Autumn is the perfect time to get outside in the cool, crisp air and enjoy some of the fall festivals and Halloween activities in Acworth and Kennesaw as well as in neighboring towns in north Georgia. Make time to celebrate the season of pumpkins and colorful leaves by supporting local fall events or taking a road trip a little farther north in October and November.
Kennesaw
Fall-O-Ween
Oct. 15, 3-8:30 p.m., Swift-Cantrell Park
3140 Old 41 Highway
Kennesaw Parks and Recreation beckons local ghouls, ninjas, superheroes and princesses to Spook-Central Park for its annual fall celebration. Activities at the free event include a candy trail, a scavenger hunt, a craft, field games, music and a showing of “Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island” (PG) on a giant inflatable screen after sundown. Costume contests for all ages also will take place every 30 minutes from 3:30-6:30 p.m., and prizes will be awarded to three winners in each time frame. Concessions will be available for purchase beginning at 3 p.m. www.kennesaw-ga.gov/parks-and-recreation; 770-422-9714.
Taste of Kennesaw
Nov. 5, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Main Street downtown
The event, which benefits five local charities, will feature samples from more than 20 Kennesaw and Cobb County restaurants, the Trackside Grill Beer Garden, music, local entertainment and children’s activities, including a rock wall and inflatables. Admission is free, and food samples will range from $1-$5. 770-423-1330; Laura@jrmmanagement.com; www.kennesawbusiness.org.
Cobb County
Chalktoberfest Craft Beer Festival 2022
Oct. 8, noon-5 p.m., the Marietta Square West Park Square
Enjoy an afternoon of watching professional chalk artists transform the streets, listening to live music from local entertainers, sampling craft beers and an assortment of wines and eating great food at this annual event. All proceeds benefit the Marietta Cobb Museum
of Art. www.chalktoberfest.com.
HarvestFest
Oct. 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Glover Park at Marietta Square
The annual festival includes the HarvestFest Arts and Crafts Show; a pie-eating contest for ages 6 and older, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Touch-A-Truck, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Scarecrows in the Square, all day; costume contest for all ages as well as pets, 2-3 p.m.; and Halloween Happenings kids’ festival,
1-5 p.m. www.mariettaga.gov/1258/Harvest-Fest.
Jacket Jam-BOO-Ree Festival
Oct. 29, 3-7 p.m., Sprayberry High football field/stadium, 2525 Sandy Plains Road Marietta
Benefiting the Sprayberry High School Foundation, this fall celebration will feature trick-or-treating, lots of candy, festival food, a kids’ zone with inflatables, spooky exhibits, local entertainment provided by school choruses and costume contests. Admission is free; kids’ zone is $10 for unlimited rides. laura@jrmmanagement.com; 770-423-1330.
Smyrna Crafts and Drafts Festival
Oct. 29-30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Village Green downtown Smyrna
The Smyrna Crafts and Drafts Festival — formerly the Fall Jonquil Festival — will feature more than 150 arts and crafts booths, a variety of food booths, an entertainment stage, a children’s section, a puppet show, big-screen TVs for all the big games and a beer garden featuring a variety of craft beers. 770-423-1330.
Acworth
Taste of Acworth
Oct. 8, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Main Street downtown
This event benefits numerous schools and charities in the community. There will be more than 150 booths from local restaurants and businesses, plus two live entertainment stages and a kids’ zone. Admission is free. Restaurants will be offering food samples, ranging from $1-$5. 770-423-1330; www.acworthbusiness.org.
2022 Acworth Halloween JamBOOree
Oct. 22, 3-7 p.m., Logan Farm Park, 4405 Cherokee St.
There will be games, rides, food, music and a costume contest for the kids on the large field in front of the playground. https://bit.ly/3AjccED; 770-917-1234.
North Georgia
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival
Oct. 7-15, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee
The annual fall festival at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds is home to live entertainment, arts and crafts, food, educational demonstrations, carnival rides, games and more. https://bit.ly/3TzESAE.
Georgia Apple Festival
Oct. 8-9 and 15-16, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, Ellijay Lions Club 1729 S. Main St., Ellijay
The 51st annual festival will feature more than 250 arts and crafts vendors offering a variety of handcrafted items and more than 35 food vendors selling everything from fried apple pies to fresh-made pizza. www.georgiaapplefestival.org.
2022 Blairsville Sorghum Festival
Oct. 8-9 and 15-16, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day
Meeks Park, 490 Meeks Park Road
Visit this annual two-weekend festival to find sorghum syrup, arts and crafts, demonstrations, games, activities and live music. https://blairsvillesorghumfestival.com.
2022 Gold Rush Days
Oct. 15-16, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. each day
Dahlonega Public Square and Historic District
Join the thousands of visitors who flock to this annual festival to see fall colors peaking and to celebrate Dahlonega’s discovery of gold in the 1820s. More than 200 arts and crafts exhibitors and food vendors will be on hand for the event, which also includes the Gold Rush Days Parade at 3 p.m. and a concert on the main stage at 4:30 p.m Saturday. https://goldrushdaysfestival.com.
North Georgia Fair
Oct. 20-30, 5-10 p.m. weekdays, 1-11 p.m. Saturdays, 1-10 p.m. first Sunday, 1-9 p.m. second Sunday; North Georgia Ag Fairgrounds, 500 Legion Drive, Dalton
Enjoy rides, food and entertainment at this 74th annual fall fair. www.northgafair.com.
Appalachian Brew, Stew & Que Festival
Oct. 22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Georgia Mountain Fair, 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee
The 2022 Appalachian Brew, Stew & Que Festival brings together great craft breweries from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. There also will be delicious food from area restaurants, regional arts and crafts and lots of Appalachian and Americana music. https://bit.ly/3eP8zhn; 706-896-4191.
Helen Oktoberfest
Through Oct. 30, 6-10:30 p.m. weekdays, 6 p.m.-midnight Fridays, 1 p.m.-midnight Saturdays, 1-7 p.m. Sundays
Helen Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse
Take part in one of the longest-running Oktoberfests in the country and enjoy German beer, bratwurst, German-style bands and polka dances during the 51st annual celebration. www.helenchamber.com/oktoberfest.
Old Clarkesville Market
Nov. 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Habersham County Fairgrounds, 4235 Toccoa Highway, Clarkesville
Visit the first-ever Old Clarkesville Market to find antiques, home décor and handmade crafts as well as food vendors. The event will be inside an enclosed pavilion, so weather will not be an issue. https://bit.ly/3COauN5.
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