Annual Events in the Georgia Mountains
There is no shortage of annual events to celebrate people, places, seasons, and culture! Celebrate the diversity of the area with events for the entire family.
Choose from events including an annual Elvis tribute and competition, Wine Highway Weeks, Chili Cook-Off, BBQ festival, Championship Rodeo, Scenic Railways, and many, many more!
Here is a lineup of North Georgia’s best events. What are your favorites?
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North Georgia Event Calendar
Find events for your travel dates using the interactive calendar below.
Annual Events by Month in North Georgia
No matter when you visit, there is always something fun to do!
January Events in North Georgia
- Winter Wonderland Tours, North Georgia Zoo & Farm, Cleveland, GA
- Free National Parks Entrance, multiple locations
- Free entrance to US National Parks to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Free National Forests Entrance, multiple locations
- Free entrance to US National Forests to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February Events in North Georgia
- Super Museum Sunday, multiple locations
- Free entrance at participating museums across the state of Georgia
- Sunday, February 6, 2022
- Fire and Ice Chili Cook-Off & Craft Beer Festival, Blue Ridge, GA
- February 19, 2022 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
- Festivities happen rain or shine, in and around the park in downtown Blue Ridge
- Buy a $10 Tasting Card to sample the competition and vote for the People’s Choice Award
- Helen Fasching Celebration, Helen, GA
- Saturday, February 18, 2023
- Celebrate Mardi Gras in Helen from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm at the Festhalle
- Free National Forests Entrance, multiple locations
- Free entrance to US National Forests to celebrate President’s Day
- Monday, February 21, 2022
March Events in North Georgia
- Dahlonega Science Festival, Dahlonega, GA
- March 4, 2022 – March 6, 2022
- Taste of Helen, Helen, GA
- Wednesday, March 9, 2022
- Event is from 5:00 – 8:00pm
- Georgia Wine Highway, multiple sites across the state of Georgia
- The annual Georgia Wine Highway returns to the Spring after 2 years of taking place during the Summer
- Purchase a Wine Highway Passport for $75 and enjoy tastings at 40 participating wineries and tasting rooms
- Event dates are March 1 – 31, 2022
April Events in North Georgia
Milky Way, Telescope, and Night Sky
- National Parks Week
- Free entrance to US National Park on the first day of National Parks Week (Saturday, April 17, 2021)
- Mile-Long Yard Sale, Hiawassee, GA
- Shop 1-mile of treasures at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee
- Free admission and free parking
- Friday, April 22, 2022 from 10 am – 4 pm
- Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 8 am – 3 pm
- Bear on the Square, Dahlonega, GA
- April 23, 2022 – April 24, 2022
- Memory Lane Classic Car Show, Hiawassee, GA
- Classic car show featuring music, food trucks, arts & crafts, swap meet, and cool cars at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
- April 29, 2022 – April 30, 2022 from 8 am – 4 pm
- Adult admission is $10 (ages 12 & under are free)
- Rhododendron Festival, Hiawassee, GA
- Celebrate this beautiful plant at Hamilton Gardens during peak bloom weekends
- 2023 celebrations happen on April 21 – 23, April 28 – 30, May 5 – 7, May 12 – 14, May 19 – 21
May Events in North Georgia
Enjoy the annual Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival on the 3rd weekend of May every year!
