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.
