Early November 2026 Community News: What's New Across NW Metro Atlanta

The week before Election Day is when NW Metro Atlanta turns the corner from fall festivals to the holiday season. Halloween weekend wraps up tonight, the farmers markets are taking their final laps, and Tuesday's election carries SPLOST questions that will shape roads, parks, and schools for a decade. It is also a week when the region's school districts made real news, from Cherokee High School's swift return to class to record AP Scholar honors across Cherokee County.

We track this news every week because a city's restaurants, parks, schools, and public decisions shape both daily life and home values for years. Here is what is happening across Marietta, Acworth, Kennesaw, Woodstock, Canton, Cartersville, and Dallas as October hands off to November.

Marietta: A Louisiana Takeout Spot, a Hotel Rising, and a School Facilities Conversation

New Dining and Construction Keep Moving

Honey's Po'boys and Gumbo, a Louisiana-inspired, mostly-takeout spot from siblings Angela Randolph and Lionel Thomas, was slated to open at 2667 Powder Springs Road SW in early October, bringing more than 20 years of catering experience to a first brick-and-mortar location that honors the owners' late mother, whose nickname was Honey. Around the Square, the 183-room Moxy by Marriott hotel continues rising at 329 Marietta Street, and Accent Marietta, the 247-unit mixed-use development on the former Harry's Crossing site, has broken ground. For families, the free Cobb County Cybersecurity Day 2026 runs Friday, October 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cobb County Civic Center on South Marietta Parkway, a practical workshop on protecting your digital life.

Marietta City Schools Reviews Its Facilities Plan

In October the Marietta City Schools board reviewed changes to its SHP facilities master plan, with construction costs running near $425 per square foot and enrollment declining, opening the door to potential new construction. It is the kind of long-range planning families rarely hear about until it matters, and it pairs with the district's recent wins: Marietta High's Class of 2026 posted a record average ACT composite of 22.4, beating state and national averages for the seventh straight year, on top of a record 95.1 percent graduation rate. Cobb County voters will also decide the $1.15 billion SPLOST renewal on Tuesday, with Marietta's top requests including $13.2 million for citywide street resurfacing, $9.35 million to rebuild Fire Station 55, and $6.25 million for sidewalks and trails.

Acworth: Safe-O-Ween, a Final Farmers Market Stretch, and a Historic Downtown Plan

Safe-O-Ween and the Market's Last Fridays

Acworth closes Halloween week with Safe-O-Ween on Thursday, October 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Acworth Police Department and Acworth Power, Public Works, and Stormwater departments, a free candy stop designed for elementary-aged kids in a safe setting. The Historic Downtown Acworth Farmers Market holds its final Friday market on October 30 from 8 a.m. to noon at Logan Farm Park, with Saturday markets continuing through November 14, and the Acworth Beer & Wine Fest lands at Logan Farm Park on Sunday, November 1 with more than 100 craft beers and wines.

Two 1850s Homes, Public Parking, and New Jobs

The city's Fall 2026 Project Updates, published October 27, describe a major downtown investment that preserves two historic homes, adds public parking, and creates new jobs. The properties are the 1850s-era homes at 4465 Karn Street (the mid-1850s Plantation Plain-style Noland House, featured on the city's historic walking tour) and 4558 Academy Street, which the city purchased in May 2026. City officials have said there are no plans to demolish the homes, and the project is at an early evaluation stage with surveys and public input ahead. For anyone watching Acworth's downtown, it is a clear signal that the city is investing in its history as it grows. Bizarre Coffee Company has also announced a fourth location at 4415 Cherokee Street, and Acworth voters head to the polls Monday, November 2 for the referendum renewing the county's 1% SPLOST.

