Every fall, as the heat of summer gives way to cooler temperatures and leaves start to change their colors, downtown Duluth comes alive with one of its most popular traditions: the Duluth Fall Festival. Now celebrating its 43rd year, the annual community event returns the weekend of September 26–27 with music, live entertainment, great food, fun and over 180 vendors.
As the largest all-volunteer festival in the Southeast, the event continues to receive well-earned accolades such as Best of Gwinnett, Reader’s Choice and Best Large Festival in the Southeast by the Southeast Festival and Events Association.
It also continues to be one of the most successful festivals in the region, with over 65,000 people in attendance over the last two years and at least that many expected for this year’s festivities.
Pre-festival concert kick off
Leading up to the big weekend, a free pre-festival concert on September 12 sponsored will add to the excitement. Held outdoors at the Duluth Festival Center, the show kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a performance by The Smithereens, followed by headliners Grand Funk Railroad at 8:30 p.m.
A grand parade
The festival kicks off in full on Saturday, the 26th at 10 a.m. with Gwinnett County’s largest parade followed by a traditional opening ceremony. Guests are encouraged to get there early and find a spot along the parade route to enjoy the sights and sounds of school bands, sports teams, local dignitaries, fire trucks and antique cars, dancers and more as they make their way through the streets of downtown Duluth.
Festival highlights
Following the parade, organizers will welcome the parade grand marshal, honorary grand marshal, guests and sponsors from the stage at the Duluth Festival Center and officially launch the opening of the artisan booths, food trucks, kids area and entertainment.
As in previous years, there’s tons of fun planned for people of all ages for this year’s big event, with continuous entertainment over both days adding to the festivities. Center Stage on the Town Green will once again feature bands, dance acts and high-energy performances, while the smaller Parsons Alley stage will host acoustic sets with a more laid-back vibe.
The festival’s entertainment committee makes a point to carefully select each year’s performers to ensure a diverse, high-quality musical lineup. Jazz, rock, folk, country and international music are all represented with a wide range of performances scheduled throughout the weekend. A full list, along with show times can be found on the Duluth Fall Festival website.
The kids’ area petting zoo, sponsored by Duluth Animal Hospital and Duluth Dog Depot, returns this year with llamas, cows, bunnies and goats, and is sure to be a hit with the younger crowd. Kid’s Korner puppet shows, street performers, bounce houses, games and hands-on activities round out the family-friendly fun.
New this year, guests can take a break and hang out at Festival Tailgate Central, located on the activity lawn next to LR Burger to watch the Georgia Bulldogs game and spend time with family, friends and fellow football enthusiasts.
The Duluth Donut Dash
On Sunday, festival day starts at 7:45 a.m. with the ever-popular Donut Dash 5K, a race through the streets of Duluth that begins and ends at the festival center…