The Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival returns for its 14th annual spring/summer edition on June 20-21, 2026, at Historic Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta. The free, all-ages event will feature curated artist booths, live DJs, food, and a children's area, set against the backdrop of the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail. But beyond the festival, the Old Fourth Ward (O4W) holds a storied past that has shaped the city's cultural and economic landscape.
According to a press release, O4W was home to Morris Brown College, founded in 1881 as the only institution of higher learning in Georgia established by, funded by, and created exclusively for African Americans. Dr. Kevin E. James, president of Morris Brown College, noted that the college's roots in O4W run deep, and its graduates have gone on to become leaders in business, politics, medicine, and law. As the college marks its 145th year and projects 20 percent enrollment growth for the 2026-2027 academic year, its legacy remains intertwined with the neighborhood.
The neighborhood also gave Atlanta its iconic Ponce de Leon Avenue, named after natural springs discovered by a local physician in the late 1860s. Historic Fourth Ward Park's two-acre lake now sits near those springs, anchoring the same water table that once drew Victorian-era visitors. After the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, O4W reimagined itself around Ponce de Leon Ballpark and an amusement complex, which later attracted Sears, Roebuck & Company to build its Southern Regional Distribution Center—now Ponce City Market.
The name "Old Fourth Ward" emerged informally after Georgia legislators restructured Atlanta's ward system in 1937, and it stuck even after the ward system was abolished in 1954. O4W's identity as a canvas for public art also predates the BeltLine, with artists like HENSE—whose works now attract clients such as Apple and the High Museum—getting their start on O4W's walls. The neighborhood's relationship with public art includes Living Walls murals and Sol LeWitt's permanent installation "54 Columns."
The festival, organized by Shawn Morgan of Compass Atlanta, aims to celebrate this layered history. Morgan, a luxury residential specialist with over 30 years of executive experience at Unilever, brings strategic insight to the event. The festival will be held at Historic Fourth Ward Park, 592 N. Angier Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308, on Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, and dogs are welcome. For more information, visit www.oldfourthwardparkartsfestival.com.
For business and technology leaders, the festival and the neighborhood's evolution underscore the importance of placemaking and community investment in driving economic development. O4W's transformation from a post-fire industrial area to a vibrant arts and residential district mirrors trends seen in urban centers nationwide, where cultural amenities and historical preservation attract talent and foster innovation. The festival itself represents a model for leveraging local heritage to create shared value, a lesson relevant for leaders in any industry.
