaves turn to beautiful shades of brown and orange. Get your camera set, and get ready for fall in A-Town by checking out our favorite spots for fall foliage.
Speaking of seeing all the leaves change, there’s so much nature to enjoy and explore in the ATL! Grab some pals, your S.O., or your dog and head out to some of the coolest hikes around, right here in the city in the forest! For our recommendations of beautiful hikes, you’ve gotta check out this roundup here!
Get into the spooky season spirit by checking out some of these terrifying haunted houses in and around the ATL. And grab your friends… you don’t want to go alone!
As one of Atlanta’s favorite (and everyone’s, let’s be honest) family-friendly Halloween traditions, going to one of the corn mazes in and around the Metropolitan area is a great option for celebrating this creepy time of year. Check out our recommendations below.
- Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze, Dawsonville
- Buford Corn Maze, Buford
- Mitcham Farm, Oxford
- Southern Belle Farm, McDonough
Don’t miss Ellijay’s biggest autumn celebration — apple pies, artisan goods, and family fun across two weekends! If you’re craving peak fall vibes beyond the city, the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, GA is a two-weekend festival featuring 250+ artisan vendors, live music, family activities, and plenty of apple treats. It takes place at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds with food, demonstrations, and kid-friendly attractions.
Don’t miss ABFF Pop Up in Atlanta — films, masterclasses, and celebrity conversations! For a fall calendar highlight with plenty of star power, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Pop Up Tour returns to Atlanta October 24–25, 2026 at AMC Madison Yards 8, bringing award-winning films, masterclasses, celebrity conversations, and networking opportunities.
Celebrate Oktoberfest (and then keep the fun going all season) at some of the best breweries in the ATL! Several spots are doing Oktoberfest parties and events, so check back in as they update their calendars, we’ll update yours!
Fall is the perfect time to get a blanket, a nice coffee, and get cozy with a new book. If you’re looking to buy your next page-turner, you’ve gotta check out all the cool bookstores in Atlanta! From the best indie spots with local authors to international bestsellers, these ATL bookshops have it all!
One of Atlanta’s absolute gems, the Plaza Theatre, as a running tradition you don’t want to miss out on. Every Friday at 11pm during the spooky season (up until Halloween), The Plaza plays Rocky Horror Picture Show with LDOD, a group of artists who perform “screen accurate productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show… as an alternative entertainment source for the metro Atlanta area.”
Get ready for full audience interaction and a hilarious and fun filled evening where you never know quite what to expect!
For more information, check out their website!
Yes, it’s fall-time which means it’s the anticipated return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Skip Starbucks this year and shop local for your perfect PSL! There are so many amazing spots to grab your yummy fall treat, but for a quick fix, check out these spots below!
- Dancing Goats Coffee, Buckhead, Midtown, Decatur, and more!
- Drip Coffee, Glenwood Park
- Banjo, Avondale Estates
- Ash Coffee, Virginia-Highland
It’s that time of year! Whether you’re chomping at the bit to go apple picking or you’re doing it to please your significant other, there are plenty of fun places to go apple picking in the ATL! Enjoy the deliciously crisp fruit right from the tree or a deliciously farm-fresh homemade apple treat, right here in Atlanta! See the full list of amazing apple farms here!
Kick off your fall at Metro Atlanta’s biggest state fair — rides, fried treats, and family fun! If your autumn bucket list starts with classic fair vibes, make time for the North Georgia State Fair, running September 24 to October 4 at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. Expect classic signature rides, new attractions, and fair food favorites like fried Oreos and lemonade — plus free-admission days and discounts.
Experience life-size mammoths and elephants, interactive science stations, and cultural artifacts at Fernbank this fall. If you’re looking for a museum outing that still feels perfectly fall-seasonal, Fernbank Museum’s exhibition ‘The Secret World of Elephants’ explores elephant evolution, anatomy, behavior, cultural influence, and conservation through life-size models, hands-on interactives, and cultural artifacts. The exhibit runs from October 10, 2026 to January 3, 2027 at Fernbank in Atlanta.
Experience Arab culture, food, music, and crafts — admission and parking are free! If you’re looking to add something a little different to your fall bucket list, the Atlanta Arab Festival is an annual celebration of Arab cultures, food, art, performances, and a souq hosted by Alif Institute in Atlanta.
Step into Walter Wick’s miniature, puzzle-filled worlds at the High this fall! For a fall outing that’s equal parts nostalgic and brain-teasing, the High Museum of Art presents “I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders,” a retrospective featuring over 80 of Walter Wick’s photographs spanning 50 years that transform everyday objects into whimsical, puzzle-like worlds. The exhibition runs at the High’s Special Exhibition Galleries from August 28, 2026 through January 3, 2027.
Things are getting cooler, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of Atlanta’s favorite outdoor dining hotspots! From campfire vibes, to some of the ATL’s finest eateries, keep enjoying your meals outside this fall. Check out some recommendations below or click here for the full round-up.
- Ecco, Midtown & Buckhead
- The White Bull, Decatur
- Gypsy Kitchen, Buckhead
- Bar.bacoa, Virginia Highland