1. Visit the National Parks on one of five free days – FREE!
America's National Park System opens its exhibits for free on five days in 2020 — including places in and around Atlanta like the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park near Macon and the Freedom Riders National Monument in Anniston, Alabama. The King National Historic Site is always free, and the King Historic District Tour is one of the top ways to experience Atlanta.
2. Get inspired with Oprah
Oprah's 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus tour picked just nine cities — and Atlanta is one of them — for a day-long wellness event alongside Dwayne Johnson, in partnership with Weight Watchers Reimagined.
3. Explore Atlanta's historic cemeteries – FREE!
Atlanta's Victorian cemeteries were designed as public parks. Oakland (est. 1850) is the city's oldest, alongside Decatur City Cemetery (1823), Westview (1884), and South-view (1886) — peaceful places with walking trails, stunning mausoleums, and many important Atlanta leaders at rest.
4. Be amazed at the Atlanta Science Festival – FREE!
A month-long celebration of science with escape labs, superhero science nights, exhibits at Fernbank and Georgia Tech, culminating in a free expo with over a hundred interactive exhibits and demos in March.
5. Eat the city with an experience or festival
Try an Atlanta Food Walk, the Atlanta Grilled Cheese Festival in April, the 10th annual Ice Cream Festival in July, or splurge on Taste of Atlanta or the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival.
6. Jump back in time!
The Georgia Renaissance Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2020 — medieval playgrounds, petting zoos, jousting, and legendary festival food from enormous turkey legs to roasted corn.
7. Explore rich African American history and culture
Atlanta has been America's black mecca for over a century. Explore it through the King Historic District Tour, the Apex Museum, the King Center, the Atlanta History Center, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
8. Jam out at the epic Shaky Knees or Shaky Boots
Atlanta's famous 3-day music festival features the Black Keys, Smashing Pumpkins, and the Strokes — or go country at Shaky Boots the following weekend with Brandi Carlile and Dierks Bentley.
9. Get your history on at Hamilton
The award-winning Broadway show returns to the Fox Theatre — and reasonably-priced tickets are possible this time. Pre-purchase parking through the Fox to save.
10. Go wild at Imagine Festival 2020
The electronic dance and music festival at Atlanta Motor Speedway — named a top-20 festival by Fest300 — draws almost 100,000 attendees with art installations, multiple stages, and camping on site.
11. Geek out at Atlanta's numerous Cons
DragonCon brings almost 80,000 guests each Labor Day weekend, with the famous parade. There's also Atlanta ComicCon, Anime Weekend Atlanta, MomoCon, and niche cons like 221BCon for Sherlock Holmes fans.
12. Talk politics at Manuel's Tavern
2020 is a big political year, and Manuel's Tavern is Atlanta's most famous political bar — a required stop for candidates since Jimmy Carter announced his 1970 gubernatorial bid there.
13. Celebrate the Centennial of the 19th Amendment
The Atlanta History Center celebrates the women's suffrage centennial with an exhibit opening January 31, 2020, showcasing important Atlanta suffragists like Emily Inman of the Swan House.
14. Celebrate the NCAA Men's Final Four – FREE!
Atlanta hosts the Final Four at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — semifinals April 4, championship April 6 — plus numerous free basketball-themed events around the city that weekend.
15. Go beyond the Beltline – FREE!
Try the Freedom Trail connecting the King Historic Site with the Carter Center, the Silver Comet Trail, the dolls at Constitution Lakes Park, or the new South Peachtree Creek Trail.
16. Sway to unique music at the Atlanta Symphony
Tony Bennett backed by the Symphony, Star Wars — Return of the Jedi with live orchestra, plus Beethoven, Mozart, and Music for the Young.
17. Head back to the 1920s with Porgy and Bess
The Gershwins' famous opera — a Depression-era love story with iconic jazz including “Summertime” — comes to the Atlanta Opera.
18. Stop and smell the dragons at Atlanta's gardens
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens features giant topiaries — dragons, peacocks, earth goddesses — beautiful in every season. Also try Piedmont Park, Stone Mountain, Lake Lanier Islands, or Callaway Gardens.
19. SHARKS!!!!
In late fall 2020 the Georgia Aquarium opens its largest expansion yet: a new shark gallery with floor-to-ceiling glass and interactive stations.
20. The Nutcracker at the Cobb Energy Center
After nearly 20 years at the Fox Theatre, the Atlanta Ballet moves its beloved Nutcracker to the Cobb Energy Center — more shows, same beautiful ballet.
