ATLANTA, GA, June 18, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — June 20–21, 2026 | Historic Fourth Ward Park, 592 N. Angier Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
There are neighborhoods, and then there are neighborhoods that made a city. The Old Fourth Ward is unambiguously in the second category. This June, it opens its arms once again to artists, dreamers, and curious souls at the 14th Annual Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival — free, all ages, and dogs welcome — set against the green expanse of Historic Fourth Ward Park along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail, June 20–21, 2026.
Learn more at www.oldfourthwardparkartsfestival.com.
A Neighborhood That Refuses to Be Forgotten
To understand why an arts festival belongs here — here specifically — you have to understand what the Old Fourth Ward actually is. And that requires going back.
Five Things You Probably Don’t Know About Old Fourth Ward
1. The Neighborhood Was Home to the First Educational Institution for African Americans in Georgia.
While the world knows O4W as the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the neighborhood’s connection to Black education runs even deeper. Morris Brown College, founded in 1881, established its original location here — the only institution in Georgia founded by, completely funded by, and created exclusively for African Americans. Alongside the Sweet Auburn Historic District, O4W was not merely a neighborhood. It was the engine of a community’s self-determination, forged during an era of profound national injustice.
“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 proudly marks its 145th year and looks ahead to a projected enrollment growth of 20 percent in the 2026–2027 academic year, we do so with a profound sense of gratitude and purpose. Our journey from the historic Old Fourth Ward to the Atlanta University Center is not simply a change of address—it is a testament to the enduring spirit of an institution that has never wavered in its mission.
The Old Fourth Ward is where our roots took hold, and those roots run deep. Our graduates carry that legacy with them—into boardrooms and courtrooms, into elected offices and operating rooms, into city halls and global stages. Morris Brown has produced international and national business leaders, politicians, physicians, attorneys, and community architects whose contributions continue to shape this city and this world. We celebrate where we began, we honor how far we have come, and we remain steadfast in where we are going.”
Dr. Kevin E. James
President, Morris Brown College
2. The Neighborhood Gave Atlanta Its Most Iconic Street Name.
In the late 1860s, a local physician named natural springs east of town “Ponce de León Springs,” inspiring the avenue built to reach them — and one of the most beloved street names in the American South. Historic Fourth Ward Park sits near those very springs today, its two-acre lake anchoring the same water table that drew Victorian-era Atlantans.
3. O4W Once Had a Casino, a Baseball Diamond, and an Amusement Park — All in the Same Spot.
After the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, the neighborhood reimagined itself around the Ponce de León Ballpark and a full-scale amusement complex — drawing the crowds that ultimately attracted Sears, Roebuck & Company to build its Southern Regional Distribution Center on Ponce de León Avenue. That building is now Ponce City Market.
4. The Phrase “Old Fourth Ward” Technically Didn’t Exist Until 1937.
When Georgia legislators restructured Atlanta’s ward system in 1937, residents informally began calling their community the “old” Fourth Ward — and the name stuck. The ward system was abolished entirely in 1954, yet the neighborhood kept its identity, making O4W one of the few Atlanta communities to outlast the governmental structure that created it.
5. O4W Has Been a Canvas for Public Art Since Long Before the BeltLine.
From Living Walls murals to Sol LeWitt’s permanent installation 54 Columns, O4W’s relationship with public art predates the BeltLine’s 2012 opening. Artists like HENSE — whose large-scale abstract works have since attracted clients from Apple to the High Museum — cut their public-art teeth on O4W’s walls. The neighborhood didn’t just host art. It became art.
The Festival: Two Days. One Park. Endless Discovery.
Set against this layered history, the Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival is a celebration of what this neighborhood has always been: a place where creativity and community are inseparable. Two days. Curated artist booths spanning paintings, photography, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and woodwork. Live DJs. Food, drinks, and a children’s area. Free admission. All ages. Bring your dog.
Event Details at a Glance
Event: Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival (14th Annual Spring/Summer Edition)
Dates: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Historic Fourth Ward Park, 592 N. Angier Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Admission: FREE | All ages | Dogs welcome
Website: www.oldfourthwardparkartsfestival.com
ABOUT SHAWN MORGAN
Shawn Morgan is a luxury residential specialist with Compass Atlanta, serving intown neighborhoods including West End, O4W, East Lake, Druid Hills, Oakhurst, Downtown Decatur, Midtown, and Virginia-Highland. Before real estate, Shawn spent more than 30 years at the Executive Vice President level with Unilever — one of the world’s foremost consumer goods companies — with executive responsibilities spanning finance, marketing, and sales across global markets. Combined with an MBA thesis focused on Atlanta’s 242 distinct neighborhoods, Shawn brings a depth of market intelligence and strategic acumen unmatched in Atlanta’s luxury residential space. The Hunt Is Over™ is more than a tagline — it’s a promise to every client he serves.
404-844-9086 | shawnmorgan@compass.com | www.shawnatl.com
ABOUT COMPASS
Compass is the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume. Founded in 2012, Compass equips its agents with purpose-built technology that delivers smarter marketing, sharper data, and a client experience in a different league. The Compass network includes Christie’s International Real Estate, the world’s premier global luxury real estate brand with over 100 independently owned brokerage affiliates in 50 countries and territories. www.compass.com
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