It’s festival season in Duluth, which means that the 42nd annual Duluth Fall Festival is about to be here! Featuring live entertainment, arts and craft vendors, carnival rides, a Kidz Corner, food vendors and so much more, this is the ultimate festival in Gwinnett for family-friendly fun.
Taking place on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28, both event days for the festival have a schedule packed with exciting activities. On Saturday, the festival kicks off at 9:00 a.m. with vendors that festival goers can check out. Then, at 10:00 a.m., you can check out Gwinnett’s largest parade featuring local sports teams, fire trucks, antique cars, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, dancers, animals and others. It’s one of the highlights for Saturday’s event schedule!
Following the parade, the Opening Ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m. with the Parade Grand Marshal and Honorary Grand Marshal, giving thanks to the local sponsors who make the Duluth Fall Festival possible every year. After that, the live entertainment begins at noon and continues for the duration of the event schedule, featuring local bands and acts that encompass a variety of musical genres. This is the perfect time to explore all of the incredible arts and crafts vendors, food spots and other engaging activities until the festival comes to a close at 7:00 p.m. that day.
For the Sunday event schedule, it kicks off with a Donut Dash 5k at 8:00 a.m., with all proceeds going towards Wellroot Family Services. This race is a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race, making it a fun one to watch as a spectator! Registration to participate in the race is now open with a $35 registration fee. There are 15 different age groups and all runners get free coffee and donuts upon completion of the race. After the race, all vendor booths will be open for the remainder of the event day. As for other activities, there will be Worship on the Town Green at 10:00 a.m. led by Duluth First United Methodist Church and live entertainment starting at noon. Event goers can enjoy the exciting festival atmosphere until it comes to a close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
While there are plenty of vendors and foodie spots to check out, there will also be a Kidz Corner on both event days. This dedicated corner of the festival features bounce houses, arts & crafts, music that’s special for the kids, face painting, games, a petting zoo, interactive shows and other fun activities. It’s a great way for parents to sit back and relax while watching their kiddos have a blast!
Parking at the festival is limited, so event goers are recommended to park off-site and use the festival’s complimentary shuttles. The Green Lot at Chattahoochee Elementary, the Blue Lot at Mason Elementary School and the Yellow Lot at Duluth Middle School are all approved locations where you can park and hop on the shuttle. If you prefer to park and walk, First Citizens Bank, along with other local businesses with dedicated festival parking signage, are approved locations to park your vehicle and head over to Downtown Duluth for some festival fun!
