SUPERIOR PLUMBING KENNESAW/BIG SHANTY FESTIVAL
Celebrating 49 years
The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History sits at the center of the festival. This Smithsonian-affiliated Museum is home to the famous “General” locomotive and encompasses the history of the downtown Kennesaw area.
While at the Superior Plumbing Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival take time to wander through more than 200 booths featuring a vast array of one-of-a-kind homemade crafts. Be sure to check out the Georgia Grown Member Village on Watts Drive. Don’t forget the Kid’s Zone with inflatables, big and small, for kids of all ages.
Free entertainment is on the event menu this year. Ready Go Dog Show will perform at the new city amphitheater Noon, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with acoustic music in between shows. Peter Hart of Atlanta Puppetry appeals to everyone in the audience with unique marionettes and puppet characters. Patrons will enjoy interacting with Peter & his puppets through musical and comical performances.
In the parking lot, adjacent to 1885 Grill on Main Street there will be a Food Court featuring live music both Saturday & Sunday from the spectacular Scott Thompson. In addition, this area will feature a Big Screen TV and the Masters Golf Tournament.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a festival without outstanding local entertainment and all your favorite “festival foods”. Entertainment will include some of Kennesaw’s most talented residents performing, local dance and demonstration teams, school chorus groups, and many more community groups on the Local Entertainment Stage.
The 49th annual Superior Plumbing Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival April 12 and 13 falls on the week of Spring Break for Cobb County. Due to the lack of participation in the kick-off parade we have elected to cancel for this year. We will still have a robust festival where the downtown Kennesaw area is transformed into a giant family-friendly event. All booths sold out in record time this year. There are plenty of activities to entertain all ages.
The Superior Plumbing Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival is held in downtown Kennesaw on both sides of Main Street (Highway 293) and is co-sponsored by the City of Kennesaw and the Kennesaw Business Association (a non-profit organization). The hours of operation are 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., on Saturday, April 12, and noon-5:00 p.m., on Sunday, April 13. Admission is FREE. For more information call Missy Miller at 770-423-1330.
Editor’s Note: One of the high lights of Kennesaw’s history is the stealing of the General Locomotive by Andrews Raiders on April 12, 1862. The Big Shanty Festival’s purpose in the beginning was to recognize and celebrate Kennesaw’s history. This Saturday, April 12 2025 will be 163 years since the stealing of the locomotive.
