The Kennesaw Big Shanty Festival features a full weekend of shopping, food, and entertainment in downtown Kennesaw each spring. Spread across both sides of Main Street, the festival fills the downtown area with craft booths, food vendors, live performances, and activities for kids. It is one of Kennesaw’s best known annual events, and it has a way of turning a stroll through downtown into a mission involving kettle corn, handmade gifts, and something fried.
More than 250 booths fill the festival area with handmade crafts, specialty goods, and plenty of reasons to browse a little longer than planned. The Georgia Grown Member Village adds another stop for visitors looking for Georgia made products and food items.
Festival food is always part of the appeal, with approximately 30 classic fair favorites and food vendors spread throughout the festival grounds. A food court near 1885 Grill gives visitors another spot to grab something to eat and catch live music. Beer will also be available for purchase from places like 1885 Grill, Horned Owl Brewing, and Bernie’s Social Bar.
Live entertainment will take place throughout the weekend on multiple stages, including the Main Street Stage and the United Bankshares Amphitheater at Depot Park. Local performers, dance groups, school choruses, and demonstration teams help keep the schedule moving, while the downtown setting gives the event plenty of space and excitement. Families will also find a Kid’s Zone with inflatables and activities for younger visitors.
The 2026 festival is the 50th annual event, a milestone year for one of Kennesaw’s longest running spring traditions. Organizers say booth space sold out in record time this year, which gives a pretty good clue about how much interest the festival still draws after all these years.
Free entertainment will include the Ready Go Dog Show at the new city amphitheater at noon, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Acoustic music is scheduled between dog show performances, and Scott Thompson will perform live in the food court area next to 1885 Grill on both days.
One other update worth noting is that there is no parade this year. The parade had been part of past festivals, but it is not included in the 2026 event and may no longer be part of the format going forward.
Admission:
Free
Hours:
Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday, April 19, 2026 from 12 pm to 5 pm
Rain or Shine
Location:
Downtown Kennesaw
2871 N Main St
Kennesaw, Ga 30144
The festival stretches through downtown Kennesaw along Main Street from Lewis Street to Summers Street, then continues across the railroad tracks into Depot Park. Streets in the festival area will be closed during event hours to make room for foot traffic and help keep things moving safely.
Parking and Shuttles:
Parking is available throughout downtown Kennesaw, and a free shuttle runs continuously between the festival and Swift Cantrell Park all weekend for an easier trip in and out. Accessible parking will be available behind the United Bankshares Amphitheater, with entry limited to Big Shanty Drive.
This fun filled event is co-sponsored by the City of Kennesaw and the Kennesaw Business Association.
For more information, please contact JRM Management at (770) 423-1330.
2026 Arts and Crafts Application
For more information, please contact JRM Management at (770) 423-1330.
who is ggonna be the chorus teacher and where is the chorus students from like what school?
what is the name of the male author that was there? 2025
Does anyone know the name of the vendor that had the outdoor pottery? I was looking for them because I wanted to get the green frog with the funny smile.
Wicked Creations
I agree with the Dog situation. It’s more of a dog show than enjoy the festival. Not to mention the dog waste and owners thinking it’s ok to leave the remains. I asked about this to one of the policemen and told “leave”. Made sense so I did and will not ever return.
The older guy that played the main stage at the very end. Something Hurricane Something. Who was that? Amazing!
Hi Matt, that was Roger “Hurricane” Wilson – a Kennesaw resident and electric blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
Last I’ve seen of Roger (other than at the annual festival), he moved to Ohio.
He’s good alright! He’s opened for B.B. King before. He (at least) used to teach guitar and has several CD’s. He’s also sometimes heard on “Good Morning Blues” at 6-10am Mon.-Fri. on WRFG radio (89.3 and Internet). Roger’s good people!!!
Where is the handicap parking?
Following
Accessible parking will be available behind the United Bankshares Amphitheater, with entry limited to Big Shanty Drive.
By what time would you notify someone if they didn’t get into your show as a vendor? Haven’t heard either way and only a few weeks til show. Just wanted to make sure I have enough supply. Thank you!
Hi Donna, try calling the event organizers – JRM Management – at (770) 423-1330.
