Very packed, lots of food, vendors and good music and shuttles at the Suwanee location.read more

I had heard about this event from the earlier event locations - this is a "pop-up" style market…read morethat moves around Atlanta, typically over a holiday weekend. On this occasion, it was the Memorial Day weekend on 2018.10.5 - 2018.10.07 and the market took place at the North Point Mall at 1000 North Point Cir, Alpharetta, GA 30022, along the side facing the JC Penny's anchor store. This is an outdoor vendor-oriented market featuring imported goods and a huge assortment of food. In Asia markets like these are done at night to escape the heat of the day - typically they go on pretty much all night but of course this US market is a bit more pragmatic. I met a friend after work on the first night (Friday) right when it opened, about 5:00 PM. The market was just getting started so some of the food vendors weren't quite ready and some tents were unoccupied, but this was remedied by the time we left. Admission was $10 but could have been less if we'd bought online prior to the event day - we decided to just pay at the gate. Oh and most of these vendors were cash only so keep that in mind - there are several ATMs but you get to pay those fees. I'd say that the "International" aspect was very well represented by a super diverse assortment of vendors and a crowd to to match. There were the typical saree and handbag sellers plus one booth that had leather jackets. I saw many, many different ethnic groups from all over the world - lots of fun to be had. There's also a stage with music that continued for most of the night with some live local acts and a DJ spinning a broad-time-spanning assortment of well-mixed dance music. But of course the real reason I attended was to sample the food. The food ranged from near-local to far reaching Asian - there were at least two different Lao vendors, Snackboxe Bistro and a Thai/Viet/Lao vendor that served Pad Thai, Papaya Salad and skewers of meat. There were also several Indian vendors including the nearby Dekkan Spice (very good) so a good mix of local restaurants, caterers and food trucks. I saw a couple of Halal places including a whole BBQ goat. We settled on a mix of Thai and Island cuisines, the latter being a veggie and noodle stirfry with teriyaki chicken. I thought both were quite good and less than $10. The Hawaiian rotisserie looked amazing but wasn't quite ready or I def would have gotten the pork ribs or turkey leg. There was also a vegan section with many restaurants within if what I described above scared you. I think there was plenty to sample something unusual and come away full. There were many drink vendors selling lassies and other cold drinks including many fruity drinks. I only saw one beer vendor but it was large and well placed sith several local craft brews - I ended up with a Creature Comforts Tropicalia IPA but also say a Three Taverns sour and a Steady Hand Farmhouse Ale (Saisson) as options. Overall I liked the event but coudn't stay much more than the hour or so (commitments elsewhere) but did have fun while there. The people serving were really nice and accommodating and good about answering questions. It was starting to get crowded so that was my queue to get out anyway - I don't deal with the jostle of the crowds - when my beer gets bumped it's time to leave!

The Beltline Lantern Parade made its westside debut this year, and it was awesome. The parade went…read moredown the westside beltline, and ended at Lee and White. It was very well attended, and and I can tell that the participation will grow even larger next year. If you're a spectator, I recommend arriving early in order to score a good viewing spot.

I experienced my first Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade this past Saturday, September 10th, 2016. It…read morewas a lot of fun. The parade has existed since 2010, so 2016 was the parade's 7th year. According to the BeltLine website, more than 60,000 people showed up for the parade in 2015 (http://art.beltline.org/lantern-parade/). It's a big event. The parade took place on the BeltLine's Eastside Trail on an approximate 2-mile stretch that began at Irwin St (near Irwin Street Market and Krog Street Market) in Old Fourth Ward/Inman Park and ended at Monroe Dr (near Piedmont Park) in Midtown (northbound). We had dinner at Two Urban Licks, which is located directly on the Eastside Trail about halfway between the start and end points of the parade, and slipped into the parade from there. This is a completely free and casual event for both spectators and participants. Technically, you need a lantern to walk in the parade, but a couple of us tagged along with our friends who had lanterns, so we experienced this event from a marcher's point of view. While the parade officially begins at Irwin St, marchers can really hop on and hop off the parade route at any point so long as they're polite and don't disrupt the flow of the parade. There are workshops you can go to where they will teach you how to make your own original lantern for the event. Check out the lantern parade's website (link above) for more info and to sign up for these workshops. The lanterns I saw came in all shapes and sizes from giant, imposing Day of the Dead themed skeletons to cute little Pokemon. There were college-themed lanterns, fruits and vegetables (e.g. a bundle of purple grapes, a giant carrot), animals (e.g. sharks, phoenixes, unicorns), cartoon characters (e.g. the Powerpuff Girls), TV/movie themed lanterns (e.g. Stranger Things, Star Wars), and more. People also had fun with illuminated hats and clothing. Our friends made some awesome pineapple (very popular) and Kirby (Nintendo character) lanterns. To me, the parade was sort of like the Dragon Con parade, but with lanterns. You just had no idea what to expect. The creations ran the gamut and that's most of the fun of the parade in my opinion. Most lanterns appeared to be made of paper and illuminated with battery-operated lights. Both sides of the Eastside Trail were packed with spectators, especially around major BeltLine access points such as Ponce City Market and Piedmont Park. There was a concert going on at Piedmont Park afterwards. There were also porta potties located there. I valet parked at Two Urban Licks and after the parade ended (after 10:30pm), we walked back down the trail to the restaurant. By that time, the trail had mostly cleared of the masses. It was still busy, but not as packed and it was easy to walk in either direction. Note: If you take Uber or Lyft to the parade, be mindful of which side of the trail you want to be picked up or dropped off at. This can save you a lot of time since certain streets and intersections will be blocked off by the police.

