Friday, August 31, 2012

C  I  T  Y    O  F    A  T  L  A  N  T  A

Calling all kids!

Join Atlanta City Council Member Carla Smith for the 10^th Annual Grant Park Summer Shade Festival

ATLANTA – Atlanta City Council Member Carla Smith invites all kids to join her on Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26 for this year's Grant Park Summer Shade Festival at the City’s oldest public park.

Just west of the Grant Park pond and North of the drop-off circle, near the 800 Cherokee Avenue (ZooAtlanta) entrance will be the Fun Zone sponsored by Council Member Smith. A variety of entertainment and art activities for children and families will begin at noon.  Click here for the schedule: http://www.summershadefestival.org/kids-zone

The Grant Park Summer Shade Festival began in August 2003 as the Adams Realtors 5K RUN for the PARK. A half day festival opened immediately after the RUN featuring 45 artists, community groups/organizations and local eateries. Attendance was around 750 people. Positive comments were so overwhelming, organizers decided to expand the 2004 Festival.

The name was changed to Summer Shade Festival to encourage people to get out of the stale air-conditioning to enjoy the cooling shade of century old trees in Grant Park.

In 2004 attendance topped 6,000. In year three, attendance was over 10,000. And then, year four and five, organizers exceeded their expectations with 16,000-18,000 attendees.  And in 2008 they broke the 20,000 mark.

And now — Get ready for 2012. The 10th Annual Grant Park Summer Shade Festival will be even better. 

The event is planned and coordinated by the Grant Park Conservancy, the Grant Park Summer Shade Festival, Inc., and Adams Realtors. The purpose is to bring focus and new life to Atlanta's oldest public park. Proceeds from the event benefit the Grant Park Conservancy and its efforts to restore this historic green space.

For map page click here: http://www.summershadefestival.org/summer-shade-fest-map