Harvest Festivals in Scenic North Georgia
Celebrate North Georgia’s rich agricultural history, local craftsmanship, and seasonal harvests at the annual fall festivals in North Georgia. Festive options, such as the Georgia Apple Festival and the Blairsville Sorghum Festival, are located throughout North Georgia, offering multiple places and ways to celebrate the harvest. 🍎🧑🌾🍏
Apple Pickin Jubilee at Hillcrest Orchards in Ellijay GA
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Autumn Harvest Festivals in North Georgia
In addition to the iconic apple-picking in Georgia, some local events and festivals celebrate the agricultural heritage of these mountains. Plan to attend one of these family-friendly events and enjoy the local flavors and fun!
Autumn Harvest Festivals in Blairsville, GA
After a bit of back-and-forth about the status of this annual event, the details for Blairsville’s annual Sorghum Festival are finally here.
shiny red apples
Sorghum in the Mountains Festival 2025
📆 The 2025 Sorghum in the Mountains Festival kicks off with a parade 🎉🥁🎺🪇on Saturday, October 11th in Downtown Blairsville. There is no cost to enter the parade; show up with your best parade attire and register at the table to receive a number.
Make plans to attend the 2025 Sorghum in the Mountains Festival on October 11 -12 and October 18 – 19. The cost is $10 per person (FREE for ages 12 and under).
- ☎️ Phone: +1 (706) 745-5789
- 📍 Location: Meeks Park, 490 Meeks Park Rd, Blairsville, GA
- 📩 Email: sorghuminthemountains@gmail.com
- 🌐 Website: sorghuminthemountains.com
- 👍 Facebook: Sorghum In The Mountains has 500+ followers
Autumn Harvest Festivals in Ellijay, GA
🍎🍏Ellijay is known for its apple orchards and u-pick farms 🧑🌾, so it’s no surprise that the biggest Ellijay, GA, events each year are the Georgia Apple Festival and the Apple Arts on the Square.
Fall harvest festivals in North Georgia
These two festivals take place on the same weekends in October each year and attract thousands of visitors to the area. 🌽🍎🍏🌻🧑🌾🚜☀️🎃
Georgia Apple Festival 2025
🍎 When people talk about the Ellijay, GA, Applefest, they typically refer to the annual Georgia Apple Festival. The Ellijay Apple Festival features handmade arts and crafts, live entertainment, a classic auto show, and a diverse array of delicious treats from hundreds of vendors. It kicks off with a parade through town! Make plans to attend this apple festival in Ellijay, GA, to learn more first-hand about the qualities and varieties of apples in Ellijay.
The Georgia Apple Festival takes place annually during the second and third full weekends of October. This event is the area’s biggest festival, drawing many people to celebrate, so expect higher-than-average traffic during these weekends.
📆 The 2025 Georgia Apple Festival kicks off with a parade on River Street, featuring the theme “Fall Harvest!”
- Saturday, October 11th – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Apple Festival 5k Road Race at 8:00 am (5K) / 8:45 am (1 mile)
- Parade with the theme “Fall Harvest” at 10:00 am
- Sunday, October 12th – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday, October 18th – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Sunday, October 19th – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Make plans to attend the 2025 Georgia Apple Festival on October 11 -12 and October 18 – 19. The cost is $10 per person (FREE for ages 12 and under).
- ☎️ Phone: +1 (706) 636-7400
- 📍 Location: Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main Street, Ellijay, GA
- 📩 Email: info@gilmerchamber.com
- 🌐 Website: georgiaapplefestival.org
- 👍 Facebook: Georgia Apple Festival has 42,000+ followers
No pets are allowed at the Georgia Apple Festival, but the Apple Arts on the Square Festival in downtown Ellijay is pet-friendly (read more below).
Apple Arts on the Square
🍎 Apple Arts on the Square is a North Georgia apple festival on the same weekends as the bigger Georgia Apple Festival. Plan to enjoy both festivals on the 2nd and 3rd weekends in October each year. The Apple Arts event occurs on Ellijay Square, about 2 miles from the Georgia Apple Festival at Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds.
Enjoy the local shops and restaurants at this free, pet-friendly event. Vendors set up on Broad Street next to the Gilmer County Courthouse.
📆 The 2025 Apple Arts on the Square dates are October 11 – 12 and October 18 – 19
- 📍 Location: downtown Ellijay Square
- 🌐 Website: gilmerchamber.com/applearts
- 👍 Facebook: Apple Arts Festival has 500+ followers
In addition, make sure to check out the fun seasonal events at the area’s apple houses and u-pick orchards!
Lodging Near Ellijay Apple Festivals
Choose your lodging near the Ellijay Apple Festivals for extra convenience as you explore the area! 🍎 Enter your travel dates into the interactive map to see current pricing and availability on lodging near the Georgia Apple Festival.
