Atlanta Dogwood Festival turns 90 this spring — now with small entry fee
The Atlanta Dogwood Festival marks its 90th year this spring with a weekend of fine art, live music, and outdoor entertainment from April 10–12 in Piedmont Park. And, for the first time, there is a nominal admission fee.
As always, the festival is anchored at Charles Allen Drive and 10th Street. Friday admission is $5 for adults (13 and older). Saturday and Sunday tickets are $10 each, or $15 for a weekend pass. Tickets are available in advance at dogwood.org and include access to an express lane. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate. Organizers state that the fee is necessary to offset rising production costs. While a fundraising campaign last fall secured enough money to stage this year's event, the nonprofit cited longterm financial sustainability as the reason for introducing ticketing.
Founded in 1936 by Walter Rich, then president of Rich's Department Store, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is the city's longest-running festival and one of the oldest fine arts festivals in the country. This 90th edition is presented by Associated Credit Union.
Three days in Piedmont Park
The centerpiece remains the juried Artist Market, where at least 250 booths fill the park with work across a dozen mediums — oil, watercolor, sculpture, jewelry, fiber arts, ceramics, and woodworking among them. Artists are selected from roughly 1,000 applicants and are on hand throughout the weekend to talk about their work.
The Coca-Cola Main Stage carries live music all three days, with a lineup that spans local acts, cover bands, and international performers.
What's new and what's back
High school programming returns with the Atlanta High
School Art Exhibition, an annual juried competition where Georgia students submit work to a panel of professionals. The top pieces will be displayed on-site throughout the festival weekend. Saturday also features the Chair Hack, presented by MODA, a creative challenge where participants use IKEA chair parts to build anything except a chair. On Sunday afternoon, the Art Throwdown, a timed live-art competition, pits high school teams against one another in a creative competition. This all takes place at the Community Center near the 12th Street park entrance.
A ticketed VIP experience, Party in the Park, runs Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It includes beer, wine, and cocktail samplings, a private bar, seating, dedicated restrooms, and lunch from Loaded Burger and Loaded Taco food truck. VIP tickets are sold separately at dogwood.org.
Festival Saturday kicks off with the Atlanta Dogwood Festival Mimosa 5K, a run through Midtown that concludes with a toast in Piedmont Park. The race, sponsored in part by Rough Draft Atlanta, serves as a Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race qualifier; registration is available at dogwood.org.
Even better, Party in the Park ticket holders and Mimosa 5K participants receive complimentary festival entrance the same day as their event.
Families with young children can find activities, crafts, games, and entertainment at the Kids Village, presented by Dollywood Parks and Resorts, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Tickets and details
The 90th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival presented by Associated Credit Union runs April 10-12, 2026, at Piedmont Park. Tickets and full event information are at dogwood.org.
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SOLE
FREDERICK
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