Centennial Olympic Park

Over three million visitors annually come to the 21 acre Centennial Olympic Park. It is located in the heart of downtown Atlanta and is surrounded by other Atlanta landmarks such as the Georgia Aquarium, the New World of Coca-Cola and the CNN Center. This park was built for the 1996 Olympic Games hosted by Atlanta and hosts many events and festivals throughout the year.

There’s a lot to do this summer at Centennial Olympic Park starting with the Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days. This event occurs once a month until fall and designed to be educational, entertaining and theme based. A different theme is featured each Saturday.

Other events include the 4th of July Celebration, Music@ Noon, Wednesday WindDown, and the ones so beloved by kids – The Fountain of Rings, the 4th of July Celebration, and Holiday in Lights.

4th of July Celebration at Centennial Olympic Park is Atlanta’s best fireworks display. Get their early to secure a spot. Kids activities run from 5:00pm – 9:00pm on the south end of the park.

Music @ Noon features a variety of music by local artists. Styles include Jazz, Pop, and R& B and shows at 12:00pm – 1: 00pm every Tuesday and Thursday April through October.

Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days is a fun event for kids as well as parents to participate in.
Centennial Park invites entertainers, performers, and organizations from all over the South to join the program.

Popular activities include children’s art and crafts, family-friendley performances, life-size chess, touring shows, and educational events. There’s even contest and prizes that are awarded. Be sure to bring the family and this festive event occuring every fourth Saturday of the month from April through September.

Wednesday WindDown features live music performances every Wednesday at the Southern Company Amphitheatre located inside of Centennial Olympic Park. This is Atlanta’s longest running free concert series and runs at 5:30pm to 8:00pm May through September.

Billed as the world’s largest interactive fountain featuring the Olympic Ring Symbol, the Fountain of Rings is one of the most recognized and famous landmarks in the State of Georgia. The Fountains Of Rings goes on everyday, 365 days a year at 12:30pm, 3:30pm, 6:30pm and 9:00pm.

Songs featured in this amazing show include:

1812 Overture – Tchaikovsky
Chariots of Fire – Electronix
Dancing in the Streets – Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
Summon the Heroes – John Williams
Twist and Shout – The Beatles
Under the Sea – Samuel E. Wright
William Tell Overture – Gioacchino Rossini
Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra
Circle of Life – Lion King / Elton John

A festive Atlanta tradition starts again this holiday season as the 11th annual Holiday in Lights gets underway. Centennial Olympic Park becomes a winter wonderland illustrated by a spectacular show of lights.

Thr Holiday in Lights also features Atlanta’s only outdoor ice skating rink on the great lawn. Marvel at the sparkling lights and join in on the Holiday spirit November 14 through January 3rd. Park hours are 7:00am – 11:00pm everday, including Christmas.

Upcoming Events:

6/1/2010 Music @ Noon – Am/Pm
The perfect summer, lunchtime getaway – take a break from the office and eat lunch in the sun while listening to local talent perform a variety of live music including R&B, jazz, and reggae. From noon – 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

6/3/2010 Music @ Noon – Water Seed
The perfect summer, lunchtime getaway – take a break from the office and eat lunch in the sun while listening to local talent perform a variety of live music including R&B, jazz, and reggae. From noon – 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

6/8/2010 Music @ Noon – Tony Waters
The perfect summer, lunchtime getaway – take a break from the office and eat lunch in the sun while listening to local talent perform a variety of live music including R&B, jazz, and reggae. From noon – 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

6/10/2010 Music @ Noon – Jazz Ambassadors
The perfect summer, lunchtime getaway – take a break from the office and eat lunch in the sun while listening to local talent perform a variety of live music including R&B, jazz, and reggae. From noon – 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

6/15/2010 Music @ Noon – The ConSoulTant
The perfect summer, lunchtime getaway – take a break from the office and eat lunch in the sun while listening to local talent perform a variety of live music including R&B, jazz, and reggae. From noon – 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

6/17/2010 Music @ Noon – Tawana Lael
The perfect summer, lunchtime getaway – take a break from the office and eat lunch in the sun while listening to local talent perform a variety of live music including R&B, jazz, and reggae. From noon – 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

6/22/2010 Music @ Noon – Davin McCoy
The perfect summer, lunchtime getaway – take a break from the office and eat lunch in the sun while listening to local talent perform a variety of live music including R&B, jazz, and reggae. From noon – 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

