Planning on attending AthFest 2022? Here's a list of 10 things you'll need to know.

Andrew Shearer, Athens Banner-Herald
·3 min read

After a two-year hiatus, the AthFest Music & Arts Festival will return to downtown this weekend, welcoming first-time attendees as well as those who have made the three-day event a part of their lives since 1997.

If you'll be among the thousands of folks planning to be there, here's a list of 10 important things to know about AthFest 2022.

• AthFest takes place in downtown Athens from Friday to Sunday. The event is free and wristbands are not required to watch the outdoor performances.

• Outdoor music will take place on two downtown stages. The main stage is sponsored by Asheville, N.C.'s, Wicked Weed Brewing Pub and will be located at Pulaski Street and Washington Street. The Hull Street stage will be located between Washington Street and Hancock Avenue.

• Parking is available in the College Avenue deck between Clayton Street and Washington Street and there are also private Parkmobile lots and metered spots available throughout downtown Athens. Don't forget that street parking downtown is free on Sundays.

• Tickets will be required for performances at The 40 Watt Club and The Georgia Theatre (indoor and rooftop) and can be purchased at eventbrite.com/cc/athfest-music-and-arts-festival-2022-447549.

• This year's lineup of local and regional music acts is one of the most eclectic in AthFest history, featuring more than 80 bands and artists from R&B powerhouse Convict Julie and the dream-pop project Night Palace to Athens punk legends Pylon Reenactment Society and hip-hop royalty Duddy Ken. Visit athfest.com/schedule/ for full details.

•​​​​​​​ AthFest has dedicated an entire block of Washington Street to its family-friendly KidsFest stage and related activities. The concerts, craft area and demonstrations are free, and on-site tickets can be purchased for bouncy houses and other inflatables.

•​​​​​​​ The AthFest Artist Market will be open all three days of the festival and will be set up on Washington Street between Hull Street and Lumpkin Street with more than 65 vendors participating. Some of this year's makers include Acid Drop Designs, Ashtoons Caricatures, Genuine Gem Co., Inga & Evija, The Lawn Bois, Manami Art, Sadie Pij Art and Sandy Westberry Art Designs.

•​​​​​​​ The Sunday Gospel Brunch at Hendershot's Coffee (237 Prince Ave.) at 11:30 a.m. is free until safe capacity is reached. The lineup will include Ansley Stewart, Marco Hull and Sharmar Stevens, and Puma Yu's will be selling food from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

•​​​​​​​ Athens Ciné (234 W. Hancock Ave.) will be screening the original 1987 music documentary "Athens, GA - Inside/Out" at 2 p.m. on Saturday and its 2021 follow-up "Red Turns Into Blue: Athens, Inside-Out 2" at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at athenscine.com or at the theater.

•​​​​​​​ More than 30 volunteer positions have yet to be filled for AthFest 2022 slots from stage assistants and parking direction to the KidsFest tent and water delivery. Interested applicants can find a list of all available volunteer slots and sign up to help at signupgenius.com/go/4090f48abad22abf85-athfest4.

More: Athens area will remain hot and dry as temperatures will again hit upper 90s, low 100s

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Six places to watch music and other things to know about AthFest 2022