404 Day: A Celebration of All Things Atlanta

April 4th may not ring much significance to you, but for Atlantans it might as well be a national holiday. 4/04 coincides with 404, Atlanta's main area code, and the city has adopted it as a day (or really week) to celebrate everything that makes the Empire City of the South such an unique place to live.

The day after started with the first annual 404 Day Parade down a route that stretched roughly a mile through the city's core on Peachtree Street between the Civic Center and Five Points MARTA station.

Pageantry

From trumpets to trap, a cacophony of sound filled Peachtree as marchers made the trip south, led by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens in an open-top convertible (which admittedly was an interesting way to meet a man running for reelection).

Community

Atlanta is infamous for being a wild city that loves to have a good time and that was certainly on display, but it's also a city filled with fellowship among neighbors as a place that's too busy to hate. It was so moving to see so much active joy in the streets as neighbors dapped up neighbors or danced in the streets.

This was a parade full of ordinary Atlantans (even Mayor Dickens is a native Atlantan): truly a parade for the people, by the people.

Welcome to Atlanta

Atlanta has a weird personality beyond the southern charm you might first think of: it's boisterous and wild but not in the same way as you'd find in a city like New Orleans or Miami. I think carefree is the word that'll describe this city best: there's a ton of joy and good, clean fun that comes out of a place of caring for one another and wanting to be in community with each other.