September 6 to September 14 is a genuinely strong nine days in Sandy Springs. The summer concert series takes its final bow on the amphitheatre lawn, City Springs Theatre opens one of the largest musicals in the repertoire, an arts festival takes over a two-day stretch off Lake Forrest Drive, and a Sunday jazz brunch closes the window on a civilized note. Four ways to spend it.
Concerts by the Springs Season Finale with R&B, Inc.
Why It Stands Out
Sunday, September 6 at the Heritage Amphitheatre. R&B, Inc. closes out the 2026 Concerts by the Springs season, and a season finale on that lawn has a different feeling than a mid-summer date. The series is one of the things longtime residents point to when explaining why they like living here.
What to Expect
Lawn seating with the option to reserve a table through the City of Sandy Springs, plus a member veranda party for those who have one. The music is built for a crowd that wants to sit, talk, and stay through the whole set rather than stand at the rail.
Timing and Planning
Arrive early enough to place a chair while there is still lawn to choose from, which on a finale means earlier than usual. If you want a table rather than a blanket, reserve rather than hope. This is the last one until next season, so it draws the people who skipped the earlier dates.
Best For
Couples, groups of friends, and multigenerational families. It is the most sociable event on this list.
Les Miserables at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center
Why It Stands Out
Opening Friday, September 11 and running through September 27, presented by City Springs Theatre Company at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, 1 Galambos Way. Les Miserables is about as large as musical theatre gets, and City Springs Theatre has built a reputation for staging this scale of show properly rather than scaling it down.
What to Expect
A full evening and a serious production. The Byers Theatre is a purpose-built modern house, so the sound and sightlines are excellent, and the City Springs district gives you dinner options within a two-minute walk of the lobby.
Timing and Planning
Opening weekend inside this window means the strongest demand of the run. Event parking is $10 in the underground deck, with valet available for most performances at $15. Use 5 Galambos Way as the GPS address for the deck. The box office runs Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m., and reopens two hours before showtime.
Best For
Date night, visiting family, and anyone who wants one properly dressed-up evening in the nine days.
Sandy Springs Fall Arts and Craft Festival
Why It Stands Out
Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13 at 6100 Lake Forrest Drive, in the Century Springs office complex near Hammond Drive. Hosted by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, the festival brings up to 125 arts and crafts exhibitors across every discipline, and it is free to attend.
What to Expect
Local musicians, interactive art stations, and a children's play area alongside the artist booths. It is organized by artists for artists, which shows in the mix: this is a working festival rather than a curated boutique event.
Insider Tip
Parking at Century Springs is free, which is not a small thing on a festival weekend. The site sits less than a mile from the Roswell Road exit off I-285, so it is one of the easier festivals in the metro to get in and out of. Saturday runs longer than Sunday, so the morning of the 12th gives you the widest choice.
Best For
Families, and anyone shopping for something handmade without committing to a whole day.
Joe Alterman's Toast and Jam Jazz Brunch with Cleveland P. Jones
Why It Stands Out
Sunday, September 13 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. Pianist Joe Alterman's Toast and Jam series pairs live jazz with brunch, and this installment features vocalist Cleveland P. Jones. It is a small, warm format in a building better known for large productions.
Best For
A relaxed Sunday, an older crowd, and anyone who would rather hear music at noon than at ten at night. It also works unusually well as a low-pressure way to host out-of-town guests.
Timing and Planning
Same parking situation as the theatre, $10 in the underground deck at 5 Galambos Way. Because it is a brunch format, arriving on time matters more than it would for a concert. Pair it with the arts festival on Lake Forrest Drive earlier in the weekend and you have a complete Sandy Springs Saturday and Sunday.
Neighborhood Angle
City Springs was built to give Sandy Springs an actual downtown, and a weekend like this one is the argument for it working. A theatre, a cafe, a green, and a brunch series inside a few hundred feet.
Event Q&A
Which event is best for families?
The Fall Arts and Craft Festival on September 12 and 13. Free admission, free parking, a children's play area, and interactive art stations. Nobody has to sit still.
Which one is worth planning ahead for?
Les Miserables. It opens September 11, opening weekend inside this window draws the heaviest demand of the run, and the box office keeps limited hours. Buy before you go.
Which feels most on-brand for a date night?
Les Miserables at the Byers Theatre, with dinner in the City Springs district beforehand. The Concerts by the Springs finale on the 6th is the more casual alternative.
Which option is the most relaxed?
Joe Alterman's Toast and Jam Jazz Brunch on September 13. Midday, seated, unhurried, and finished with the whole afternoon still ahead of you.
Which gives the best sense of local community?
The Concerts by the Springs finale. A season closing on a public lawn, with reserved tables, blankets and members all in the same place, is Sandy Springs showing you how it actually spends a Sunday evening.