Autumn Harvest Festivals in Toccoa, GA
Toccoa Harvest Festival
Enjoy the 48th annual Toccoa Harvest Festival on the last weekend of October. Purchase local foods and crafts from 160+ vendors and enjoy entertainment on two stages.
The festival features hundreds of artisans, performing dancers, jazz music, rock and roll, country music, and an antique and classic car show. 🚗 Several activities will be available for children, including rides, face painting, rock climbing, a moonwalk, a petting zoo, and more. A shuttle takes visitors to nearby Toccoa Falls.
📆 The 2025 Toccoa Harvest Festival dates are October 25th (10 am – 5 pm) and October 26th (10 am – 4 pm).
- 📍 Address: downtown Toccoa
- 🌐 Website: mainstreettoccoa.com
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Annaul Apple Pickin Jubilee at Hillcrest Orchards in Ellijay GA
To learn more about other great events in North Georgia, visit additional articles about fun and unique North Georgia events.
These festivals are not just about celebrating the harvest; they’re also about preserving traditions and promoting local businesses. They provide an opportunity for farmers to showcase their hard work and for artisans to display their creativity. What do you think about these aspects of harvest festivals? Do you believe they play a significant role in supporting local communities?
In my opinion, these festivals are a testament to North Georgia’s rich agricultural heritage and community spirit. They offer a unique blend of fun, food, and culture that makes them worth visiting. But what do you think? Are harvest festivals an essential part of North Georgia’s identity? Do they contribute to its charm and appeal as a tourist destination?
Gene
Hello, Gene! The North GA harvest festivals are well-loved events by both the locals and tourists. It’s also nice to have these unique events to bring people together during such a pleasant time of year! Enjoy!!
This is a great site. I happen to love Georgia, my wife and I just went on our first trip to savannah GA this year. However I had no idea about these festivals and it sounds like it would be a really exciting trip. Thanks for sharing this information and I will continue to look into the lodging to book a trip.
Hi Marty, Savannah is a beautiful coastal city — I love that the state of Georgia has so many different places including cities, coasts, plains, and mountains!
I love harvest festivals. I am in the military and was in Georgia for a while and actually went to some harvest festivals. They are so fun, great for kids, and very interesting with all of the local foods and products that you can get. Are any of these festivals being restricted or (mask mandates) or canceled due to Covid?
Hi Al, Thanks for sharing! Most festivals are located outside and it’s unlikely that they will require masks. However, I’d encourage you to check with the festival organizers as the festivals approach as things can always change. Enjoy!
Wow, I’d like to go to the Ga apple festival. Thank you for inviting me to Ellijay, Georgia for the occasion. I believe that learning more about the quality and variety of apples available in Ellijay is an excellent opportunity.
Another thing I like is that $5 is not a lot of money, so I’ll probably come with my friends and have a wonderful time from October 8 to 10.
I’m hoping for some memorable moments at the forthcoming Georgia Apple Festival.
I see that the event has received a lot of positive feedback, and I can’t afford to miss it in 2021.
Also, I’m hoping that Lodges are still available.
Hi Lio, That should be a wonderful weekend to visit and see the festival(s)! It’s the busiest time of the year in Ellijay though, so for the best lodging options, you should go ahead and make your Ellijay lodging reservations soon!
Wow! what a great article!! Fall is my favorite season and I have gone to lots of fall festivals near where I live in Ontario, but you have done an excellent job sharing all that North Georgia has to offer in the fall season. I must say there is a lot more to be intrigues about and anxious to visit compared to the festivals here. Thank you for sharing this article.
Hi Page, Autumn is already the perfect time to visit the mountains, but the North Ga fall festivals make it even more exciting! Enjoy!
Alyce, what a cool site with cool articles. Who doesn’t love a fall festival, with the aroma of apples ad pumpin spice wafting through the air. I particularly like the section on Georgia wines. I had no idea that there was such a robust wine industry in Georgia. I’m definitely going to have to check this out on my next trip down there.Thanks for adding a little happiness to the internet. Well done!
Aww, thanks so much Warren! It’s wonderful that North Georgia’s agriculture industry also provides all these great destinations to enjoy!!
I like the Fall harvest Festivals, and this one in Georgia looks like a good reason to visit and enjoy the time there. It is fabulous to have these opportunities spending a good time during the October weekends. I’m sure that will be good music, concerts, and everyone can enjoy some delicious food. And the price for participation is good. I’m going to share this article with a friend of mine who lives in Georgia. I wish to be there, too.
Best
Alketa
Hi Alketa, Thanks so much for sharing – I hope that your friend is able to enjoy these local North Georgia fall festivals!
I have never been to an Ellijay apple festival before. But this year, we’re all planning to go as a family. Thank you for giving us details about pricing and the amount of traffic we should expect to this event. I am planning where we’re going to stay. We will be there October 8th and 9th.
HI Abel, I know you and your family will have a wonderful time at the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay. There are lots of great vacation rentals in the Ellijay area that will give you a great place to start your adventures each day.