From polka waltzes to buck dancing, apple dumplings to chicken fingers, and race cars to pony rides, fall festivals around Lake Lanier and its northern neighbor towns showcase the diverse culture of the region.
Here’s a sample of area fall festivals and seasonal activities coming up:
54th Oktoberfest, Helen. Bavarian-themed music, food, dancing, drinks, Thurs.-Sat. Sept. 5-22, nightly Sept. 26-Oct. 27. $10 Mon.-Fri., $12 Sat., Fri. & Sat. $20; half price for children 6-12; free to children younger than 6; free to active/retired military with ID; free Sundays. See website for hours: www.helenchamber.com, 706-878-1619.
Clermont Days. Parade, arts & crafts, food, entertainment, family activities, Sept. 20-21, Downtown Clermont. Vendors open 4 p.m., live music 7 p.m. Sept. 20; Sept. 21 activities include 9 a.m. opening ceremony, 10 a.m. parade, plus food, vendors, cake walk, kids’ activities, live music, 9 p.m. fireworks. www.clermontga.com.
Cumming Art Fest. 100 artisans, children’s activities & more, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 21, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
Flowery Branch Fall Festival/Block Party. Crafts, children’s activities, live music with Fly Betty Band and other musicians, food vendors, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 21, Main Street, Downtown Flowery Branch. www.troop-228.com.
Fall Fest, Gainesville. Live music, magic show, plant experts, mini-craft market, refreshments, beer garden, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept 21, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. www.atlantabg.org, 404-888-4760.
Hurricane Shoals Arts in the Park, Maysville. Arts, crafts, 5K run (8 a.m. Sept. 21), living history village, kids’ activities, bluegrass music, plus historic gristmill milling corn. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 21 & 22, Hurricane Shoals Park, 416 Hurricane Shoals Rd. www.hurricaneshoalspark.org.
Latino Festival, Gainesville. Celebration of Latino culture, food, art & music, 3-9 p.m. Sept. 28, Midland Greenway, 682 Grove St. www.exploregainesville.org.
Lula Fall Festival. Folk art, pottery, crafts, children’s activities, entertainment and more, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 28, noon-5 p.m. Sept. 29, Rafe Banks Park/Lula Ball Park, 5831 Athens St. www.cityoflula.com.
Cumming Country Fair & Festival. Carnival rides, live music, bull-riding, petting zoo, doggie sports, sea lion show, human cannonball, chainsaw carving, haunted attraction, and heritage village, Oct. 3-13, 4-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 4 p.m.-midnight Fridays, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturdays; 12:30-9 p.m. Sundays; Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Rd. See website for ticket information: Search squarespace cummingfair.
3rd Annual Oktoberfest, Gainesville. Live music, family activities, food trucks, biergarten & more, Oct. 4, Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW. See website for details: www.theartscouncil.net.
Foxfire Mountaineer Festival, Clayton. Traditional music and crafts, greased pole climbing, sack racing, longest beard contest, crosscut saw contest, children’s activities, food, and demonstrations of rail splitting, team plowing, and quilting, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct. 5, Rabun County Civic Center, 201 W. Savannah St. See website for admission cost. visit.explorerabun.com.
Indian Summer Festival, Suches. Crafts, food, and music, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 5 & 6, Woody Gap School (smallest public school in Georgia), 2331 Ga. 60. $5 age 13 and older, $3 ages 7-12, free to children 6 and younger. www.indiansummerfestival.org. 706-747-2401.
Mule Camp Market, Gainesville. Food, arts & craft vendors, carnival rides, Friday festival kick-off concert at Boot Barn Hall, Saturday concert at Midland Greenway Amphitheater, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 11 & 12, noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 13, Midland Greenway, 682 Grove St. See website for updates. www.gainesvillejaycees.org, 770-532-7714.
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Hiawassee. Big name country and blue grass performers, pioneer village, daredevil and cowboy circus, carnival rides, flower show and crafts exhibits. $7 arts & crafts ticket, additional cost for rides and concerts, Oct. 11-13, 17-19, opens 11 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Rd. Free to children age 12 & younger. No pets. www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com.
55th Annual Sorghum Festival, Blairsville. Vintage mule-run sorghum mill, sorghum “biskits,” crafts, mountain music, dancing, pioneer demonstrations, biskit eating contest, hatchet throwing, and old timey games, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12 & 13, 19 & 20, Meeks Park, 490 Meeks Park Rd. Parade Oct. 12. $5, free to ages 12 and younger. See website for schedule. www.blairsvillesorghumfestival.com, 706-745-2272.
