Festivals + Gated Park Events
Hey, Atlanta! It’s festival season and we hope you’re enjoying warmer weather
and some extra time outdoors!
Sharing a few reminders as you enjoy our City of Atlanta parks and attend permitted events:
- Cleanup: Cleanup begins 24 hrs. after all permitted events. This gives event organizers the opportunity to close out events and send in teams to ensure the area is thoroughly cleaned.
- Traffic & Security: The Department of Parks & Recreation works closely with the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and individual Zones to ensure there is an approved traffic and security plan for all permitted events. APD reviews and mandates what is necessary from a public safety standpoint based on event plans.
- Immediate Support: For any concerns about gated events in the park, please email parksreservationist@atlantaga.gov. DPR monitors this inbox over the weekend and during events to address concerns in real time, so this is the best way to reach us for support during an event. If immediate APD support is needed, please call 911.
We actively work with the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and event organizers to implement improved strategies for permitted events in City of Atlanta parks. Our goal is to create a safe and enjoyable environment for both neighbors and festival attendees while keeping our parks maintained.
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Sec. 142-63. - Prohibited conduct during outdoor festivals.
Prohibited conduct for outdoor festivals that occur in city parks is set forth in Atlanta Code of Ordinances Section 110-76. For all outdoor festivals not occurring in city parks, it shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the following acts, or to permit a minor child in her/his custody to do any of the following acts in the festival production area:
(a)Ride, drive or operate bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds or any other motor vehicles, or ride skateboards or skates. These items may be carried into or through the festival production area. This provision shall not apply to emergency medical personnel, nor to officials or employees of the City of Atlanta acting in their official capacity, nor to vendors restocking their merchandise, nor to vendors providing sanitation services for the outdoor festival. In addition, this provision shall not apply to outdoor festival workers.
(b)Bring in, carry, or in any way possess, play or operate any radio, musical instrument or similar device which is producing or reproducing sound in such a manner as to be plainly audible to other persons in the festival production area, other than the operator of the device. This provision shall not apply to persons performing in the outdoor festival. All radios and musical devices with earphones are permitted.
(c)Engage in outdoor cooking in any area except an area designated for grilling by the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department. This provision shall not apply to authorized outdoor festival vendors.
(d)Be in possession of any alcoholic beverage at an outdoor festival located on public property, unless the alcoholic beverage was purchased or otherwise obtained from an authorized vendor of the outdoor festival.
(e)Pets are prohibited during Class A, B, and C outdoor festivals. Pets are permitted during Class D and Class E outdoor festivals. The pet prohibition set forth in this provision shall not apply to those animals where the animal's owner can demonstrate that the animal is part of a performance, exhibit, or other activity conducted as part of the outdoor festival. Nor shall said prohibition apply to any guide dog especially trained for the purpose of accompanying a totally or partially blind person or a deaf person, or a service dog especially trained for the purpose of accompanying a physically disabled person. Lastly, said prohibition shall not apply to any dog trained and licensed by and in the possession of the Atlanta Police Department or any other law enforcement agency, or a horse utilized by the city's mounted police patrol.
For information on planning a special event inside the City of Atlanta, please visit the Office of Special Events.