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Panda Fest returns to Atlantic Station
Panda Fest is returning to Atlantic Station this weekend and Good Day Atlanta's Paul Milliken checked it out on Friday morning.
ATLANTA, Ga. - Considering pandas spend a lot of their day eating — we’re talking 10 to 16 hours a day! — it makes sense that one of the largest outdoor Asian food festivals in the country is named after them!
Panda Fest returns to Atlanta this weekend, taking over Atlantic Station Friday through Sunday and bringing together more than 80 vendors serving up hundreds of Asian dishes. Panda Fest first came to Atlantic Station in April 2025, and was such a hit that it returned for a second run in September. Event founder BiuBiu Xu says guests stopping by Panda Fest for the first time this weekend can expect a true celebration of Asian cuisine and culture, resented by the diverse lineup of food options, more than 20 merchandise vendors, live performances, and interactive experiences.
Oh, and if you’re a fan of pandas, you’ll be in the right place. We’re told there will be panda inflatables, panda face-painting, panda merch, panda-themed food, and the list goes on. The famous black and white giant panda is considered a national symbol of China, and the animals were used for a time as a gift from China to other nations to establish and strengthen relations (resulting in the term "panda diplomacy"). Their popularity remains unmatched around the world — as evidenced by just how many people stream "panda cams" from around the world!
Panda Fest Atlanta 2026 is happening at the Atlanta Station Pinnacle Lot (221 20th Street) and hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. General Admission tickets are $14 and VIP tickets are $35 (both are $2 extra on Saturday) — and are available for specific time slots on all three days. For more information on the event or to purchase tickets, click here.
Of course, when we heard there would be more than 200 dishes at this year’s Panda Fest, we knew we needed to spend a morning at Atlantic Station getting a first taste! Click the video player in this article to check it out!
The Source: Information for this story comes from Panda Fest press materials and original reporting by Good Day Atlanta's Paul Milliken.