City of Cartersville - City Hall

🎨 Calling all artists, makers, and creators! Arts & Crafts Vendor applications are OPEN for the Cartersville Fall Festival 2026! 🍂

The 2nd Annual Cartersville Fall Festival is coming to Dellinger Park on October 24, from 4–8 PM, and we’re looking for arts & crafts vendors to be part of it!

Vendor spaces are limited, and each application will be individually reviewed as we work to put together a great mix of vendors and products for festival guests to enjoy. Our goal is to create an Arts & Crafts area filled with unique finds and talented local makers.

Applications are open through September 4, and the vendor fee is $40 for one 10' x 10' space. Applying does not guarantee acceptance, and registration may close early if all available spaces are filled.

👉 Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/262224732180046

📸 "Sunshine" by Jonathan Cothran 📸

August's featured City Calendar photo captures a peaceful moment at Dellinger Park. Taken by Jonathan Cothran, "Sunshine" features a pair of mallards by the pond, with one stretching its wings in the morning sun. 🦆☀️

Thank you to Jonathan Cothran and all of the photographers whose images help make this year's City Calendar so beautiful.

📅 Be sure to check back next month as we continue sharing the photos featured throughout this year's City Calendar!

🚧 Weekend Events in Downtown Cartersville 🚧

There’s plenty happening in Downtown Cartersville this weekend! If you’re heading downtown, expect increased pedestrian activity around Friendship Plaza and the surrounding area. Here’s what’s going on:

🎶 Worship on the Square
📍 Friendship Plaza
📅 August 14 | 7-9pm
Gather in Friendship Plaza for an evening of live worship, prayer, and community. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair and enjoy the evening downtown.

🍅 Cartersville Farmers Market
📍 Tabernacle Church Parking Lot
📅 August 15 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Start your Saturday shopping fresh produce, baked goods, handmade items, and more from local farmers, artisans, and vendors.

🛍️ Legacy Launch & Black Business Pop-Up
📍 Friendship Plaza
📅 August 15
Legacy Launch | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Hosted by the Northwest Georgia Minority Business Association, Legacy Launch will give local business owners an opportunity to celebrate their businesses and milestones.
Black Business Pop-Up | 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Stick around for an afternoon of shopping and supporting Black-owned businesses and local vendors.

Please use caution when traveling through Downtown Cartersville, watch for pedestrians, and allow a little extra time when visiting the area. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend!

🏠 Front Porch Friday 🏠

This month, we're featuring Kelley Dial, President of the Cartersville City Schools Board of Education, whose lifelong commitment to serving the Cartersville community reflects a legacy of leadership, dedication, and hometown pride.

Born and raised in Cartersville, Kelley is a 1979 graduate of Cartersville High School. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Berry College in 1983 before graduating from the Georgia State School of Law in 1990. Since then, she has practiced law in Cartersville and currently serves as the Chief Assistant Public Defender for the Cherokee Judicial Circuit.

In 2000, Kelley was appointed to the Cartersville Board of Education to fill an unexpired term. Twenty-six years later, she continues to serve the community's students and families, now as Board President. Her years of service mirror those of her father, Edsel Dean, who served twenty-six years on the Cartersville City Council, continuing a family legacy of public service that spans generations.

Kelley and her husband, Bill, have been married for 43 years and have one son, Alex, who is also a graduate of Cartersville High School. She is an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, where she sings in the choir and serves in numerous leadership roles. She also serves on the Cartersville School Foundation, the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, and is a former board member of both the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce and the Good Shepherd Foundation. Kelley is also a graduate of the Chamber's Adult Leadership Program.

When asked what makes Cartersville feel like home, Kelley shared:

"I've lived in Cartersville my entire life, but I've stayed because I wanted to—not because I had to. This community has given me every opportunity to learn, to serve, and to raise a family, and I've always believed the best way to say 'thank you' is to give something back. My father served this city for twenty-six years, and I've now had the privilege of serving our schools for twenty-six years. That's a coincidence in numbers, but not in values. Cartersville is a place where people show up for one another. We care deeply about our schools, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our future. There really is something special about this place, and I can't imagine calling anywhere else home."

We are grateful for Kelley's decades of service and leadership and for the lasting impact she continues to make in the Cartersville community.💜

Don't forget to mark your calendar for a Walk in the Park!

🚔🍎 It's been one week since the first day of school, so we'd like to introduce the officers serving our Cartersville City Schools this year!

Officer Veiga, Sergeant First Class Windsor, Officer Davis, and Officer Tucker are dedicated to keeping our students safe, building meaningful connections, and supporting our schools each and every day.

Thank you for all you do for our students, staff, and community! 💜

🚧 Road Closure Notice: Church Street 🚧

Beginning Wednesday, August 12, Church Street will be closed from North Erwin Street to Elizabeth Street while crews complete work in the area.

Traffic control and detour signage will be in place to help drivers navigate around the closure. The work is expected to be completed within 2-3 days.

Please use caution in the area and allow extra time when traveling nearby. We appreciate your patience as this work is completed.

Last night, Mayor Matt Santini signed a proclamation recognizing August 2026 as National Black Business Month in the City of Cartersville.

The proclamation honors the historic legacy of Conyers Alley, one of Cartersville's original Black business and cultural districts, and recognizes the generations of entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders whose dedication helped shape our city's history.

The City also recognized the Northwest Georgia Minority Business Association (NWGAMBA) for its continued work supporting Black-owned businesses and expanding economic opportunities throughout the region.

During the meeting, NWGAMBA President Shaylan Johnson reflected on the importance of continuing that legacy, sharing:
"As we reflect through this rich history, may we continue to uplift one another, investing in our black-owned businesses, as well as continuing to pave a way for the future generation that is to come."

As we observe National Black Business Month, we encourage our community to honor the legacy of Conyers Alley and celebrate the contributions of Black-owned businesses throughout Cartersville.

💧 Learning how clean water gets to our community!

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of welcoming two local homeschool students to the City of Cartersville Water Department Complex for a behind-the-scenes tour of our water labs.

During their visit, they met our lab analysts, learned how our team tests and monitors water quality, and got a firsthand look at the important work that goes into providing safe, reliable drinking water for our community every day.

Thank you for spending the day with us! We hope you enjoyed learning more about the work happening behind the scenes to serve Cartersville. 💙