Fall Festivals in Atlanta to Check Out This Year
Updated September 3rd, 2023
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Maybe it is the teacher in me, but I am one of those people who like to hold on to summer as long as possible. I can’t believe it is almost fall. In Atlanta, Georgia schools are already back in session! That means fall is right around the corner. The changing of the seasons brings a packed schedule of fall festivals in Atlanta.
The following are the Atlanta fall festivals I have attended. There is a complete list of all the fall festivals in Atlanta with this year’s dates at the bottom of the post.
If you are looking for more on Atlanta festivals check out my guides to:
Fall Festivals in Atlanta
Georgia State Fair: September 29th – October 8th, 2023
The Georgia State Fair takes place twice a year at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The fair grounds are basically a big U shape that leads into a loop at the end with the rides and games. The ground is tricky to walk on in the first part as there are huge rocks. I noticed it was quite difficult for anyone with a stroller, walker, or wheelchair.
There were a limited number of vendor booths near the main entrance. Then there were a few shows that were included in the price of admission. The circus show with acrobatic stunts and an amusing clown was my favorite. That show in the circus tent had more seating than the other shows too.
Scattered in between there are some food vendors. I didn’t think there were a ton of different food options, but there were all the classic fair foods like pizza, corn dogs, and funnel cakes. Other than a small petting zoo with the circus there were not any farm animals or exhibition halls.
I’m from the Midwest and I have learned the Midwest has the best fairs in the country. Both the Minnesota and Wisconsin state fairs are gigantic. The GA state fair didn’t come anywhere close. It was smaller than most of the county fairs I go to in the Midwest. I couldn’t believe it was a state fair. I have since learned there is a Georgia National Fair in Perry that is bigger.
You may be wondering why I am including it in my post of fall festivals in Atlanta to attend. I still think it is worth a visit for a fun fall activity, but it is good to know what to expect. If you haven’t been to a fair up north or are just looking for a couple of fun hours of carnival fun, then give it a go! As mentioned the shows are pretty good too, just don’t expect a lot of seating. In 2021 a couple of shows didn’t show up. My experience may have been affected by Covid!
Be aware that there aren’t any indoor bathrooms and the port-a-potties were very low on toilet paper and hand sanitizer. There didn’t seem to be anyone around checking on the toilet areas or taking out trash.
Candler Park Fall Fest: September 30th – October 1st, 2023
The neighborhood community festivals are my favorite fall festivals in Atlanta. The Candler Park Fall Festival takes place in the park and neighborhood of the same name.
The festival is full of artist booths and food vendors. There are a variety of food vendors that you will see at many Atlanta festivals. I tried the etoufee from the Pickle Food Truck and was impressed with the spice level and flavor. I also had a cinnamon apple chimney cake with ice cream from Sweet Chimney Bakery for dessert. It was probably hundreds of calories, but it was the perfect fall treat.
I will make myself sound old by saying the music was the head banging type of stuff, aka not my style. The grass in front of the stage was full of people so clearly most people didn’t agree with me! With the Kidlandia area the festival is very family friendly. This space has inflatables, kids activities, kids games, and kid-centric vendors.
A lot of the best neighborhoods in Atlanta have tour of homes as part of their spring festivals. Candler Park is the only fall festival in Atlanta that I know of that includes a tour of homes!
When I attended everything was spread out in the park so even though there were a lot of people the crowds were not bumper to bumper. Port-a-potties are located in a few spots around the park and have portable sinks.
Scarecrows in the Garden: October 6th – 31st, 2023
Atlanta Botanical Garden is great to visit year-round. In October several fall festivals in Atlanta take place at the gardens. Check out the Scarecrows in the Garden festival any day in October (closed Mondays). The garden is full of unique scarecrows. Anyone from individuals, to businesses, to art professionals can pay and submit a scarecrow to register by mid-September. The scarecrows are really interesting and cover a wide range of different themes and styles.
You can enjoy the scarecrows as well as craft beers and live music at the Fest-of-Ale on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Goblins in the Gardens on October 22nd is a kid’s halloween party full of costumes and activities. Scarecrow winners are announced during The Great Pumpkin Carving Festival on October 26th.
