Centennial Block Party
October 18, 2026 | 12–5 p.m.
Location: High Museum of Art
Members, keep an eye out: we're giving away a limited run of custom swag you won’t want to miss.
The High is taking over Peachtree Street to throw a 100th birthday bash you won’t forget. Join us for a free Block Party featuring live music, DJs, art-making, food vendors and special surprises. Bring the whole family, your friend group, your neighbor or your work bestie and come celebrate 100 years of the High.
Block Party access is free, rain or shine, register to help us plan for the day.
Here’s what’s happening throughout the day:
On Stage
- 12 noon: DJ XZACT
- 1 p.m.: DJ LV
- 2 p.m.: Official Welcome from Rand Suffolk – Director, High Museum of Art, Adriane Jefferson – Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Mayor Andre Dickens, and Killer Mike – High Museum of Art Board Member
- 2:30 p.m.: Live music by The Biological Misfits: David Whild, Dashill Smith, Rodney Edge, Landon Anderson, Khari Cabral Simmons, and DJ LV come together to create a sonic fusion of improvisation.
- 3:30 p.m.: Come Together Dance Party, featuring DJ Keimt and Salah Ananse
Activations
A gentle, sensory-friendly show about the many ways we smile, created in partnership with the Marcus Autism Center. About 30 minutes, best for newborns through age 5 and their grown-ups.
Step inside an immersive kaleidoscope experience featuring the same artwork debuting on the Atlanta Beltline October 2, seen up close for the first time.
Dance Canvas is a nonprofit championing awareness of professional dance across Atlanta and the Southeast. Their vision is to diversify the artistic voices in professional dance, grow opportunities for artists in the region, and attract new audiences.
Dance performance by Bautanzt Here, Atlanta’s only purely site-specific dance theater company. They merge dance and theater, creating a unique language to tell stories and provide valuable art experiences in unconventional spaces.
Stop by and make a birthday hat to celebrate the High’s 100th! These hats are inspired by artwork in the Museum’s collection. Nabil Nahas and Ettore Sottsass Jr. used lines, vibrant colors, and patterns to make these unique designs.
Food and Drinks
Food trucks on site all day: Bomb Biscuit, The Giant Quesadilla, just add honey, and Sweet Auburn BBQ. Plus, custom drinks with Wild Heaven Beer and Refuge Coffee co.
Bars inside the museum will be pouring a custom HIGH x Wild Heaven beer, brewed just for our 100th birthday. Grab a taste of The Ramp, a Belgian IPA brewed with Grains of Paradise and Honeysuckle, hopped with Citra, Sorachi Ace, and Talus.
Michelin Bib Gormand ranked Bomb Biscuit Co. will have their food truck onsite serving their delicious sweet and savory options.
Larger-than–life quesadillas on delicious homemade tortillas.
Loose leaf tea options with 18 flavors of hot tea and 3 iced tea options and flavored simple syrups.
Traditional style barbecue with an Asian twist from the Hsu siblings (the family behind Tio Lucho’s and Lazy Betty).
We’re launching custom drinks with Refuge Coffee Co that honor our past and celebrate the present. Enjoy The Centennial Blush: a Hibiscus Raspberry Refresher and Hattie’s Harvest: a honey cinnamon latte. Members get a discount!
Public Conversation
100 Years of Art in Atlanta
Hill Auditorium, 3–4 p.m. | Separately Ticketed
Julia Forbes, the High’s Associate Director of Institutional Research, joins Katherine “Katie” Jentleson, PhD, Senior Curator of American Art and the Merrie and Dan Boone Curator of Folk and Self-Taught Art, for a conversation on the High’s history and its place in Atlanta, moderated by Wendy Corona of WSB-TV. This ticket also includes Block Party access and museum admission.
Exclusive Member Lounge
Celebrate 100 years of Art in Atlanta with a members-only VIP lounge during the Centennial Block Party. Enjoy a cash bar, centennial-themed activities, and a special time capsule just for members!
Check in at the main museum entrance to receive your wristband, then make your way to the lounge in the High Cafe. Once you’re checked in, you’ll be able to move freely from the lounge straight to the block party outside.
Members will receive a 15% discount in the Museum Shop, a 20% discount at Refuge Coffee, and discounts at on-campus dining.
Keep the celebration going with members-only Centennial tours throughout the month. Learn More
Also on Campus
- Activations from Atlanta United and the Atlanta Hawks
- Don’t forget to swing by the Museum Shop for new centennial merchandise! You’ll even spot our new coffee and cocoa collab with Jittery Joe’s.
- Community Partners
LaAmistad, MODA, Midtown Alliance, the Alliance Theatre, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. - Member Exclusive!
We collaborated with Bitter Southerner to bring free custom Centennial garden flags for our members only, make sure you grab yours in the VIP lounge.
Presenting Centennial Sponsor
Related Events
Join us for a special evening exploring The Recipe Collection, a cookbook published by The Member’s Guild of the High in 1981.
Join fellow members on this exclusive thematic tour. Inspired by Halloween, take a deep dive into the High’s permanent collection to discover spooky imagery. This tour offers a new perspective on new pieces and old favorites.
In commemoration of the museum’s 100th anniversary, this walking tour will introduce you to the architects who designed the buildings that have housed the High throughout its history.
Join us as we celebrate our Centennial year with an exclusive tour just for members! With the help of a High Museum of Art docent, we will dive into the American Art collection in the recently re-installed galleries and explore what it means to be an American artist. Including many new acquisitions and old favorites, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
Designed for new members, or any members looking to get a fresh perspective, this leisurely tour offers an hour of looking and learning led by a High Museum of Art docent. Stools and assistive listening devices will be provided.