WAY TOO MANY DOGS AT THIS FESTIVAL. LEAVE THEM HOME! THERE SHOULDNT BE ANY DOGS ALLOWED. SOME PEOPLE ARE ALLERGIC TO DOGS. SOME ARE AFRAID OF DOGS. ITS JUST TOO MANY. NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FROM BUMPING INTO PEOPLE BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR DOGS. IT TAKES AWAY FROM ENJOYING THE FESTIVAL.
THERE ARE ABOUT AS MANY DOGS AS THERE ARE PEOPLE. ITS REALLY RIDICULOUS. LEAVE THE DOGS HOME. MAIN STREET ISNT A DOG PARK.
I feel the same about children.
Same goes for children.
My dog behaves better that most of y’alls kids. I have to deal with your kids. You get to deal with my dog.
Hey I’m interested in being a vendor for 2024! Loved the event!
Does anyone have a list of events:music etc and the times?
Hi, I’m wondering if you have an artist market and how to apply to be a vendor.
Hello I am interested in being a vendor for 2023
Hi I’m looking for a vendor from your 2022 event. They made wine bottle clocks.
Hello, my name is Shirley I need to find the vendor that was selling the Southern Roots Designs.
Please help me find the seller or the number I can contact her.
Thank you for help.
Hi, I am interested in being a vendor for 2022!
I need to find a vendor. They were near the beginning of the tents near the food selling vegetables.
My name is Theodore Moss, and I represent, The Butterfly Effects, located in west central Florida. We have a traveling exhibit, that houses hundreds of live butterflies, where people and their families can actually interact with and feed live butterflies. Every fairgoer will be given one of our feeding sticks, with nectar on it, where they can come in, feed up to 5 different species of butterflies, that are indigenous to your particular state. Whether they just want to experience the fun of holding a live butterfly up close or just the educational side of our exhibit, where they will learn, through our video tutorial, the life cycle of the butterflies and even how to fix a broken wing. Either way, every fair goer will learn something new and always leave our exhibit with a smile on their face!
If you would like us to come to your fair or Festival or have any more questions, feel free to call or email me anytime.. Have a great day.
butterflyeffectstmoss@gmail.com
Theodore Moss
Event Coordinator
352-269-5672
Call Me
Are y’all accepting any craft vendors this year? I imagine that the ones signed up for the earlier date will be there.. just heard about it. Very interested!
Would be interested in joining. We have a food trailer and we have a 100 on health department report. We have a variety of foods
Burgers,hot dogs, chicken, home made fries in many ways. Ribbon fries and tornado fries Funnel cakes. Home made lemonade
Country girls southern grub
Can you still get a booth for the festival at the end of may 2020?
Hi
I am a Shaved ice vendor and I am interested to join your 2020 Big shanty Festival so can you please provide me registration form and further information
Thank you
Niki
Wish you all provided a map showing places to park. Some of my school kiddo’s parents have complained about not being able to find parking.
May I please have the vendor list for the 2018 festival?
I need to reach a vendor. I bought an item and it is defective. On the debit card it reads Joann’s Sewing Box. I appreciate anything that you can do to help me.
just saw your post. we are here this weekend in the parking lot of the museum. we would love to make it right. if you can’t come email to richard@joannssewingbox.com. thanks and very sorry.
I would like a vendor list was well. I bought a dog collar and want another one!
Is there a vendor list?
I have been to many Shanty festivals and enjoy them very much except for one thing – the dogs ! Nobody loves dogs more than I do but the dogs don’t need to be there because they do get in the way and I see people continually pulling dogs away from each other to avoid a fight. The little dogs should be carried thru crowds but some owners seem to think everyone will see the dog and step around it. Some dogs look like they would want to be anywhere except roaming the crowded street. The one big thing in the hot summer the owners seem oblivious to the pavement being too hot for the dogs paws. I have seen two dogs picking up their feet quickly to avoid the burning of their paws and the owners are too busy talking to notice their dog is in distress.
AGREED !!!!! I love Dogs, but for reasons stated they should not be permitted. Unfortunately most owners are oblivious to the needs of their pets !!!
I love dogs too but I have to agree that they don’t need to be in these size of crowds nor on a hot pavement