Bring your appetite to the 2026 Taste of Kennesaw in downtown Kennesaw this Saturday, November 7, 2026 from 11 am to 6 pm. More than 30 different local restaurants and an expected 20,000 people will be on hand to sample the delicious dishes. Food samples are sold in $1 increments, from $1 to $10.
While you are there, you can also enjoy live music on two entertainment stages, football throughout the day, and a beer garden. Bring the kids and enjoy the wide variety of activities for the kids including a climbing wall, inflatables and slides, and more.
In addition, restaurants will also be competing for recognition in the following categories:
- Best Entrée
- Best Dessert
- Best Food Presentation
- Best Decorated Tent
- Best Appetizer
Date:
November 7, 2026
Hours:
11 am to 6 pm rain or shine
Admission:
Admission is free
Food samples range from $1 to $10 each
Location:
Downtown Kennesaw
2829 Cherokee Street
Kennesaw GA 30144
Parking:
Parking is available in the downtown area, Adams Park, and First Baptist Church of Kennesaw.
For more information, please call (770) 423-1330.
Participating restaurants in 2025:
- 1885 Grill
- Angry Crab Shack
- Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
- Bernie’s Social Bar (American)
- Biscuit Belly
- Carrabba’s Italian Grill
- Cat’s Cookies
- City Barbeque
- Cocina de la Tia
- Copeland’s of New Orleans
- Egg Roll Boyz
- Frui Tea Bubbles Café
- Fuji Hana Steak & Sushi Bar
- Fusion Kitchen (Thai & Jamaican cuisine)
- Gaston Street Eats Co. Food Trucks & Catering (Southern comfort food)
- Gus’s Fried Chicken
- Jim ‘N Nicks Bar-B-Q
- Joan’s Caribbean Grill
- Keegan’s Irish Pub
- Mangiamo Ristorante & Pizzeria
- Morning Shift
- Nachos Taqueria Grill
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Pie Bar
- Pochino Italy
- Shibuya Ramen
- Sips of Tea
- Smash Hit Burgers Food Truck
- Solecito Lindo Mexican Bar & Grill
- Southern Sass Food Truck
- Sugar Shane’s Bakery
- Taco T Mexican Restaurant
- Tacos Del Chavo
- Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe
- The Melting Pot
- Wilhamson Brothers BBQ
- Zama Mexican Cuisine
Participating restaurants in previous years:
- Colombian Bites
- Uncle Maddios
- Rodney’s Jamaican Soul Food
- Pita Mediterranean Grill
- Bernie’s
- Honeysuckle Bakery
- Williamson Bros. BBQ
- Copeland’s of New Orleans
- Hey It’s Candy
- Hybrid Fit Food
- Kamayan ATL
- Trackside Grill
- Carrabba’s Italian Grill
- Taco Mac
- Nick’s BBQ
- DaVinci’s Pizzeria
- Caspian Grill
- Joe & Glo’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice
- Piece of Popcorn
- Chuy’s
- Burger 21
- Frozen Cow Creamery
- Island Noodles
- Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill
- Tom & Chee
- Tinto’s Coffee House
- Grill It!
- and more…
For more information, please call (770) 423-1330.
The Taste of Kennesaw Mission:
Taste of Kennesaw serves a vital mission by raising significant funds for five local organizations dedicated to community welfare. The 2025 event successfully raised over $34,000, with proceeds directly benefiting KSU CARE (Kennesaw State University), which supports students facing food and housing insecurity, and the Jerry Worthan Community Christmas Fund (Kennesaw Police Department Holiday Assistance). The remaining contributions empower local youth outreach through three high school programs, including Shop with a Mustang (Kennesaw Mountain High School), Shop with a Warrior (North Cobb High School), and Shop with a Longhorn (Kell High School). These organizations work to ensure that Kennesaw families in need experience a brighter holiday season.
How do I join as a vendor?
Hi Margaret,
You can apply here:
https://jrmmanagement.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2025-Taste-of-Kennesaw-Food-Vendor-Application.pdf
It’s clear that this website has not been updated much in the last… decade?… but that’s OK because the picture of the Macaroni Grill tent has me in tears. I opened that Macaroni Grill that used to be in the West Cobb Avenues back in 2003. That’s when I met Randy Dobson – he is the person in gray with his head turned towards the brunette in the picture. He has since passed away of a rare disease, and he was one of my best friends. I am so grateful for that picture, because it reminds me of how much fun I had working for that company for almost 8 years. And now I have another picture of a friend I miss every single day. Thank you <3
Hi Kat,
Thank you so much for sharing that story. It means a lot that the photo brought back such meaningful memories, and we’re very sorry for your loss. We’re glad it was a reminder of those good times with your friend. If you’d like a higher-resolution version of the picture, we’d be happy to send it. Just let us know. And thank you for the kind note about the site! While we update content daily, the photos don’t always get refreshed as often as they should. We have since added new ones from this year’s event.
