Atlanta Jazz Festival

This month-long music celebration is regarded as one of the largest free jazz festivals in the country and is a must-see for music lovers. Kicking off May 1, the festival begins with 31 days of jazz held in sites all over the city--everything from MARTA stations to museums and local parks. Among the artists on this year's lineup are renowned guitarist Diego Figueiredo, South African jazz trumpeter Darren English and Grammy Award-winner Christian Scott, among dozens of others. The festival culminates in a stellar three-day weekend of music at Piedmont Park, filled with performances, an artists market, educational workshops and good food.