Here’s a list of the best outdoor festivals, races and sporting events in and around metro Atlanta this March.
**March 4**
* **Atlanta St. Patrick’s Festival Parade** (downtown): The 20th annual Atlanta St. Patrick’s Festival Parade kicks off at noon March 4 along Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. More than 2,000 parade participants, including marching bands, floats, Irish dance groups and community organizations, are set to participate. The parade route starts at the intersection of Peachtree and 10th streets and ends at the intersection of Peachtree and Fifth streets, near Woodruff Park.
* **Shamrockin’ the Park** (Centennial Olympic Park): The 20th annual Shamrockin’ the Park will be held from noon to 6 p.m. March 4 at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly event will feature live music on two stages, a kids’ zone, a pet zone, food trucks and more. The musical lineup includes performances by Grammy-nominated artist Gaelic Storm, Young Dubliners, Great American Taxi and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra.
**March 5**
* **Atlanta Marathon** and **Publix Atlanta Half Marathon** (Centennial Olympic Park): The 52nd running of the Atlanta Marathon and the 22nd running of the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon will both start and finish at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta on March 5. The marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier and has more than 16,000 runners registered to participate. The half marathon has more than 7,000 runners set to participate.
**March 11**
* **Atlanta Science Festival Expo** (Centennial Olympic Park): The 12th annual Atlanta Science Festival Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11 at Centennial Olympic Park. The free event will feature more than 100 interactive science and technology exhibits, as well as live performances, demonstrations and hands-on activities. The festival is designed to inspire students and adults alike to explore the wonders of science and technology.
**March 12**
* **Druid Hills Tour of Homes** (Druid Hills): The 35th annual Druid Hills Tour of Homes will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. March 12. The self-guided tour will feature six homes in the historic Druid Hills neighborhood, each showcasing a unique architectural style and interior design. Advance tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at the tour headquarters at Emory University’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts.
**March 18**
* **Atlanta Dogwood Festival** (Piedmont Park): The 86th annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 18 and 19 in Piedmont Park. The festival will feature more than 250 arts and crafts vendors, live music, food trucks, a kids’ zone and more. The festival is free to attend.
**March 19**
* **Atlanta St. Joseph’s Day Festival** (Grant Park): The 43rd annual Atlanta St. Joseph’s Day Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 19 in Grant Park. The festival will feature live music, food trucks, a kids’ zone, a pet zone and more. The festival is free to attend.
**March 25**
* **Atlanta Food & Wine Festival** (Piedmont Park): The 13th annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival will be held from March 25 to 26 in Piedmont Park. The festival will feature tastings from more than 100 restaurants and wineries, as well as cooking demonstrations, live music and more. Tickets are on sale now.
**March 26**
* **Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade** (Old Fourth Ward): The 10th annual Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. March 26 along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail. The parade will feature more than 1,000 illuminated lanterns, as well as live music, performances and food trucks. The parade is free to attend.
These are just a few of the many great outdoor festivals, races and sporting events happening in and around metro Atlanta this March. For more information on these events and others, visit the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau website or the Atlanta Sports Council website..
