Chalktoberfest 2026, set for Oct. 10-11 on Marietta Square, was canceled because of the weather forecast. The museum says it returns in 2027. Who to call about tickets.

Updated Oct. 12: Chalktoberfest 2026 was canceled. The details below are kept for the record and for planning next year’s visit.

Chalktoberfest 2026 did not take place. The Marietta Cobb Museum of Art canceled the festival, set for Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, on the historic Marietta Square, because of the forecast. The city’s Chalktoberfest announcement was updated Oct. 7 to say the organizer had canceled the event for safety, citing forecasted severe weather.

“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the cancellation of Chalktoberfest 2026 due to inclement weather,” the museum said on the festival’s home page. It said it looks forward to welcoming visitors back for Chalktoberfest 2027. It has not announced a new 2026 date.

Bought Craft Beer Festival tickets? The ticket page still carries its standing line that no refunds are issued for weather at a festival held rain or shine. As of Oct. 12 it had not posted terms for a canceled event. Call the museum at 770-528-1444 to ask.

The rest of this page describes the festival as it was planned for 2026.

The festival lists about 80 chalk artists, 40 breweries, more than 120 beers and more than 20 wines on its home page. It is held on the second weekend in October each year, according to its participation page.

Who to call

When and where
Dates Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026
Hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Craft Beer Festival Saturday only, noon to 5 p.m. (ticketed)
Community Chalk Competition Sunday morning (registration required)
Place Historic Marietta Square; live music in Glover Park
Cost Free; beer festival tickets $55 at the gate

What is on

From the festival’s home page and the city’s announcement:

  • Chalk art all weekend. Professional chalk artists from across the U.S. and abroad chalk the streets of the Square on both days.
  • Free live music in Glover Park. The festival’s 2026 lineup opens Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with the national anthem and runs to 5 p.m. both days, with The Frontrunners, Brother Whitlock, Michael Price and Killbillies on Saturday, and Harrison Meyer and Courtney Cumberland, Rob Tharpe, The Sarah Nova Band and Villarreal on Sunday.
  • An art and craft market and food trucks all weekend, listed on the vendors page.
  • Free museum admission. The Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, just off the Square at 30 Atlanta St. SE, is free all weekend during the festival, the city’s announcement says.

Craft Beer Festival tickets

The Craft Beer Festival is Saturday, Oct. 10, from noon to 5 p.m. only, according to the ticket page. A ticket includes unlimited samples of more than 100 craft beers, seltzers and ciders and more than 20 wines, plus a souvenir tasting cup.

  • Price: $55 at the gate on the day. Online tickets bought ahead are sold at an early-bird rate, and the museum says prices go up on the day.
  • It sells out. The festival says the beer event sells out every year.
  • No refunds. It is held rain or shine, and no refunds are issued for weather.
  • Hard stop at 5 p.m. Beer service ends at 5 p.m. whatever time you arrive.

All proceeds support the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art.

Community Chalk Competition

Anyone can enter the Community Chalk Competition on Sunday, Oct. 11. The museum’s chalk challenge page lists check-in from 10 to 10:30 a.m., then:

  • School teams: chalking 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., awards at 1:30 p.m. Divisions run from elementary school to college, with up to 10 members a team.
  • Individuals: chalking 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., awards at 3 p.m. Divisions are youth (7 to 12), teen (13 to 17) and adult (18 and older).

This year’s optional theme is “America the Beautiful,” for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Registration links are on the museum’s page.

Parking and getting there

Chalk artists work on the streets around the Square. The city’s downtown parking page lists these weekend options:

  • City Hall Parking Deck, 205 Lawrence St.: free public parking all day on weekends.
  • City lots at 268 Lawrence St. and 95 Cole St.: free all day on weekends.
  • City lots at 41 Mill St. and 36 Atlanta St.: free, with a two-hour limit from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Cobb County Parking Decks, 184 Hansell St. and 120 Cherokee St.: paid public parking all weekend.

On-street parking downtown is free with a two-hour limit. Neither the museum nor the city has published a street closure list for the festival; check the road closures page for anything new.

What to know

  • The chalk art runs all weekend. Professional artists chalk on both days, the festival says.
  • Sunday starts later. Gates open at 11 a.m. Sunday, an hour later than Saturday.
  • Want to help? The festival takes volunteers aged 16 and older (younger with a parent) for setup, face painting and the beer festival; details are on the participation page.

Frequently asked questions

Did Chalktoberfest 2026 happen? No. The Marietta Cobb Museum of Art canceled the Oct. 10-11 festival because of the weather forecast. The museum says the festival returns in 2027 and has not announced a new 2026 date.

Can I get a refund on Craft Beer Festival tickets? The festival has not published refund terms for the cancellation. Call the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art at 770-528-1444.

Is Chalktoberfest free? Yes. The chalk art, live music, artists’ market and food vendors are free to attend. Only Saturday’s Craft Beer Festival needs a ticket.

How much are Chalktoberfest beer festival tickets? Tickets are $55 at the gate on Oct. 10. Online tickets are sold at an early-bird rate before the day, and the festival says it sells out every year.

Where do I park for Chalktoberfest? The City Hall Parking Deck at 205 Lawrence St. is free all day on weekends, and the Cobb County decks at 184 Hansell St. and 120 Cherokee St. are open to the public on weekends for a fee.

Does Chalktoberfest happen in the rain? The Craft Beer Festival is held rain or shine, and no refunds are given for weather, according to the festival’s ticket page.

What this means for you