Nikita Malcolm, 2nd-year Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is soak up the performing arts scene in Atlanta. I love to watch people sing, act, dance, read poetry, play instruments, anything live really. And although I am not an artist myself (trust me), there’s something about watching a city come to life through its love of the arts.
So when you’re here at Rollins and ready to explore the city, here is a list of five things to do in Atlanta for art lovers!
- Concerts!
With Atlanta being a major city, many big name artists come here to perform. You could purchase tickets to enjoy the musical selections of Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, Usher, Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran… If your favorite artist is on tour, they are likely making a stop in Atlanta. The best concert I’ve attended here was that of living legend Stevie Wonder performing Songs in the Key of Life at Philips Arena. It was as amazing as it sounds.
- Broadway shows!
I love Broadway shows, especially the musicals. The Fox Theatre, which is about 20 minutes from Emory, is home to Broadway in Atlanta and brings popular touring shows here to the city. This season, the Broadway series featured Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera. The 2015-2016 shows include The Sound of Music, The Book of Mormon and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella!
- Dance shows!
The Fox Theatre also hosts amazing dance companies! The Atlanta Ballet Company performs The Nutcracker each holiday season at the Fox Theatre. My favorite dance company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, also performs annually at the Fox. Students can purchase tickets to see the world-famous company for $10!
- Art walks!
There are several art walks in Atlanta, where you can stroll through the city and check out the museums and art galleries. The Downtown Art Walk is very popular and is held every first Thursday of the month. It’s also free! You can go downtown to see the paintings at Paige Harvey Art Gallery and the media pieces at The Window Project.
- Festivals!
The city of Atlanta loves a good festival! Art lovers can check out the Atlanta Film Festival in March, the Decatur Arts Festival in May and the Atlanta Arts Festival in October. One of my personal favorites is the Atlanta Jazz Festival, one of the country’s largest jazz festivals! It’s usually in May at Piedmont Park and it’s free!
Rollins Student Ambassadors 