Market In The Park Returns With A Birthday Bash For Grant Park On May 17
Local Food, Vendors, Live Music, and Free Programming Return to Boulevard Green for Grant Park’s 143rd Birthday Celebration
After a standout debut in April, the Grant Park Conservancy is bringing Market in the Park back to Boulevard Green adjacent to Grant Park Gateway on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The second installment of the new monthly series arrives just in time for Grant Park’s 143rd birthday, bringing another full day of free local shopping, food, live music, and family-friendly programming to the neighborhood.
Before the afternoon unfolds, the celebration hits a high note at 11 a.m. In honor of Grant Park’s 143rd birthday, the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School Chorus will join live band Bolo Boys for a community sing-along of “Happy Birthday” to the park, adding a lively, feel-good moment to the day’s festivities.
The inaugural market, held over Earth Day weekend, welcomed a steady flow of neighbors, families, and visitors who spent the day shopping local, enjoying chef-driven bites, and taking in programming across the park. The May event builds on that turnout with an expanded lineup of returning favorites and new additions, while continuing to showcase Boulevard Green as a go-to gathering spot and a key part of the Gateway entrance.
May’s food lineup includes a notable first for Atlanta-based Big Softie, which will make its first-ever appearance at an event outside of its brick-and-mortar locations, serving up its specialty ice cream sandwiches. Returning favorites, including Sweet Auburn Barbecue, Tio Lucho’s Hermanita pop-up, Georgia Proud Provisions showcasing the season’s best Georgia peaches, and Plump Pressed Juice will also be in the mix, alongside additional local vendors offering coffee, baked goods, and easy, market-friendly bites.
Shoppers can expect a mix of local artisans, vintage finds, plants, handmade goods, fresh flowers and produce, home décor, jewelry, and more. The market continues to reflect the neighborhood, with a balance of familiar faces and new vendors to discover. The event also features free, family-friendly activities throughout the day, along with live music and interactive programming that keeps things moving without feeling crowded.
Since 1883, Grant Park has brought Atlantans together, and on May 17, the city’s oldest public park turns 143. This birthday edition of Market in the Park offers a simple reason to gather, catch up with neighbors, and spend time in a place that continues to grow while staying rooted in the community. The celebration also follows a recent milestone for the Conservancy, which was awarded an “Expanded Access” Play It Forward grant from the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority. The grant supports ongoing efforts to expand free programming and create welcoming gathering spaces across the park, helping increase access to recreation, culture, and connection.
“Grants like this are critical to the work we’re doing,” said Michelle Blackmon, Executive Director of the Grant Park Conservancy. “They allow us to expand free programming and continue investing in spaces and experiences that bring people together across the park.”
Market in the Park is free to attend and open to all ages, reinforcing the Conservancy’s commitment to keeping the park welcoming and accessible for everyone. The series returns May 17, with an additional date set for June 14, as each month introduces new vendors, fresh programming, and seasonal additions.
Parking is available at the Grant Park Gateway facility, located at 759 Boulevard SE. As the series grows, Conservancy-led improvements continue across the park, including the transformation of the historic Milledge Fountain area into an outdoor classroom and theatre, alongside ongoing enhancements at Boulevard Green. For more information, visit www.gpconservancy.org and follow along on Instagram at @grantpark.atlanta.