- Georgia Apple Blossom Festival, East Ellijay, GA
- The annual event happens the first weekend of May each year (returning in 2022 after a 3-year hiatus)
- The free event is kid-friendly and pet-friendly
- Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 9 am – 5 pm
- Sunday, May 8, 2022, from 9 am – 4 pm
- Located at Craig Street in East Ellijay, GA at the Gilmer Chamber & Welcome Center
- Rhododendron Festival, Hiawassee, GA
- Celebrate this beautiful plant at Hamilton Gardens during peak bloom weekends
- 2023 celebrations happen on April 21 – 23, April 28 – 30, May 5 – 7, May 12 – 14, May 19 – 21
- Spring Bierfest, Helen, GA
- Sample over 100 beers on at Helen’s Spring Biefest held in the Helen Festhalle
- Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- EggFest, Hiawassee, GA
- The Eggfest is a gathering of Big Green Egg fans and cooks
- The cooks will be showcasing their skills with their special recipes and the non-cooks (tasters) get to stroll through the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds and sample the “Egged” food
- Purchase tickets online in advance
- Event happens May 14, 2022 from 9 am – 3 pm at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
- Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival, Dahlonega, GA
- Enjoy local and regional art, wine, and jazz at the annual Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival
- Held annually on the 3rd weekend in May
- May 21, 2022 from 10 am to 6 pm
- May 22, 2022 from 10 am to 5 pm
- Located at the historic downtown square and adjacent Hancock Park
- No admission to the festival and jazz music performances are also free
- Tickets for the Wine & Beer Garden are purchased at the “door”
- Discovery Days at Project Chimps, Morganton, GA
- Get a rare look inside this chimp sanctuary!
- Guided 60-90 minute walking tours of the sanctuary (moderate hiking with rest stops)
- Held annually in the spring (May 14, 2022 – May 15, 2022) and fall
- Paws for Celebration, Blue Ridge, GA
- Formerly known as “Taste of Blue Ridge” this fundraising event is likely to sell out in advance
- Event is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022
- Hiawassee Pro Rodeo, Hiawassee, GA
- The multi-day event happens the last weekend in May and the rodeo starts at 8 pm
- Friday, May 27, 2022
- Saturday, May 28, 2022
- Sunday, May 29, 2022
- Tickets are $15 / adult ($10 / children ages 6-12)
- Bavarianfest, Helen, GA
- Saturday, May 27, 2023
- Live German band performs on from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
- Food and drinks for sale
- Tickets $8 at door or free for active and retired military
- Spring Arts in the Park in Blue Ridge, GA
- Saturday, May 28, 2022
- Sunday, May 29, 2022
- Annual fine arts and fine crafts festival held in the beautiful Downtown City Park of Blue Ridge
- Art from 175+ juried fine arts and fine crafts exhibitors, tasty food, and artist demos
- Well-behaved pets on a leash are welcome
- Admission is $5 per person (children and under 12 free)
June Events in North Georgia
- Free Fishing Days, multiple locations across Georgia
- The 2022 dates for free fishing in Georgia include June 4th and June 11th (in honor of National Fishing and Boating Week)
- Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race & Festival, Helen, GA
- The 47th annual event is scheduled for June 2 – 4, 2022
- This is the only long-distance balloon race in the USA and runs from Helen, GA to the Atlantic Coast (*technically race ends at I-95)
- Events are dependent on favorable weather conditions
- The hot-air balloon race starts at 7:00 a.m. on June 2, 2022
- Local hot-air balloon festival events happen in Helen all weekend at 7:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- Note there are no rides during the middle of the day
- Mountain Top Rodeo, Dahlonega, GA
- The 2022 rodeo will happen on June 10 – 11, 2022
- 2022 will mark the 33rd anniversary of this event at the R-Ranch in the Mountains
- Blue Ridge Wine & Jazz Festival, Blue Ridge, GA
- June 25, 2022 gates open 1:00 pm with music from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- June 26, 2022 gates open 1:00 pm with music from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- $50.00 tickets can be purchased in advance online
- No pets, coolers, or outside food/drink
- Free National Forests Entrance, multiple locations
- Free entrance to US National Forests to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day
- Saturday, June 11, 2022
- Lavender Harvest at Local Farms, multiple locations
- Harvest details are dependent on weather (check with farms for specific details)
- Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games
- Back again for 2022 after years of covid cancellations!
