As Cobb gets back to normal, several festivals planned for this year
Apr. 19—Over the weekend, downtown Kennesaw had something that would have been unthinkable a year ago — thousands of people packed the streets to attend the annual Big Shanty Festival. Streets were blocked off as more than 175 vendors hawked food, art, gifts, entertainment and more. People young and old, some of them masked, perused the booths, chowed down and enjoyed live singing and dancing.
On the last day of March, Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order eliminating the ban on large gatherings, effective April 8. Approximately 19.1% of Georgians are fully vaccinated, and 32.4% have received at least one dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Holly Quinlan, president and CEO of Cobb Travel and Tourism, said the warmer months should give residents the opportunity to "get out and enjoy the many unique and charming traits within each city and throughout the county," as well as hasten the economic recovery for restaraunts, attractions and hotels.
"After such a challenging year, we are excited to see festivals and events returning to our community," she said. "Tourism is a significant economic driver for Cobb County, and the return of events is a positive sign as the hospitality industry looks toward recovery."
With the state returning to some sense of normalcy, below is a list of other Cobb festivals planned for this year.
Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival
WHAT: The North Cobb Rotary Club, city of Acworth and the Georgia Barbecue Association partner annually to host the Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival. Teams from across the Southeast compete in professional and amateur divisions for various cash prizes. Participants can purchase tasting tickets and serve as judges for best wings and taste different vendors' offerings. The night of Friday, May 7 will feature an outdoor concert from the Georgia Players Guild featuring music from Three Dog Night and Hall and Oates. Table reservations will be available and will include six chairs. All proceeds are distributed amongst local charities.
WHEN: May 7-8
WHERE: Logan Farm Park in Acworth
COST: $250 entry fee for a basic cook team space (10 feet by 20 feet), $200 extra fee for larger cook team space (20 feet by 40 feet). $100 dinner table reservation for Friday night (seats six).
MORE INFO: http://www.smokeonthelake.org/
Bringing the Sea to the Springs Festival
WHAT: The city of Powder Springs will host its inaugural Bringing the Sea to the Springs festival in May. The free festival will feature fresh seafood along with live music and arts & crafts for sale. The festival will be centered around Thurman Springs Park. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will feature Mayor Al Thurman — for whom the park was named — along with the Powder Springs City Council and other officials on May 14 at 5 p.m. It will be followed by a butterfly release to open the festival. The headlining performer on May 14 is Otis Redding III, son of legendary singer Otis Redding.
The May 15 featured performer will be drummer Sonny Emory, formerly of Earth, Wind & Fire. Playing May 14-15 prior to the headliners will be The Gold Standard Band. Additional acts are listed on the event website.
WHEN: May 14, 3-9 p.m.; May 15, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and May 16, noon to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Thurman Springs Park, 4485 Pineview Drive in downtown Powder Springs.
MORE INFO: http://bringingtheseatothesprings.com/
Marietta 4th of July Celebration
WHAT: The city of Marietta plans to host its 4th in the Park Celebration this summer, featuring a parade, free live concerts, museum tours, an arts and crafts show, carnival games and a fireworks finale. In the past, the parade has included 110 entries, 2,000 participants and an estimated 30,000 spectators. The parade will start at Roswell Street Baptist Church and travel west on Roswell, north on East Park Square past Glover Park, down Cherokee Street and will end at North Marietta Parkway. The end of the parade marks the start of the festival.
Entries include marching units from the city of Marietta, civic organizations, beauty queens, scouts and local businesses. The deadline to apply is May 28 at 5 p.m.
WHEN: July 3, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with fireworks at dark
WHERE: Downtown Marietta
COST: Free, though concert tables can be reserved for $80 or $100 for 6-top and 8-top tables, respectively.
MORE INFO: http://www.mariettaga.gov/194/Fourth-of-July-Celebration
Chalktoberfest
WHAT: Chalktoberfest, presented by the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, is an annual weekend event of chalk art displays, craft beer and live music that brings nearly 100,000 people to Marietta Square. According to Sally Macaulay, executive director of the museum, they will be using only U.S. artists this year to ease back into the festival during the pandemic. Over the years, the museum has welcomed between 100 and 120 artists to Chalktoberfest, including international artists from Mexico, Italy, Ukraine, Argentina and elsewhere.
WHEN: Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Marietta Square
COST: Free to attend. All proceeds go to the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art.
MORE INFO: https://www.chalktoberfest.com/
Taste of Marietta
WHAT: Taste of Marietta, one of the largest celebrations held on Marietta Square, usually kicks off the city's festival season on the last Sunday in April but was pushed back to October due to COVID-19. The Marietta Visitors Bureau hosts the festival in conjunction with the city of Marietta. Taste of Marietta showcases local restaurants and sponsors and is also a fundraiser for the Marietta Visitors Bureau & Welcome Center. This year's festival will include an emphasis on supporting local restaurants.
WHEN: Oct. 24
WHERE: Marietta Square
COST: Free to attend, vendors charge for "tastes" of food in the $1-5 range.
MORE INFO: https://tasteofmarietta.com/
Fall Jonquil Festival
WHAT: According to JRM Management Services, Smyrna has canceled its Spring Jonquil Festival, which would have taken place in late April when the city's official symbol, a species of daffodil, comes into bloom. The Fall Jonquil Festival, however is still on. It will occur at the Village Green in downtown Smyrna. The festival typically plays host to 150+ arts and crafts booths, along with food vendors and children's activities. There will be a local entertainment stage, too. Crowds are in the range of about 20,000.
WHEN: Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 24, noon to 5 p.m.
COST: Admission is free
MORE INFO: http://jrmmanagement.com/arts---crafts.html.
