The Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival, now in its 14th year, will take place June 20-21, 2026, at Historic Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta. The free event, open to all ages and dogs, features curated artist booths, live DJs, food, and a children's area. Beyond the festival, the Old Fourth Ward (O4W) is a neighborhood steeped in history that shaped Atlanta.
According to a press release, O4W was home to the first educational institution for African Americans in Georgia. Morris Brown College, founded in 1881, established its original location in the neighborhood. Dr. Kevin E. James, President of Morris Brown College, noted, 'Morris Brown College was established on January 5, 1881, by the Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Atlanta, Georgia—born in the heart of the Old Fourth Ward, at the storied intersection of Boulevard and Houston Streets. From that founding moment, we stood apart: the only institution of higher learning in Georgia founded by, completely funded by, and created exclusively for African Americans.' As Morris Brown College marks its 145th year and projects a 20 percent enrollment growth for 2026-2027, the college's legacy remains tied to O4W.
The neighborhood also gave Atlanta its iconic street name, Ponce de Leon Avenue, inspired by natural springs discovered in the late 1860s. Historic Fourth Ward Park sits near those springs today, its two-acre lake anchoring the same water table. O4W once hosted a casino, baseball diamond, and amusement park near the Ponce de Leon Ballpark, attracting Sears, Roebuck & Company to build its Southern Regional Distribution Center, now Ponce City Market.
Interestingly, the phrase 'Old Fourth Ward' didn't officially exist until 1937 when Georgia legislators restructured Atlanta's ward system, and residents informally adopted the name. The ward system was abolished in 1954, but the neighborhood retained its identity, making O4W one of the few Atlanta communities to outlast the governmental structure that created it.
O4W has been a canvas for public art long before the BeltLine. From Living Walls murals to Sol LeWitt's permanent installation 54 Columns, the neighborhood's relationship with public art predates the BeltLine's 2012 opening. Artists like HENSE cut their public-art teeth on O4W's walls, and the neighborhood didn't just host art—it became art.
The festival, set against this layered history, celebrates creativity and community. Event details: Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, June 21, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Historic Fourth Ward Park, 592 N. Angier Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. Admission is free, and dogs are welcome. For more information, visit www.oldfourthwardparkartsfestival.com.
