Atlanta’s June calendar runs long on outdoor events and short on excuses to stay home. From neighborhood farmers markets to a Disney princess film series, a high-energy circus, Scottish Highland Games and a Juneteenth concert, the start of summer hands families a packed lineup. Many of the best options are free, and the ticketed ones rarely top a few dollars for kids.
The trick is sequencing. Some events run every weekend through December, others land on a single Saturday, and the priciest ticket of the bunch sits about ten times higher than the cheapest. Sort the free dates from the paid ones early and you can stretch one month of activities across almost no budget.
Two Farmers Markets Anchor the Weekend Grocery Run
Saturday and Sunday mornings in June belong to the markets. Both of the season’s anchors are free to enter, walkable and stocked with what is in season right now, which makes them an easy first stop before the day heats up.
The Green Market sits at the 12th Street and Piedmont Avenue gate of Piedmont Park, where shoppers browse seasonal produce, locally made goods and handmade items from vendors across Georgia. It has connected the city with local farmers and producers for more than 20 years, and the walk through the park is half the appeal. Across town, the Virginia Highland Farmers Market rotates its vendor list week to week, mixing fresh produce, breads, prepared foods, seafood, floral bouquets and locally made beverages.
If you are still building out a seasonal pantry, our roundup of Georgia spring produce worth seeking out pairs well with a market morning.
| Market | When | Where | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Green Market | Saturdays through Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Piedmont Park, 1071 Piedmont Ave. NE | Free |
| Virginia Highland Farmers Market | Sundays through Nov. 22, 8:30 a.m. to noon | Highland Woodworking, 1045 North Highland Ave. NE | Free |
Details and the current vendor lineups live on the Piedmont Park Green Market schedule and the Virginia Highland market vendor list.
Family Tickets From Disney Princesses to the Wheel of Death
Two very different family outings carry the heart of June’s ticketed schedule. One is a calm afternoon in a historic theater. The other is loud, fast and full of acrobats. Both keep kids’ prices low.
Disney Princesses Take the Strand Stage
The Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta brings Disney princesses to the big screen with a summer film series. It opens with Cinderella on Wednesday, June 3 and continues with Frozen on Wednesday, June 10, both at 2:30 p.m., with a sensory-friendly showing at 11 a.m. Families can arrive early for a princess meet-and-greet, photos and a live pre-show concert on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. Adult tickets run $12 plus fees, and youth tickets for ages 12 and under are just $5. The full series schedule sits on the Strand Theatre summer film calendar.
The UniverSoul Circus Rolls Into Town
The UniverSoul Circus turns the volume up. Now past 30 years of touring, the show blends contortionists, skaters, hoop divers, acrobats, dancers and its signature Wheel of Death with R&B, hip hop, jazz and gospel, plus a Caribbean Carnival segment featuring performers from more than 20 countries. The big top runs at the Old Turner Field Grey Lot, with shows through mid-June before the circus moves to Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth from June 18 through July 12. Tickets range from $38 to $75, and details are posted at the UniverSoul Circus Atlanta page.
A Scottish Weekend and a Juneteenth Concert Past the Perimeter
Two of June’s most distinctive events ask you to drive a little. One climbs into the North Georgia mountains, the other lands in a Cobb County park, and together they make the case for leaving the city core behind for a weekend.
Scottish Games in the North Georgia Mountains
The Georgia Mountain Scottish Festival and Highland Games take over the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Festivities open Friday, June 5 with a Ceilidh of Scottish folk music and dancing at Hamilton Gardens, and Saturday brings an opening ceremony with a parade of tartans. Across the weekend, expect Highland dancers, Scottish athletes, bagpipes and drums, blacksmith demonstrations, Highland cattle, birds of prey, Scottish food and stalls selling kilts and jewelry. Kids get face painting and a passport to stamp around the grounds. Two-day passes are $35; single days run $25 on Saturday and $20 on Sunday, with $5 tickets for children ages 7 to 12 and free entry for those 6 and under. The weekend lineup is listed on the Georgia Mountain Scottish Festival schedule of events.
A Juneteenth Concert in Acworth
Closer in, Concert on the Green: A Juneteenth Celebration lands at Logan Farm Park in Acworth on Saturday, June 20 from 5 to 10 p.m. The concert itself runs 7 to 9 p.m. and features soul, funk and R&B duo Bogey and the Viceroy, usually backed by a full horn section with a touch of New Orleans influence. Admission is free; bring folding chairs or a blanket, with food and refreshments for sale. The City of Acworth posts logistics on its Concert on the Green event listing.
Mapping the Free Events Against the Ticketed Ones
Budget is where the month sorts itself out. Three of these six outings cost nothing at the gate, and the family tickets that do cost money stay reasonable, especially for kids. Line them up and the spread is wide.
- Free at the gate: The Green Market, the Virginia Highland Farmers Market and the Acworth Juneteenth concert all carry no admission charge.
- $5 to $12 for the Strand: the lowest ticketed option of the month, with youth seats at $5 and adults at $12 plus fees.
- $5 to $35 for the Highland Games: a full weekend pass tops out at $35, while children under 7 enter free.
- $38 to $75 for the circus: the priciest ticket on the list, roughly ten times the Strand’s youth seat.
A family that leans on the markets and the Juneteenth concert can fill three or four weekends without spending a dollar on entry. Add one Strand showing for $5 a child and the month still costs less than a single circus seat. For more low-cost food outings, see our look at Atlanta’s recent food event lineup.
Working Around the June Heat
The one cost nobody prints on a ticket is the weather. Midday temperatures in metro Atlanta often push into the upper 80s by mid-June, and most of these events sit outdoors with limited shade. A little planning keeps the day comfortable.
- Hit the farmers markets early. Both wrap by early afternoon, and the 8:30 to 9 a.m. start beats the worst of the heat.
- Pack water and sun protection for the Highland Games and the Juneteenth concert, both of which run for hours in open fields.
- Treat the Strand’s indoor, air-conditioned afternoon screenings as the heat-of-the-day option, especially with younger kids.
Sequence it right and June reads less like a heat advisory and more like a free season pass to the city. Start with a Saturday market, save the circus for an evening show, and let the mountains and the Juneteenth concert round out the weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What free events are happening in Atlanta in June?
Three of the month’s standout outings are free at the gate: the Green Market at Piedmont Park on Saturdays, the Virginia Highland Farmers Market on Sundays, and Concert on the Green, a Juneteenth celebration at Logan Farm Park in Acworth on June 20.
How much are tickets to the UniverSoul Circus in Atlanta?
Tickets range from $38 to $75. Shows run at the Old Turner Field Grey Lot through mid-June before the circus moves to Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth from June 18 through July 12.
When does the Disney Princess film series start at the Strand Theatre?
It opens with Cinderella on Wednesday, June 3 and continues with Frozen on Wednesday, June 10, both at 2:30 p.m., with sensory-friendly showings at 11 a.m. Youth tickets are $5 and adult tickets are $12 plus fees.
What are the dates for the Georgia Mountain Scottish Festival in 2026?
The Highland Games run Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, with a Friday-night Ceilidh on June 5 at Hamilton Gardens. Two-day passes are $35, and children 6 and under enter free.
Are Atlanta’s farmers markets open every weekend in June?
Yes. The Green Market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through December 12, and the Virginia Highland Farmers Market runs Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to noon through November 22, so both operate every June weekend.
