Marietta's HarvestFest is Saturday, Oct. 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Glover Park: crafts show, Touch-A-Truck, pie eating and costume contests, kids festival.

Last checked Oct. 5, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the City of Marietta’s HarvestFest page and its Sept. 29 announcement.

HarvestFest, the city’s annual fall festival, is Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Glover Park on the historic Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square NE. The day brings the HarvestFest arts and crafts show, Touch-A-Truck, Scarecrows in the Square, a pie eating contest, costume contests for children and pets, and the Halloween Happenings kids festival. The city’s Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department runs it.

Who to call

  • Event questions: Marietta Parks and Recreation, 770-794-5601
  • Special events office: 770-794-5606, specialevents@mariettaga.gov
  • Official page: HarvestFest

When and where
Date Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place Glover Park, historic Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square NE
Organizer City of Marietta Parks, Recreation and Facilities
Tickets None listed by the city; pie eating contest registration is free

The day’s schedule

From the city’s HarvestFest page:

Time What happens
9 a.m. Festival opens: crafts show, Cornerback’s Coop, Touch-A-Truck and Halloween Happenings
11:30 a.m. Pie eating contest, ages 6 to 12
Noon Pie eating contest, ages 13 and up
2 p.m. Costume contest; Touch-A-Truck closes
3 p.m. Pet costume contest
5 p.m. Festival closes

What is on

  • The HarvestFest Market. Exhibitors from across the South, many of them local, sell handmade arts and crafts.
  • Touch-A-Truck, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. City fire trucks, police cars, tractors, tow trucks and more are parked for an up-close look. The city lists its Parks, Recreation and Facilities, Fire, Police and Public Works departments as this year’s participants.
  • Halloween Happenings, a kids festival for ages 12 and younger, with carnival games, inflatables and candy. The city asks children to come in costume with a trick-or-treat bag.
  • Scarecrows in the Square. Scarecrows built by schools, clubs, businesses and nonprofits stand throughout the park, competing for Best in Show and category prizes.
  • Cornerback’s Coop, a college football watch party on the streets of the Square. The city invites fans to bring chairs and food and drinks from Square merchants.
  • Live DJ entertainment, games and seasonal treats, according to the city’s announcement.

The contests

Pie eating contest. Run with Pie Bar on the Marietta Square. Mini Munchers (ages 6 to 12) start at 11:30 a.m. and Competitive Chompers (13 and up) at noon. Registration is free through the city’s online recreation catalog, and entrants must be 6 or older. The city asks families to consider allergies and dietary limits before signing up.

Costume contest. Handmade costumes compete at 2 p.m. on the Glover Park stage, starting with the youngest. Contestants must reach the stage between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to get a number. Age groups are 1 and younger, 2 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 8, 9 to 10, 11 to 12, and 13 and up, plus a group category for two or more people of any age. Prizes go to the top three in each group and to overall winners.

Pet costume contest. It closes the show at 3 p.m., with an overall grand prize and first- through third-place winners.

Parking and getting there

Glover Park sits in the middle of the Square. The city’s downtown parking page lists these Saturday 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 on weekends.

On-street parking downtown is free with a two-hour limit. The city has not published a street closure list for the festival; check the road closures page closer to the day.

What to know

  • Come early for Touch-A-Truck. It closes at 2 p.m., three hours before the festival.
  • Bring a bag. Halloween Happenings is built around trick-or-treating for children 12 and younger.
  • Volunteers. The city takes volunteers for its events through an online form; anyone who works directly with children must agree to a background check.

Frequently asked questions

When is HarvestFest in Marietta in 2026? Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Glover Park on the historic Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square NE.

What time is the HarvestFest costume contest? The costume contest starts at 2 p.m. at the Glover Park stage. Contestants check in at the stage between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to get a number. The pet costume contest follows at 3 p.m.

How do I enter the HarvestFest pie eating contest? Registration is free through the city’s online recreation catalog, for ages 6 and older. Ages 6 to 12 eat at 11:30 a.m. and ages 13 and up at noon.

Where do I park for HarvestFest? The City Hall Parking Deck at 205 Lawrence St. is free all day on weekends, as are the city lots at 268 Lawrence St. and 95 Cole St.

What this means for you