The Great Gwinnett Unwind: Costumes, Cocktails & Chaos

From haunted lawns to bourbon-fueled nights — this weekend’s got range.

Author

Travis Cooper
October 23, 2025

Weekend ROI: Return on Interesting

Here’s the deal: the world’s on fire, your inbox is feral, and your screen time is embarrassing. The antidote? Real life. This weekend, Gwinnett’s serving it up—no algorithms required.

Lawrenceville’s turning the dial to chaotic good with BOO Fest and haunted pub crawls that pair local beer with local ghosts. Duluth’s going full Halloween catwalk with Howl on the Green—part costume contest, part fever dream. Out in Lilburn, they’re throwing a fall festival at a water plant because, apparently, we’re all thirsty for community.

Not into crowds? There’s Goat Yoga, where you can namaste while a farm animal judges your core strength. Or the Lights Fest at Lanier Islands, for people who want serenity, selfies, and possibly enlightenment—ideally all before 9 PM.

The ROI? Presence. You can’t doomscroll while holding a flashlight, a cocktail, or a baby goat.

Go outside. Touch some fall air. Remind your dopamine what the real world looks like.

– Coop

Caffeinated. Opinionated. Over-Spiced (Probably).

Welcome to the corner of the internet where logic takes a backseat to latte foam art. We’re not here to shame your seasonal addictions—we’re here to question them. Pumpkin spice in August? Candles named “Cozy Flannel Dream”? Let’s talk about it.

This isn’t about caffeine. It’s about conviction.

Cast your vote. Confess your PSL sins. Or silently sip from your branded tumbler pretending you’re above it all—we know the truth.

Is Pumpkin Spice Season Getting Out of Hand?

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Excited Pumpkin Spice GIF by Starbucks

Gif by theoffice on Giphy

🎯 FRIDAY – October 24

Lawrenceville
🎃 6th Annual BOO Fest
The city’s front lawn goes full Halloween — candy, costumes, chaos, and community. Bring kids, or just your inner one.
📍 Lawrenceville Lawn | ⏰ 6:00 – 9:00 PM
🔗 Event Details

Duluth
🐾 Howl on the Green
Downtown Duluth channels Halloween meets Comic-Con: costumes, food, and the best people-watching north of I-285.
📍 Duluth Town Green | ⏰ 6:00 – 9:30 PM
🔗 Event Details

🎯 SATURDAY – October 25

Lilburn
🎭 Trick or Treatment Fall Festival
Only Gwinnett could turn a water facility tour into a Halloween block party — crafts, games, free food, and full-costume energy.
📍 Yellow River Water Reclamation Facility | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
🔗 Event Details

Snellville
🎪 Snellville Fall Festival
Pumpkin spice meets small-town pride: live music, kids’ zone, local eats, and every flavor of funnel cake.
📍 Snellville Towne Green | ⏰ 12:00 – 6:00 PM
🔗 Event Details

Dacula
🏃 Thriller Lake 12/6/3 Hour & Trick-or-Treat Fun Run
Endurance race or candy run — your call. Either way, expect costumes, adrenaline, and questionable footwear choices.
📍 Little Mulberry Park (Miller Lake Loop) | ⏰ 9:00 AM Start / Fun Run ~ 6:30 PM
🔗 Event Info

Lawrenceville
🍰 Cakefairy Halloween Cake & Sip Experience
Decorate spooky cakes. Drink something fun. Leave with sugar highs and frosting regrets.
📍 Painting with a Twist – Lawrenceville | ⏰ 7:00 – 9:00 PM
🔗 Event Details

Buford
💡 The Lights Fest at Lanier Islands
The lakeside glow-up you didn’t know you needed — lanterns, live music, and an absurd number of selfies.
📍 Lanier Islands Resort | ⏰ 4:00 – 9:00 PM
🔗 Event Details

🎯 SUNDAY – October 26

Suwanee
🛍️ Suwanee Farmers & Artisan Market
A pre-brunch stroll through local produce, handmade crafts, and enough candles to out-aroma a Bath & Body Works.
📍 Town Center Park | ⏰ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🔗 Event Details

Buford
🎺 Georgia Marching Band Classic
Precision, drums, brass — like football halftime but with purpose.
📍 Buford High School Stadium | ⏰ All Day
🔗 Event Details

Lawrenceville
🧠 Sunday Trivia at Third Rail
Cocktails, competition, and a faint chance you’ll remember your high-school history.
📍 Third Rail Distillery | ⏰ 2:00 – 4:00 PM
🔗 Event Details

🍿 Couch Potatópé: “The Art of Staying Horizontal”

You’ve earned it — the right to do absolutely nothing and call it “self-care.” While the rest of Gwinnett is running 5Ks in costumes, you’re running the only marathon that matters: one powered by your remote. This weekend, put your phone on “Do Not Disturb” and your standards on “Maybe Later.”

Below are a few picks that’ll keep your brain humming while your body achieves perfect stillness.

🎬 Fall Guy (Peacock)

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt blow things up, fall in love, and make chaos look cinematic. You won’t move for two hours, but you’ll feel like you did stunts.

🕵️ Murdaugh Murders: The Fall of a Dynasty (Netflix)

Southern Gothic meets true crime and generational dysfunction. It’s disturbing, addictive, and somehow… still less messy than your group chat.

🧛 What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu)

Mockumentary gold. A group of vampires shares a house in Staten Island and tries to “fit in.” It’s The Office, if the coworkers drank blood and had a better dress code.

🎃 Goosebumps (2023 Series) (Disney+ / Hulu)

A nostalgia hit for anyone who grew up pretending they weren’t scared. Surprisingly sharp writing, solid jump scares, and just enough camp to make you feel young and old at the same time.

 🍕 Good Eats: Strange Taco Bar

“Where Street Food Goes Off-Script.”

If authenticity and creativity had a baby, it’d be Strange Taco Bar. Sitting right in the heart of downtown Lawrenceville, this spot doesn’t play by the rules — and that’s exactly the point.

Expect tacos that read like a mixtape: Korean BBQ beef, Nashville hot chicken, roasted brussels sprouts, and even Cuban-style pork. The flavors hit hard, the tortillas stay humble, and the vibe says, “You’re here for more than lunch.”

The space is casual but not careless — neon, murals, and a playlist that makes you linger longer than you meant to. It’s the kind of place that convinces you to order one more round because “you need to try that last taco.”

It’s bold, it’s local, and it’s proof Gwinnett’s food scene has stopped asking for permission.

📍 Location: 225 W Crogan St, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
🕗 Hours: 11 AM – 10 PM (Daily)
🔗 More Info: Explore the Menu

🧠Weekly $25 Give-A-Way

Which spooky cult classic, partly filmed in Georgia, features a “Midnight Madness” audience tradition that includes costumes, callbacks, and the iconic song “Time Warp”?

A. Hocus Pocus
B. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
C. Beetlejuice
D. Practical Magic

👉 First to reply with the correct answer wins. Bragging rights included. Gift card optional. Email us at [email protected] with your answer for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Last Week’s Answer: Peanut M&Ms

Last Week’s Winner: Maggie Lajza

Until next time,

Your Nosey Neighbor