OktoberFEAST in Sandy Springs is scheduled for October 17–18, 2026, with festivities from 3–7 p.m. each day at City Green. Admission is free, which makes a short music-and-atmosphere visit possible without committing to a full afternoon of purchases.

The city’s current OktoberFEAST page separates entry from what you buy inside. Bavarian food and specialty beer are available for purchase; free admission does not provide a meal. Beer purchases are limited to adults 21 and older and require a wristband.

The city’s 2026 festival announcement confirms the weekend and names The Swinging Bavarians for the music. The main event page also invites guests to try polka steps and mentions family activities, including an Ice Cream Parade. Check current notices for any updated schedule rather than assuming every activity runs continuously.

Build the visit around one main interest

Choose whether your group is mainly coming for music, a meal or family time. That decision can keep the afternoon comfortable when different people want different things. A music-focused visit may need less time than finding food, eating and waiting for another activity.

Tent seating is open to everyone according to the event page. It is not described as a table reservation. Agree on a meeting spot and a simple alternative if seats are unavailable when your group arrives.

The main page says the 2026 food lineup will be announced as details are finalized and describes some foods from earlier celebrations. Treat those past-menu examples as background, not a promise that one particular item will be sold this weekend. Review the actual vendor choices before ordering.

Plan spending separately from admission. Decide which purchases fit the visit, check prices with the vendor and keep room for parking costs. A family can enjoy part of the event without turning every advertised feature into a required purchase.

Check the parking arrangement before staying four hours

The City Springs parking page lists an underground garage, street parking, the South Lot and valet options. Its garage entrances are 230 Mount Vernon Highway NE and 6300 Blue Stone Road. Select the actual entrance or parking location before sending a destination to another driver.

The page currently lists the first two garage hours free, followed by charges for longer stays. Garage payment is by card, and drivers should keep the entry ticket. A four-hour festival window is not the same as a two-hour parking allowance.

For street and South Lot parking, the venue requires registration on arrival even for a short stay. The first two hours are free only with that registration. Follow the signs and save the confirmation; do not assume an empty space means no action is needed.

Check the dated parking information again before the trip because event rates can be used. The venue also reports ongoing garage maintenance. Follow current entry instructions, and ask about any route or access arrangement essential to your group.

The festival page locates public restrooms in the small brick building beside the splashpad on Mount Vernon Highway. It describes the event as rain or shine and directs weather updates to the city’s Facebook page. Choose clothing and an outdoor visit length around current conditions.

For another Sandy Springs outing, our Morgan Falls picnic-and-view guide offers a separate park visit. Our Abernathy Greenway art-and-play guide covers a different outdoor setting. Confirm those plans independently instead of assuming they are part of the festival.

Leave with entry, purchases and parking treated as three decisions. Pick a main interest, share the meeting point and check the return time. Free admission works best when the rest of the afternoon’s practical details are equally clear.