Food Festivals, Halloween Fun and Live Music: North Atlanta’s Weekend Guide

Turkish cooking in Alpharetta, cumbia and K-pop in Brookhaven, and a downtown food festival in Chamblee give North Atlanta several ways to spend the weekend of October 17–18. Halloween celebrations are arriving early, too, with Boo Bash on Saturday and a rescheduled Spooky Mill on Sunday.

On stage, the choices range from Hairspray in Lawrenceville to Come From Away and guitarist Molly Tuttle in Woodstock. Families can also find free activities, an afternoon market and a $10 bouncing session without committing to a full day out.

Here are 14 events to consider, with times, admission details and the practical information to plan your visit. All times are Eastern.

Brookhaven: Two days of international music, food and art

The Brookhaven International Festival brings its fourth edition to a new location, Brookhaven Park, with cultural performances, international food, a global marketplace and activities for children.

Saturday’s headliner is Cumbiatron, whose performances center on Latin American cumbia music and dancing. Sunday brings DROP, a five-member K-pop group. Art installations and a children’s activity area round out the festival, giving families reasons to arrive before the headline performances.

The location change is worth checking before leaving home: this year’s festival is at 4158 Peachtree Road NE. Free shuttles will operate from Apple Valley Road behind the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe MARTA station parking lot. Bring a chair or blanket if you plan to settle in for the music.

When: Saturday and Sunday, October 17–18, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Admission: Free entry; food and marketplace purchases are extra. Details: Brookhaven International Festival.

Chamblee: Local food, young chefs and football on the big screens

A Taste of Chamblee returns for its 17th year Saturday, combining restaurant tastings and handmade goods with live entertainment, a children’s zone and beer gardens showing ACC and SEC football.

One of the more interesting stops is the youth culinary competition presented with the Navigate Foundation and C.H.E.F. Academy. Visitors can watch young cooks compete, sample their work and vote for a favorite team. The program introduces young adults to careers in hospitality.

The festival’s food purchases are cashless, with credit cards, debit cards and tap-to-pay accepted. Admission is free, but plan a separate food budget.

The city is also offering a $5 discount per Uber ride in each direction to the Chamblee Rideshare Park at 5374 Peachtree Road; the redemption link is included in the city’s event announcement.

When: Saturday, October 17, 3–8 p.m. Where: Downtown Chamblee, centered at 3518 Broad Street. Details: A Taste of Chamblee and the city’s payment and transportation information.

Alpharetta: Turkish food festival returns after a weather postponement

The Atlanta Turkish Food Festival moves into this weekend after severe weather forced organizers to postpone its October 10–11 dates.

The two-day gathering at the Istanbul Cultural Center of Georgia features more than 20 dishes, Turkish music, folk dancing, cultural exhibits and a children’s zone. The menu includes Adana kebab, rotating lamb cag kebab, doner, lamb shish and gozleme, the filled flatbread cooked on a griddle.

For a sense of the food budget, the advertised menu lists several kebab options at $15, gozleme at $10 and Turkish coffee at $4. Admission, parking and the shuttle are free.

Use the designated parking lot at 192 Mayfield Road, with shuttle service to the festival grounds.

When: Saturday and Sunday, October 17–18, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Where: Istanbul Cultural Center of Georgia, 591 N. Main Street. Details: Festival menu, schedule and parking.

Alpharetta: Boo Bash and the scarecrow awards

Boo Bash brings children’s activities, crafts, games and music to The Grove behind the Alpharetta Community Center on Saturday afternoon.

The event also provides a finale for the annual scarecrow competition. Award announcements begin at 6:30 p.m., so families interested in the results should plan to stay toward the end of the afternoon.

Free children’s activities make this a useful option for families looking for seasonal entertainment without buying tickets for a larger attraction.

When: Saturday, October 17, 3–7 p.m. Where: The Grove behind the Alpharetta Community Center, 175 Roswell Street. Details: Boo Bash.

Johns Creek: Spooky Mill moves to Sunday

Autrey Mill’s Halloween fundraiser has been rescheduled to Sunday, October 18, with updated overall hours of 2–8 p.m.

The afternoon is the better fit for younger children. From 2–5 p.m., activities include carnival games, seasonal crafts, storytelling and an inflatable slide. The evening program shifts toward haunted attractions, including a haunted classroom and a hike through the woods after dark. Visitors can also meet a paranormal investigation team at the historic Summerour House.

Unlimited activity wristbands are $25 for Autrey Mill members and $30 for nonmembers. Individual activity tickets will also be sold for $1 each, and concessions are available separately. Children younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

When: Sunday, October 18, 2–8 p.m. Where: Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, 9770 Autrey Mill Road. Details: Updated event information and wristbands.

Johns Creek: An evening with the artists of “Beyond Borders”

The Art Center at Johns Creek closes Beyond Borders II: Global Voices with a free Saturday evening reception.

The exhibition brings together artwork reflecting experiences around the world. Several participating artists will attend the closing reception, offering visitors a chance to ask about the work and the experiences behind it. Light refreshments are included.

For those looking for a smaller indoor outing, the reception offers a 90-minute window to see the exhibition before it closes.

When: Saturday, October 17, 6–7:30 p.m. Where: The Art Center, 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road, Building 700. Admission: Free. Details: Beyond Borders II closing reception.

Suwanee: A costumed 5K with two ways to participate

The Spooky Spirits 5K begins at Suwanee Town Center Park late Saturday morning, with options for runners focused on their finishing time and participants who want to stop along the course.

