The Duluth Fall Festival is the last weekend of September: free, 375-plus booths and Gwinnett's largest parade. 2026 was Sept. 26-27; 2027 dates to come.

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts come from the organizer’s Duluth Fall Festival site, including its shuttles and parking, parade and FAQ pages. Festival line: 1-855-385-8841. This page is updated for each year’s festival at the same address.

The Duluth Fall Festival is held the last weekend in September every year, its organizers say, and it is free. The 2026 festival ran Saturday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 2027 dates have not been announced; the organizers start planning the next festival in October. We will add the dates here when the festival site posts them.

Know before you go

  • When: the last weekend in September; 2026 was Sept. 26-27
  • Where: downtown Duluth around the Duluth Festival Center, 3142 Hill St. NW
  • Cost: free admission and free shuttles
  • Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday; streets close by 9:45 a.m.
  • Parking: park-and-ride shuttle lots; parking downtown is “very limited”
  • Organizer: Duluth Fall Festival, 1-855-385-8841

What the festival is

The festival began in 1983, and its roots go back to a five-week spring celebration of the town’s founding in 1962, according to the organizers’ history page. Today it fills downtown with more than 375 booths: handmade crafts, clothing, original art, fall and Christmas decorations, furniture, jewelry, toys, sponsor booths and a lot of food. More than 50 volunteer committees run it.

Two stages run all weekend: the Festival Center stage for bands and dance acts, and a second stage in Parsons Alley for smaller bands and acoustic sets. A free petting zoo with llamas, cows, bunnies and goats sets up at the end of Main Street near City Hall, toward the library.

The weekend, day by day

Saturday

  • 9 a.m.: booths open
  • 10 a.m.: the parade, which the organizers bill as Gwinnett’s largest: school groups, bands, fire trucks, antique cars, local officials, scouts and dancers
  • After the parade: the opening ceremony at the Festival Center amphitheater, honoring the grand marshal
  • 7 p.m.: booths close

Sunday

  • Morning: the Duluth Donut Dash 5K, an AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifier that starts and ends at the Festival Center; proceeds go to Wellroot Family Services
  • Then: a worship service on the Town Green led by Duluth First United Methodist Church
  • 9 a.m.: booths open
  • 5 p.m.: the festival closes

Before the festival weekend, the organizers also sponsor a free Festival Concert at the Festival Center; in 2026 it was Saturday, Sept. 12.

Road closures and the parade route

The parade starts on Main Street near Coleman Middle School, runs south and east to Highway 120, turns south to Buford Highway and ends at Hardy Industrial Boulevard, the parade page says. Streets close by 9:45 a.m. Saturday, so come early.

Shuttles and parking

Parking near the festival is “very limited,” the organizers say, and they recommend the free park-and-ride shuttles. From the 2026 shuttles and parking page:

Shuttle lot Address
Peachtree Ridge High School 1555 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee
Chattahoochee Elementary School 2930 Albion Farm Road, Duluth
Duluth Middle School 3200 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth
  • Shuttles run every 15 minutes and drop off at Coleman Middle School on Main Street.
  • Saturday: 7:45 a.m. to 9 p.m., but no shuttles from 9:45 to 11 a.m. during the parade. For the parade or opening ceremony, reach a lot by 9 a.m.
  • Sunday: 7:45 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from 6:30 a.m. at Chattahoochee Elementary, where Donut Dash runners should park.
  • Other signed lots line Buford Highway from Davenport Road to Rogers Bridge Road.
  • Rideshare: the drop-off is behind Coleman Middle School, entered from Hill Street.
  • Accessible parking: the festival has dedicated spaces, marked on its festival map.

What to know

  • Strollers and wheelchairs: the buses take passengers who are partly mobile, drivers help people on and off, and there is room for wheelchairs and strollers.
  • Car seats: the shuttles are exempt from car seat rules.
  • Pets: not recommended because of heat, limited water and crowds; animals must be leashed. Only service animals may ride the shuttles.
  • Fliers: only sponsor booths may hand out information; no one may walk around passing out fliers.
  • Rain: the organizers have not posted a rain plan.

For other fall outings, see our fall festivals and pumpkin patches page.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Duluth Fall Festival?

Always the last weekend in September, the organizers say. The 2026 festival was Saturday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 2027 dates have not been announced.

Is the Duluth Fall Festival free?

Yes. The festival charges no admission, and the shuttle buses from its park-and-ride lots are free.

What time is the Duluth Fall Festival parade?

10 a.m. Saturday. Streets close by 9:45 a.m., and the shuttles stop from 9:45 to 11 a.m., so the organizers suggest reaching a shuttle lot by 9 a.m.

Where do I park for the Duluth Fall Festival?

At the free shuttle lots: Peachtree Ridge High School, Chattahoochee Elementary School and Duluth Middle School. Shuttles drop off at Coleman Middle School on Main Street.

Can I bring my dog to the Duluth Fall Festival?

The organizers do not recommend pets because of heat, limited water and crowds. Any animal must be leashed, and only service animals may ride the shuttles.