The Halloween candy bowl is half empty, the maples are finally showing off, and Atlanta’s calendar just rolled into one of the best weeks of the fall. Giant pandas are back in Grant Park. Stone Mountain is full of drums. Chastain Park turns into an outdoor gallery. And the High Museum opens its doors for free.
Here’s how to spend Sunday, Nov. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 8 without missing the good stuff.
Sunday, Nov. 1: Fall back, then head to Stone Mountain
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, so set your clocks back an hour and enjoy the extra sleep. You’ll want the energy, because it’s the final day of the Native American Festival and Pow Wow at Stone Mountain Park, which runs Oct. 29 through Nov. 1.
- Inter-tribal dance and drum competitions
- A living history tipi village
- Demonstrations of flint-knapping, pottery, beadwork and basket weaving
- Storytelling, live music, native foods and an artists’ marketplace
Wear good shoes. The park says the parking lot is about a 10-minute walk from the festival grounds, and a parking fee applies. Check hours and ticket options on the Stone Mountain Park website before you go.
Friday, Nov. 6: The pandas are back at Zoo Atlanta
This is the big one. Zoo Atlanta’s two new giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, make their public debut on Friday, Nov. 6. They arrived in September, and they’re the first pandas Atlanta has had since October 2024. Ping Ping’s name means “peace.” Fu Shuang’s means “double blessing.”
They’ll live in the newly renamed Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove, which got a $6 million renovation funded by the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, with new climbing structures, pools and water features. Expect a crowd on opening day. Buy tickets ahead on the zoo’s website and get there early, or save your visit for a quieter weekday later in the month.
Friday night, Nov. 6: Marietta Square Art Walk
After the zoo, point the car toward Cobb County. The Marietta Square Art Walk happens the first Friday of every month from 5 to 9 p.m., rain or shine. It’s free and self-guided, and it includes free admission to the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. Stroll the galleries and shops, then grab dinner on the Square.
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 and 8: Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival
The 18th annual Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival sets up in North Buckhead’s Chastain Park, the largest public park in Fulton County. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, rain or shine. Admission has been free in past years. Walk the artist booths, pick up an early holiday gift, and let the kids burn off energy on the lawn.
Sunday, Nov. 8: A free afternoon at the High Museum
UPS Second Sunday means free general admission at the High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, from noon to 5 p.m. There’s drop-in art making from noon to 4:30 and a local DJ spinning from 1 to 4 in the Robinson Atrium. Parking is $25 and the museum suggests reserving it ahead, so MARTA to Arts Center Station is the easy move. One heads-up: access to special exhibitions isn’t guaranteed on free days.
Your week at a glance
- Sun., Nov. 1: Extra hour of sleep, then the Pow Wow at Stone Mountain
- Fri., Nov. 6: Panda debut at Zoo Atlanta
- Fri. night, Nov. 6: Marietta Square Art Walk
- Sat. and Sun., Nov. 7 and 8: Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival
- Sun., Nov. 8: UPS Second Sunday at the High
Bring the crew home hungry
If the day ends with family piling into your living room, let somebody else handle the main course. Shrimp & Lobster Unlimited can bring the seafood. Order by phone or WhatsApp at (404) 314-2100.
Dates, hours and prices can change. Please confirm details with each venue before you head out.
