Key Takeaways
- Atlanta’s October 16–18, 2026 weekend centers on three OnesToWatch headline concerts: MARIS, Whethan, and Cavetown.
- Live music overlaps with major sports, including an NFL Falcons home game, the Atlanta Gladiators’ ECHL opening series, and Clark Atlanta homecoming football.
- Little 5 Points hosts free Halloween programming both Saturday and Sunday, with a parade, roaming performers, and themed attractions.
- Advance planning helps secure tickets for high-demand events such as the three concerts, the NFL game, and the Rocky Horror Spooktacular.
- OnesToWatch Live curates this weekend guide to highlight emerging artists and key cultural events across Atlanta.
Browse Atlanta Weekend Tickets
Featured Ticket Links For OnesToWatch Shows
This Atlanta weekend features three OnesToWatch artists on consecutive nights: MARIS, Whethan, and Cavetown. Their shows anchor the city’s mix of concerts, sports, and Halloween events.
Cavetown — Running With Scissors Tour
Sunday, October 18, 2026 | Tabernacle | Atlanta, GA
MARIS — MARIS Live 2026
Friday, October 16, 2026 | The Masquerade – Purgatory | Atlanta, GA
Whethan — WAREHOUSE.WAVS TOUR (Ages 18+)
Saturday, October 17, 2026 | The Eastern | Atlanta, GA
Friday, October 16: Concerts And Comedy
MARIS at The Masquerade – Purgatory | Underground Atlanta | Evening | Ticketed
MARIS headlines the Purgatory room at The Masquerade as part of MARIS Live 2026. The Masquerade’s Underground Atlanta complex has four indoor venues: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, and Altar, with capacities from 250 to 1,500. This layout makes it one of Atlanta’s most flexible mid-sized concert hubs. The Purgatory stage suits an intimate headline set.Ali Siddiq: The Custom Fit Tour at State Farm Arena | Downtown | 7:00 PM (doors 6:00 PM) | Ticketed
Ali Siddiq brings The Custom Fit Tour to State Farm Arena. The arena spans 680,000 square feet in the Centennial Park District and holds about 16,888 for basketball and over 15,590 for concerts. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. State Farm Arena operates as a cashless venue, and its standard bag policy caps bag size at 14″ x 14″ x 6″; individual events may adjust this, so guests should confirm details on their event listing.San Holo at The Tabernacle | Downtown/Centennial Park area | 8:00 PM | Ticketed
Electronic artist San Holo performs at the Tabernacle, which also hosts Cavetown on Sunday. The Tabernacle holds roughly 2,600 people, with a standing-room main floor and balcony seating that create a multi-level viewing experience.Atlanime Fest Friday Programming at Monday Night Garage | West Midtown | Afternoon–Evening | Ticketed
Atlanime Fest’s Friday schedule at Monday Night Garage features the Black Animators Panel (1:00–2:00 PM), No Spoilers Live with Slim Jxmmi and Troop Brand (2:15–3:15 PM), the Content Creators Panel (3:30–4:30 PM), and The Fashion Arc streetwear-meets-anime fashion show (5:30–9:30 PM). The festival, now in its second year, has expanded to four days across Underground Atlanta and Monday Night Garage.Havier Daivon & True to Soul Band at St. James Live! | Southwest Atlanta | 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM | Ticketed
St. James Live! (3220 Butner Rd #240) hosts Havier Daivon & True to Soul Band for two sets. These shows give R&B and soul fans late-night options after earlier events wrap.
