Grant Park Summer Shade Fest takes the "labor" out of Labor Day Weekend

[Above: Food vendors line the streets in Grant Park.]

Atlanta has some awesome festivals, many of which take place each year during Labor Day Weekend alone. While books consumed Decatur, nearby Grant Park’s Summer Shade featured the usual scattering of live local music, vendor food from popular restaurants and an interesting about-town artist exhibition for the sixth year running. The festival also hosted children’s activities and street performers, but I wouldn’t know anything about that. I was too distracted by shiny artisan jewelry and jam sessions.

Oh, and I think there was an early-morning 5k run to kick off the festival. But I definitely wouldn’t know anything about that.

Arriving on Saturday, I went straight for some grub from Agave before parking myself at the stage for Jeremy Thornton, a local soul/hip-hop artist. Realizing I could still hear the music while browsing the artists market area, I quickly wandered over once my food had settled (hey, it was hot out there). I wasted no time falling in love with multiple local artists, taking home a few goodies and endless business cards. Wares at the 100 or so booths ranged from jewelry to paintings to candle holders.


Favorites included the vintage re-workings of Talulah B., paintings by Alex Leopold, jewelry and collages by Love Allison, adorable pet paintings by Yvonne Miller and funky home accents by Elizabeth Workmaster.


Whilst wandering about, I also listened to some great tunes from musicians like The Preakness, Batata Doce, Lindsay Appel and Thomas Oliver an the Usual Suspects. In all, a great way to welcome the onset of fall-- symbolically, if not literally, thanks to the Atlanta weather that'll have us seeking out summer shade of our own well into September.

Related links:
Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause - The Rustic Contemporary Sounds of...
GPConservancy.org/SummerShade
Informer:Atlanta 8/26/08