Experience Atlanta’s Premier Urban Ag Event!

In 2026, Food Well Alliance and WABE are excited to host Atlanta’s premier urban agriculture event! Soil Festival is a family-friendly event at Atlanta's historic Maddox Park on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Come learn about the importance of healthy soil and how to grow your own food.

Spend the day tasting locally sourced food and drinks, exploring workshops on composting, beekeeping, and gardening, browsing the farmers market and plant sale, and taking home free compost, all while connecting with Atlanta's urban agriculture community. More details on the event coming soon!

By purchasing a Soil Festival ticket, you’re supporting local growers, helping them thrive, and strengthening our community. Your ticket covers, admission, food, beverages, workshops, and more!


Save the Date

Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 11 AM - 4 PM | Maddox Park
1115 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Use the buttons below to add Soil Festival to your calendar so you don’t forget to join us!

 

What to Expect

Delicious Food

This year, we're especially excited about the food. You'll have four food vendors to choose from, plus a cooling sweet treat. From gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches to burgers and chicken and veggie rice bowls their’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Speakcheesy | Bellies & Beards | Bento Bus | Certified Southern Catering by LETTUM EAT | Frios Gourmet Pops


Farmers Market & Exhibitors

Come prepared to shop! Our Farmers Market will feature even more vendors selling crafted goods, produce, compost, and plants. We recommend bringing a reusable bag or rolling cart to bring home your finds.

Not only will you find a bigger selection of local vendors, but our Exhibitor Row is also packed with local organizations ready to share resources for farmers, community gardens, and more!


Workshops

Bees & Blooms Workshops

Ready to explore the wonderful world of pollinators and flower gardening? Stop by these tables to learn and shop.

11:00 am - 2:00 pm | Pollinators & Beekeeping with Bill Crumpler
Learn about the importance of pollinators and get a peek into the life of a beekeeper. Bill runs Rooted Faith Farm and will be selling natural products made from honey and beeswax.

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm | Starting Your Flower Garden with Claire Reynolds
Get a quick introduction on how to grow flowers from seed, then select and plant a variety of seeds to take home for your starter flower garden. Claire runs Love Joy Farm and will be selling bouquets using flowers grown on her farm.

Seeds & Spores Gardening Workshops

Deepen your gardening knowledge with workshops on seed saving and mushroom growing. Stop by anytime to grab free seeds to take home.

  • 11:30 am | Seed Saving Workshop with Brandon Brones
    Discover how vegetable varieties have been passed down through generations. Learn how to select, collect, and store seeds in this introduction to one of regenerative agriculture's oldest traditions.

  • 1:30 pm - 3 pm | Grow Your Own Mushrooms with Corinne Matthews
    Learn how to grow mushrooms using a simple, low-waste bucket method. You'll inoculate your own straw and leave with a mushroom bucket ready to grow at home. Catch the first 30 minutes for a structured workshop or stop by anytime until 3 pm and Corinne will walk you through it.


Kid’s Zone

Your little ones will love this dedicated space to learn, create, and get their hands dirty. Kids can get their face painted, plant seeds, paint birdhouses, and discover the magic of worms and composting.

  • 11:30 am & 2:30 pm | Vermicomposting Workshop with Jasmine Herndon
    Meet the worms that turn food scraps into healthy soil! Learn how they work, why they matter, and how to build your own worm bin at home.

  • Ongoing Activity | Cultivation Station: Seed Starting with Chy Kellogg
    Stop by anytime to learn the basics of starting seeds and plant a few seeds of your own.

The Kid’s Zone is right next to the Maddox Park playground where kids can stay active and entertained throughout the day.


Soil Health Expo

Healthy soil is the foundation of good food, and Soil Festival is here to celebrate it! We've created a dedicated space for attendees to dig deeper into soil health. Our soil-related exhibitors will be here, including UGA Extension, Compost Connectors, Hiawasee Products, and Georgia Compost Council. You’ll also be able to get a free soil screening through SoilSHOP and attend composting workshops.

  • 11:30 am & 1:30 pm | Intro to Composting Workshop with Chloe Weathington
    Learn the basics of composting, why it’s important, and practical ways you can get started at home.

Click to zoom in image.

SoilSHOP Testing

Want to get your soil tested by SoilSHOP? Use these steps to collect your soil samples:

  • Step 1: Identify an area of interest for your soil sample.

  • Step 2: Collect Soil - For a large area, collect soil from 5-10 random spots in that area, and combine in a clean container. For a small area, collect soil from 3 random spots and combine in a clean container. (See table below for sampling depth per spot.)

  • Step 3: Mix soil well in clean container.

  • Step 4: Remove pebbles, rocks, and roots, and air dry. Do not use a flame, oven or hairdryer to dry the soil!

  • Step 5: Transfer 1 - 2 cups of the mixed soil into a clean one-quart Ziplock bag.

Interested participants may bring up to 2 soil samples.


 Support Soil Festival

Volunteer at Soil Festival!

Volunteers play an integral part in a successful Soil Festival by supporting set up or breakdown, greeting attendees, assisting vendors, and more! You’ll work alongside Food Well Alliance staff to keep the event running smoothly. If you’re interested in volunteering at Soil Festival, you can see the different times and areas of support below. Volunteers also get a free t-shirt and free admission to the event so you can enjoy the festivities before or after your shift.

Soil Festival Volunteer Shifts:

Become a Patron!

Soil Festival is more than a spring event. It's a celebration of the farmers, gardeners, orchard stewards, and community members working every day to build a healthier, more connected Atlanta. By becoming a Soil Festival Patron, you're directly supporting that work while joining us for a day of good food, good soil, and good community.

Patrons make this event possible, and as our thanks, you'll receive tickets to enjoy everything Soil Festival has to offer.


2026 Soil Festival Exhibitors, Vendors & Workshop Leaders

Atlanta Community ToolBank

Basil Family Farm

Bed Head Plant Nursery

Bill Crumpler of Rooted Faith Farm

Brandon Brones of Atlanta Botanical Garden

Chelle Face Painting & Event Entertainment

Chy Kellogg

Claire Reynolds of Love Joy Farm

Community Farmers Markets

Corinne Matthews

Eddie Platt Art

Elevated Roots Nursery

For the Love of Gardening Family Farm

Garden Head Planters

Georgia Compost Council

Glycosponge

Goode Game Gardens

Grove Park Foundation

Grove Park Neighborhood Association

Hiawassee Products, LLC

Historic Westside Gardens ATL

Homegrown Wild Blooms Flower Farm

Jasmine Herndon of Healing Hipster

Joy to Earth Farm

Live Thrive

Mama Raishlyn’s Bliss Herbal Teas

Monday Night Brewing

Mr. Natural Superior Soil

Nocturnal Oasis

Plant Lady Juice Co.

PlantLanta State University

Ry’s Table

Retaaza

Rooted Faith Farm

Roxie’s Cookies

South Fulton Master Gardeners

Southern SARE

The Herbal Society

The Viola Homestead

Tropical Express

UGA Extension

Vegan Chef’s Garden Co.

Vinny’s Mutual Aid Bakery

WABE

Wellstar

West End Community Urban Garden Nursery

Yoga with Jess

 

Soil Festival In the News