In any given weekend, the Marietta Square is bustling. But one October weekend each year, it transforms into something extraordinary: a living gallery where chalk and creativity spill across the streets. That’s the magic of Chalktoberfest, returning October 11–12, 2025, courtesy of the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art.
“This festival is about bringing people together through art,” says Sally Macaulay, Executive Director of the museum. “Whether you come for the chalk art, the music, the craft beer, or just the atmosphere, there’s truly something for everyone.”
The highlight, of course, is the chalk art. Dozens of professional artists—some traveling from as far away as Mexico, Italy, and the Netherlands—will spend the weekend on their knees, sketching, shading, and blending until the bricks beneath them become masterpieces. From bold 3D illusions that leap off the pavement to playful, colorful murals, the streets become an open-air museum.
Visitors love that they can watch the process unfold. “It’s like performance art,” one past attendee shared. “You see a blank square of pavement in the morning, and by afternoon it’s something breathtaking.”
For adults, Saturday offers another tradition: the Craft Beer Festival, running from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. More than 120 beers and 25 wines will be available to sample, served in a souvenir cup designed just for 2025. “The combination of art and craft beer is what makes Chalktoberfest unique,” says Macaulay. “People can stroll, sip, and enjoy the creativity all around them.” Tickets are available now at chalktoberfest.com, with prices increasing on the day of the event.
On Sunday, the spotlight shifts to the community. The Community Chalk Competition, from 11am to 1pm, invites residents of all ages to join in. With boxes of chalk and buckets of imagination, families, friends, and bud- ding artists can claim a square and see where creativity takes them. Winners will receive prizes, but most partici- pants agree: it’s about being part of something bigger.
“My kids love it because they can draw right on the street,” one parent said after last year’s event. “It’s messy, fun, and a memory we’ll always treasure.”
Chalktoberfest has become one of the region’s most beloved fall festivals, blending world-class art with local flavor. And with support from community partners, the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art ensures the event contin- ues to grow while remaining free to the public.
So grab your friends, bring the kids, and get ready for a weekend where art leaps off the pavement, beer flows, and the Marietta Square buzzes with energy. Chalktoberfest isn’t just an event—it’s an experience you’ll carry long after the chalk has washed away.
