Acworth, GA Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

Article IV of Chapter 58, adopted by Ordinance No. 2009-12A on August 6, 2009, sets the rules for 'festivals,' defined in Section 58-92 as programs of cultural or entertainment events open to the public that take place fully or partly on public streets, thoroughfares, parks, squares or other public property, but only once the mayor and board of aldermen formally designates the event as a festival. Section 58-93 lets the board designate community festival days on the city manager's recommendation, and Section 58-94 requires the board to define the specific 'festival area' in that same designating resolution.

Within the festival area, the board can authorize one or more 'controlled zones' under Section 58-95, where the city manager may require wristbands for entry, bar entrants carrying weapons, alcohol, pets or bicycles, require age-verification wristbands before anyone can hold or buy alcohol, mandate that alcohol be served only in non-glass disposable cups, and bar carrying alcoholic beverages into or out of the zone; any organization running activities in a controlled zone must also carry a special events liability policy naming the city as an additional insured.

Section 58-96 lets the designating resolution set the specific hours alcohol may be sold. Section 58-97 requires every vendor pouring alcohol to hold a City of Acworth pouring license, or have completed the temporary pouring license application under Section 6-29, plus a State of Georgia alcohol license, before the event date. Section 58-98 requires organizers to obtain a permit application from the parks and recreation department or the designated festival manager before conducting the event at all.