Southern-Fried Gaming Expo | A Hidden Gem in Atlanta

With so many events that take place in or around Atlanta every weekend, it’s easy to forget or overlook some of the phenomenal events that are put on by Georgia locals. One such event that you should consider checking out if you are a fan of old-school video game and pinball machines is an event called Southern-Fried Gaming Expo. What started out as a small gathering of pinball enthusiasts looking to share their love and knowledge has slowly over the years grown into the large event that it is today.

Southern-Fried Gaming Expo (SFGE for short) is an Atlanta homegrown convention focused entirely on gaming and has nearly 150,000 square feet of exhibit space. Attendees can enjoy over 500 arcade, pinball machines, and video game consoles on free play, which for one weekend makes it “Georgia’s Largest Arcade.”. The pinball machines come from personal collections from attendees with some of them being for sale. So every year there are always new machines and cabinets to check out.

In 2023, Southern Fried will be celebrating it’s 10th anniversary and is bringing more events than ever for guests to enjoy. Located at the Cobb Galleria Centre and Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center, this year’s event includes:

Panel Sessions
Game Premiers
Tabletop Gaming
eSport Tournaments
Costume Contest
Pinball Tournaments
Film Screenings
Eating Contests
Indie Game Showcase
Flea Market
Vendors
Wrestling
Concerts and Live Entertainment
…and MORE!

Having been to every single Southern Fried since the beginning in 2014, it has been exciting to see this event go from a small conference room with 30 pinball machines to the event it has become.

Dates for this event tend to move around. So if you are interested in attending, I highly recommend following them on social media for the latest regarding the event. But it tends to always be during the summer months no matter the date.

Check out their website here: https://gameatl.com/