If you don’t own a restaurant and just cater can you still participate???
This year there was a stand for Brazilian BBQ Master, but I cannot find any information regarding this restaurant and I would love to go. Does anyone know if they have a website or where they are located?
Hi there,
I am interested in bringing my dancers to perform at your festival. I am a new dance studio owner and would love the opportunity for my dancers to participate in this years Taste of Kennesaw Festival. Could someone please contact me to give me more information on this event.
Thanks so much,
Aimee Wiederhold
what a absolute wast of time, it was like the food court in the mall, majority of the vendors were corporations, a little suggestion, focus more on local independent businesses, also what was with all the non food related vending going on. it was like being in a big TV commercial.
Hi Alex,
Thanks for the comment. Regarding your suggestion for more local independent businesses, this event is open to any local restaurants who wish to participate. The event organizers do not turn away local restaurants in favor of corporations, they simply host the event and hope as many restaurants as possible will participate. Regarding the non food vending, while you may not like it, those businesses are the sponsors that allow this event to take place. Many of them are locally owned by your friends and neighbors, and they are simply trying to raise awareness for their business. They pay to be there, they pay their employees to staff their booths, and they often give things away for free – all in hopes that you will remember them and perhaps support their business should you have the need for their service.
Went to the 2014 today. Was not impressed. Needed more booths poss craft booths and when I did taste of Canton a few years a ago seems like there was a lot more to get with just 1 to 3 tickets.Thank God we were not conned to park where people were charging 5.00 to park not worth it. The portions could be bigger and these places use this as a tax write off as advertisement.
Hi Kellie,
If you are looking for arts and crafts booths, perhaps you should go to an arts and crafts festival and not a food festival. Regarding the parking fees, there are plenty of places you can park for free and walk, however local property owners are free to charge whatever they want if they choose to allow parking on their property. Regarding the portion size being small, this is a “taste” event. Many people enjoy the opportunity to try food from numerous restaurants. Regarding the tax write off and advertising, that is what they should do. This is an opportunity for participating restaurants to show off their best dishes. They would likely benefit more by gaining new customers rather than trying to simply make a profit from the event.
Regarding parking….are there any handicapped areas available to park?
Are dogs allowed?
I hope Uncle Cs Bar B Que is making a show. Some of the Best Q you ever put in your mouth. He was located near the County Line near 3rd Army Road in the North Bound Lane.
I would also like to know if I can bring my well behaved dog..
Hi Amanda and Alison,
We have seen dogs there in the past, but I am not sure what the official policy is.
What happens when there are thunderstorms? Is the event still running? Rescheduled?
Hi Jason,
I think this is a “rain or shine” event so it will not be rescheduled. We were there earlier today enjoyed some great food.
Are dogs allowed if on a leash?
I was looking for the answer to this question, too. I’ll go ahead and answer it, in case anyone is wondering for next year: Yes. We brought our puppy and had no trouble walking around with him.
It was a great evening of deliciousness at low prices, good music and reasonable lines…way better than the Taste of Marietta that is wall-to-wall people and sold-out booths. Many thanks to the organizers, sponsors, vendors and city officials who worked hard to make it possible!
Yum! See you all there 🙂
DO they have an ATM there
Hi DJ,
Yes, they have an ATM there.
DO you know where it will be located by?
In years past I think it was near the intersection of Main St and Cherokee St near the tracks. They will have signs though so it should be easy to find.
THanks
Will they have the beer stand like they do at the Big Shanty Festival?
Yes, they have a beer garden:
The Festival was great! The Music was awesome and the food was good, especially the ice cream for the heat.
Although very hot, we thought the festival was great! We went early and found that the food was great, the prices were extremely reasonable, and the crowds were manageable! We were impressed with the variety of foods and definitely had our fill. Can’t wait for next year’s taste!!
Carraba’s was a fantasticc value – for $2 you got the shrimp spiedini – ( 4 regular sized shrimp) plus 2 great lobster ravioli. The quality here was every bit as good as their restaurant. This was delicious and so great! On the other hand, I was so disappointed in Henrry’s Louisanne Shrimp and Grits. I have eaten there before and loved this dish. Today, it was a sorry glob of thick grits with just a measly 4 salad sized shrimp for $4. The servers were so busy fooling around that they failed to see that adding even a little water to this dish would have greatly improved it, I threw the whole glob in the trash and felt like I wasted $4.. Otherwise, the festival was a lot of fun and we found a lot of great food for the price.
Very true regarding Carabbas. The shrimp were great and it was a really great price. We really enjoyed Henry’s as well though. The popcorn shrimp were great, but we did not try the shrimp and grits. Thanks for your comment and review.
Hello
We have played the Taste of Marietta this year among others we are available
and you like to play your event
Thank You
Hoosier Daddy
How would we go about participating in this event? Please forward me any information on this so we can look into setting up our own booth! Thank you!
For participation information, please call the event organizers at (770) 423-1330.