HISTORIC EVENT
Atlanta International Pop Festival
Historic Music Festival
EVENT OVERVIEW
About Atlanta International Pop Festival
The Atlanta International Pop Festivals of 1969 and 1970 brought large-scale rock festivals to Georgia and helped establish promoter Alex Cooley as a major concert producer.
HOW IT DEVELOPED
Event History
The 1969 festival at Atlanta International Raceway drew more than 100,000 fans. The 1970 festival moved to Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, where estimates ranged from 200,000 to 300,000 people and the gates were eventually opened to the crowd.
WHY HERE
Location History
The 1969 event was held at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton. The second festival moved in 1970 to Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, about ninety miles south of Atlanta.
BY THE NUMBERS
Attendance History
| Edition | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta International Pop Festival 1969 | Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton, GA, United States | 100,000New Georgia Encyclopedia says more than 100,000 fans attended. |
| Atlanta International Pop Festival 1970 | Middle Georgia Raceway, Byron, GA, United States | Source-dependentNew Georgia Encyclopedia says estimates vary, likely between 200,000 and 300,000. |
WHO WAS THERE
Past Bands & Performers
Atlanta Pop Festival 1969
- Janis Joplin
- Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Blood, Sweat & Tears
- Grand Funk Railroad
- Led Zeppelin
- Chicago
Atlanta Pop Festival 1970
- Jimi Hendrix
- B.B. King
- The Allman Brothers Band
- Procol Harum
- Johnny Winter
FACT CHECK
Sources & Verification
Primary source: New Georgia Encyclopedia
Last verified: August 28, 2026
Class Act leaves unsupported facts out rather than estimate or invent them.