Atlanta's Cabbagetown neighborhood has a Halloween tradition that's hard to beat, and the 2026 edition is just around the corner. Chomp and Stomp returns on Saturday, November 7, taking over Cabbagetown Park for a full day of food, music and community activities. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the chili service kicking off at 12:30 p.m. sharp, and admission to the outdoor music festival is free, though food and drinks are sold on-site.
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The centerpiece is the chili cook-off, which draws more than 100 entries from amateur teams and local restaurants. To taste your way through it, you'll need an official spoon, which you can pick up in advance at Little's Food Store, Sweet Cheats, Mikkelson's Market, or Emerald City Bagels, or buy at the festival itself. Each booth hands you a compostable tasting cup, so you can sample as many as you like. Around it, there's a Romp 5K run that winds through historic Cabbagetown, live bluegrass and roots music spread across multiple stages, and an artist market with local vendors. The festival also keeps a nod to the neighborhood's history, honoring former residents like Fiddlin' John Carson, guitarist Moonshine Kate and folk activist Joyce Brookshire.
It's a family-friendly day, so all ages are welcome, though alcohol is limited to guests 21 and over with a valid ID. A couple of things are worth knowing before you head over: pets aren't allowed because of a city ordinance, and outside food and drinks are discouraged. Parking is limited, so the organizers ask you not to drive and instead take public transport, a scooter, a rideshare, a bike or just walk in. There's a rideshare drop-off and bicycle valet point at 97 Estoria, on the south side of the Krog Street Tunnel, which makes it easy to leave the car at home.
Behind the scenes, the festival does some real good for the neighborhood. It's run by the Cabbagetown Initiative Community Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit set up in 1999 to look after Cabbagetown Park, the Cabbagetown Community Center and the Cabbagetown Community Garden. About 75% of the money raised goes straight into maintaining the neighborhood's parks, which cost somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000 a year to keep up. Since it first launched in 2003, Chomp and Stomp has grown into one of Atlanta's best-known neighborhood festivals, now drawing around 30,000 guests.
If you're planning to run the Romp 5K, registration is $35 before September 15, $40 from September 15 to October 20 and $45 after that. Packet pick-up runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6 at the Cabbagetown Community Center at 177 Estoria St SE, which also serves as a hub for the neighborhood year-round. Between the chili, the music and the market, it's a great way to spend a Saturday in one of Atlanta's most historic districts.
Published Date
30 October 2026
