The Atlanta Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park April 9-11, 2027, the organizer says. Hours, tickets, MARTA, parking and the no-dogs rule.

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts come from the organizer, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival: its FAQ, directions and parking page and history. This page is updated for each year’s festival at the same address.

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park Friday through Sunday, April 9-11, 2027, according to the organizer’s save-the-date. It will be the festival’s 91st year. Held since 1936, it is the city’s springtime arts festival: a juried artist market with hundreds of artists, music on the Coca-Cola Main Stage, an international stage, the Atlanta High School Art Exhibition and a Kids Village. Hours, ticket prices and the music lineup for 2027 are not posted yet; this page will carry them as soon as the organizer does.

Know before you go

  • When: Friday to Sunday, April 9-11, 2027
  • Where: Piedmont Park, Midtown; gates at Charles Allen Drive, 12th Street, 14th Street and Park Drive
  • Tickets: sold through FreshTix; the gate takes cards, cash, PayPal and Apple Pay
  • Getting there: MARTA to Arts Center or Midtown station; bike valet on 10th Street
  • Pets: not allowed, except service dogs
  • Organizer: Atlanta Dogwood Festival, 404-827-8663, dogwood.org

When and where

The 2027 festival is April 9-11 in Piedmont Park. For a sense of the hours, the 2026 festival on April 10-12 ran:

Day 2026 hours
Friday noon to 9 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The artist market closed at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Source: Atlanta Dogwood Festival FAQ. We will update this page when the 2027 hours are published.

Entrance gates are at Charles Allen Drive, 12th Street, 14th Street and Park Drive.

Tickets and cost

The festival sells admission through FreshTix, and the gate takes credit cards, cash, PayPal, Apple Pay and tap to pay. Tickets are non-refundable, with an option to pay extra for refund protection. Ticket help: FreshTix, 678-701-6114 or greenlight@freshtix.com.

  • Mimosa 5K runners get free festival entry on Saturday. In 2026 the race started at 8 a.m. Saturday from Charles Allen Drive and 10th Street and cost $35 to $45 depending on when you signed up; it is a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race. Source: Mimosa 5K page.
  • Party in the Park VIP ticket holders get free festival entry the same day. In 2026 VIP tickets ran from $40 to $80, with a tasting from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, seating and private restrooms above the main stage; kids 15 and under were free. Source: VIP Experience page.

What’s there

  • Artist Market: a juried fine art market with jewelry, painting, photography, pottery, sculpture and more.
  • Coca-Cola Main Stage and the International Stage, with performers from Atlanta’s global communities.
  • Atlanta High School Art Exhibition.
  • Kids Village on Oak Hill inside the 12th Street entrance: crafts, puppet shows, face painting and inflatables. Source: Kids Village.
  • Food trucks and food booths, and drink stands with beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.

Getting there and parking

  • MARTA is the festival’s preferred way in: take a train to Arts Center or Midtown station and walk to the park.
  • Parking: the festival recommends booking a space ahead through its SpotHero parking page. Accessible parking is in the SAGE Parking Garage, and the park has paved paths throughout.
  • Police enforcement: the Atlanta Police Department heavily enforces illegal parking around Piedmont Park that weekend. Residential parking fines are higher, and cars in tow zones are impounded.
  • Bikes: a bike valet sits in the 10th Street bike lane near Charles Allen Drive.

What to know

  • Pets: dogs and other pets, except service dogs, are not allowed in Piedmont Park during the festival under a City of Atlanta ordinance. The off-leash dog park stays open, reached only through the Park Drive entrance.
  • Food and drink: no outside food or beverages. No tents or coolers. Small chairs are fine.
  • Smoking: banned in Piedmont Park, as in all city parks.
  • Rain: the festival goes ahead rain or shine.

A little history

The first Dogwood Festival was held April 19, 1936, started by Walter Rich of Rich’s department store to make Atlanta known for its blooming dogwoods. It stopped during World War II and was revived in 1964. In 2008, a severe drought moved it to Lenox Square for a year before it returned to Piedmont Park. The organizer reported crowds of more than 200,000 in 2002 and 2003. Source: festival history.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Atlanta Dogwood Festival in 2027? Friday through Sunday, April 9-11, 2027, in Piedmont Park, according to the festival’s save-the-date. Hours for 2027 are not posted yet; in 2026 the festival ran noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Can I bring my dog to the Dogwood Festival? No. A City of Atlanta ordinance bars dogs and other pets, except service dogs, from Piedmont Park during the festival. The off-leash dog park stays open, reached only through the Park Drive entrance.

Where do I park for the Atlanta Dogwood Festival? The festival recommends MARTA to Arts Center or Midtown station, or booking a space in advance through its SpotHero parking page. Police enforce illegal parking heavily around the park that weekend.

Can I bring food and drinks into the festival? No outside food or beverages, tents or coolers are allowed. Small chairs are fine.

What happens if it rains? The festival is rain or shine, and tickets are non-refundable. Buyers can pay extra for refund protection.

What this means for you

  • Put April 9-11, 2027, on the calendar. It falls on the last weekend of Atlanta Public Schools’ spring break; see our spring break guide.
  • Take MARTA or book parking ahead, and leave the dog at home.
  • Check back in early spring for hours, ticket prices and the main stage lineup.

Related: Atlanta Pride, also in Piedmont Park, and things to do in Atlanta this weekend.