37  TH
ANNUAL

REVIVED - RECHARGED - RENEWED

Concentrated along a short mile and a half of Auburn Avenue, the Sweet Auburn Historic District reflects the history, heritage and achievements of Atlanta's African Americans. The name Sweet Auburn was coined by John Wesley Dobbs, referring to the "richest Negro street in the world." Like other black communities throughout the country, Sweet Auburn's success was intricately tied to the residential patterns forced on African Americans during the early 20th century--the result of restrictive laws in southern states which enforced segregation of the races, known as Jim Crow laws. It was here that many African Americans established businesses, congregations, and social organizations.

The vision of the  Sweet Auburn Festival is to help restore Auburn Ave to it's place of  prominence as "THE GREATEST STREET ON THE PLANET" build the world's grandest promenade linking the
Martin Luther King Jr., National Historic site to the center for civil and human rights and to transform the Sweet Auburn viaduct into a world class destination attracting both tourist and residents.