High Museum's 100th: A free block party on Peachtree

Atlanta's High Museum of Art is turning 100, and it's throwing a party that takes over a whole stretch of Peachtree Street. The Centennial Block Party lands on Sunday, October 18, from noon to 5 p.m., and the best part is that it's free, rain or shine. The museum, at 1280 Peachtree St NE in Midtown, right next to the Arts Center MARTA station, got its first permanent home in 1926 when Mrs. Joseph M. High donated the family residence on Peachtree Street. Since then it's grown into the largest museum for visual art in the Southeastern United States, covering 312,000 square feet with more than 20,000 works.

Algebra Blessett emcees the day across two stages. The Main Stage opens with DJ XZACT at noon, followed by DJ LV at 1 p.m., and then the big moment at 2 p.m.: an official welcome with the Atlanta Hawks Drumline, dancers, Harry the Hawk, Director Rand Suffolk, Adriane Jefferson from the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, Mayor Andre Dickens, and Killer Mike. After that, The Biological Misfits play at 2:30, and DJ Kemit and Salah Ananse close things out with a Come Together dance party at 3:30. Over on the Sidewalk Stage, there's a sensory-friendly show for the little ones from All Smiles at 1:30, open rehearsals from Dance Canvas and Bautanzt Here, a Brenau Dance performance, and a string quartet from the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra at 4 p.m. If you want something quieter, Hill Auditorium hosts a separate-entry panel, "100 Years of Art in Atlanta," at 3 p.m., moderated by WSB-TV's Wendy Corona.

Between the sets, the street fills up with activities. There's birthday hat, chalk, and balloon making inspired by Nabil Nahas's "Peekaboo" and Ettore Sottsass Jr.'s "Wardrobe (Superbox)," plus Reflections by Dash Studio projections on the Atlanta Beltline, soccer activations from Atlanta United and Atlanta City FC, the Hawks Flight Crew, and the Trap Music Museum Pink Car. For food, Bomb Biscuit Co., The Giant Quesadilla, Sweet Auburn BBQ, Poppin' Stop, Rio's Italian Ice and Ice Cream, Chay J's New Orleans Candies, and just add honey are all set up. Coffee, cocktails, and beer are available at The Ramp, Refuge Coffee Co., CJ's Cafe, and Elise. If you want to head inside, general admission to the galleries and interior bars is $23.50, free for members, and you can bring in non-alcoholic food and drinks as long as they stay out of the galleries. Parking is very limited, so MARTA or a rideshare is the way to go.

The block party is just the start. The centennial runs through the fall with a free entry day on October 21, a Centennial Halloween teen night on October 23, a walking tour of the museum's history on October 29, and "A Haunting at 100" on October 30. The exhibitions keep the celebration going well into 2027, from Walter Wick's hidden wonders and Martin Puryear's Nexus to a Basquiat show and a Doris Derby civil rights journey. It's a lot to take in, but the block party is the easiest place to dip your toe in.