Free things to do in Marietta: museums, concerts, parks

Last checked Oct. 5, 2026. Every item below is free to enter, according to the organizer’s own page, linked. Some have optional paid extras, noted where they apply.

Marietta’s free options include two museums with monthly free days, a summer concert series, a monthly art walk, festivals on the Square and miles of trails.

Who to call

• City events and parks: Marietta Parks and Recreation, 770-794-5601
• Marietta History Center: 770-794-5710
• Marietta Cobb Museum of Art: 770-528-1444
• Marietta Welcome Center: 770-429-1115

Free museum days

The art museum’s free Sundays are on its events calendar. The History Center is also free every day for children under 5, members and active and retired military. Cobb County library cards can borrow family passes for free art museum admission for up to four people, the museum says (visit page).

Free music and art

• Glover Park Concert Series: free concerts at 8 p.m. on the last Friday of each month, April through September, with local and national acts. Bring blankets and lawn chairs; tables, tarps and ground covers are not allowed in the park. A limited number of tables can be reserved for a fee. From the city’s concert page.
• Brown Bag Concert Series: free lunchtime concerts in Glover Park, noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays in May and September (city page).
• Marietta Square Art Walk: a free, self-guided walk showcasing local artists on the first Friday of each month, 5 to 9 p.m., as listed by Visit Marietta.
• Movies Under the Stars, Church Street Park: free monthly outdoor films with free popcorn; the 2026 season runs June to October (bureau listing).

Free festivals on the Square

Dates from the city’s special events page and 2026 event calendar. Admission is free; food, drinks and crafts cost extra.

Free outdoors

• City parks and playgrounds, including Laurel Park’s 1-mile track, are free; see our kids’ activities guide.
• Dog parks at Lewis Park and Wildwood Park are free; see dog-friendly Marietta.
• The Mountain to River Trail and the A.L. Burruss Nature Trail are free to walk and ride; see our trails guide.
• Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park: trails and the free shuttle to the summit; the park charges parking fees (park information).
• Marietta National Cemetery, 500 Washington Ave., is open sunrise to sunset (Department of Veterans Affairs).

Free indoors

• Library story times and Lego Free Play at Switzer Library, 266 Roswell St.; schedule in our kids’ activities guide.
• Marietta Welcome Center, 4 Depot St. NE, Visit Marietta’s visitor center in the old depot, open Tuesday to Sunday (Visit Marietta).

What this means for you

• Plan around the calendar: first Friday art walk, first Sunday at the art museum, third Saturday at the History Center.
• Street parking around the Square is free for two hours, and the City Hall deck is free on weekends (city parking page).

Related: Marietta Square guide, kids’ activities, date night and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art ever free?

Yes. Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month, from 11 a.m., with a take-home art activity. The next First Free Sundays are Nov. 1 and Dec. 6, 2026.

When is the Marietta History Center free?

On the third Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with family activities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Upcoming dates are Oct. 17, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19, 2026.

Are the Glover Park concerts free?

Yes. The city’s Glover Park Concert Series is free, at 8 p.m. on the last Friday of each month from April through September. Reserved tables cost extra.

What is the Marietta Square Art Walk?

A free, self-guided walk showcasing local artists around the Square on the first Friday of each month, 5 to 9 p.m., as listed by Visit Marietta. The next are Nov. 6 and Dec. 4, 2026.