Outdoor festivals are a valued part of Atlanta’s culture. In addition to enhancing the City’s ambiance, they also generate a significant amount of tax revenue. Historically, Piedmont Park has been the home for Atlanta’s largest outdoor festivals of 50,000 or more attendees. In response to the drought however, the City has eliminated or reduced the number of large outdoor festivals that could occur in Piedmont Park in order to protect the Park from damage. The City of Atlanta is pleased to announce that all of the large outdoor festivals that occurred in the Park prior to the drought will be allowed to return to Piedmont Park during 2010.
“We made a commitment to the festival organizers that as soon as conditions warranted, they could return to Piedmont Park” said Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Dianne Harnell Cohen. In addition to removal of the watering ban, Piedmont Park Conservancy initiated and funded a water-well project to reduce the Park’s dependence on the City’s potable water supply. That project, along with recent weather conditions enables the City to fulfill its commitment to the event organizers. Commissioner Cohen added, “We look forward to a festi-full 2010”.
The tentative 2010 large outdoor festival schedule for Piedmont Park is as follows:
The Atlanta Dogwood Festival – April 16-18
The City of Atlanta Jazz Festival – May 28-30
The Atlanta Pride Parade and Festival - TBA after the 2009 event
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race - July 4
Screen on the Green - May 27, June 3, 10, 17, & 24
These dates may change as each festival organizer undergoes the festival permitting process.
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