"Ten years ago, there was nothing here," Mayor Tommy Allegood told Atlanta News First this summer, standing at the entrance to Logan Farm Park. "It was a big swamp."
That ground is now the front door to the park that has anchored Acworth's Saturdays since spring. The Acworth Farmers Market ran Fridays from April 10 through October 30 and Saturdays from May 16 through November 14. The last Saturday market of 2026 is also the first day of the holiday season on the city's calendar. From then until mid-December, the events move from the park lawn onto Center Street, Main Street and School Street, with most of them packed into two weekends.
Saturday, Nov. 14: one last market, then the holiday season
On paper, Nov. 14 belongs to the fall season. In practice it is a handoff day. The Visit Acworth events calendar lists all of the following on that date:
- 8 a.m. to noon: The final Saturday of the Acworth Farmers Market at Logan Farm Park, 4405 Cherokee St.
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: A Landscape Oil Painting Workshop from the Acworth Arts Alliance at The Art House, 4425 Cherokee St.
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: The Acworth Arts Alliance Holiday Gift Shop at the Acworth Community Center, 4361 Cherokee St., with handmade work from the alliance's member artists.
- Noon to 5 p.m.: The Acworth Charm Tour in Historic Downtown Acworth, hosted by Brookwood Christian School.
- 8 p.m.: "Death Trap," presented by Acworth Cultural Arts at the Rena Henton Theatre at Acworth Roberts School, 4681 School St.
Four of those five events are on Cherokee Street or in Historic Downtown, so a morning at the market can roll straight into the gift shop. The same play also runs Friday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m., which makes that a full weekend downtown.
The house at the park entrance
On a Nov. 14 visit to the market you also pass the newest old building in town. The McCray House was built around 1851. Atlanta News First reported that it was one of the few Acworth buildings to survive the advance of Gen. William T. Sherman's troops. It originally stood at 4700 Allatoona Gateway. The city moved it to 4415 Cherokee St. at the entrance to Logan Farm Park, about a thousand feet from where it started. The move cost about $1.2 million and was paid for from the city's budget for historic buildings, including SPLOST dollars.
On July 16, the City of Acworth celebrated the finished restoration with a ribbon cutting in downtown's Parkside district. Mayor Allegood spoke about the McCray family, who were raised in the home, and about the house passing to the Kaylor family.
Sabrina Kaylor owns Bizarre Coffee, a local chain known for operating in historic buildings. She has a 10-year lease on the house, with five-year renewal options, for the chain's fourth location. Atlanta News First reported that the renovation keeps the original flooring and some exterior walls. "If we are going to position ourselves as part of the journey, the point is to honor the past," Kaylor told the station. On its Acworth page, the company describes an outdoor patio for the shop and a design that keeps the house's character.
The house stands at the spot where the outdoor market season ends and the downtown holiday season begins.
The week before Thanksgiving
The week after the market closes is small and easy to fit around work:
- Thursday, Nov. 19, 7 to 9 p.m.: Pressed Floral Gratitude Cards at Gather & Bloom, 4873 N Main St.
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 to 10 a.m.: The Acworth Turkey Chase 5K Fun Run and 2K Walk, presented by Northside Hospital, starting in Historic Downtown at 4835 N Main St.
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 2 to 4 p.m.: An Acrylic Pouring Class from the Acworth Arts Alliance at The Art House, 4425 Cherokee St.
On Tuesday, Dec. 1, the Art House hosts a Shadowbox Workshop from 3 to 5 p.m. That leaves three days before the busiest stretch of the season.
Dec. 4 to 6: the weekend that carries the season
Santa's Arrival, the Depot Park Santa photos and the opening of "A Christmas Carol" all fall on one weekend. The two Santa events are free.
| Date | Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Dec. 4 | 6 p.m. | Santa's Arrival and tree lighting | 4415 Center St. |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | 8 p.m. | "A Christmas Carol," opening night | Roberts School Community and Education Center, 4681 School St. |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | 1 to 5 p.m. | Christmas in Acworth: Santa photos | Depot Park, 4794 S Main St. |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | 3 p.m. | "A Christmas Carol" | 4681 School St. |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | 3 p.m. | "A Christmas Carol" | 4681 School St. |
Santa's Arrival is hosted by the City of Acworth with NorthStar Church. The evening includes Mayor Allegood reading "The Night Before Christmas," the tree lighting and free pictures with Santa. There is no photographer on-site, so the city asks families to bring their own cameras. The Parks and Recreation office answers questions at 770-917-1234.
The next afternoon, Santa moves to Depot Park for Christmas in Acworth. Photos are free there too, and you again bring your own camera. That gives families two chances at a Santa photo on the same weekend, at two downtown locations: a Friday evening with a crowd and the tree lighting, or a Saturday afternoon visit at your own pace.
Acworth Cultural Arts runs A Christmas Carol from Dec. 4 to Dec. 13. Opening night starts at 8 p.m., two hours after the tree lighting begins, and tickets are listed on the event page.
Dec. 11 to 13: carriages instead of Santa
The second weekend has fewer events on the calendar. "A Christmas Carol" plays Friday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3 p.m., with the run ending Dec. 13. The Arts Alliance also has a second Landscape Oil Painting Workshop on the morning of Dec. 12 at The Art House.
That Saturday afternoon, from 1 to 5 p.m., Christmas in Acworth: Horse & Carriage Rides leaves from Acworth City Hall at 4415 Center St. The rides through Historic Downtown Acworth are free and sponsored by the Acworth Downtown Development Authority. Santa will not be there for photos this time. That makes it a good fit for anyone who did the Santa photos the week before, or for a weekend date with no lines to wait in.
Wednesday, Dec. 16: the parade runs past your street
The season's last downtown event is the one residents take part in instead of just watching. The Light Up Main Christmas Golf Cart Parade runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. starting at Cauble Park, 4425 Beach St. The city says the route goes through downtown neighborhoods, so it passes homes as well as storefronts.
If you want to drive a cart in the parade, the listing gives a short checklist:
- Register. Joining the parade is free, but you must register with Acworth Parks and Recreation to get a spot in the lineup.
- Decorate. The city suggests garland, lights and tinsel.
- Plan for dark. The parade is in the evening this year, and the listing specifically recommends solar-powered string lights.
- Tell the neighbors. The city asks participants to have friends line the streets along the route.
The parade is on a Wednesday, so spectators near the route can walk out their front door after dinner.
The full calendar at a glance
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 14 | Final Saturday Farmers Market, Holiday Gift Shop, Charm Tour | Logan Farm Park; Community Center; downtown |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Turkey Chase 5K and 2K | 4835 N Main St. |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Santa's Arrival and tree lighting | 4415 Center St. |
| Dec. 4 to 13 | "A Christmas Carol" | 4681 School St. |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Santa photos | Depot Park, 4794 S Main St. |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Horse and carriage rides | Acworth City Hall, 4415 Center St. |
| Wed., Dec. 16 | Light Up Main Golf Cart Parade | Cauble Park, 4425 Beach St. |
Schedules can change, so check each event's Visit Acworth page before you go.
If the holidays have you thinking about whether downtown Acworth fits the next few years of your life, Shawn Nixon and the Ivan Savant Team are glad to talk through how the blocks around Logan Farm Park, Center Street and Main Street fit into the wider Acworth market. Request a Complimentary Market Consultation, and we'll walk through it with you.