Kennesaw: The Collier Building Moves Forward, a Coffee Shop Arrives, and a Landmark Closes

A 1903 Landmark, a New Coffee Shop, and a Parking Plan

The revival of the circa-1903 J. G. Lewis / Collier Building at 2881 N. Main Street keeps moving. The operators behind Kennesaw Tap & Market revealed updated construction plans on October 12 for a multi-floor food hall, taprooms, and a third-floor event venue, and as of October 21 they were filing a state loan and financing application, with an opening expected in 2027. To support the project, the city plans to demolish the former downtown library at 2250 Lewis Street and build a 48-space public parking lot. Meanwhile, Myth & Legend, an Atlanta-area coffee shop known for house-made syrups and fresh-roasted coffee, announced on October 9 that it will open a Kennesaw location in November 2026, adding another reason to spend an afternoon downtown.

A Closure, Strong Schools, and the SPLOST Vote

Not every story downtown is an opening: Hooters at 2102 Old 41 Highway NW closed permanently on October 7 as the chain restructures under bankruptcy, a reminder that even national brands feel pressure in this environment. On the schools side, Kennesaw Mountain High School's Class of 2026 posted ACT scores above state and national averages, announced October 20, alongside a 96.5 percent graduation rate. And the 2028 SPLOST on Tuesday's ballot, with its proposed Cherokee Street closure in front of the Southern Museum, downtown walkability upgrades, and a new community center, remains the biggest civic question for anyone weighing a move here. The Nightmare on Main 5K closes the Grand Prix series on Halloween night.

Woodstock: Halloween Weekend, Record AP Honors, and a Mill District Taking Shape

A Big Halloween Weekend Downtown

The Scarecrow Invasion lines downtown through November 1, Ghouls Night Out, the fourth annual downtown trick-or-treating event, runs Friday, October 30 from 4 to 7 p.m., and Halloween Skelebration, a free family celebration with costumes, treats, carnival games, mini golf, crafts, and live music, takes over the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater on Saturday, October 31 from 4 to 8 p.m. Looking ahead, mark Holiday Sip + Shop on November 19 and the Cozy Crawl on December 5 for downtown holiday shopping.

Schools and the Mill District Keep Delivering

Cherokee County students earned 1,705 AP Scholar and Capstone honors for 2026, announced October 26, up from about 1,500 a year earlier, and the school board earned state recognition for governance excellence on October 22. The Publix-anchored Woodstock Mill District remains on track for its spring 2027 opening, with tenants now taking possession of their spaces to begin fit-out, and the roughly 79-percent-leased lineup includes Sydel's Coffee, Super Chix Chicken & Custard, Three Dollar Café, Club Pilates, PetFolk, E's Barber Shop, Dentists at Woodstock Mill, and Allure Nail Bar.

Canton: Cherokee High Back in Class, a New Chicken Salad Chick, and Pearidge Progress

Cherokee High School Returns to Normal After a Foiled Plot

On October 27-28, Canton police and Cherokee County School District police announced the arrest of three people in an alleged conspiracy targeting Cherokee High School: a juvenile Canton resident and former Cherokee High student, 17-year-old Shane Keith Taylor of Metter, and 21-year-old Michael Brandon Terry of Chatsworth, California, all charged with conspiracy to commit murder. The FBI identified threatening social media posts and alerted district police on October 19. Authorities said there was no ongoing threat, firearms and ammunition were seized, and classes resumed October 28. It is a sobering story, but also one about how quickly the district, local police, and federal partners worked together, and Cherokee High students were back in class the next day.

New Dining and a Community Center Hub

Chicken Salad Chick is opening at 6391 Hickory Flat Highway in the Hickory Flat Commons Shopping Center, adding another family-friendly dining option to the east side of Canton. The City Council's October 15 approval of the roughly 68.5-acre Pearidge Road mixed-use development includes a donated parcel for a future community center hub, with plans for 11 single-family homes and up to about 29,000 square feet of community center space, plus a heritage memorial for the historic Pearidge community. This weekend, the Friday Night Live Halloween Rock Concert with Star 69 plays The Mill on Etowah on October 30, and Cherokee County students are part of the same 1,705-student AP Scholar class announced this week.

