Johns Creek's Fall Festivals Left the City Hall Parking Lot. Here's Their New Home.

Last October, Johns Creek's Diwali Market was held at City Hall at 11360 Lakefield Drive, a one-day run of vendors and entertainment from 2 to 7 p.m. Two Decembers in a row, the Holly Jolly Block Party lit its 40-foot tree at the same address. As Appen Media reported, many of the city's events took place in City Hall's parking lot.

This year those gatherings move a short walk east, to terraced turf, a bandshell and a pond. The Boardwalk at Town Center had its ribbon cutting on May 8, 2026, so this is its first fall and holiday season. The city's own event pages show more than a change of address. Dates, start times and formats are changing as each event settles into the park.

What the city built behind City Hall

The city's park page describes a 20-acre property next to City Hall, bordered by Medlock Bridge Road and running between Johns Creek Parkway and East Johns Crossing. Its features include a 15-foot-wide elevated trail, a bandshell and amphitheater, terraced seating, pond overlooks and pedestrian plazas. Earlier city releases put the site at 21 acres. The current park page says 20.

Ground was broken on Aug. 23, 2024, back when the project was still called Creekside Park. The wetland also has a job beyond scenery. According to the city, the constructed wetland is designed to improve water quality and provide regional stormwater detention, including for future Town Center development. Appen reported the project cost at $39 million. An Atlanta Business Chronicle headline from 2024 put it at $36 million.

The event design shows in the layout. Appen described turf terraces stepping down to a stage, with speakers and seating along the water, for a capacity of about 4,000 people. Assistant City Manager Chris Haggard explained the thinking to the paper this way:

"The plan was, 'Hey, let's have a gathering space for the public where we can do concerts and events.' In our case, it happens to be at a pond."

In the same article, city officials called the Boardwalk the intended heart of the 192-acre Town Center district. Communications Director Bob Mullen told Appen, "Nobody's building anything like this right there in their downtown."

Three events, three different moves

Placing the city's event listings for the last three years side by side shows what changed.

Diwali changed the most. It has gone from a two-day daytime market in 2024 to a one-day afternoon market in 2025. The 2026 Diwali Celebration falls nearly four weeks later on the calendar, runs into the evening, and adds a 7 p.m. drone-and-light show over the park. It is free, with food, retail vendors and performances.

The holiday party now starts later as well. The 2026 Holly Jolly Block Party runs Friday, Dec. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. It keeps Santa and the 40-foot tree lighting and adds local choirs and cocoa. The 2024 version opened at 4 p.m. The 2025 version opened at 5.

The arts festival got a new name. In city committee minutes from May 20, 2026, the City Arts Festival was described as "reimagined and rebranded" as Johns Creek Arts on the Boardwalk. The free Sept. 26 event included artisans, local authors, performances, student art and a kids' art area hosted by The Art Center. Appen's recap said it drew hundreds.

What the first summer showed about big nights

The fall events will be the park's first cold-weather test, but the summer gave the city some numbers. A city Recreation and Parks update counted 2,500 people at the May 8 opening concert and 2,000 at the June 12 movie and soccer watch party. Both crowds fit within the roughly 4,000-person capacity Appen reported. The 2026 summer concert series split its shows between the Boardwalk and Newtown Park.

Based on how the city ran its summer events, here is what to expect on a festival night:

• Parking: For the May 8 concert, the city opened City Hall plus three nearby lots on Lakefield Drive and Johns Creek Parkway. For July 3, it added ADA parking at Life Time Fitness, rideshare drop-off and pick-up instructions, and a live parking-availability map. None of the event pages the city published this summer mentioned a shuttle.
• Drinks: At concerts, beer and wine were sold on site, and outside alcohol wasn't allowed.
• Dogs: Citywide park rules require leashes outside designated areas. For the July 3 event, the city barred pets other than service animals, so check each event page before bringing a dog.
• Getting in on foot: The pedestrian path to the park starts to the left of City Hall's front entrance.

The fall calendar that stayed in place

Several of Johns Creek's fall traditions haven't moved. Autrey Mill, The Art Center and Cauley Creek Park each hold their events on their own grounds. The police department's Halloween night remains at City Hall. Here is what's left between now and mid-November, in date order:

1. Oct. 17, 6–7:30 p.m.: The Art Center's free closing reception for Beyond Borders II: Global Voices, at 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road, Building 700.
2. Oct. 21, 6–8 p.m.: The Johns Creek Police Department's free Trunk or Treat at City Hall, with candy, food trucks and family activities.
3. Oct. 24, 6–8 p.m.: Autrey Mill Nature Preserve's adults-only Ghosts & Goblins Gala at 9770 Autrey Mill Road, with food, drinks and a silent auction. It follows the preserve's Spooky Mill on Oct. 10, which the Visit Johns Creek calendar described as its 17th year.
4. Oct. 25: The Running of the Pumpkins 5K at Cauley Creek Park, with proceeds going to The Cottage School of Roswell.
5. Oct. 26–Nov. 20: The Art Center's Fall Student & Member Exhibition, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, with an awards reception on Nov. 13.
6. Nov. 7, 4–8 p.m.: The Diwali Celebration at The Boardwalk.
7. Nov. 14, 3–7 p.m.: The Johns Creek Literary Fair at Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road, held in partnership with Arts on the Creek. Registration is free, and a $45 VIP option is available. One Visit Johns Creek listing shows Nov. 14–15, but the city's page lists Nov. 14 only.

Halloween in Johns Creek stays spread across the preserve, the trail and City Hall. Diwali on Nov. 7 is the next big event on the Boardwalk's lawn.

The park on an ordinary weeknight

The park is open from 6 a.m. to midnight every day, not just on event nights. The trail runs about a mile end to end, and the North Pond loop is about half a mile. The trail links into the Town Center sidewalk network. The Medlock Bridge Road pedestrian tunnel, which the city announced as open on Aug. 20, 2026, connects the park and Town Center to restaurants and shops without a crossing at the light.

So a half-mile loop at dusk can end with dinner. The Johns Creek Town Center directory lists First Watch, GAO Fresh Noodle, BBQ Chicken, Chipotle, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Itala Pizza on Medlock Bridge Road. Parking for a weeknight walk is the same as for a festival: the public and ADA spaces at City Hall.

When the Holly Jolly tree lights on Dec. 4, the crowd will be standing on terraces facing a stage, after the 2024 and 2025 lightings at City Hall, 11360 Lakefield Drive.

If you're curious how Town Center's new public spaces factor into homes nearby, Stovall Properties Group knows the area well. Call or text Sarah for a personalized market consultation.