Atlanta Entertainment

In terms of evening entertainment, Atlanta has it all and visitors will not be disappointed by the vast array of options on offer in this lively Georgia town. Mainstream scenes offer big names in music and theatre whilst a burgeoning underground scene caters for those with alternative tastes in both music and live performance.

Nightlife

It is commonly believed that Atlanta is home to more bars than places of worship and whether or not it’s entirely true, the city certainly enjoys a party. In the Downtown area you’ll find many drinking venues of varying sorts plus venues offering dancing and live music. Atlanta is also renowned for having something of a large gay scene and places such as Wetbar, My Sister's Room and Burkhart's Pub are among the most popular places to head of an evening. The Cheshire Bridge road area is also home to a variety of gay nightspots and businesses. Back on the mixed scene, those wanting to dance the night away will find a generous selection of nightclubs in the midtown area. These host live bands and DJ sets until the early hours.

Theatre and Music

Atlanta prides itself on its cultural scene and the live performances found throughout the city are all exceptional. Visitors will find a wide range of theatres offering a diverse selection of presentations with highlights including the Atlanta Civic Centre, where popular Broadway productions regularly take to the stage and the Lyric where musical theatre, light opera and operetta are top of the agenda. The Cobb Children's Theatre, Curious Moon Puppet Theatre and the Centre for Puppetry Arts offer something for younger visitors while the New American Shakespeare Tavern and the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern offer their best interpretations of works by the famous playwright. The live music scene offers everything from classical concerts to a thriving local band scene with venues across the city. The annual Atlantis Music Conference & Festival is one of the city's big draw cards.

Festivals

There are a number of annual summer festivals that are unique to the city, with highlights including:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Week, is a week of events aimed at celebrating the life of one of America’s most prolific black rights activists.
• The Atlanta Celtic Festival, is an event celebrating the unique cultural and historic characteristics of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. (May)
• The Atlanta Jazz festival is a city-wide celebration of all things jazz with plenty of opportunity for visitors to appreciate music by the likes of artists such as Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Fats Domino.(May)
• Atlanta Pride presents a weekend of events aimed at the city’s gay community and includes a parade and lectures by guest speakers. (June)
• The Annual Pow Wow and Indian Festival is a chance for residents and visitors to learn something about culture of the Native Americans who once called Atlanta home. (November)

Close to 20 cinemas can be found spread across the city and show all of the latest Hollywood releases while some smaller independent venues screen alternative movies