Seems like there’s always something to do along the North Georgia Farm Trail — from entire festivals dedicated to mountain apples and wine grapes to weekend celebrations of sorghum! These down-home events offer a host of family friendly activities — parades, contests, rodeos, rustic demonstrations and, of course, plenty of food and drink!
Apple picking season in the North Georgia mountains typically begins in late July and ends in November.
First Weekend in October Most of Pickens County’s early industry revolved around the marble industry. For decades, Georgia marble has been mined and used to create historic architecture around the world, including the Archives Building in Atlanta, the New York Stock Exchange, the Supreme Court, the Lincoln Memorial and the local Tate Elementary School. The marble is also used for tombstones for the United States Military at Arlington National Cemetery. Most of the marble is white, but there is also very rare pink marble. Jasper is one of the few places in the world where pink marble is found. Be sure to make plans for the first full weekend in October for: Arts, Crafts, Antiques, Music, Art Gallery, Pie Eating Contest, Parade, Road Race, Quarry Tours, Pumpkin Patch, FREE Kids Area, Lots of Food, Plus Live Demonstrations of Marble & Granite Sculpting, Pottery, Chainsaw Carving and More. And be sure to ask about marble quarry tours! Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
August Fair • Rides • Food • Arts & Crafts • Games Held at the Lions Club Fairgrounds, the Gilmer County Fair offers entertainment for the whole family, including rides, live entertainment and an exhibition of Quilts, Agriculture, Crafts, Food, Canning, Baking, Sewing, Needlework, Art, Flowers, Photography, and more. Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
June Rodeo • Farm Animals • Attractions Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
The Butternut Creek Festival is an annual fine craft and art show held the third weekend of every July by the High Country Artisans in Blairsville, Georgia. Held in beautiful Meeks Park along the banks of Butternut Creek, it features great musical entertainment, live art demonstrations and plenty of good food. The first Butternut Creek Festival was held in 1998. The Butternut Creek Festival is one of the finest juried arts and crafts shows in the southeast. The two-day festival showcases the work of 65+ artists and craftspeople in categories from basketry, fine art, fabric art, and decorative painting, to glass, jewelry, metal working, photography, pottery, scrimshaw, and woodturning. There’s always free admission and free parking with shuttle service from the parking lots to the show site. You don’t want to miss it! Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
August The annual Kiwanis Rodeo is ALWAYS held on the third FULL weekend of August and is open on both Friday and Saturday nights (rain or shine!). The event consists of seven rodeo events each night with a professional rodeo clown and bull riding. All of the events are family friendly and are enjoyed by all ages. Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Labor Day Weekend The expansive lawn at the Mountain Life Museum is the location for the annual Mountain Heritage Festival, a heritage event that celebrates the history, lifeways and folk traditions of this small mountain community. You’ll find arts & crafts, food and demonstrations of old-timey ways each Labor Day weekend in the mountains. While at the festival, you can also visit the 1906 Butt-Mock Home and 1861 John Payne Cabin. The Butt-Mock home was donated to the Historical Society in 1994 and has been fully restored. The Butt-Mock Home includes a gift shop and is wheelchair accessible. The John Payne Cabin was bought, moved and reassembled, and features additional old-time structures. Local Food • Arts & Crafts • Music • History Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
April-May After a long cold winter, nothing says “spring is here” quite like the blooming of the rhododendrons at Hamilton Gardens at Lake Chatuge. It’s a yearly tradition of strolling through the magnificent and rare beauty of over 1,500 rhododendrons and native azaleas in an explosion of colors and varieties. Peak viewing season usually occurs the last two weeks in April through the first two weeks in May. The gardens are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily, year-round. Donations are requested. Guided walking tours and shuttle tours are also available by appointment. Look for other events held throughout the year, including concerts and lecture series. Rhododendron Gardens • Wild Flowers • Walking Path Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
2nd & 3rd Weekends in October Blairsville’s most famous event, Georgia’s official Sorghum Festival, is the perfect time to celebrate this unique North Georgia sweet taste. Plan your visit and enjoy arts & crafts, exhibits, food, music, activities, square dancing, “biskit” eating contests, pole climbing, log sawing, horseshoe pitching, rock throwing and, of course, sorghum mill grinding cane & cooking sorghum. Oh, and don’t forget to TRY the sorghum, too! Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
May Historic downtown Ellijay comes alive in a celebration of all things food! For one special evening, restaurants, caterers and food vendors from all around Gilmer County gather on North Main Street to ring in summer with food, fun, music and more. Local Food • Arts & Crafts • Music Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
June Head to the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds for the new Hiawassee Pro Rodeo! Enjoy the best bucking horses, bulls, world class contestants from all over the United States and Canada, and the top of the line specialty acts! This is a family event that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat with live entertainment! Rodeo • Farm Animals • Attractions Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
March This may be the Peach State, but grapes are the passion of the Winegrowers Association of Georgia. The clusters in their vineyards produce award-winning wines, which are gaining national recognition and fueling the emergence of North Georgia as a prominent wine region. The North Georgia mountains combine to form the perfect terrain, soil, drainage and elevation necessary for vineyards to produce delicious, original wines. The Winegrowers Association of Georgia is a nonprofit organized to promote and market Georgia wine, to improve the market environment for Georgia wines, to increase public awareness of Georgia wines, and to facilitate research in Georgia viticultural and vinification techniques. Come taste a perfect day in Georgia, and discover the passion that you’ve been missing. Wine Tasting Festival • Food • Visit Several Wineries Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Share this:Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
