AthFest Music & Arts Festival

08/12/2025

Did you miss out on merch at ? We got you!! We are so excited to offer a limited time sale of the main theme shirt and much-loved tank featuring the art by Will Lineberger Eskridge Art, as well as a few other limited inventory items! Head on over to the link and order yours today - the store will be up through 8/19 and Satisfactory will get you your merch!
https://stores.inksoft.com/athfest/shop/home

08/07/2025

We've extended the merch store for a bit longer. Get your swag today!

Did you miss out on merch at ? We got you!! We are so excited to offer a limited time sale of the main theme shirt and much-loved tank featuring Will Eskridge's art, as well as a few other limited inventory items! Head on over to the link and order yours today - the store will be up through 8/4 and Satisfactory will get you your merch! https://stores.inksoft.com/athfest/shop/home

07/31/2025

Thank you to everyone that came out to support AthFest! And a special thank you to all of our performers, artists, donors, sponsors, vendors, and volunteers that helped make AthFest 2025 a success!

07/23/2025

Did you miss out on merch at ? We got you!! We are so excited to offer a limited time sale of the main theme shirt and much-loved tank featuring Will Eskridge's art, as well as a few other limited inventory items! Head on over to the link and order yours today - the store will be up through 8/4 and Satisfactory will get you your merch! https://stores.inksoft.com/athfest/shop/home

07/21/2025

Time flies!! Thanks for sharing, Historic Athens!

: On July 18-19, 1997, the first-ever AthFest was held in downtown Athens.

Inspired by South by Southwest, Jared Bailey first proposed a local music festival in 1989. After publishing a widely circulated article in Flagpole, support grew, leading to the formation of the Art-As-Industry Task Force, which confirmed the festival’s economic potential. But it wasn’t until Art Jackson of the Athens Downtown Authority got involved in 1996 that planning officially began.

With just 10 weeks to organize, the first AthFest featured 60 bands, outdoor shows on the courthouse steps, and packed club sets each night. Friday’s music was delayed until court adjourned, but by Saturday, the festival had broken even, and over the last 28 years has grown into a major annual event in Athens and in Northeast Georgia.

📸 GA Historic Newspapers, The Red and Black, July 17, 1997, Image 5

07/01/2025

Congratulations to our top fundraiser of AthFest 2025's Performer Crowdfunding, Tropical Breeze Steel Band! They connected with our mission in a big way by creating tiered giving levels to raise funds, including dedicating songs for high level donors at their performance. Thank you so much to Tropical Breeze Steel Band and their supporters!

Thank you to all the performers and donors that participated this year, raising over $2200 for arts education for Athfest Educates!

SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !!! EMBRACE THE ENERGY !!! (Athens GA Live Music) Filmed & Edited by Frank Russellwww.facebook.com/athensgalivemusic www.instagram.com/ath...

06/29/2025

So much fun!!

06/28/2025

Loved having you at the Georgia Theatre for the Club Crawl!

06/28/2025

Congrats, Upchuck! We loved having you on the Wicked W**d Brewing Main Stage at !

The rising Atlanta band Upchuck reminded All Songs Considered host Robin Hilton of a hardcore Beastie Boys. Hear their new single in this week's episode. 🔗 in comments!