“Sunday/Funday”
Sponsored by Atlanta News First

Sunday ~ March 23, 2025

• 12:00 - 5:00 pm

Location: JIM R. MILLER PARK

MARIETTA, GEORGIA

Official Automotive:

A fantastic festival finale sponsored by Atlanta News First, with live music and a variety of delectable restaurants, farmers, artisans, and food trucks. There will be a variety of beverages for purchase, stroll the Georgia Grown Member Village, check out the Audi Marietta display, see what’s cooking on the Georgia Grown and Celebrity Chef stages AND the Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail Challenge! A family friendly event with something for everybody in the family, including a free Kids Zone. There will be a variety of adult beverages available for purchase, including beer, wine and cocktails. Adult tickets also include 10 tasting credits (5 Tokens).

The Silent Auction, benefitting SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, will continue through Sunday, so make sure to check it out!

Tickets per person: $15 Early Bird | $20 Winter Rate (Jan/Feb) | $25 March/Gate

Children 12 and Under Free

Event Type: Indoor/Outdoor, Rain or shine.

Attire & Info: Casual attire, family friendly.

Free kids’ zone courtesy of Fun-Fare

Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail Challenge
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Eight of the area’s best bartenders and mixologists will be competing for the title of “Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail!” Chosen bartenders must create a signature cocktail featuring either Basil Hayden, Jim Beam Black or Knob Creek/Knob Creek Rye as the primary spirit ingredient, and no other whiskey brand. Participants will be provided with product to create their beverage.

Eight (8) contestants will be selected and notified via email. The competition will be professionally judged.

1st Place: $1,500

2nd Place: $500

3rd Place: Prize Package

Meet the Judges

Garn McCown, 2022 Whiskey Cocktail Challenge Winner: Born and raised in Atlanta, Garn McCown worked his way through high school and college at Georgia Tech in restaurants and bars as early as 14-years-old. He began his spirits career in small restaurants, dive bars, and clubs, where he continually strived to learn and grow. This fueled his passion for craft cocktails, quality spirits, ingredients, and cutting-edge techniques. Garn truly began his craft cocktail endeavors at Bluepointe in the Buckhead Financial District of Atlanta, continuing to grow and learn at both high-volume and craft programs with Kimpton Hotels, Seed Kitchen and Bar, Marriott Hotels, The Pool Hall, The Aviary, and Gypsy Kitchen & The Southern Gentleman.

Matty McKniff, 2023 Whiskey Cocktail Challenge Winner With a passion for crafting exceptional cocktails, Matty McKniff has honed their craft in diverse cities, including Atlanta, Denver, Charleston, and most recently Louisville. Beyond mixing drinks, he is a dedicated leader, known for his ability to inspire and elevate teams. Matty is committed to fostering stronger bartending communities, driven by a desire to share knowledge and promote excellence in the field.

“Georgia Celebrity Chef Stage”

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:

12:15-12:45 ~ Chef Robert Butts

Chef Robert Butts has had the opportunity to share his culinary
talents with many top named and respected Chefs and restaurants. He has grown from a prep cook to an Executive Chef. Winning many awards including two-time winner of Taste of Atlanta, Heritage fire Atlanta Champion ,winner of Southwest Brunch Fest, best dish twice Culinary Fight Club Champion, King of the Kitchen Winner of Atlanta, one of the Top 10 Up and coming chefs from Nola Farm to table, Atlanta Brunch Fest winner, Fish House Live Winner, James Beard Burger Battle Champion. Chef Butts inspires a new wave of southern food with his peers. So much more in the works for this man and he lives by what he always quotes ,“Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are foot prints on the moon”

1:00-1:30 ~ Chef Jernard Wells

Jernard Wells is an award-winning TV host, celebrity chef, and bestselling cookbook author. He is the host of New Soul Kitchen and New Soul Kitchen Remix on CLEO TV and is best known from numerous Food Network shows. Wells is also a contributor on The Best Things I Ever Ate on Cooking Channel and Food Fantasies on Oprah Winfrey Network. He has worked with Tyler Perry, TV One founder Cathy Hughes, NBA Allstar Brandon Ingram, Tom Joyner, Bobby Brown, and Bel Biv Devoe, to name a few. He has been featured on/in TODAY, People magazine, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Rickey Smiley Morning Show, ESSENCE, Daily Blast Live, Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, HLN, and more. The James Beard House Honored Chef is a 2-time Telly Award winner and Taste Award winner. Wells is affectionately called “The Family Chef.”

1:45-2:15 ~ Chef Shawn Osbey

Chef Shawn’s culinary journey is a vibrant tapestry woven through TV outlets like the Food Network’s Chopped,
the OWN network show Checked Inn, and ABC’s Good Morning America, showcasing his innovative flair
worldwide. He has been featured in publications such as Ebony magazine, Houston Chronicle, Houston Style
Magazine, and Eater Houston, as these articles delve into the depth of Chef Shawn’s culinary contributions. The
spotlight also extends to his participation in events like the Honeyland Festival and the Beauté Noir Festival,
reflecting his diverse and dynamic approach. Notably, Chef Shawn served as the executive chef and general
manager for the iconic Kulture Restaurant’s downtown Houston reopening, marking a pivotal moment in his
career.

2:30-3:00 ~ Chef Nick Leahy

Georgia Grown Member Demo Stage

12:30-1:00 ~

1:15-1:45 ~ Chef Lauren Bolden, Owner Pie Bar

Lauren Bolden started Pie Bar, a retail pie bakery, with only four recipes and zero business
experience in 2015. Since then, Pie Bar has grown to include two pie shops in vibrant
Downtown Communities: Pie Bar Woodstock + Pie Bar Marietta in addition to Pie Bar’s
Commissary Kitchen in Kennesaw, Georgia.
She currently oversees the daily operations at Pie Bar, writes recipes (for Pie Bar and others),
teaches baking classes, and generally finds ways to get people to eat more pie.
Lauren was named one of six Georgia Grown Executive Chefs for the State of Georgia in 2024.
Lauren and Pie Bar have been featured in Southern Living, Taste of the South Magazine,
Draper James, Forbes, Food Network, Cooking Channel, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, ATL Live, and as a recurring guest on Atlanta & Company.

2:00-2:30 ~

2:45- 3:15 ~

Live Music Stage

Main Stage, 12:00 – 2:00 Acoustic, J. Scott Thompson

J. Scott Thompson is an audience favorite endearing himself to crowds nationwide (and quite a few in England!) with his warm, easy going personality, powerful voice, and fresh style of Americana songwriting. Pulling from his Southern roots, Thompson writes from the heart and speaks to the soul with songs influenced by his Dad’s record collection of James Brown, Sam Cooke, The Beatles, and Otis Redding. A prolific songwriter and captivating performer, Thompson combines a southerner’s knack for storytelling with a dose of southern charm making lifelong friends and loyal fans wherever he goes.

Official Grocer ~ Publix

New in 2025: Emma’s Flower Truck

The little ‘66 Chevy flower truck of Marietta GA supplies a bed full of beautiful fresh cut flowers! You can build your own bouquets, purchase pre-made bouquets (fresh or dried), or even choose 1-2 of your favorite flowers to wrap and take home.