North Atlanta Weekend Guide: Duluth Fall Festival, Art, Oktoberfest and Live Music

Fall is officially taking over North Atlanta this weekend, with one of Duluth’s biggest annual celebrations, a new arts gathering in Johns Creek, Oktoberfest in Cumming, barbecue and bluegrass in Roswell and a busy Friday night in downtown Alpharetta.

Here are some of the strongest options for Sept. 25-27.

Duluth Fall Festival Takes Over Downtown

The Duluth Fall Festival is the weekend’s biggest local event, filling downtown Duluth on Saturday and Sunday with more than 180 arts and crafts vendors, food, live entertainment, children’s activities and a petting zoo. The festival runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, with free admission.

Saturday’s parade begins at 10 a.m., with local schools, bands, community groups, fire trucks, antique cars and other participants moving through downtown. Streets along the route begin closing at 9:45 a.m.

Parking near the festival is limited, and organizers recommend using the free park-and-ride shuttles. Saturday shuttle service pauses during the parade from 9:45 to 11 a.m., so parade-goers should arrive early.

Sunday includes the Duluth Donut Dash 5K and another full day of vendors and entertainment.

Johns Creek Turns the Boardwalk Into an Arts Festival

Johns Creek is bringing artists, authors and performers to the new Boardwalk at Town Center on Saturday.

Arts on the Boardwalk runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at 11362 Lakefield Drive. The afternoon includes a juried art exhibit, local artisans, high school artists, local authors, live music, dance and theater. The Art Center at Johns Creek will also offer free crafts and face painting for children.

Performers scheduled for the main stage include the Johns Creek Chorale, Gwen & The Retro Jazz Kats and Sri Dutt Raga Dance Academy.

Exclusive Sponsor

Test Preparation Built Around the Student Explore personalized SAT, ACT and PSAT tutoring based on each student’s goals, schedule and areas for improvement. Explore Private Tutoring

Cumming Packs Oktoberfest and an ’80s Concert Into One Saturday

Cumming City Center has enough happening Saturday to make an entire day of it.

The Cumming Farmers Market starts the morning from 8 to 11 a.m., followed by an Oktoberfest celebration from noon to 5 p.m. with German beer, games and music.

Then at 8 p.m., Radio 80s takes over the Lou Sobh Amphitheater with music from Bon Jovi, Journey, Prince, Queen, Toto and other 1980s favorites. The concert is free, as is parking, and visitors can bring lawn chairs or blankets.

For families looking for something on Sunday, Cumming City Center also hosts Slide Into Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.

Roswell Goes for BBQ, Bluegrass and Bourbon

Roswell’s Saturday lineup includes the Bourbon, BBQ and Bluegrass Festival at You42 Studios, 11000 Alpharetta Highway.

The festival combines live bluegrass, southern rock and country music with barbecue and food vendors, local makers, a kids area and bourbon tastings for adults. General admission is free and the event is open to all ages.

Also in Roswell, the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Fall Native Plant Sale continues Saturday, giving gardeners a chance to shop Georgia native plants while getting advice from horticulture staff and volunteers. Admission to the sale is free.

Start the Weekend Friday Night in Alpharetta

Downtown Alpharetta gets an early start Friday evening with both the Alpharetta Moonlight Market and the final September edition of the On the Green Concert Series.

The Moonlight Market brings artists, makers and food vendors to the Town Green and surrounding downtown streets, while Ivy Road is scheduled to perform on the Town Green beginning at 6 p.m.

For Saturday morning, the Alpharetta Farmers Market returns from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. downtown.

One More Easy Saturday Morning Option

The Suwanee Farmers Market is open Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, giving residents on the Gwinnett side of North Atlanta another low-key way to start the weekend before heading to one of the larger afternoon festivals.

With Duluth hosting a full two-day festival and Johns Creek, Roswell, Cumming and Alpharetta all adding their own events, this is one of those weekends when staying close to home still leaves plenty to choose from.