Saturday, October 17: Dance, Sports, And Festivals
Whethan at The Eastern (Ages 18+) | Reynoldstown | Evening | Ticketed
Whethan’s WAREHOUSE.WAVS TOUR stops at The Eastern in Atlanta’s Reynoldstown neighborhood. This show is 18+. The Eastern sits near the BeltLine Eastside Trail, so pre-show dining at Krog Street Market or Inman Park restaurants works well.Little 5 Points Halloween Festival | Little Five Points | 12:00 PM–7:00 PM | Free
The 2026 Little 5 Points Halloween Festival runs Saturday and Sunday under the theme “Cryptids, Creatures & Community Legends.” Saturday programming includes roaming creatures, circus performers, and stilt walkers. The L5P Laboratory of Horror offers an immersive experience at the Little 5 Points Community Center. Queens of the Crypt presents drag-queen ghost story performances. The Atlanta Circus Alliance performs a Halloween show at 7 PM, and the Bat Cave Rave runs from 5–10 PM at the L5P Community Center. Admission is free.Atlanta Gladiators vs. Norfolk Admirals — ECHL Season Opener | Gas South Arena, Duluth | 7:10 PM | Ticketed
The Atlanta Gladiators open their 2026–27 ECHL season against the Norfolk Admirals at Gas South Arena in Duluth. The arena’s site places it about 22 miles outside downtown Atlanta. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.Atlanime Fest Main Day at Underground Atlanta | Downtown | 1:00–8:00 PM | Ticketed
Saturday serves as Atlanime Fest’s main event day at Underground Atlanta (50 Upper Alabama St.), hosted by Funny Marco and Pudgieee. Programming includes a main stage, esports, the Naruto Training Arc, a car show, a vendor hall, food, and an anime nail salon.Clark Atlanta University Homecoming Football | CAU Panther Stadium | Time TBA | Ticketed
Clark Atlanta Panthers host Allen University at CAU Panther Stadium (Beckwith St SW) as part of CAU’s 25th anniversary alumni homecoming weekend, which runs October 15–18, 2026, alongside broader homecoming festivities from October 11–17. Early bird homecoming football tickets start at $70 through September 19 and rise to $80 afterward.Georgia Tech Women’s Volleyball vs. Syracuse | O’Keefe Gymnasium | 7:00 PM | Ticketed
Georgia Tech Women’s Volleyball faces Syracuse at O’Keefe Gymnasium in Atlanta on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM EDT. Tickets on Vivid Seats start from $37.Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure | Lenox Square | 7:00 AM | Ticketed (registration required)
The Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure opens its event site at 7:00 a.m. at Lenox Square on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Registration is required at komen.org/atlantarace.Kasper 911 Band at St. James Live! | Southwest Atlanta | Evening | Ticketed
St. James Live! hosts the Kasper 911 Band on Saturday, October 17, 2026, adding another night of live R&B to the weekend.
Sunday, October 18: Headline Finale And Halloween Highlights
Cavetown — Running With Scissors Tour at the Tabernacle | Downtown/Centennial Park area | Evening | Ticketed
Cavetown closes the OnesToWatch weekend at the Tabernacle, one of Atlanta’s notable mid-capacity venues. The Running With Scissors Tour is a headline run for the artist, whose catalog spans indie pop, bedroom pop, indie rock, lo-fi, and indie folk. Cavetown’s live shows draw a devoted audience.Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 1:00 PM ET | Ticketed
The NFL’s Week 6 schedule lists the Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, October 18 at 1:00 PM ET on FOX at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tickets on TickPick start from $120. This matchup is the only NFL contest in Atlanta during Week 6 of the 2026 season. Nearby dining options include Der Biergarten, Hudson Grille, Park Bar, and STATS Brewpub.Little 5 Points Halloween Parade | Little Five Points | Parade at 1:00 PM | Free
The L5P Halloween Parade steps off Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 1:00 PM on Moreland Avenue. Floats, performers, creatures, and community groups move through the streets of Little Five Points. Admission is free.The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Spooktacular Tour | Atlanta Symphony Hall | 7:00 PM (doors 6:00 PM) | Ticketed
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Spooktacular Tour arrives at Atlanta Symphony Hall. The tour features rotating appearances by original cast members Barry Bostwick (Brad Majors), Nell Campbell (Columbia), and Patricia Quinn (Magenta). A full unedited film screening anchors the night. Local troupes such as the Blue Mouseketeers in Seattle and Transvestite Soup in Minneapolis provide live shadow cast performances at various tour stops, and a costume contest rounds out the experience. Most stops include one bag of Rocky Horror props with each ticket, though some venues sell prop bags separately as an add-on. The screening uses the unedited R-rated film. The tour carries an 18+ content advisory, and anyone under 18 must attend with a guardian over 21. Some venues, such as the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall stop on October 25, 2026, enforce no late admittance after 7:00 PM. VIP Meet & Greet packages include premium seating, a Rocky Horror VIP laminate, a personal photo with the cast, and an autograph.Atlanta Gladiators vs. Norfolk Admirals — Matinee | Gas South Arena, Duluth | 3:10 PM | Ticketed
