May-Retta Daze 2027 on Marietta Square: dates, hours, parking

Last checked Oct. 5, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the City of Marietta’s May-Retta Daze page and its special events page, which lists the 2027 dates.

May-Retta Daze, the city’s two-day arts, crafts and music festival, returns to Glover Park on the historic Marietta Square on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, 2027. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Exhibitors sell handmade painting, pottery, woodwork, metal, glass, fabric, soap and candles, and local musicians play acoustic sets on the Glover Park stage both days. The city’s Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department runs it on the first weekend in May every year.

The 2026 festival was May 2-3, according to the city’s 2026 event calendar (PDF).

Who to call

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

When and where

The schedule

From the city’s May-Retta Daze page:

Saturday

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: arts and crafts show, kids zone and festival food
• 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.: music festival on the Glover Park stage
• 11:30 a.m.: May-Retta Derby Daze Hat Parade

Sunday

• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: arts and crafts show, kids zone, festival food and music on the Glover Park stage

The city had not posted the 2027 music lineup on Oct. 5.

What is on

• Arts and crafts. Exhibitors and artists show and sell handmade goods: painting, pottery, woodwork, metal, glass, fabric, soap, candles and more.
• Music festival. Local singer-songwriters play acoustic cover and original sets through both days.
• Kids zone and festival food both days.
• The May-Retta Derby Daze Hat Parade. A walking parade through the festival that celebrates Kentucky Derby Day. The city invites everyone to dress in Derby clothes and their most elaborate hat. Meet at the Glover Park gazebo at 11 a.m. Saturday; no sign-up is needed. Prizes go to the most creative hats, and only handmade hats are eligible.

Parking and getting there

Glover Park is the center of 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 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.

What to know

• Sunday is shorter. The festival opens an hour later and closes two hours earlier than Saturday.
• Mother’s Day follows. May-Retta Daze lands the weekend before Mother’s Day; see the Mother’s Day page for more plans.
• Musicians and volunteers. The city takes applications from local musicians for the festival stage, and volunteers through its online volunteer form. Anyone who works directly with children must agree to a background check.

Frequently asked questions

When is May-Retta Daze 2027? Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2, 2027, in Glover Park on the historic Marietta Square. The festival is held the first weekend in May every year.

What are May-Retta Daze hours? Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the crafts show until 6 p.m. and music until 7 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What is the May-Retta Derby Daze Hat Parade? A walking parade through the festival on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. that celebrates Kentucky Derby Day. Meet at the Glover Park gazebo at 11 a.m.; no sign-up is needed, and only handmade hats are eligible for prizes.

Where do I park for May-Retta Daze? 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

• Put May 1-2, 2027, on the calendar; Saturday runs longest, to 7 p.m.
• Make a hat for the Derby parade at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
• Closer to home this fall: Chalktoberfest, HarvestFest and things to do.