Podcast 289 – How Dunwoody Oktoberfest Starts With the 4th of July Parade – Denice Dudley & Katie Prellwitz

Dunwoody’s favorite fall festival is kicking marketing off early this year. Denice Dudley, the lead organizer of Dunwoody Oktoberfest 2025, and main sponsor Katie Prellwitz from Leverage Communications are using the city’s biggest summer stage, the 4th of July Parade, to build buzz for the September celebration.

Oktoberfest is returning to the grounds of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church on September 27 with beer, music, food, and fun. They’re also introducing a new 20-foot inflatable mascot, and the community gets to name it. It’s part of a playful campaign to get locals involved early and often. Proceeds from the festival benefit Malachi’s Storehouse and Anchor Place, two neighborhood gems that serve with heart. If your business wants to sponsor Oktoberfest, now’s the time. Early sponsors get July 4th exposure and a front-row seat to Dunwoody’s newest fall tradition.

Learn more and become a sponsor: whatsupdunwoody.com/oktoberfest

https://whatsupdunwoody.com/podcast-289-how-dunwoody-oktoberfest-starts-with-the-4th-of-july-parade-denice-dudley-katie-prellwitz/

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city.

whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide.

whatsupdunwoody.com/food

👙 Summer JCC memberships. whatsupdunwoody.com/jcc

📍 Find local businesses.

whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale.

whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade.

whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation.

whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town.

whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt.

whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast.

whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch.

whatsupdunwoody.com/merch

Podcast 288 – Smart Branding and Apartment Density Transformed Chamblee Over the Last Decade – Van Pappas

Chamblee has rebranded, reimagined, and revitalized itself. Van Pappas shares how smart city planning and a bold branding push turned an industrial corridor into one of North DeKalb’s hottest areas. The key? Apartment density, a clear identity, and big community pride. Van was there from the start, on the branding committee that helped bring the iconic red Chamblee sign to Peachtree Boulevard. He explains how signage isn't just decoration, it is declaration.

Van also dives into starting his Chamblee Area Restaurant Review Facebook Group during Covid, and growing it nearly as large as my Dunwoody version. What began as a way to support struggling restaurants became a digital town square, where locals post reviews and swap recommendations.

The Chamblee Rail Trail is more than a sidewalk. Van breaks down how the trail is expanding to connect key parts of the city and tie into a larger regional network. With plans to link Chamblee to Doraville’s Assembly development, Brookhaven’s greenways, and eventually the BeltLine, the trail is redefining how locals experience the city, without ever getting in a car.

Learn more about Van: oxygenfinancial.com/van-pappas

https://whatsupdunwoody.com/podcast-288-smart-branding-and-apartment-density-transformed-chamblee-over-the-last-decade-van-pappas

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city.

whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide.

whatsupdunwoody.com/food

👙 Summer JCC memberships. whatsupdunwoody.com/jcc

📍 Find local businesses.

whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale.

whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade.

whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation.

whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town.

whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt.

whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast.

whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch.

whatsupdunwoody.com/merch

Podcast 287 – Steel Gateway Signs and Matt’s Sold-Out Trolley Tour – Mark Galvin with Discover Dunwoody

Matt’s birthday trolley tour has already sold out! If you want to Rediscover Dunwoody, you’ll have to hop on next month’s ride. Mark Galvin from Discover Dunwoody joins Matt to talk about everything popping up around town—starting with those new steel gateway signs. He breaks down who paid for them, why they matter, and what they mean for the city’s future. The whole episode is really about what’s new.

Did you know High Street will eventually be even larger than Avalon? It’s gearing up to welcome Rosetta Bakery, Hampton Social, CRÚ Food & Wine Bar, Varuni Napoli, and Alo Yoga. Over at Campus 244, CT Cantina & Taqueria is drawing crowds with its chef-driven menu and hidden gem, Tierra Coffee. Stäge Kitchen & Bar is coming soon with upscale seafood, steak, and sushi. And Ashford Place is getting a big refresh with Stone Age Korean Steakhouse and Desi District moving in.

If you live in Dunwoody—or just love watching it grow—this episode is packed with what’s next.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcast-287-steel-gateway-signs-and-matts-sold-out-trolley-tour-mark-galvin-with-discover-dunwoody/

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city.

whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide.

whatsupdunwoody.com/food

👙 Summer JCC memberships. whatsupdunwoody.com/jcc

📍 Find local businesses.

whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale.

whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade.

whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation.

whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town.

whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt.

whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast.

whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch.

whatsupdunwoody.com/merch