Free Things To Do In Atlanta When You’re Low On Cash

Atlanta is packed with free activities, when your budget is tight! Try these free things to do alone or with your family and friends. 

1. Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park is full of Atlanta scenery! Walk through the lush green park, for a lunch stroll with a date. Or, jump right in the shooting water, designed in the shape of the iconic Olympic rings. You can also walk through the etched brick trail, with over 430, 000 commemorative bricks! During special seasons like Christmas, you can walk or drive through the park to see extravagant light decorations. They also have ice skating, during the holiday season, to offer non-stop fun with your visiting family and close friends. The park is also close to the downtown MARTA train station, for easy travel. If you want to keep the day going, after the park, you can visit the CNN center. Take a look around the building right across the street, that is full of Atlanta history. The CNN Center is the world headquarters of CNN and houses the newsroom and studios for some of the most watched network shows.

2. Festivals

During the Fall season, Atlanta is home to many free festivals. Attend a festival, like the Madison Avenue Soap Box derby on October 5, 2019. This unique event, started by passionate neighbors, is a race with 100 drivers, that raises money for a local charity! Enjoy the races, as well as food from vendors. There are other activities, like a bake sale and live music. The actual judging of cars happens at noon, with races lasting from 1 – 4 pm. This is a family friendly event, with fun for all ages. If you want to attend a different type of event, try the Atlanta Hip Hop Day music festival. It’s free for all, with two dates for Saturday October 6 or Sunday October 7 (2019). The Saturday event starts at 10 am and ends at 7 pm. The Sunday event is from 11 am-6 pm. Sponsored by the Atlanta Voice,  the festival is for hip hop music lovers, with performances by LitTwins and more. Mark your calendar, for the event happening at Woodruff Park, in downtown Atlanta!

3. Art Stroll

The Castleberry Hill Art Stroll happens every 2nd Friday of every month is a self-guided tour through Atlanta’s historic art district. This eclectic event is set up for event goers to experience art galleries, food and good people. You choose your own path, creating a one-of-a-kind memory for you and your date or friends. This year, participating vendor, Iridium 77, a Chicago based clothing brand will be serving food and drinks with a live DJ! They will also have a personal shopper option, if you want to purchase some of the clothing, during your stroll. Nadia’s Studio and Gallery is also a participating vendor that will be performing mini massages, as a preview of their full spa services. You can enjoy these fun activities, while looking at original art painted by artists. With the budding film industry in Atlanta, The Castleberry Hill Art Stroll has been used in popular film and TV shows. 

4. Martin Luther King Center

If you’re a history buff, the King Center is another self-guided park in Atlanta. Here, you can learn about the life and legacy of one of the most popular civil rights leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr! Established in 1968, by Coretta Scott King, the nonprofit museum-like park is full of historical archives. Get your many questions answered about Dr. King and his upbringing, trials and tribulations navigating through the civil rights movement. The museum is open Sunday-Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm EST. Admission and parking is free, so you won’t have to worry about any tickets or towing. You can also shop for educational books, t-shirts, and mugs after your visit, available online to help cherish the life-changing visit. 

5. Atlantic Station

Atlantic Station is a neighborhood known in Atlanta for it’s shopping and good eats. During the holiday season, you can attend the Spooky Film Festival or outdoor movies when they block off the streets! During these times, they usually offer discounts at the surrounding restaurants, giving you even more reason to stay all day. The best thing, is to check the dates and events calendar to prepare for the next happening throughout the year. If you can’t catch an event, you can still swing by to grab affordable food from restaurants like Meehans Public House. Meehans serves delicious menu items like sweet potato fries and buffalo wings. They also have their own, in-house events like Comedy Night. If you’re budget is extra tight, pick up a fresh sub sandwich from Publix and sit outside to enjoy the vibes of the people. You can also walk across the huge Atlantic Station bridge and take plenty of selfies by the water.

See Also

The Ultimate Festival Camping Checklist

6. Walking Dead Tour

If you’re a huge fan of The Walking Dead, this is the best free thing to do! Visit many places from the show’s interesting scenes. There are many places to go, like the hospital that first appeared on Season 1, Episode 1. At this location, you’ll be able to get a first-hand look at the courtyard full of bodies, that Rick could see, as well as the parking lot full of helicopters and military vehicles.

You can even see Rick’s House, which is his first stop after he wakes up from the coma. The house is located right across from The Atlanta Zoo and Grant Park. You can also see other locations like Atlanta’s CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). This location was shown on Season 1, Episode 5 of The Walking Dead, where Dr. Edwin Jenner was introduced. The Walking Dead tour has many more stops along the way. You can take plenty of pictures for your memories and best of all, it’s completely FREE.

With many things to do, which free Atlanta activity would you like to try? Let us know in the comments!

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