Free Entertainment and Activities for Summer in Atlanta

Wonder why Atlanta is called "Hotlanta?" Well, take a visit sometime this summer and you'll see it's not just because of the weather. This is a vibrant city. It's a city of professionals and young people. And it's a big market for entertainers and event planners because of this. There's something happening here in the summer every year. Many events are free. I found some major ones that anybody might be attracted by.

http://www.emory.edu/sihp/ATLANTA/summer.html
Coca-Cola On the Bricks is hosted by Coca-Cola, naturally, and it's a whole summer series of free live concerts on Fridays, beginning at 6 p.m. at Centennial Olympic Park. It begins in June and runs every week through August. Some of the headliners that appeared there have been Hootie and the Blowfish, John Mayer and Unckle Kracker. If you don't like the headliners any particular night there's another alternative. The 99x Summer Concert Series costs $7 per vehicle, so it's not quite free, however, there are live performances there every Friday night too. They say the performers are quality--groups on the caliber of 3 Doors Down and Hoobastank--but you'll just have to look at the lineup and decide on which venue to choose. It may be that the location of 99x is more appealing--the grounds of Stone Mountain Park.

http://www.centennialpark.com/
This June 2nd Centennial Park will be the location for the 5th Annual Indie Craft Experience, rated by Creative Loafing in their Best of Atlanta as the Best Guerilla Art in the Area. What does this mean, exactly? Well, this is the type of art that is grass roots, like the graffiti on sides of buildings and the colorful, if somewhat "in-your-face" squiggles and swirls on the sides of railroad cars. While this is not about graffiti, per se, The Indie Art Experience is a fair of vendors selling street art, wild handbags and jewelry, among other things. People can wander and buy at their leisure. It's a craft market with free live music and some interactive workshops and a "city-wide clothing exchange! This event was even mentioned in the New York Magazine. Event opens at 11:00 a.m. and goes till 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

http://www.thekingcenter.org/prog/index.asp
Anyone visiting or even living in Atlanta has the opportunity to be inspired and energized by a visit to the King Center, established by Coretta Scott King in memory of her husband, the great Martin Luther King. Visitors enter the Freedom Hall, a grand display area of art from Africa and Georgia. The Hall is the main visitor area for the public. It contains a large auditorium, display areas and gift shop where people can immerse themselves in Dr. King's legacy, his speeches and his inspiration of freedom and non-violence to all people who enter this magnificent building. The outdoor grounds are an inspiration in itself, with its reflecting pools, the eternal flame and Dr. King's Crypt and gravesite. Visitors can arrange visits for groups of 15 or under to see Dr. King's birth home at 501 Auburn Ave., too. This home was saved from an Urban Renewal demolition and is owned by the King Center. They can also visit the National Park Service Visitors Center to special programs and exhibits commemorating the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s and Dr. King's part in that turbulent era. The King Center can fill an entire week of free exhibits and tours. They survive by donations, so people should try to contribute if they can. Donations can be given at the site or online.