The Old Fourth Ward, a neighborhood that gave Atlanta its iconic Ponce de Leon Avenue and housed the first educational institution for African Americans in Georgia, is preparing to host the 14th Annual Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival on June 20–21, 2026, at Historic Fourth Ward Park. The free, all-ages event along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail will feature curated artist booths, live DJs, food, and a children's area, but its significance extends far beyond the two-day celebration.
According to a press release, the Old Fourth Ward's history includes Morris Brown College, founded in 1881 as the only institution in Georgia established by, completely funded by, and created exclusively for African Americans. Dr. Kevin E. James, President of Morris Brown College, said in the release: 'Morris Brown College was established on January 5, 1881, by the Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Atlanta, Georgia—born in the heart of the Old Fourth Ward... From that founding moment, we stood apart: the only institution of higher learning in Georgia founded by, completely funded by, and created exclusively for African Americans.' The college now marks its 145th year with projected enrollment growth of 20 percent for the 2026–2027 academic year.
The neighborhood's story also includes the naming of Ponce de Leon Avenue in the late 1860s, inspired by natural springs discovered by a local physician. After the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, the area redeveloped around Ponce de Leon Ballpark and an amusement complex, eventually attracting Sears, Roebuck & Company to build its Southern Regional Distribution Center on Ponce de Leon Avenue—now Ponce City Market. The term 'Old Fourth Ward' emerged informally after Georgia legislators restructured Atlanta's ward system in 1937, and the name persisted even after the ward system was abolished in 1954.
Public art has long been part of the neighborhood's fabric, from Living Walls murals to Sol LeWitt's permanent installation 54 Columns, predating the BeltLine's 2012 opening. Artists like HENSE, whose large-scale works have attracted clients from Apple to the High Museum, began their public-art careers on O4W's walls.
The festival, presented by Shawn Morgan of Compass Atlanta, aims to celebrate this legacy. Morgan, a luxury residential specialist with over 30 years of executive experience at Unilever, brings a deep understanding of Atlanta's neighborhoods, having written an MBA thesis on the city's 242 distinct communities. The event is set for Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, June 21, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Historic Fourth Ward Park, 592 N. Angier Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. Admission is free, and dogs are welcome. More details are available at www.oldfourthwardparkartsfestival.com.