The Atlanta Gladiators and Norfolk Admirals play a second game of their opening weekend series on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 3:10 PM ET at Gas South Arena in Duluth. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.Georgia Tech Women’s Volleyball vs. Boston College | O’Keefe Gymnasium | 1:00 PM | Ticketed
Georgia Tech Women’s Volleyball hosts Boston College at O’Keefe Gymnasium in Atlanta on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 1:00 PM.Atlanime Fest Community Day | Underground Atlanta / Monday Night West Midtown | Afternoon–Evening | Ticketed
Atlanime Fest closes with a Celebrity Soccer Game from 2:00–4:00 PM at Underground Atlanta and a Closing Day Party from 5:00–9:00 PM at Monday Night in West Midtown.Waiting for B. Screening | Tara Theatre | 6:30–8:00 PM | Ticketed
The Atlanta Film Society screens the documentary Waiting for B. at Tara Theatre (2345 Cheshire Bridge Road NE) as part of its ¡CineMás! Sundays series for Hispanic Heritage Month. The film follows young Beyoncé fans who camped out for two months to be closer to the artist. Tickets cost $18, with an optional $15 Brasiliana food add-on that brings the total to $33 and is available until October 16, 2026.Sugar Biscuit Band at St. James Live! | Southwest Atlanta | Evening | Ticketed
St. James Live! wraps the weekend with the Sugar Biscuit Band on Sunday evening, extending the run of live music into the night.
More Atlanta And Regional Events This Weekend
Oakland Cemetery’s Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tours run October 15–18 and October 22–25, 2026, marking the event’s 20th year. Tours share stories of notable residents after dark, and tickets are required.
The Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons Alumni Football Weekend runs Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18, 2026, at multiple Atlanta locations. Friday’s welcome event is the Libra Celebration & Welcome to Clark Atlanta Homecoming Celebration Alumni Party, with location details via RUNCAU.com or its Instagram. A Saturday pre-game party at Whisky Mistress and a Sunday watch party at The Daiquiri Factory Midtown round out the schedule.
The Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, GA runs October 10–11 and 17–18, 2026, at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main Street, with more than 250 artisan vendors, live music, and apple-focused treats. Admission is $10 per person, and children 12 and under enter free.
NETHERWORLD Haunted House in Stone Mountain celebrates its 30th Season of Screams during the 2026 Halloween season and operates nightly from October 14 through November 1, 2026, with a final weekend on November 6–7, 2026.
Metro-area trunk-or-treats and family Halloween events include Powder Springs’ Fall Festival Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Thurman Springs Park, with free admission, and HarvestFest at Marietta Square on Saturday, October 17, 2026, also with free admission.
The Art of Banksy: Without Limits exhibition at Pullman Yards in Atlanta opened September 25, 2026, and is scheduled to run through January 2027, with more than 200 works generally on display, though counts vary by venue.
Fernbank Museum’s “The Secret World of Elephants” exhibition runs October 10, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Online general admission ranges from free for children 2 and younger and Fernbank Members to $25.95 for adults, with seniors at $24.95 and children ages 3–12 at $23.95; onsite and weekend pricing run higher.
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Weekend Patterns And Planning Takeaways
Three forces shape this weekend: a run of OnesToWatch concerts, a dense sports slate, and early Halloween programming. The music and sports overlap stands out most clearly. Three OnesToWatch headline shows land on consecutive nights while the Falcons host an NFL game Sunday afternoon, the Gladiators open their ECHL season Saturday and Sunday, and Clark Atlanta plays homecoming football on Saturday. In 2024, the NFL scheduled home teams in Indianapolis, Miami, and New Orleans for afternoon road games on Sundays when Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour visited those cities, allowing fans to catch a 1 PM game and a night concert.
