Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/22/26

A New Monthly Gathering Presented by the Grant Park Conservancy Brings Food, Music, Makers and Community to Atlanta’s Oldest Park

Kicking Off Sunday, April 19 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The Grant Park Conservancy is launching Market in the Park, a new monthly gathering designed to bring neighbors, food, music, and local makers together in Grant Park, Atlanta’s oldest public park. Debuting on Sunday, April 19 and continuing May 17 and June 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the new series will transform the Boulevard Green at Grant Park Gateway into a lively community hub filled with chef-driven bites, local vendors, music, and programming, with free admission for all ages, inviting people from across the city to spend the day in the park.

Produced by the Conservancy as part of its ongoing work to activate and enhance Grant Park, Market in the Park creates a fresh reason to gather in the heart of the park. Building on the same thoughtful curation that has made the Conservancy’s Summer Shade Festival a beloved neighborhood tradition, each market will feature a mix of prepared foods from local chefs, seasonal produce from regional growers, artisan and vintage vendors, live music, free yoga, workshops, and family-friendly programming throughout the day.

The series also arrives as several Conservancy-led improvements continue to take shape across the park. Just steps from the market lawn, the historic Milledge Fountain area is being transformed into the Milledge Fountain Outdoor Classroom and Theatre, a new space designed for performances, educational programming, and community gatherings. Along with ongoing improvements at the Boulevard Green and Gateway entrance, these projects reflect the Conservancy’s broader effort to make Grant Park an even more welcoming place to gather, learn, and connect.

“Grant Park has always been a place where Atlanta comes together,” said Michelle Blackmon, Executive Director of the Grant Park Conservancy. “Through our community survey and ongoing conversations with neighbors, we heard a clear desire for more opportunities to gather in the park and support local vendors. Market in the Park is our way of bringing that idea to life while continuing the Conservancy’s work to invest in spaces that help the park serve the community for years to come.”

The inaugural Earth Day edition is already shaping up with a lively mix of participants. Big Softie will make its first-ever appearance at a neighborhood market, while Sweet Auburn Barbecue and Tio Lucho’s Hermanita will bring chef-driven bites to the lawn. Zoo Atlanta will host educational programming for families, The Little Gym of Grant Park will offer free gymnastics activities for kids, and CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) will share ways residents can recycle responsibly and reduce waste at home. More vendors and programming will be revealed in the coming weeks, with a growing mix of artisans, farmers, plant vendors, vintage sellers, and community organizations joining the market throughout the season.

The Grant Park Conservancy’s new Market in the Park is designed around a simple idea: goods and gatherings for all. Parking is available at the Grant Park Gateway parking facility at 759 Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30315. For additional information, including vendor and programming lineups, visit www.gpconservancy.org. Stay connected via Instagram at @grantpark.atlanta.