After the hottest summer we’ve had in years — maybe ever — the cool, crisp air of autumn will be a welcome relief. Take advantage of the change of seasons by getting outside and enjoying some of the fall festivals and Halloween activities in Woodstock, Holly Springs and Canton, as well as in neighboring towns in Cobb County and north Georgia. Celebrate the season of colorful leaves, pumpkins and apples by attending local events or driving a little farther north for a fun day trip.
In Cherokee
Halloween Trail of Tricks and Treats
Oct. 31, 5-9 p.m., Rubes Creek Trail, 232 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock.
Across from Fire Station 14. Event and parking are free. Walk along the 1.4-mile trail, get candy from vendors and enjoy music, games, activities and crafts. Flashlights are encouraged.
Taste and Brews Fall Festival
Oct. 14-15, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Etowah River Park in Canton.
Sample the flavors of Georgia and listen to live music by regional acts. Admission is free, and there will be a variety of children’s activities. www.tasteandbrews.com
The Great Pumpkin Fest
Oct. 21, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cherokee Veterans Park, Canton.
Includes DJ, craft and food vendors, hayrides, ax throwing, archery, a costume contest and more. Wear your costumes and trick-or-treat with vendors. Admission is free. www.playcherokee.org
Hiking Scavenger Hunt: Halloween
Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m., Lewis Park.
Get your costumes and flashlights handy for a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt at dusk, lasting into nightfall. Cherokee Recreation and Parks-sponsored event for all ages (minors must be accompanied by an adult). Contact: Nick Holt, nrholt@cherokeega.com or 770-501-8002. Register through 5 p.m. Oct. 24.
Denim Fest
Oct. 27-28, 4-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, The Mill on Etowah.
A celebration of history that includes trick-or-treating, barbecue tasting, a kids’ costume contest, an adult denim jacket contest, live music and more. www.etowahmill.com/event/denimfest
“The Tell Tale Heart”
Oct. 27-29, Nov. 3-5, Canton Theatre.
An evening of spooky adventures in “The Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe, “Sorry Wrong Number” by Lucille Fletcher and “Cheating Death” by Kamron Klitgaard. For tickets, contact boxoffice@cherokeetheatre.org or 770-591-0282.
Cherokee County Veteran Organizations’ BBQ
Oct. 28, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., American Legion Post 45, 160 McClure St. Canton.
Featuring live bands, a craft fair, raffles, trick-or-treating, a costume contest and more. Georgia Barbecue Association members and amateurs will compete for prizes and awards. Barbecue plates will be available for purchase, benefiting Veteran Suicide Awareness and the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program. For more information, email jlindenmayer80@gmail.com or john_b1966@comcast.net.
Hillcrest Baptist Fall Festival
Oct. 31, 4 p.m., 6069 Woodstock Road, Woodstock.
Hayrides, caramel apples at the apple barn and tons of candy. Dress up in your costumes.
Trunk or Treat
Johnston Elementary
Oct. 21, 3-5 p.m.
2031 E. Cherokee Drive.
Trunk or Treat, free admission.
Woodstock Christian Church
Oct. 29, 4-6 p.m.
7700 Highway 92.
Outside Cherokee
Helen Oktoberfest
Through Oct. 29, weekdays, 6-10:30 p.m.; Fridays, 6 p.m.-midnight; Saturdays, 1 p.m.-midnight; Sundays, 1-7 p.m. 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, polka dances and a parade during the 53rd annual celebration. Admission for adults is $10 weekdays, $12 Fridays and Saturdays, and free on Sundays and for active and retired military. Kids 6-12 are half price, and younger than 6 are free. www.helenchamber.com/oktoberfest
Pumpkin Fest
Through Oct. 30, Pettit Creek Farms Cartersville.
Includes unlimited access to the corn maze, hayride, petting zoo, scarecrow building and more. Visit the website for hours and admission information. https://pettitcreekfarms.com/pumpkin-fest-2
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival
Oct. 6-14, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee.
The annual fall festival at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds is home to arts and crafts, carnival food, educational demonstrations, rides, games and daily concerts. One-day admission is $6 for the arts and crafts festival, $16 for the festival and concert; kids 12 and younger and parking are free. https://bit.ly/3TzESAE
Taste of Acworth
Oct. 7, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Main Street downtown.
This event will include more than 150 booths from local restaurants and businesses, a live entertainment stage, inflatables, a Georgia Grown Member Village and a beer garden. Admission is free. Restaurants will be offering food samples, ranging from $1 to $10. 770-423-1330; www.acworthbusiness.org
Kennesaw Fall-O-Ween
Oct. 7, 4-9 p.m., Swift-Cantrell Park 3140 Old 41 Highway.
Kennesaw Parks and Recreation will transform Swift-Cantrell into Spook-Central Park for its annual fall festival. Activities at the free event include a candy trail, a scavenger hunt, crafts, field games, music and a showing of “Hotel Transylvania” (PG) on a giant inflatable screen after sundown.
Costume contests
for all ages. Concessions available.
www.kennesaw-ga.gov/parks-and-recreation, 770-422-9714
Georgia Marble Festival
Oct. 7-8, Lee Newton Park, Jasper.
Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday with entertainment, a parade, kids’ zone, arts and crafts, quarry tours, chainsaw carving and more.
www.georgiamarblefestival.com
Chalktoberfest
Oct. 14-15.
A chalk and beer festival on Marietta Square is free and open to the public, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. www.chalktoberfest.com
Georgia Apple Festival
Oct. 14-15, 21-22, Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds.