There is no extra admission other than the regularly priced admission tickets for all the festivals except the pumpkin carving festival in the evening. While the garden is open after dark, you may want to go in the daylight. Only about ⅓ of the gardens were lit up so it was quite dark when dusk started to fall. The scarecrows as well as the rest of the garden are much easier to see during the daytime.
Bathrooms are available at the visitor center and throughout the gardens. Note that there is no wifi at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Chomp & Stomp: November 4th, 2023
One of the best fall festivals in Atlanta takes place every November in Cabbagetown. This quaint, low-key neighborhood comes alive for Chomp & Stomp. The day begins with a Romp, a 5k run around the neighborhood. Throughout the rest of the afternoon you can check out the artisan booths and listen and stomp along to bluegrass music at several spots around the neighborhood.
The real attraction is the chili, aka the chomping. One ticket or spoon gives you unlimited samples of chili from professionals and amateurs. Buy your ticket early! I repeat, buy your ticket early! Tickets are sold in the form of spoons. You can buy your spoon ahead of the festival for a discounted rate at Little’s Food Store or Sweet Cheats. The discounted price is great, but the main reason you want to do this is spoons sell out fast. So don’t wait for the day before the festival to buy your spoon either.
I was so sad to miss out on the pre-sale spoons, but even more so when they were sold out on the day of Chomp and Stomp. Whether you have a spoon already purchased or not, arrive immediately. Despite the hours going from 12:30pm – last call at 5:30pm for chili, the chili was gone by about 1:30pm and spoons were sold out long before that. There are some good food trucks for anyone who misses out or gets hungry later in the day.
Bring a muffin tin to use for all your chili samples. Yes, some people actually do this! Some even tie a string around it and hang it from their neck.
Cabbagetown is one of my favorite Atlanta neighborhoods for a walk and it was crazy to see it so busy for the festival. The festival is family friendly, but it had a more adult vibe with groups of young adults and couples. There are port-a-potties in a few different spots.
Other Fall Festivals in Atlanta
There are so many fall festivals in Atlanta. You would need to be a full-time festival goer to attend them all.
For more information on the following Atlanta fall festivals, go to my full Atlanta Festivals post.
- DragonCon: 8/31/23 – 9/4/23
- Imagine Festival: 9/14/23 – 9/17/23
- Music Midtown: 9/15/23 – 9/17/23
- Atlanta Food & Wine Festival: 9/20/23 – 9/24/23
- Elevate ATL Art: 9/22/23 – 10/15/23
- Atlanta International Fashion Week: 9/26/23 – 10/1/23
- A3C Conference: 9/28/23 – 10/1/23
- Sweet Auburn Music Fest: 9/30/23 – 10/1/23
- Fall Festival on Ponce: 10/7/23 – 10/8/23
- Atlanta Design Festival: 10/14/23 – 10/22/23
- Old Fourth Ward Art Festival: 10/14/23 – 10/15/23
- Atlanta Pride: 10/14/23 – 10/15/23
- Taste of Atlanta: 10/19/23
- Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tours: 10/19/23 – 10/31/23
- Little Five Points Halloween Festival & Parade: 10/21/23 – 10/22/23
- Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival: 11/4/23 – 11/5/23
- Viva Tequila Festival: 2024
- Decatur Book Festival: 2024
- Oktoberfest Atlanta: 2024
I can’t wait to attend more of these Atlanta fall festivals! Let me know which ones you are most excited about.
ACTIVITIES:
ART:
DAY TRIPS:
FESTIVALS:
FOOD:
- BBQ
- BeltLine Restaurants
- Breakfast Restaurants
- Brunch Places
- Burger Places
- Casual Restaurants
- Chicken & Waffles
- Donuts
- Food Halls and Mixed-Use Developments
- Healthy Restaurants
- Mystery Picnics
OUTDOORS:
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2 Comments
Carolin
I love how the US always goes full on in in celebrating fall and Halloween with fun fairs and festivals. Over here in Europe, you get theoccassional kid ringing your door but they often leave empty handed. We also don’t do festivals as such but maybe a lantern parade for kids which I also remember from my childhood. Made the darker season way more exciting and magical.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
The Fearless Foreigner
People in the US are obsessed with fall! Halloween is a really fun time. I love October and November in Atlanta as the weather is perfect so you can actually enjoy all the fall festivities too.