19th Annual Gainesville Chicken Festival. Fifteen-plus teams compete in chicken cook-off, plus kids’ zone, venders’ market, live music and more, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 19, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. $6 wristband for 10 chicken samples, $25 for 5 wristbands. Cook teams apply on-line. Off-site parking with shuttle: New Horizons Lanier Park, 675 White Sulphur Rd. Limited dock space and on-site parking. www.exploregainesville.org, 770-531-2664.
53rd Georgia Apple Festival, Ellijay. Apple treats, food trucks, crafts, demonstrations, music, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays Oct. 12 & 13, 19 & 20, Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 S. Main St. No pets or firearms. $10, free to children 10 and younger. www.georgiaapplefestival.org, 706-636-4500.
Gold Rush Days, Dahlonega. Parade, crafts, food, plus panning for gold, hog calling, buck dancing, gospel singing, and blue grass music, Oct. 19 & 20, Public Square/Downtown Historic District. See website for hours. www.goldrushdaysfestival.com.
Mountain Farm Celebration, Sautee Nacoochee. Old fashioned country fair with pioneer skills and exhibits, traditional craft vendors, mountain music, biscuits baked in wood-fired antique stove, old timey games, plus first floor tour of historic mansion, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 26, Hardman Farm Historic Site, 143 Hwy. 17. $8, free to children younger than 5. www.gastateparks.org, 706-878-1077.
57th Annual Mountain Moonshine Car Show/Festival, Dawsonville. Huge car show, race car parade (9 a.m. Oct. 26), moonshine still, free moonshine samples, crafts, games, kids’ rides, music, and more, Oct. 25-27, Dawsonville Municipal Complex, 415 Hwy. 53 E. See website for info. www.kareforkids.org. 706-216-5273.
Braselton Antique & Artisan Festival. 400 vendors, live music, food trucks, noon-7 p.m. Oct. 25, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 26, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Oct. 27, Downtown Braselton, 115 Harrison St. www.explorebraselton.net.
Corn Mazes and Harvest Celebrations
Uncle Shucks Corn Maze/Pumpkin Patch, Dawsonville. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, gem mining, kids’ activities, wagon rides, bonfire and more, Sept. 14-Nov. 10. Sept. & Nov. hours: 4-10 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. October hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 10a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Haunted “Dark Rows” Trail Sept. 27 & 28, plus Fri. & Sat. in October. 125 Bannister Rd. $17-$27, free to children 4 and younger. www.uncleshucks.com, 770-772-6223.
Buford Corn Maze. Maze, hayrides, kids’ farm fun, pony rides, farm animals, through Nov. 17. Sept. hours 6-11 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-11Sat. 10-10 p.m. Sun.; Labor Day 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Oct. hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. Nov. hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat. & Sun. See website for Haunted Forest hours. 4470 Bennett Rd. $15.95-$29.95. www.bufordcornmaze.com. 678-835-7198.
Jaemor Farms 66th Annual Corn Maze, Alto. Farm extravaganza with corn maze, hayrides, apple cannon, pumpkin train, farm games, duck race, and more, Sept. 14-Nov. 3. Weekends only in September, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat., 1-7 p.m. Sun. Daily Oct. 1-27, Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 1-7 p.m.; open until 10 p.m. Flashlight Nights Oct. 25 & 26; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 2, 1-7 p.m. Nov. 3. No pets. See website for admission cost. 5340 Cornelia Hwy, Ga.365. www.jaemorfarms.com, 770-869-3999.
Kinsey Family Farm, Gainesville/Cumming. Families plan a traditional fall pilgrimage for buying pumpkins, pumpkin baked goods, fall decorations, and farm products. Oct. 1-31, hours to be determined. 7170 Jot Em Down Rd, www.kinseyfamilyfarm.com, 770-887-6028.
Burt’s Farm, Dawsonville. Pumpkins galore, scenic hayrides, pumpkin pies and seasonal decorations greet patrons at the Burt family farm near Amicalola Falls. Pumpkin patch & store 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Nov. 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 1-10. Hayrides weekends through Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily Sept. 16-Oct. 31. See website for Nov. hayride information. Burts Farm Rd. No pets or firearms. Hayrides $6.50 plus tax per person, free to children 2 and younger. www.burtspumpkinfarmgeorgia.com, 706-265-3701.