Begins at 9 a.m. each day. Admission is $10; children 12 and younger are admitted free. Visitors can expect more than 300 vendors, handmade items, a parade and an antique car show.
www.georgiaapplefestival.org
Blairsville Sorghum Festival
Oct. 14-15 and 21-22, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day,Meeks Park, 490 Meeks Park Road.
Visit this annual festival to find sorghum syrup, arts and crafts, a parade, cloggers, demonstrations, games, activities and live music. Admission is $5; free for ages 12 and younger.
https://blairsvillesorghumfestival.com
North Georgia Fair
Oct. 19-29, North Georgia Ag Fairgrounds, 500 Legion Drive, Dalton.
Enjoy rides, games, food, entertainment and agricultural exhibits at this 75th annual fall fair. Visit the website for times. www.northgafair.com
Appalachian Brew, Que and Stew Festival
Oct. 21, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee.
The 2023 festival brings together more than 60 craft breweries from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. There also will be food from area restaurants, regional arts and crafts, lots of Appalachian and Americana music and a beer garden. Advance tickets are $50; gate admission is $55. bit.ly/47rsDNu, 706-896-4191
Acworth Halloween JamBOOree
Oct. 21, 3-7 p.m., Logan Farm Park.
The event features games, rides, food, music and a costume contest for kids. The park is at 4405 Cherokee St., Acworth.
HarvestFest
Oct. 21, 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 for ages 12 and younger, 1-5 p.m. www.mariettaga.gov/1258/Harvest-Fest
Gold Rush Days Festival
Oct. 21-22, Dahlonega.
Held annually to celebrate the 1828 discovery of gold in the city. More than 200 arts and crafts exhibitors and vendors will gather around the square and historic district for this two-day festival. https://goldrushdaysfestival.com/gold-rush-days
Acworth Craft Beer and Wine Fest
Nov. 4, 1-5 p.m., Logan Farm Park.
Participants can sample more than 100 craft beers and 25 wines and enjoy live music, food and college football on big screens. This event is for ages 21 and older; no babies, kids or pets will be allowed. Tickets are $40 in advance and $55 the day of the event. www.acworthbeerwinefest.com
Taste of Kennesaw
Nov. 4, 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, as well as live music, local entertainment, the Georgia Grown Member Village, a beer garden and children’s activities, including a rock wall, inflatable slides and bounces. Admission is free, and food samples will range from $1 to $10. 770-423-1330, Laura@jrmmanagement.com, www.kennesawbusiness.org
Old Clarkesville Market Holiday Show
Nov. 18, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Habersham County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 4235 Toccoa Highway, Clarkesville.
Visit the market to find arts and crafts, home decor and food vendors. Enjoy live entertainment and have photos taken with Santa. Admission is free. https://oldclarkesvillemarketcraftshows.com
Gobble Jog
Nov. 23, Marietta Square.
The 21st annual event, benefiting MUST Ministries, begins at 7:30 a.m. More than 10,000 runners will participate in the 10K, 5K, 1K and Tot Trot races.
www.mustministries.org/gobble-jog
School Festivals
Avery Elementary
Oct. 20, 5-9 p.m., 6391 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton.
Featuring food, games, face painting, bounce houses and prizes.
Ball Ground Elementary STEM Academy
Nov. 3, 6-9 p.m., 321 Valley St., Ball Ground.
Featuring a rock wall, inflatables, games, face painting, cake walk and vendor booths. Kona Ice and other food vendors will be on-site.
Bascomb Elementary
Oct. 13, 6-8 p.m., 1335 Wyngate Parkway.
Featuring food trucks, obstacle courses, face painting, hula hoops,
DJ Papa, fun run, sno-balls and candy. Funds raised will be used to help replace the back playground.
Carmel Elementary
Oct. 14, noon-4 p.m., 2275 Bascomb Carmel Road.
Featuring inflatables, petting zoo, vendors, DJ, carnival games, book fair and raffle baskets.
Free Home Elementary
Nov. 3, 6-9 p.m., 12525 Cumming Highway.
Featuring games, rock wall, raffles, chili cookoff, mechanical bull, funnel cakes, prizes, vendors, cake walk, popcorn, food truck, inflatables and cotton candy.
Holly Springs Elementary STEM Academy
Oct. 21, 4-7 p.m., 1965 Hickory Road Canton.
Including games, vendors and food trucks.
R.M. Moore Elementary STEM Academy
Oct. 20, 5-7 p.m., 1375 Puckett Road Waleska.
Featuring inflatables, food, games, cake walk, face painting, crazy hair and vendor booths.
Ghost Tours
Acworth Ghost Tours.
Stroll down sidewalks in historic Acworth while listening to tour guides tell stories based on documented sightings, firsthand experiences, research and history. Tours are Friday and Saturday evenings (weather permitting) in October. www.jimmagus.com
Ghosts of Marietta.
Tour guides will excite you with tales of departed spirits and mysterious residents as you walk through Marietta’s historic streets, and, if you’re lucky, you will experience them as well. Visit www.toursofmarietta.com/ghost-tours to book a tour, Fridays through Sundays year-round.
Roswell Ghost Tour. Follow experienced paranormal investigators on a 2.5-hour walking tour, operating year-round. Learn about paranormal phenomena experienced by residents, businesses and tourgoers on a hunt for haunts. View the tour schedule at http://roswellghosttour.com.
Dahlonega Walking Tours.
Dive into the rich and fascinating history of Dahlonega with the Historic Ghost Tour, a 1.5-mile guided tour with approximately 15 stops. Or, for ages 21 and older, Grapes and Ghosts Wine Tour takes guests on a 0.6-mile guided tour. Sample local wines while listening to stories about the town’s history. Check the calendar for tour dates. www.dahlonegawalkingtours.com/facilities
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