Pullman Yards to premiere never-before-seen footage from historic Atlanta International Pop Festival
Before Music Midtown, Shaky Knees, or SweetWater 420 Fest, there was the Atlanta International Pop Festival.
Founded by Alex Cooley, known as “the unofficial mayor of Atlanta music,” the Atlanta International Pop Festival once drew crowds ranging between 150,000 and 600,000 attendees, and featured artists including Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, B.B. King, and The Allman Brothers Band.
For one day only, on June 20 at Pullman Yards, ‘That 70s Experience‘ will give fans the unique opportunity to view recently discovered, never-before-seen festival footage, revived through a special archival restoration process. The event will showcase curated rooms, live music, DJ sets, a vintage market, an on-site tattoo artist, a roller rink, food trucks and bars.
Limited early bird tickets for ‘That 70s Experience’ are on sale now for Pullman Yards subscribers at the original 1970 Atlanta International Pop Festival price of $16. Fans can purchase general admission tickets through the link in Pullman Yards’ Instagram @PrattPullmanDistrict. ‘That 70s Experience’ is an all-ages event.
— Megan Anderson
ATL Airport District launches campaign to draw World Cup fans to south metro Atlanta
The ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau has unveiled “Kick It In The District,” a campaign designed to drive visitors and support local businesses during the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament in Atlanta.
The district, which markets the cities of College Park, Fairburn, Hapeville, South Fulton and Union City, sits minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and offers MARTA access to downtown Atlanta and the FIFA Fan Festival at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Throughout the tournament, participating restaurants and bars across all five cities will host community watch parties featuring food and drink specials, giveaways and prizes. More than 20 venues are taking part, from sports bars and breweries to pizza shops and tapas restaurants. More details can be found here.
The bureau is also running a sweepstakes with a prize package valued at more than $500, including a two-night hotel stay and $250 in gift cards to watch party locations. Visitors can register here.
— Derek Prall
Atlanta distillery places local spirits in hotel bars ahead of World Cup
ASW Distillery is stocking its spirits at hotel bars and concierge desks across Atlanta to give international visitors a taste of the city as they arrive for the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament.
The program places ASW products at the W Hotel Atlanta, Hyatt Place Atlanta Centennial Park and Hotel Indigo Atlanta Downtown, with the distillery’s tasting room in Concourse B at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport serving as a first point of contact for fans flying in.
Three spirits anchor the initiative, each tied to Atlanta’s history and identity. Among them is Resurgens Rye, named for the city’s official motto.
Founded in 2016 by three University of Georgia graduates, ASW has become the most awarded craft distillery at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition since 2018 and most recently took home the title of World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon.
— Derek Prall
Drivin N Cryin headlines 14 new free concerts added to Decatur WatchFest ’26
Decatur WatchFest ’26 has finalized its concert lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 festival, adding 14 free performances on the newly renovated Decatur Square headlined by Atlanta rock veterans Drivin N Cryin on June 22.
The new acts join three previously announced ticketed concerts featuring Big Boi on June 11, The War and Treaty on June 25 and Indigo Girls on July 19, bringing the festival to 34 days of live music alongside screenings of more than 60 World Cup matches.
Other additions to the schedule include Macon Music Revue, KHALIKO, Gurufish and the Decatur City Band, with performances running from June 12 through July 18. No tickets are required for the newly announced shows.
Organizers recommend taking MARTA directly to the Decatur station or using rideshare services. More than 10,000 parking spaces are also available daily, with advance purchase available online.
Click here for the full schedule of concerts and match screenings.
— Derek Prall
Andrew Young Foundation opens aquaponics facility in Clayton County
The Andrew Young Foundation has opened Forever Young Aquaponics, a sustainable farming facility in Jonesboro that uses emerging technology to grow and distribute fresh produce across the Southeast.
The facility, located minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, uses a closed-loop aquaponics system that consumes up to 90 percent less water than conventional farming and operates without pesticides or fertilizers.
Ambassador Andrew Young appeared by video at the June 2 grand opening, calling the project a dream realized. Foundation president Gaurav Kumar said he and Young began developing the concept years ago around a simple question: how to feed the hungry. Kumar described the facility as aiming to become the most technologically sophisticated farm in the world.
Clayton County Commission Chairwoman Alieka Anderson-Henry and Rawson Haverty Jr. also spoke at the event, where attendees sampled leafy greens and herbs grown on-site and toured the operation.
The facility is part of the foundation’s broader mission to address hunger and humanitarian need, building on Young’s decades of public service and activism.
— Derek Prall
Thousands of free World Cup tickets now available to veterans and first responders
Military veterans, active service members, first responders and their families can claim free tickets to FIFA World Cup 2026 matches across all 11 U.S. host cities through a partnership between Bank of America, Vet Tix and FIFA.
A total of 4,547 tickets will be distributed from the group stage through the final, funded by a $2 million donation from Bank of America and $250,000 from Vet Tix. Another 250 tickets are reserved for U.S. Men’s National Team matches to mark the country’s 250th anniversary.
Eligible veterans and service members can register at the Vet Tix website, while current and retired first responders can sign up through 1st Tix. Both platforms verify eligibility through ID.me and will send email alerts when tickets become available.
— Derek Prall
