There’s something magical about Marietta Square in the fall. Add brilliant works of art unfolding right beneath your feet, live music drifting from Glover Park and the energy of thousands of people gathering downtown, and you have one of the community’s most colorful traditions - Chalktoberfest.
Returning October 10 and 11, the internationally recognized Chalktoberfest transforms Marietta Square into an open-air gallery. Award-winning, professional chalk artists from across the country and around the world spend the weekend creating intricate works of art - one colorful layer at a time.
Part of the experience is simply watching it all come to life. Visitors can stroll the Square, meet the artists, browse local arts and crafts vendors, enjoy food throughout downtown and listen to local bands performing in Glover Park. The festival is free and open to the public, making it an easy fall outing for families, friends and visitors of all ages.
"When most people think of a chalk festival, they think of sidewalk chalk. Chalktoberfest is so much more - it is a case of seeing is believing! When you stroll Chalktoberfest, you will see incredible masterpieces created right before your eyes. Talented artists from around the world transform pavement into stunning 2D and 3D works of art. Some pieces are so immersive that you can actually become part of the artwork - whether you are “riding” a llama or sitting atop a Georgia Bulldog!", said Executive Director Sally Macaulay.
Chalktoberfest also feels right at home in a community where the arts have become part of the fabric of everyday life. From galleries and museums to public art, live performances, Art Walks and festivals, Marietta offers plenty of ways to experience creativity beyond traditional gallery walls. Chalktoberfest takes that idea one step further, quite literally putting art in the streets and inviting everyone to experience it up close.
For children, that exposure can be especially meaningful. Research from the National Endowment for the Arts connects participation in the arts with social-emotional development, learning and academic success. At Chalktoberfest, those benefits come to life as children watch an ordinary stretch of pavement transform into something extraordinary—sparking curiosity, conversation and perhaps inspiring a young artist to pick up a piece of chalk, paintbrush or pencil of their own.
On Sunday, they can do exactly that. The Community Chalk Competition gives local artists the opportunity to move from spectator to creator. Open to individuals and teams, the competition welcomes different ages and skill levels to claim their own space and create an original chalk masterpiece. Teams create from 10:30am to 12:30pm, while individual artists have until 2:00pm. Registration is required, and winners receive prizes. It’s a chance for families, friends and aspiring artists to become part of the Chalktoberfest tradition themselves. To register, visit festival website.
Saturday brings a different kind of creativity to the Square with the annual Craft Beer Festival from Noon to 5:00pm Guests can sample more than 120 local craft beers, ciders and seltzers, along with more than 20 varieties of wine. Each participant receives a collectible 2026 Chalktoberfest souvenir cup. The ticketed event sells out each year, so advance tickets are encouraged.
Behind the weekend is the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, Metro Atlanta’s only museum dedicated solely to American fine art. Chalktoberfest supports the Museum’s mission of “building community through art,” and admission to the Museum is free throughout the weekend. Once you experience Chalktoberfest and see the creativity and talent firsthand, you will understand why people come back year after year.
Whether you come to admire the artistry, create something of your own, discover a local vendor or simply spend a beautiful fall afternoon on the Square, Chalktoberfest is a colorful reminder that art has a wonderful way of bringing people together. "It's an experience you won’t want to miss - and once you’ve been - you’ll come back every year to see what the artists create next!,” shared Macaulay.
Chalktoberfest.com