From live music and an artisan market to sudsy brews and all-season spooks, Marietta wows with tours, tasty bites and year-round special events
Minutes from Atlanta and with easy access to the mountains of North Georgia, Marietta is an ideal home base for exploring the best the state has to offers. The vibrant city draws visitors with merits that extend past location, including year-round events, an abundance of eateries that support the title of “foodie destination” and affordable lodging options.
Save the date for these can’t-miss happenings.
Catch live tunes
Dance in the streets during the Glover Park Concert Series, presented in part by the Downtown Marietta Development Authority and the City of Marietta and Marietta Parks, Recreation and Facilities. The series features local and national acts at 8 p.m. on the last Friday night of the month, April-September, with a special Saturday show by the Symphony on the Square, Saturday, May 26. The concerts are free, but if you are looking for a “front-row seat,” a limited number of tables can be reserved for a fee on the first working day of each month, beginning at 8 a.m.
Glover Park, 50 N Park Square, Marietta
May 25-Electric Avenue
May 26-Symphony on the Square
June 29-Bogey & The Viceroy
July 27-Grains of Sand
August 24-Crystal Clear Band
September 28-The Mustangs
Creativity on the move
Take an evening stroll with the Marietta Square Art Walk, 5-9 p.m., the first Friday of each month, March-November. This free, self-guided walking tour celebrates the vitality of Marietta’s diverse cultural arts scene, showcasing local artists and performers along sidewalks throughout Historic Downtown Marietta. The evening comes alive as performance, dance, culinary and visual art permeate every corner of the charming Historic Marietta Square. Grab a drink at one of many local restaurants and walk around, enjoying late night shopping at the many one-of-a-kind boutiques and a unique variety of art and performance while perusing gallery openings at dk Gallery, Marietta Square Artists Attic, Markay Gallery, Robert Kent Galleries and The ARTS Gallery, along with free admission to Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art.
Stroll the Marietta Square Artisan Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., on the second and fourth Saturdays, April-November. This open-air showcase of locally-created fine art and premium hand-crafted goods features paintings, drawings and photography by artists settled alongside skilled craftspeople displaying an eclectic roster of distinctive goods, including fire pits, cutting boards, terraria, pens and fine jewelry. Located on Mill Street adjacent to Glover Park, this art ecosystem connects local fine artists and artisans with the community, adding culture and charm to the Historic Marietta Square experience.
Patriotic celebration
The city of Marietta’s Fourth in the Park celebration begins at 10 a.m., July 4, and includes the Marietta Freedom Parade—complete with 110 entries, 2,000 participants and an estimated 30,000 spectators, free live concerts, museum tours, an arts and crafts show, food, carnival games and fireworks finale. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Roswell Street Baptist Church and travels west on Roswell Street, north on East Park Square past Glover Park and the Square, down Cherokee Street and ends at North Marietta Parkway.
Fresh eats
Stock up at Atlanta’s #1 farmer’s market, the Marietta Square Farmers Market, open 9 a.m.-noon, Saturdays year-round and noon-3 p.m., Sundays, May-October. The market features an average of 65 vendors proffering a variety of fresh eats, including heirloom tomatoes, and fruits and vegetables that are rarely, if ever, available from the grocery store. Cut flower arrangements, local honey, herbal soaps, whole grain breads, jelly, jam and preserves round out the goods. Customers can also take home many live garden, yard and culinary herb plants, not to mention the fresh squeezed lemonade sure to quench thirst on a hot day.
Get spooked
No need to wait for October. Get your boo on year-round with the Ghosts of Marietta 90 minute walking tour, which wanders through the historic streets of a town with a past that is deep in tradition, history and quality of life. From tales of the departed spirit of a civil war soldier to a mysterious resident of one of Marietta’s stately homes or businesses, hear the stories behind these mysteries and maybe, if you’re lucky, experience them as well. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking, and feel free to bring a flashlight and camera. Check the website for additional tours options, such as pub crawls and trolley tours.
Cure a craving
Marietta Square Market: Eat, shop and gather in Marietta’s first food hall, a one-stop community destination, opening fall of 2018. Follow @MariettaSquareMarket on Instagram for updates. 68 North Marietta Parkway NW, Marietta
Glover Park Brewery: Featuring a brewery, tap room, bier garden and event space. Opening summer of 2018. 65 Atlanta Street, Marietta
Spring: Showcasing bites by 2018 Semifinalist of James Beard Foundation-Rising Star Chef of the Year, Brian So. 83 Church Street
Marietta Square: A buffet of restaurants, spanning a global cuisine, from sushi to Italian to burgers. Highlights include the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, where you can enjoy a brew with a view, savoring a sip on the rooftop terrace.
Don’t miss a morsel, sign up for a Marietta Food Tour.
If you go
Visit www.MariettaSquare.com/stay for a listing of Marietta’s myriad lodging options, including a bed and breakfast alongside traditional brand-name hotels.