Halloween programming stretches across the city. The Little 5 Points Halloween Festival runs both days with free admission, the Rocky Horror Spooktacular brings original cast members to Atlanta Symphony Hall on Sunday night, and NETHERWORLD operates all weekend in Stone Mountain. Activity spreads across several neighborhoods, from Little Five Points to downtown and the eastern suburbs.
Costs vary sharply between events. The L5P Halloween Festival, the L5P Parade, and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (with registration) offer free or low-cost entry. The three OnesToWatch concerts, the NFL game, and the Rocky Horror Spooktacular require tickets and benefit from early purchase. Atlanime Fest mixes formats, with different days and tiers covering both community and premium experiences.
How To Navigate Atlanta This Weekend
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, Atlanta in mid-October averages a daytime high near 73.9°F and an overnight low around 54.7°F, with about 6.3 rainy days in October, according to WeatherSpark. A light jacket or mid-weight layer usually covers the evening temperature drop at outdoor venues and festival grounds. A fairground study in Bonn measured evening temperatures up to 8 K (about 14°F) warmer than surrounding areas between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.. Layering works well for moving between indoor shows and outdoor streets.
Saturday brings the tightest schedule. The Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure: Team Pink In Purpose event at Lenox Square opens its site at 7:00 AM on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The L5P Halloween Festival starts at 12:00 PM that day. Clark Atlanta homecoming football and Georgia Tech volleyball occupy the afternoon, the Gladiators open at 7:10 PM in Duluth, and Whethan’s 18+ show at The Eastern runs in the evening. Planning Saturday works best by choosing either the Eastside corridor (L5P and The Eastern) or the suburban arena in Duluth, which sit roughly 22–25 miles apart.
MARTA rail connects the airport, Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead, with a standard fare of $2.50 per one-way trip on a Breeze card, plus a $2.00 card cost and up to four free transfers within three hours. Five Points station serves as the central transfer hub and lies within walking distance of The Masquerade (about 0.2 mile), The Tabernacle (about 0.4 mile), and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (less than a mile). MARTA rail runs north, south, east, west, and northeast, but The Eastern in Reynoldstown and Gas South Arena in Duluth sit off the rail network. Weekday rush-hour peaks on the I-75/85 Downtown Connector fall around 7:30–9:00 a.m. and 4:30–6:30 p.m..
Age guidelines shape some choices. Whethan’s Saturday show at The Eastern is 18+. The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour uses an R-rated cut and carries an 18+ content advisory, with anyone under 18 required to attend with a guardian over 21. The L5P Halloween Festival and its Sunday parade are all-ages and free; in 2026 the parade falls on Sunday, October 18 at 1:00 PM. Families often gravitate toward Saturday morning at L5P, the Sunday parade, and the Fernbank elephant exhibition.
Dining clusters help with pre- and post-show plans. Downtown near the Tabernacle and The Masquerade offers walkable options such as Der Biergarten, Park Bar, and the CTR Food Works food hall. The Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, which runs from Piedmont Park to Reynoldstown, connects directly to Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market. Little Five Points has its own compact bar and restaurant strip along Moreland and Euclid avenues.
Is The Little 5 Points Festival Free?
Is the Little 5 Points Halloween Festival free to attend?
Yes. The 2026 Little 5 Points Halloween Festival & Parade is free on both Saturday and Sunday. The festival runs October 17–18, 2026, from 12 PM to 7 PM each day.
Conclusion: A Three-Night Music Spine In A Packed Weekend
October 16–18, 2026 brings a rare Atlanta weekend where a three-night live music run, a full NFL Sunday, an ECHL opening series, a major free Halloween street festival, and a multi-day anime and hip-hop event all land together. The sequence of MARIS at The Masquerade on Friday, Whethan at The Eastern on Saturday, and Cavetown at the Tabernacle on Sunday provides a clear musical through-line that standard event calendars often miss. All three artists appear on OnesToWatch, a platform that has highlighted emerging talent for more than a decade, tracking artists from small rooms to arena stages.
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