One registration includes a cocktail at the finish. The other adds five cocktail-sampling stations along the route. Anyone participating in alcohol sampling must be 21 or older and show valid identification. A costume contest follows the race.

Race-day registration prices are scheduled to be $65 for the finish-line-only option and $75 for the sampling option, plus processing fees, subject to availability. Saturday packet pickup runs from 9–10:45 a.m., ahead of the 11 a.m. start.

When: Saturday, October 17, 11 a.m. Where: Suwanee Town Center Park. Details: Spooky Spirits 5K and registration options.

Lawrenceville: “Hairspray” offers Saturday and Sunday matinees

Pretty as a Penny Productions continues its debut production of Hairspray at the Lawrenceville Arts Center, with three performances across Saturday and Sunday.

Set in 1962 Baltimore, the musical follows Tracy Turnblad as a place on a television dance show gives her an opportunity to challenge segregation. Charlotte Banks, who founded the company, also appears as Penny Pingleton.

The weekend schedule includes Saturday performances at 2 and 8 p.m. and a Sunday performance at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $40.

For drivers, the arts center lists the Purple Deck at 147 E. Crogan Street as its parking and GPS destination.

Where: Lawrenceville Arts Center, 125 N. Clayton Street, on the Clyde & Sandra Strickland Grand Stage. Details: Production information and performance tickets.

Woodstock: Molly Tuttle plays an outdoor Saturday concert

Grammy-winning guitarist, singer and songwriter Molly Tuttle performs Saturday as part of Woodstock Arts’ Lantern Series.

Her music draws on bluegrass and Americana, with work extending into country, rock and pop. The outdoor setting offers several seating choices: general-admission lawn tickets are listed at $30, reserved chairs at $36 and individual community-table seats at $42. Other table options require buying the full table.

Lawn ticket holders should bring their own chairs. Outside alcoholic drinks are prohibited; wine and beer will be available for purchase. The concert is scheduled to proceed rain or shine, and tents are not permitted.

When: Saturday, October 17, 7:30 p.m. Where: Woodstock Arts Event Green, 113 Elm Street. Details: Molly Tuttle tickets and seating.

Woodstock: “Come From Away” tells the story of a town that welcomed strangers

Woodstock Arts’ production of Come From Away follows the residents of Gander, Newfoundland, and the thousands of airline passengers stranded there after the September 11 attacks.

The musical moves through the practical and emotional work of welcoming people who suddenly need food, shelter and reassurance, with an ensemble portraying the travelers and their hosts.

This weekend’s performances are Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The production runs approximately one hour and 40 minutes without an intermission and carries a recommended age of 10 and older.

Online tickets are listed at $21–$22, compared with $24–$25 at the door. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance.

Where: Woodstock Arts Theatre, 8534 Main Street. Details: Come From Away tickets.

Roswell: Balalaikas, seven-string guitar and a 45th anniversary concert

The Atlanta Balalaika Society Orchestra celebrates its 45th anniversary Sunday with Strings on Fire at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.

Directed by David Cooper, the program features the distinctive sound of balalaikas and domras, alongside guest guitarist and vocalist Vadim Kolpakov, vocalist and dancer Alina Nazarevich, and domra soloist Angelina Galashenkova-Reed. The repertoire draws on Eastern European folk traditions and Romany music.

Tickets are $33.50 for general admission, $28.50 for students and $17 for children younger than 12.

Parking is available beside the arts center and across the footbridge in City Hall’s Lower Lot F. Patrons who need assistance reaching their seats are asked to arrive at least 30 minutes early.

When: Sunday, October 18, 4 p.m. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street. Details: Strings on Fire.

Cumming: A free evening of music by The Cars

Carpool, an Atlanta-area tribute band, brings the music of The Cars to the Lou Sobh Amphitheater on Saturday night.

The concert is scheduled for 8–10 p.m., although organizers say the start could shift by roughly 30 minutes because it follows the Georgia–Auburn game watch party.

Admission and parking are free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, but leave coolers, outside food, outside alcoholic drinks, cans and glass bottles at home. Friendly leashed dogs are welcome, and tents are prohibited.

When: Saturday, October 17, approximately 8 p.m. Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center. Details: Carpool concert information.

Cumming: Sunday bouncing for children

Cumming City Center’s Slide into Sundays offers a daytime option for families with children who would rather move than sit through a performance.

Presented with Jump N Jacks Moonwalks, the event advertises bounce houses, slides, games and activities. Unlimited bouncing costs $10, and participants need a signed waiver and wristband.

The session is weather-dependent. Outside food and beverages are not allowed.

When: Sunday, October 18, noon–5 p.m. Where: Cumming City Center. Details: Slide into Sundays.

Duluth: A Sunday afternoon market on the Town Green

The Duluth Farmers & Artisan Market returns Sunday afternoon, with local produce, baked goods and handmade items.

The vendor mix includes foods such as honey, jams, pickles and salsa, along with flowers, pottery, candles and soaps. Its afternoon hours make it an option for people who cannot get to a Saturday morning market, or who want to combine shopping with a downtown meal.

Admission is free; purchases are paid directly to vendors.

When: Sunday, October 18, 2–5 p.m. Where: Duluth Town Green, 3142 Hill Street NW. Details: Duluth Farmers & Artisan Market.

Check the linked event pages before leaving for weather updates and remaining ticket availability. Free festival admission does not include food, drinks or merchandise unless specified.