6/24/2010 Music @ Noon – Modern Course
The perfect summer, lunchtime getaway – take a break from the office and eat lunch in the sun while listening to local talent perform a variety of live music including R&B, jazz, and reggae. From noon – 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

6/26/2010 Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day
Enjoy an afternoon of FREE, themed family fun once a month from spring to fall at Centennial Olympic Park’s Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day! The event is full of interactive, entertaining and educational activities for children and each Saturday features a different theme. The Park invites civic organizations, hobby enthusiasts, artisans, school groups and entertainers from around the Southeast to participate in the program.

6/29/2010 Music @ Noon – The Joanne Smith Experience
The perfect summer, lunchtime getaway – take a break from the office and eat lunch in the sun while listening to local talent perform a variety of live music including R&B, jazz, and reggae. From noon – 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

6/30/10 Wednesday WindDown
An evening with jazz trumpeter Melvin Miller. From 5:30 – 8 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

7/07/10 Wednesday WindDown
An eclectic mix of Jazz, Soul, Blues and Sumba from Ahasa Ahla and Woodsound. From 5:30 – 8 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

7/14/10 Wednesday WindDown
R&B Soul artists The 911 Band take the stage. From 5:30 – 8 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

7/15-18/2010 National Black Arts Festival
The NBAF (National Black Arts Festival) is one of the premier national and international celebrations of the art, music and culture of people of African descent. The mission of the NBAF is to engage, cultivate and educate diverse audiences about the arts and culture of the African Diaspora and provide opportunities for artistic and creative expression. Come out to the Park July 15-18 and enjoy the festival. For additional information on this Atlanta Event please visit www.nbaf.org.

7/21/10 Wednesday WindDown
Soul/R&B artist Kelsy Davis performs. From 5:30 – 8 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

7/24/2010 Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day
Enjoy an afternoon of FREE, themed family fun once a month from spring to fall at Centennial Olympic Park’s Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day! The event is full of interactive, entertaining and educational activities for children and each Saturday features a different theme. The Park invites civic organizations, hobby enthusiasts, artisans, school groups and entertainers from around the Southeast to participate in the program.

7/28/10 Wednesday WindDown
TBA. From 5:30 – 8 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheater, across from CNN.

Related Articles:
Atlanta July 4th Fireworks
Centennial Olympic Park Becoming Tourist Mecca
The Ice Rink at Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park Becoming Tourist Mecca

Travel to Downtown Atlanta and one of the first things to discover among the backdrop of lofty skyscrapers is an oasis called Centennial Olympic Park. The 21 Acre Olympic Park, famous for its festivals, events and Olympic Rings, is drawing tourists from all over the south and beyond.

Recently the Olympic Park has been transformed into a winter wonderland with its Holiday in Lights festival  that displays thousands of glittery lights. Also featured is “Atlanta’s Only Outdoor Skating Rink” which is reminiscent of the eloquent Bryant Park in New York City.

Downtown Atlanta Attractions

Take a look around Centennial Olympic Park and observe the exceptional venues its surrounded by including the world’s largest aquarium – The Georgia Aquarium. Other notable downtown Atlanta tourist attractions feature  The World of Coca-Cola and Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. The CNN Center stands proud as it towers over Centennial Olympic park. The National Museum of Patriotism is the newest exhibition to open its doors to the public.

The list of major urban tourist destinations in the United States include San Antonio’s River Walk, New York’s Times Square and the Mall of America in Minneapolis. With the addition of three new venues over the next few years Atlanta hopes to be joining the list of vacation destinations that tourists flock to.

The new downtown Atlanta themed entertainment exhibits expected to open its doors over the next few years include the National College Football Hall of Fame, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the National Health Museum.

The National Health Museum, combined with other Georgia-based institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CARE, the Arthritis Foundation and the American Cancer Society, marks Georgia as a major player of the global health industry in the 21st century. In fact The Coca-Cola Company was a key contributor in attracting the National Health Museum to the Olympic Park montage of venues.

Legoland is currently scouting the Centennial Olympic Park area for its Discovery Centre. Meanwhile, construction on the $100 million dolphin exhibit at The Georgia Aquarium has begun and is expected to the open to the public late 2010 or early 2011.