9 essential Atlanta arts events this weekend

Each week, ArtsATL curates a selection of the most exciting arts and culture events happening in Atlanta this weekend, highlighting nine must-see experiences.

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Thursday

The American Astronaut

The Plaza Theatre will be screening this bizarre science fiction musical comedy, which finds an astronaut delivering a cat to a saloon on an asteroid where he meets his former dance partner — and renowned interplanetary fruit thief, the Blueberry Pirate. His payment for the service is a homemade cloning device, and things get even weirder as the plot progresses. Check out this Plazadrome presentation, in conjunction with the folks from Videodrome, on May 21.

MomoCon

It’s the biggest weekend of the year for fans of Japanese anime and animation, comics, gaming and popular culture in general, as this annual festival sets up shop at the Georgia World Congress Center. The convention brings together a diverse lineup of voice actors, artists, game developers, cosplayers and industry professionals to talk about their work and meet with fans. It happens from May 21 through May 24. Read more about what’s happening at MomoCon.

Friday 

Atlanta Jazz Festival

It’s Memorial Day weekend; in Atlanta, that means it’s time for the Atlanta Jazz Festival. The Festival proper gets underway in Piedmont Park on May 23, with an opening set by one of ArtsATL’s Ones to Watch in 2025, Buddy Red. Read our recent interview with him as he prepares to kick off the Festival. Before festivities begin on Saturday, the organizers will mark the centennial of Miles Davis’ birth with a concert featuring the Miles Electric Band at Atlanta Symphony Hall at 7:30 p.m. on May 22. 

Hot Jambalaya

This weekend sees the return of one of last year’s most popular local productions. The show’s run at Dad’s Garage proved so popular that Horizon Theatre will host an encore from May 22 through June 21. In our review, ArtsATL’s Benjamin Carr wrote, “The cast is great. The jazzy songs are delightful. It all mixes surprisingly well, like a subversive Off-Broadway production that will develop a cult following.” If you missed it in 2025, here’s your chance to see what the fuss was about.

Truett Dietz: SlopWorld

Wolfgang Gallery presents SlopWorld, a solo exhibition by Atlanta native and Georgia State University graduate Truett Dietz. There will be an opening reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 22.

Saturday

Georgia Symphony Orchestra 

The orchestra celebrates its 75th anniversary with its season finale at Symphony Hall on May 23. The stage will be filled with more than 400 performers, uniting the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Uzee Brown Society of Choraliers, the Wendell P. Whalum Community Chorus, the Georgia Spiritual Ensemble and the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra. They’ll perform works by Holst, Mahler, Shostakovich and more.

Alpharetta Arts Fest
This annual arts festival will circle the green space in The Grove at Wills Park, with artists from across the country, food from local restaurants and food trucks, children’s activities and more. It takes place May 23 and May 24.

Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra

At Mount Pisgah Church in Johns Creek, the JCSO will welcome David Coucheron, concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and his sister, pianist Julie Coucheron, for Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto in D minor. The program also includes Mendelssohn’s “Scherzo” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and his Symphony No. 4 under the direction of Henry Cheng. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., audiences will be welcomed by Alpharetta High School Orchestra Director Jake Hood, who will lead a special preconcert showcase featuring student musicians performing the first movement of Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80.

Sunday

Shakespeare Out of a Hat 

At the Shakespeare Tavern, the company of actors will take on a bard-based challenge in the latest in a series of one-night-only events sprinkled throughout the year, where no one knows who’s playing the parts until two minutes before the play begins. It’s part improv, mostly Shakespeare and a whole lot of outrageousness from a team of trained Shakespearean actors. And sometimes there’s a dog. On May 24, they’ll take on The Tempest. 

More things to do this weekend and beyond

Disney’s 30^th anniversary production of Beauty and the Beast comes to the Fox Theatre May 26 through May 30 … Up in Alpharetta, The Velvet Note will host The Myrna Clayton Experience on Friday, May 22. Clayton has been dubbed America’s songbird, and she and her ensemble are based in Atlanta. They’re known for bringing their blend of jazz, soul, gospel and pop to worldwide audiences as ambassadors of great American music … On May 23, spend an Evening of Jazz with Boney James, Norman Brown and Alex Bugnon at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre. These three smooth jazz masters have become local favorites … And don’t forget that the reason for the holiday is to honor and mourn military personnel who died in service. There will be many ceremonies in local communities to mark the day on Monday, May 25, including in Roswell, Norcross and Alpharetta and at Marietta National Cemetery.