Things to do in Cobb: Halloween edition
Family festivities, including many free activities, abound in Cobb in October. You can go on a free hayride in Acworth, participate in a "Trunk or Treat" event in Kennesaw, walk among tombstones in Marietta and check out handmade artwork in Smyrna.
Acworth
Acworth Halloween JamBOOree | 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 24
Logan Farm Park, 4762 Logan Road, Acworth
For a minimal charge, children can participate in carnival-like games and win candy and prizes. Costume contests, spread among age groups, will be going on throughout the event. Parking is limited at Logan Farm Park, but additional parking may be found at Roberts School, Rosenwald School and the corner of Cherokee Street and Northside Drive.
Hayride is free. Michelle Berryman at mberryman@acworth.org or 770-917-1234. More details here
Kennesaw
Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat | 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 10
Living Hope Church, 3450 Stilesboro Road, Kennesaw
Families are encouraged to dress up in costumes, trick-or-treat through a maze of decorated vehicles, play games and win prizes, feast on popcorn and apple cider, and get glitter tattoos. Attendees also can shop and bid on items at the silent auction, which will benefit the church's school.
Admission is free. Email joy@livinghopega.com, 770-425-6726 or visit livinghopega.com
Fall-O-Ween Fest & Outdoor Movie: How to Train Your Dragon 2 | 5 p.m. Oct. 10
Swift-Cantrell Park, 3140 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw
Activities will include inflatables, amusements, carnival games, children's crafts and a Trick-or-Treat Trail. Organizers will award prizes at the Monster Mash Dance Party from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The animated feature "How to Train Your Dragon 2" (rated PG) will be projected onto a giant inflatable screen after sundown. Bring a blanket or low-back chairs, but not anything that can obstruct the view of others. Concessions will be available for purchase. Weather conditions may cancel event.
Admission is free. More details here
Freaky Friday Family Event | 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23
Compass Center, NorthStar Church, 3413 Blue Springs Road, Kennesaw
The church invites the community to enjoy a family-friendly event for parents and children of all ages. The event includes a family worship service, interactive stations and terrific prizes. Food will be available for purchase.
Admission is free. 770-420-9808 or email kristy.webb@northstarchurch.org
Garden Gallop 5K | 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. registration, 7:30 to 10 a.m. Oct. 31
Smith-Gilbert Gardens, 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw
This event benefits the educational programming and live plant collections of the city's Smith-Gilbert Gardens. The 1-mile Fun Run starts at 7:30 a.m., the 5K at 8 a.m. and the Tot Trot at 8:55 a.m. No dogs are allowed.
Admission is $25 to $35. gardengallop.com/registration-details
Marietta
An Evening with History: From the Dark Side -- "Our Victorian Forebears: Were They Weird?" | 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 8
Marietta Museum of History, 1 Depot St.
Author Kate Sweeney will be the speaker at this event. While pursuing her master of fine arts degree at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Sweeney spent time with obit writers, funeral directors and ordinary Americans who found themselves involved with death and memorialization. The result is her book "American Afterlife."
Admission is $5. More details here
Marietta Cobb Museum of Art's fifth annual Chalktoberfest | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11
Marietta Square, 100 Cherokee St.
Chalktoberfest, a renowned chalk art festival on the Marietta Square, attracts 50 professional chalk artists from across the nation. The artwork of John Petrey, Issac Payne and the Portrait Society of Atlanta will be on display. Other attractions include a Saturday Craft Beer Fest from noon to 4 p.m., live music both days with a Saturday concert from 7 to 9 p.m. by The Journey Tribute Band and Kids Crafts all day Sunday. The Saturday Chalk Art Competition is open to three nonprofessional divisions: youth, teen and adult. Division winners will receive cash prizes.
Admission is free. www.Chalktoberfest.com
Marietta's 39th annual HarvestFest | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 17
Marietta Square, 100 Cherokee St.
Formerly known as the Harvest Square Arts and Crafts Festival, this event has activities for all ages. Sponsored by Marietta's Parks and Recreation Department, this festival includes Touch-a-Truck from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Halloween Happenings from 1 to 5 p.m. Halloween Happenings is for children ages 12 and younger, and it features carnival games and a costume contest for children and pets at 2 p.m. Winners of the scarecrow competition will be announced at 1:45 p.m. Also on tap are exhibits such as painting, pottery, woodworking, jewelry and other crafts.
Admission is free. More details here
Touchstones to the Past: City Cemetery Tours | 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m. Oct. 17
Brick pavilion between the Confederate and City Cemeteries, Marietta City Cemetery, 395 Powder Springs St.
This month's theme is "And This Is How I Died." Armed with newly unearthed research, museum registrar Christa McCay will discuss the origins of the cemetery and delve into stories of Marietta's residents. Note that tours are conducted on gravel and uneven pathways.
Admission is $15. Order tickets here. More details here
Smyrna
Fall Jonquil Festival | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 24, noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 25
Village Green, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna
The festival boasts a food court, children's area, book sale by Friends of the Smyrna Library, and handmade arts and crafts vendors from across the Southeast. Entertainers will be Scott Thompson and Peter Hart and his Atlanta Puppet Show.
Admission is free. More details here
For fun things to do around Atlanta this fall, check out this list.
