There’s something special about the month of October, with the cooler weather, the shift into the “holiday” mentality and the abundance of fairs, fests and chili cook-offs. There’s an overload of family-friendly activities to enjoy between now and Halloween, so get out and enjoy all that our area has to offer!
{Trunk or Treat events are so plentiful that they are listed here!}
October 10 & 11
Chalktober Fest, Marietta Square
Saturday, October 10: 10am – 5pm, Concert from 7pm – 9pm
Sunday, October 11: 11am – 5pm
The 2015 Marietta Chalktoberfest features 45+ professional chalk artists creating patriotic works of art on the streets of historic Marietta Square. Additionally, there will be a craft beer festival, competition chalk section, concerts on the Square and much more on Saturday. On Sunday there will be a Kids on the Block activities and an Antique Car Show in addition to the professional chalk.
Admission: The general festival is free. Beer Festival tickets will go on sale August 1 – $35 for the first 500 tickets, $45 for the second 500 tickets and $50 at the door. Over 100 craft beers will be available for tasting.
Rev Fest: Fall 2015, Rev Coffee, Smyrna
Saturday, October 10: 10am – 8pm
Rev Fest is a one-day music and arts festival held twice a year that features local artists and musicians. The motivation behind Rev Fest is a merging of artists, musicians, and businesses in the Smyrna, and surrounding community. Our hope is to provide a venue for local artists to display and sell their talents and passions while at the same time inviting the community to observe and enjoy in a comfortable and entertaining environment.
Admission: Free
Fall-O-Ween Fest & Outdoor Movie, Swift-Cantrell Park, Kennesaw
Saturday, October 10: 5pm
For one night only, Swift-Cantrell Park will be transformed into “Spook-Central Park,” the Fall-O-Ween capital of Kennesaw. Come dressed in your best Halloween digs and showcase your cool moves during a Monster Mash Dance Party from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded. Activities will also include inflatables and amusements, carnival games, kid’s crafts, and a Trick-or-Treat Trail. The animated feature How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Rated PG) will be projected onto a giant inflatable screen after sundown.
Admission: Free
Family Fun at the Pumpkin Patch, Smyrna First UMC
Sunday, October 11: 12pm – 2pm
Our Youth Ministry will be hosting an afternoon of carnival games, pumpkin sales, face painting, and more! Families, come join the fun on from 12 to 2 PM.
Admission: Free, cost of pumpkins purchased benefits Youth Ministry
October 17 & 18
Cobb County Rodeo, Jim Miller Park
Friday, October 16: 8pm
Saturday, October 17: 8pm
The Cobb County Rodeo is riding into Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. Beginning at 8pm on Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17, 2015, the fun will last about two hours each night. Bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie down roping and barrel racing will make the Cobb County Rodeo a night to remember for young and old rodeo fans.
Admission: Admission at the gate is $15 for adults and $12 for children (ages three and under are admitted free). A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Cobb County Sheriff Mounted Patrol Unit.
Marietta HarvestFest, Marietta Square
Saturday, October 17: 9am – 5pm
The Fall arts and crafts festival features a wide variety of unique handmade items from a local artist and craftsmen as well as Fall fun for the entire family. HarvestFest will feature many local and area artists and craftspeople. Exhibitors will include painting, pottery, woodwork, metal, jewelry, glass, fabric and floral designs. This year the festival also includes Halloween Happenings and Scarecrows on the Square. In addition, The Marietta Square Farmers Market will also take place during the festival from 9 am to noon.
- Harvest Square Arts and Crafts Festival – 9 am to 5 pm
- Touch-A-Truck – 10 am – 4 pm
- Farmers Market – 9 am to noon.
- Halloween Happenings – 1 pm to 5 pm
- Scarecrow Winners Announced on Stage – 1:45 pm
- Kids and Pet Costume Contest – 2 pm
- Zombie Walk – 5 pm to 10 pm
Marietta Zombie Walk, starts at Glover Park
Saturday, October 17: 5pm – 8pm
The undead of Marietta, Georgia are coming back again to help our community of the living on October 17, 2015 and for the fifth year the zombies will bring donations to support MUST Ministries. There’s a little undead in all of us, so bring out your best zombie look and food donations (human cash & credit card donations work) and join the local undead in Marietta Square. Victims Spectators are welcome to come play with us while helping the local food pantry (zombies do not need food for humans, right?) The Infestation (Gathering) starts at 5 pm in Glover Park. The Feeding (Walk) starts promptly at 6 pm. Makeup artists will be on hand during the festival to help bring out the undead for a monetary donation or arrive already in character using your own creativity.
Admission: Food donations for MUST Ministries requested. Cash and credit card donations also welcome
SPIRITS of Smyrna, Smyrna Public Library
Saturday, October 17: 6pm – 8pm
Ghost stories and folk tales of Smyrna, plus sweet treats.
Admission: $5/person (6 and under are free). Purchase tickets at Smyrna Library Front Desk. Proceeds benefit the book fund.
