Mardi Gras Festivals and Local Parades Set to Drive Saturday Traffic

Neighborhood Festivals and Parade Closures

Good morning, Atlanta. As we head into this Saturday, February 7, 2026, commuters and residents should prepare for a high-volume day on city streets. With multiple neighborhood celebrations and parades scheduled, several key surface streets will face closures that will impact both personal travel and public transit efficiency.

• Virginia-Highland: The Virginia-Highland Mardi Gras Festival is the highlight of the day, causing a complete closure of Virginia Avenue from North Highland Avenue to Park Drive. This closure is scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Motorists are advised to use Ponce de Leon Avenue as an alternative east-west route.
• East Lake: The 6th Annual Black History Parade will take place this morning, affecting the East Lake community. Expect Eva Davis Way to be closed between Memorial Drive and Campus Drive from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Because of these events, MARTA bus routes #24, #36, and #816 will be operating on designated detours. If you are traveling through these areas, please allow an additional 20 minutes for your commute.

MARTA Station and Service Updates

Transit riders have a significant update regarding the Five Points Station transformation project. The temporary restriction on the East-West center platform—which has been limited to southbound transfers only—is scheduled to expire at 6:00 a.m. today. This change should ease congestion for those moving between the Blue, Green, Gold, and Red lines, though riders should remain alert for updated signage as construction continues elsewhere in the station.

Additionally, the Edgewood Avenue Entertainment District is hosting the Atlanta Mardi Gras Adventure starting at noon. With over 15 bars participating near Marcus Bar & Grille, expect heavy pedestrian traffic on Edgewood Avenue and surrounding side streets until 6:00 p.m. Parking will be extremely limited in this area, and ride-share users should expect surge pricing and longer wait times.

Downtown Filming and Regional Highway Work

In the Downtown core, filming for the production "Tulsa King" occupied Forsyth Street between Marietta and Poplar Streets overnight. While filming activities were slated to wrap up at 2:00 a.m. this morning, residual equipment removal may continue to affect curb lanes and pedestrian walkways through the early morning hours.

Regarding regional travel, Georgia DOT crews are continuing long-term infrastructure improvements on the northern Perimeter. Drivers on I-285 and SR 400 should expect the usual narrow lanes and active work zones near the interchange. In Sandy Springs, active construction along Mount Vernon Highway near Johnson Ferry and Roswell Roads remains a factor. While major lane closures are typically paused on Saturday afternoons, the high volume of weekend shoppers often leads to significant bottlenecks in these active project zones. We recommend utilizing the MARTA rail system for cross-town travel to avoid surface street delays.