Cartersville: A Middle School Renovation Nears a Decision and Downtown Settles Back In

The Middle School Renovation Takes Its Next Step

The Cartersville Middle School renovation is moving through the city's careful, deliberate process: at its October 8 meeting the Board of Education narrowed construction-manager finalists to Parrish Construction Company and R.K. Redding Construction Inc., with a construction-manager candidate expected at the November meeting. It is one of the district's biggest capital projects, and families moving to Bartow County will want to watch it. Both Cartersville City Schools and Bartow County Schools graduated the Class of 2026 at rates above Georgia's record 88.5 percent statewide average, with Bartow County posting a 94.7 percent four-year rate.

Downtown Settles Back In

Main Street between Erwin Street and South Public Square has reopened after crews stabilized the historic Cartersville School of Ballet building at 43 S. Public Square, which shed bricks on October 6. The new Recreation Center at 640 North Tennessee Street is open for its first full season of basketball, gymnastics, and indoor walking, and Culver's continues construction at 5000 GA-20 near the Savoy Automobile Museum. The 2nd annual Cartersville Fall Festival wrapped at Dellinger Park on October 24, and the holiday calendar is already taking shape downtown.

Dallas: Early Voting Ends Friday and New Apartments Rise on Highway 278

A Growing Rental Pipeline and New Dining

The Henley, a 324-unit garden-style apartment community along Highway 278 in Dallas, is underway from TRG Residential, joining the District at Dallas mixed-use project as the city's housing pipeline keeps expanding. The restaurant scene keeps adding names too: a new Hardee's announced a grand opening in Dallas, Melt Yard is preparing its second location in the former car dealership on West Memorial Drive, the McDonald's at Ridge Road and Bakers Bridge Road continues under construction, and The City Menus' late-October openings list for the South Paulding and Villa Rica area includes Agnes Caribbean Cuisine, PITA, Taco Bell, and Whataburger. Combined with WellStar Paulding's roughly $300 million expansion, the signals of a community investing in itself keep coming.

Voting, Schools, and the Christmas Parade

Early voting ends Friday, October 30 in Paulding County, with Election Day on Tuesday, November 3. The Paulding County Board of Education held its Board Recognitions ceremony on October 27, capping a fall in which the district earned the highest recognition from the Georgia School Boards Association for the seventh consecutive year and reported SAT scores above state and national averages. And the 34th Annual Invitational Dallas Christmas Parade, hosted by the Paulding County Rotary Club, is set for Saturday, December 5, a strong reason for new residents to plan a downtown visit this holiday season.

On the Ballot: Tuesday, November 3 and the Decisions That Shape Communities

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and early voting ends Friday, October 30 in every county we serve. Beyond the candidates, Georgia voters will weigh three statewide constitutional amendments. Locally, Cobb County voters will decide the $1.15 billion SPLOST renewal that funds roads, sidewalks, stormwater, parks, libraries, and public safety facilities from 2028 through 2033 (Acworth's November 2 referendum mirrors the county question, and Kennesaw's share includes the Cherokee Street closure, downtown walkability upgrades, and a new community center), Cherokee County voters will weigh the SB 407 school-tax homestead exemption, and Paulding County voters will see no county SPLOST or referendum on the ballot this cycle. These votes decide the pace of trails, parks, and classrooms for the next decade, which is why we watch them closely for our clients.

Why This Matters for Buyers and Sellers

The details of a community's everyday life are what actually decide whether a home feels right. A city preserving two 1850s homes tells you it values its history. A school district responding swiftly to a threat tells you families are protected. A SPLOST list tells you where a city is investing next. Those signals matter for your resale value and for your day-to-day happiness.

That is why we track these stories every week and verify every detail before we publish. Our clients rely on us to know the numbers and the nuance, what is under construction and what is opening next month. If you are thinking about a change, we would love to sit down and share what we are seeing in the community that fits your life.

Have a great day.