October 24 & 25
Fall Jonquil Festival, Smyrna Village Green
Saturday, October 24: 10am – 6pm
Sunday, October 25: 12pm – 5pm
The festival has a history of over 20 years and will feature hand-made arts & crafts booths, puppet shows, live music, plenty of festival foods, and all types of children’s activities. We will also have local entertainment on the stage in front of the library. Artisans are from all over the southeast and feature their own hand made crafts, paintings, clothing, furniture, jewelry and much more. Friends of the Smyrna Library will have their book sale during the Fall Jonquil festival, so plan to get some phenomenal deals on all types of books imaginable. Keep Smyrna Beautiful will be distributing Jonquil Bulbs and promoting a cleaner Smyrna.
Admission: FREE, concessions available for purchase, bounce houses and rides in children’s area are ticket based.
Owl-O-Ween Balloon Festival, Fifth Third Bank Stadium, 3300 George Busbee Parkway NW, Kennesaw
Friday, October 23: 6pm – 11pm
Saturday, October 24: 4pm – 11pm
This Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival featuring amazing Balloon Glows, Trick-or-Treating, Tethered Balloon Rides, Harvest Beer Tents, Vendor Marketplace, Sports Bar, Artist Market, Amazing Food Trucks, Roving Entertainment, Interactive Kid’s Area, a Main Concert Stage, and more!
Admission: Before October 17, Adults $12, Children $5, Student (with ID) $8. Prices increase after 10/17
Acworth Halloween Carnival, Logan Farm Park, 4762 Logan Rd
Saturday, October 24, 3pm – 7pm
The Acworth Parks and Recreation Department is hosting Acworth’s annual Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Logan Farm Park. The event features carnival games and food and drinks for sale as well as a costume contest. There will be carnival games of all different skill levels for children along with inflatables. There will be hayrides and costume contests.
Admission: Event is free. Carnival game tickets can be purchased for $3.00. This ticket is good for 10 carnival games or turns on the inflatables. Tickets can be purchased throughout the event.
St. Catherine of Sienna Oktoberfest, 1618 Ben King Rd, Kennesaw
Saturday, October 24: 5:30pm – 8:30pm
St. Catherine of Siena is hosting an Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 24, 2015 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The lower parking lot will be transformed to an amazing Midway full of bouncies, a rock wall, tents with amazing sweets and treats, a dunk tank, fantastic fresh tacos and those Oktoberfest staples – brats and beer. Unlimited fun for the kids on the bouncies and rock wall will be available through the purchase of a $10 wristband at the event. The event also includes a cake walk, bingo in the school cafeteria and a live Polka Band. Proceeds benefit their Thanksgiving Basket and Giving Tree holiday programs.
Admission: Tickets for beer, brats, bingo, desserts and more fun are available at the event. $10 wristbands for the kids allow for access to all bouncies and the rock wall.
Ongoing Events & Pumpkin Patches:
We have 2 wonderful pumpkin patch/farms right here in Cobb County which offer fun, games & Halloween activities beyond pumpkins! If you’d like to make a trip of it, you can see other North Georgia pumpkin patches here in this great roundup by Atlanta Parent. As with all farms/U-Pick locations, it is always best to call ahead to verify hours!
Sleepy Hollow Farm
628 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Powder Springs
This Christmas tree farm doubles as a pumpkin patch and center for fall fun from September 26 – November 1. Enjoy hay rides, a corn maze, the pumpkin patch, pumpkin slinging, a look at farm life and special events and contests. Check website for hours.
Admission: Hayride & Corn Maze – $10 per person; Pumpkins – Prices range depending on size; Family Photography Packages start at $35
Corn on the Cobb
5630 Macland Road, Powder Springs
Still Family Farm is excited to host Corn on the Cobb, an 11-acre fall attraction located just west of Atlanta in Cobb County. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to create some memories! Corn maze, pumpkin patch, kiddie climb, popcorn maze, hayrides and tractor display.
Admission: Admission is $15 per person, plus applicable sales tax. Includes all activities. Children ages 4 and under are free with adult admission.
If you don’t have time to make the drive to one of the large pumpkin patches, or if you just need a few more pumpkins after a carving fail, check out these local church-based pumpkin patches. As a bonus, the proceeds benefit local ministries.
Smyrna First United Methodist Pumpkin Patch
1315 Concord Rd SE, Smyrna
The Pumpkin Patch is the annual fall fundraiser for Student Ministries. Pumpkins in all shapes and sizes and fall décor will be available from 4:30-8 PM weekdays and 9 AM-8 PM on weekends (an honor system is used if you want to go pumpkin shopping outside of these hours). Bring your friends and neighbors! All proceeds benefit our youth mission projects throughout the year.
Cumberland United Methodist Pumpkin Patch
2375 Paces Ferry Road, Smyrna
The proceeds of the patch go to support the mission and ministries of Cumberland United Methodist Church.
Vinings United Methodist Pumpkin Patch
3101 Paces Mill Road, Atlanta
The proceeds from the pumpkin patch go to support the Vinings UMC missions.
Due West United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch
3956 Due West Road, Marietta
Pumpkins galore! All proceeds benefit the Youth Ministries of the church.
If you’d like to keep up with all the fall happenings, we’ll be adding links as they’re published here, so you can find them all in one spot.
Happy Halloween from Smyrna Parent!
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