“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 and artisans. There will be a variety of beverages for purchase, stroll the Georgia Grown Member Village, make a bouquet at Emma’s Flower Truck, 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, benefiting SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, will continue through Sunday, so make sure to check it out! If you would like to donate items, please contact Lindsey Dugan: lindseydugan.safepath@cobbcounty.org

Tickets per person: $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, presented by Beam Suntory & Creative Loafing
2:00 – 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 + a Golden Ticket to the World Food Championship Cocktail Challenge in Indianapolis. October 16-19. Additionally, GF+WF will pay for airfare (up to $700)

2nd Place: $500

3rd Place: Prize Package

Meet the Judges

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.

Stephen Steininger, LEAD Hospitality Group Stephen brings a flair for high-style creativity and artisanal craft to our highly-rated beverage programs. His passion for great cocktails, fine wines, and specialty spirits is showcased in the quality and selection guests find every day at Hamp and Harrys. With more than a decade directing and refining beverage operations at LEAD Hospitality Group, his efforts ensure we provide amazing, unforgettable food and drink experiences for every guest.

Rosa Thurnher ~ 2024 Whiskey Cocktail Challenge Winner 2024 World Food Championship Contestant

Rosa Thurnher is a mother, proud Atlantan, and passionate advocate for women and the Latine community. As the visionary owner of El Ponce and Tiendita, Rosa has built a reputation for resilience, creativity, and innovation in the hospitality industry. A graduate of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership program and a board member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, she is committed to creating opportunities for those historically excluded from having a seat at the table. For over a decade, Rosa owned the iconic El Bar, a beloved speakeasy and dance club cherished by Atlantans, until it was shuttered by the pandemic. She and her team revitalized El Ponce in 2016, transforming it into a local favorite with a standout bar program featuring house-made ingredients and premium agave spirits. Now, Rosa is reimagining the former El Bar space once again with the launch of Bar Ana, an innovative dessert cocktail bar in collaboration with acclaimed Chef Claudia Martinez. By day, the space will serve as a coffee shop with a local residency, while by night, it will offer an elevated menu pairing expertly crafted cocktails with exquisite desserts. Meanwhile, Tiendita will relocate to a new space on the property, evolving into a dedicated retail destination focused on fair trade and Latine-owned brands.

“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

In 2018, Chef Leahy opened the Provencal-style restaurant, AIX, and adjoining wine bar, Tin Tin, in Atlanta’s hot West Midtown neighborhood. Both AIX and Tin Tin brought the flavors of his beloved French countryside to Atlanta’s Westside, offering twists on classic Provençal dishes with a Mediterranean flair. At Nick’s Westside, Chef Leahy has created a more approachable, broad-appealed menu that highlights Georgia’s small producers and features fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients. In December 2020, to meet the demand for local meal deliveries and capitalize on the growing trend of ghost kitchens, Chef Leahy launched Chicken Out. This chef-inspired, delivery only chicken concept operates out of Nick’s Westside kitchen and utilizes a Big Green Egg outside of the restaurant to smoke wings.

3:15-3:45 Chef Alejandro Valdivia

Alejandro, also known as A Wild Chef, is a private and adventure chef passionate about live-fire cooking and unforgettable culinary experiences. A Le Cordon Bleu graduate and MasterChef semi-finalist, he has cooked for celebrities and high-profile clients in some of the world’s most amazing locations, all while engaging in domestic and international culinary projects. Follow his journey at @awildchef.

Georgia Grown Chef Stage

12:30-1:00 ~ Joey Ward

Joey Ward is the executive chef and owner of Michelin recommended restaurants Southern Belle and Georgia Boy in Atlanta. An Atlanta native, Joey set his sights on becoming a chef at an early age. He often helped his grandad in the kitchen and spent his childhood Saturday mornings watching PBS cooking shows long after the cartoons ended. He went on to work in professional kitchens as a teen and even skipped prom rather than miss his shift. To no one’s surprise, he then graduated from the CIA in Hyde Park, NY before returning to Atlanta to begin his career in earnest. As a young chef, Joey was mentored by award-winning chef Kevin Gillespie, eventually working side-by-side with him to open Gunshow in 2013. Joey then spent six years as its executive chef, a time when he began to showcase his inventive flavor combinations, trademark whimsy, culinary humor, keen eye for presentation, and true passion for leading a business built around the people not just the bottom line.

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 ~ Chelsia Ogletree

Chef Chelsia opened “Her Majesty” a full service restaurant, bakery + bar in 2020 and is located at 94 E. Adams St, Ste. 4, Forsyth GA 31029. Her Majesty provides curated culinary experiences to foodies near and far, as well as catering for businesses, weddings and special events. Her Majesty Kitchen has become one of Middle Georgia’s Best Restaurants, serving not only locals but travelers from near and far. Her Majesty has contributed to countless Monroe County School organization events, Non-profit organizations like Jay’s Hope, Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer, Otis Redding Foundation and more.

2:45 – 3:15 ~ Carlos Gunderson

Carlos A. Granderson is the Chef d’Cuisine at the award-winning Southern National Restaurant in Atlanta, GA. He began is career early, by excelling in the culinary arts program offered at his high school in Mobile AL. He received on the job training through a competitive internship at Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL, where he was the first – and still only – student offered a dual internship in both Culinary Arts and Baking/Pastry. Chef Carlos honed his skills and expanded his expertise at Virginia College in Mobile, AL. where he graduated with a diploma in both culinary arts and baking and pastry. While there, he earned accolades such as the President’s List, Dean’s List, and Perfect Attendance Award. Carlos has focused his career on fine dining, working at highly-respected establishments such as The Noble South and The Hope Farm in Fairhope, AL. He joined Southern National and was part of the opening team that was recognized by the New York Times, Esquire magazine and The James Beard Foundation, which names the restaurant a finalist for the coveted award.

Live Music Stage, sponsored by Superior Plumbing

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.

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.

Cubano Cigar Lounge

Grab a beverage and relax in our outdoor cigar lounge with an exceptional selection of vintage Cuban and New World cigars. Each Cubano Cigar has its own unique blend aroma that will carry you subliminally back into Cuban Cigar history on the island of Key West.