Canton at a glance
- CountyCherokee County (county seat)
- Population, 2020 Census32,973U.S. Census Bureau
- Elevation969 ftUSGS elevation at the town centre
- From downtown Atlantaabout 49 minby road, no traffic
What to know about Canton
- Canton, formerly called Etowah, is the county seat of Cherokee County. Cherokee Office of Economic Development
- The Etowah River helped establish Canton in 1834; about eight and a half miles of the river lie within city limits. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- Canton's Historic Downtown has local shops and boutiques. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- The Etowah River flows right through Canton. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- Canton's Etowah and Boling parks have canoe put-ins. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- Etowah River Park has a playground, picnic tables, a basketball court and a sports field. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- From Etowah River Park, visitors can cross the river and walk a connector trail to Heritage Park. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- Hickory Log Creek Reservoir (Lake Canton) can be explored on foot or by kayak. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- The Historic Canton Theatre on East Main Street first opened in 1911 and now hosts live theatre, music, comedy and film. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- The Cherokee County History Center in downtown Canton covers more than 10,000 years of local history. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- The Canton Cotton Mills operated from 1899 to 1981 and drew on the Etowah River for textile production. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- Riverfest Arts & Crafts Festival, started in 1984 and held at Etowah River Park, is an annual fall festival. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- First Fridays bring live music, food trucks and local eateries to Historic Downtown Canton on the first Friday of each month, May through October. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- The annual Downtown Canton Tree Lighting is held in Cannon Park; the 2025 event was November 19. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
- Big Door Vineyards is about 20 minutes from downtown Canton. Explore Canton (Canton Tourism)
Coming up in Canton
Holiday Tree Lighting and Drone Show
Organizer date for 2026The City of Canton lights its holiday tree in downtown Canton, with a drone show as part of the evening.
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Source: City of Canton – Events Calendar, checked 2026-10-19
Christmas at The Mill
Organizer date for 2026The Mill on Etowah holds a two-day Christmas event over Thanksgiving weekend with ice skating, Santa, football, live music and its annual Christmas tree lighting.
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Source: Explore Canton, GA, checked 2026-10-19
A Dickens' Christmas Carol (Cherokee Theatre Company)
Organizer date for 2026Cherokee Theatre Company presents A Dickens' Christmas Carol over two December weekends. The City of Canton calendar lists the performances under its Theatre category.
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Source: City of Canton – Events Calendar, checked 2026-10-19
Grinchmas at The Mill
Organizer date for 2026A Grinch-themed holiday evening at The Mill on Etowah, finishing with an outdoor screening of The Grinch on the green at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Free Source: Explore Canton, GA, checked 2026-10-19
Holiday Movies: Elf and White Christmas
Organizer date for 2026Two holiday film screenings on the same Saturday: Elf in the afternoon and White Christmas in the evening. The City of Canton calendar lists both under its Theatre category.
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Source: City of Canton – Events Calendar, checked 2026-10-19
Every North Georgia event in the finder
How far is Canton?
Drive times by road
| Town | Atlanta | Alpharetta | Marietta | Lawrenceville | Athens | Chattanooga |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | about 49 min40 mi | about 34 min19 mi | about 29 min23 mi | about 1 h 10 min40 mi | about 2 h80 mi | about 1 h 50 min93 mi |
Computed 2026-10-19 with the OSRM router on OpenStreetMap data, town centre to town centre. free-flow driving time, no traffic
For downtown Canton, from the 1911 Canton Theatre to the streets along the Etowah River, read Downtown Canton.
Towns near Canton
- Ball Ground about 10 mi straight-line
- Alpharetta about 16 mi straight-line
- Jasper about 16 mi straight-line
Dates, times and rules can change. Each listing links the organizer or local government page it came from, with the date we checked it; confirm there before you go.
