The 87th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival is less than three weeks away, and the three-day outdoor event will bring a plethora of fine art, live entertainment and family-friendly features to Piedmont Park. To assist first-time visitors and veteran attendees alike, festival organizers have gathered their top tips for making the most of the city’s favorite springtime experience.

Here is what to know to plan the best festival weekend of all time:

Party in the Park VIP Experience
Taking place within a spacious fenced VIP area, Party in the Park offers ticket holders the chance to upgrade their festival attendance with seating, private bathrooms, a private bar, beer and wine tastings, the Loaded Taco/Loaded Burger food truck and more, all with a perfect view of the Coca-Cola Main Stage.

Party in the Park takes place festival Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and VIP access is also available Friday and Saturday evenings. Several ticket levels are offered, allowing guests to customize their experience. https://dogwood.org/2023-vip-experience/.

Support for the Festival
The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that puts on the city’s largest and longest-running fine arts festival each spring and supports youth arts programs throughout the year. With the changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, costs have gone up by 30%-$40% to produce this annual tradition. The event is still free to attend, but audience support is needed to keep the festival running. There is a requested donation of $5 at the door, or visitors may choose to make an online donation through the website. https://dogwood.org/product/donate-friends-of-the-dogwood/

Performances and Entertainment
Throughout the weekend, the festival offers a variety of live music and entertainment on the Coca-Cola Main Stage, including local bands, dance troupes, international performers, children’s choirs and more. Each day kicks off with a range of performances representing the many international communities that call Atlanta home, as part of the award-winning International Stage. Mid-afternoon, local and well-known bands take the stage, bringing attendees live music in genres from bluegrass to indie rock and from pop to R&B with a few party bands in between. Adults can take a break, kick back, relax in the Corona Beer Garden and stop by the AARP Block Party, a rockin’ activation for any generation. https://dogwood.org/music/

Fairway & Amusement Park Rides
The rides are back! A festival favorite that went on necessary hiatus during the pandemic, the amusement park rides return for 2023 with options from tame to breathtaking. Attendees will find the rides in the Meadow, and nearby ticket booths offer a range of packages.

Kids of all ages can enjoy the rides, but there is plenty more for young festival attendees to celebrate. In the Kids Village presented by Visit Tallahassee, families will find hands-on arts and crafts projects, puppet shows, inflatables and special features like the Teddy Bear Hospital or Topplin’ Tots Mobile Play Area.