SHADE on a hot day..It's dangerous to have to sit in the direct sun..how is that having concern for…read morepeople..

Continuing for three days in Atlanta's Piedmont Park, this is a gigantic art festival and music…read morestage. I went through on Friday for about three hours. It's amazing how many different artists are here. At least 200 tents set up along the concrete pathways of the park. Jewelry, paintings, sculptures, each one completely unique. I saw some neat wrist straps made from machine badges, sculptures made with lunch boxes, glass works that looked so beautifully delicate, amber necklaces and bracelets, coffee cups and mugs mde from clay, landscapes and portraits. One artist's format uses insects (not actual insects, reproductions) and the beautiful purple butterflies fill a 3-foot by 5-foot picture frame. That one was for sale for $5000! Food vendors included barbecue, pineapple drinks, noodles, turkey legs, Ben & Jerry's, chicken strips and "meat on a stick." Credit card payments accepted. The festival is free to enter and there was some security. An Atlanta police officer idled by on his motorcycle a couple of times. It started off crowded and then the rain seemed to chase a few people away but by early afternoon, the crowds were back. We parked on a side street in a completely legal space. Free. There is paid parking nearby. Note that pets are NOT allowed in the park during the festival and Atlanta regulations prohibit smoking in the park, too. [Review 19535 overall - 591 in Georgia - 505 of 2023.]

Way more conservative than some of the other cities that are known for Carnival, but that makes…read moreAtlanta Carnival a bit more fun and I enjoy it just the same. Always a decent crowd but never so overwhelming that you need to camp out the night before, the parade route was perfect this year. It danced down a tree lined street in downtown Atlanta that offered plenty of shade and areas to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of Caribbean culture. Families and those who are easily offended be warned, the parade revelers are scantily clad and gyrating against each other; there are semi-trucks carrying generators and large arrays of speakers so that you can feel the rhythms. But it's all in fun and everyone has a wonderful time.

Technically, this is more of an event than a place you go to, but hey, you'll forgive me, right?…read moreThe parade itself goes from West Peachtree to Jesse Hill Jr. Drive. It normally takes place during Memorial Day Weekend. When I went to my first one in Atlanta is 2008, I was extremely disappointed. Why? I've been spoiled, I'm accustomed to going to the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn. In comparison, this one was pathetic. However, this year the parade took a step in the right direction. There was more spectators and participants in the Parade. If you've never been to a West Indian Parade, expect to hear loud music, people dressed in elaborate costumes, dancing, great food, and an all around good time. While many of the participants are of West Indian, African, and Latino descendant, all are welcome. After the parade you can go to Festival Village for a small fee. It's basically a section of the city that's blocked off. There's food vendors, live music from Caribbean artists, and plenty of knick knacks being sold. For a full out experience, go to one of the many parties that will be occurring during the weekend.

I had an amazing time at this event. I love going to the taste of, events because you get to try…read morerestaurant for that particular area. I was invited to go on a social media pass. And it just did not disappoint. The food was amazing. I was so stuffed by the time I left I had to just sit in my car and let it digest. I like that they have lots of tall tables for people to stand it and eat their food. There are also some seats that were closer up towards where the band was playing so it didn't feel too crowded and you didn't have anywhere to go. There were lots of different food choices. Sometimes when you go to these festivals there are more alcohol tents then food and that was not the case at this particular event. I love that there were so many food places to choose from and you were not over powered by the amount of alcohol tents. I will definitely go to this event again next year!

This was a great event. I can't wait to revisit in 2025. They had many vendors and the food was…read morevery good.

So certain people can park in the handicap parking but others can't. What a wonderful way to…read morepromote inclusiveness. Absolutely brilliant. We'll find another festival that will promote inclusion for all, regardless of ability or not.

Looks like this fall fest has been going on for quite some time now, according to reviews. I found…read moreit to be pretty easy to take the Marta here, since the Facebook event mentioned that finding parking might not be the easiest. There were two entrances, but I entered along the row with all the art booths. The booths were filled with local crafts and art and it was a great way to meet and see what's going on in the art community. Further along, there were some stalls selling locally made products, such as the candles you can use as lotion once burnt and melted. There was a stage with some live music going, although no one I had ever heard of. The food trucks were close by and I made sure to pick up a beer! Wasn't super hungry and didn't want to stand in some of the crazy lines... Next year I plan on coming again, but HUNGRY!

This was my first Taste of Marietta! I had a wonderful time…read moresampling all the food at the many different restaurants. Now I have some kind of idea of how much fun this festival is.

I came to Taste of Marietta with my BF and family! I appreciated the sense of community, and being…read moreable to be outdoors, enjoying food festivals once again. We walked around, talked, listened to the awesome band, and of course ATE! Although there was a lot of people, the food lines moved surprisingly quickly. We definitely enjoyed all of the delicious food we tasted. My only con is that I wish the food that was advertised on the food trucks was so he food that was actually being served. Ex: empanada truck with no empanadas. Also, a lot of trucks ran out of food but still wanted to charge the same price even though the customer did not receive the full meal, example: chicken and rice meal with no rice. Overall it was a beautiful day to be outside! I enjoyed my experience, and the foodie in me was pleasantly satisfied!

I was not planning to go to the fair but my kids were adamant about going. I am happy that we went…read more We went on a weekday and it was packed, but we were still able to ride various rides. We paid 25 a person for unlimited rides, which I more cost efficient that paying for individual tickets. Fair food is a must. There were a wide variety of vendors to choose. The fair isn't a must go for me but it id for my kids.

My favorite fair in the Atlanta Metro area. They have good food options, its well organized. Fun…read moreshows, a huge petting zoo, you can feed the animals and free parking.