What to Do in Metro Atlanta This Labor Day Weekend: Festivals, Football, Dragon Con and More
From Dragon Con and Atlanta Black Pride to college football, live music, family festivals and one of the region’s biggest holiday road races, Metro Atlanta has plenty happening September 5-7.
Metro Atlanta is packed for Labor Day weekend.
Instead of treating the weekend like one long list, the easiest way to choose is by the kind of day you want: a major Atlanta event, something family-friendly, live music and food, or a sports-and-fitness outing.
Here are some of the strongest options happening across the region through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.
Big Atlanta draws
Dragon Con
Dragon Con continues through Monday across downtown Atlanta, bringing science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, art, music and film fans together. The convention’s parade is one of the weekend’s most visible traditions.
Atlanta Black Pride Weekend
The 20th annual Atlanta Black Pride Weekend continues through Monday with events spread across multiple locations, including community, music and social programming.
Auburn vs. Baylor at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The Aflac Kickoff Game puts Auburn and Baylor at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday afternoon, adding a major college-football event to the holiday weekend.
Hamilton at the Fox Theatre
Hamilton is back at the Fox Theatre and continues beyond Labor Day weekend, making it an option for people looking for a theater night rather than a festival or sporting event.
Family and outdoor picks
Dunwoody Butterfly Experience
The Dunwoody Nature Center’s Butterfly Experience runs Saturday and Sunday with butterfly tents, educational programs, animal shows, music, arts and crafts, and food and drink available for purchase.
Stone Mountain Labor Day Weekend Lasershow
Stone Mountain Park is running its classic lasershow Saturday through Monday with an extended fireworks finale. The show itself is free, though parking and other park attractions cost extra.
Food, music and community
BBQ, Blues & Brews in Austell
Austell’s Saturday festival combines barbecue, craft brews, blues performances and fireworks at Towne Park. Admission is free.
House in the Park
Grant Park hosts House in the Park on Sunday, with a full afternoon and evening of house music from veteran DJs.
Concerts by the Springs
Sandy Springs offers a free Sunday-night lawn concert at Heritage Amphitheatre featuring R&B Inc., an Atlanta band playing R&B, soul and funk.
Grupo Frontera in Duluth
Grupo Frontera brings its norteño sound to Gas South Arena in Duluth on Sunday night.
Sports and active options
Big Peach Sizzler 10K & 5K
The Big Peach Sizzler starts Labor Day morning in Brookhaven and Chamblee, with 5K and 10K routes supporting families and individuals living with cystic fibrosis.
The Whiskey Run
Runners can choose a 5K, 10K or half marathon Sunday in Atlanta, followed by a whiskey sampling.
WWE at State Farm Arena
WWE’s Sunday Night Main Event comes to State Farm Arena with a card featuring Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and other major names.
The Georgia inside the story
Labor Day weekend shows how many different versions of Metro Atlanta can exist at once.
Downtown has Dragon Con and Atlanta Black Pride. Mercedes-Benz Stadium has college football. Dunwoody has butterflies and outdoor family programming. Austell has barbecue and blues. Sandy Springs has free live music. Stone Mountain has one of the region’s long-running holiday traditions.
The value of a local weekend guide is not simply knowing that events exist. It is being able to choose the Atlanta experience that fits the day you actually want to have.