- Gates open at 9 am each day on June 11 – 12, 2022 for this fun annual event
- Gazers of the Galaxy – canceled for 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions
July Events in North Georgia
- Independence Day Fireworks
- Watch fireworks over Lake Chatuge at the July 4th fireworks display at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
- Free parking & admission
- Note that no pets are allowed inside fairgrounds gates
- Independence Day Wooden Boat Parade, Lake Rabun
- Enjoy the nostalgic charm of wooden boats parading on the shorelines of scenic Lake Rabun
- Acoustic Sunsets, Hiawassee, GA
- Free concerts on Thursday nights at Hamilton Gardens
- Food Trucks & Art Vendors from 6pm-9pm / Live Music Starts at 7pm
- Event is rain or shine
- GOGA in the Wild, Cleveland, GA
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- Enjoy yoga with goats, kangaroos, or other animals from the North Georgia Wildlife Park!
- The July 2022 GOGA event featuring kangaroos is scheduled for July 23 at 10:00 am
- Tickets must be purchased in advance
- Check back for monthly event dates all year long
- Butternut Creek Festival, Blairsville, GA
- Held annually on the third weekend in July at Meeks Park in Blairsville
- July 16, 2022 from 10 am – 5 pm
- July 17, 2022 from 10 am – 4 pm
- Free admission and free parking with shuttle service from the parking lots to the show site
- Held annually on the third weekend in July at Meeks Park in Blairsville
August Events in North Georgia
- Free National Parks Entrance, multiple locations
- Free entrance to US National Parks to celebrate the Great American Outdoors Act on Thursday, August 4
- Big E Festival & Elvis Tribute Artists Competition, Clayton, GA
Celebrate Elvis at the Big E Fest in Clayton GA
- The annual Elvis festival and Elvis Tribute Artist competition are held in Clayton, GA on the first weekend of August
- The 2022 event happens from August 5 – 7
- Purchase advance tickets online
- Dillard Bluegrass and Barbeque Festival, Dillard, GA
- Happens the first weekend of August each year
- The 2022 event happens from August 5 – 6
- Enjoy live music all day long plus arts & crafts, kids activities, and cooking classes
- Single-day or two-day passes are available
- Leashed, friendly dogs are allowed
- Georgia Mountain Fair, Hiawassee, GA
- Enjoy a week of fun activities at the 71st annual Georgia Mountain Fair
- 2021 event starts on August 19, 2022, and runs through August 27, 2022
- Events and exhibits include a hot glass academy, carnival rides, live music performances, Grizzly Experience, Pioneer Village, and more!
- Note that no pets are allowed
- Kiwanis Blue Ridge Rodeo, Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Rodeo 2022
- Professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls will be competing in a variety of events at the fairgrounds arena
- Advance tickets can be purchased online and at select locations around town – or – tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of events
- FREE entry for children 8 and under!
- The annual event is scheduled for August 19-20, 2022
- Georgia Wine Highway – this event has returned to the Spring (the entire month of March 2022)
September Events in North Georgia
- Acoustic Sunsets, Hiawassee, GA
- Free concerts on Thursday nights at Hamilton Gardens
- Food Trucks & Art Vendors from 6pm-9pm / Live Music Starts at 7pm
- Event is rain or shine
- JeepFest 2022, Jasper, GA
- Rain or shine event for Jeep enthusiasts from September 1 – 4
- Free for spectators
- Annual Folk Pottery Show & Arts Festival, Sautee, GA
- September 3, 2022, from 9 am – 4 pm
- Grape Stomp Festival, Blairsville, GA
- Hosted at Paradise Hills Resort
- September 3, 2022, from 11 am – 5 pm
- Mountain Heritage Festival, Blairsville, GA
- September 3 – 4 from 10 am – 5 pm
- Located at Mountain Life Heritage Center on Veterans Memorial Dr in Blairsville
- Chattahoochee Mountain Fair, Clarkesville, GA
- The 2022 fair runs from Friday, September 9th through Saturday, September 17th
- Located at Habersham County Fairgrounds on Hwy 17 in Clarkesville
- Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival, Blue Ridge, GA
- Celebrate great Blues music and delicious barbecue at the 11th annual festival in Blue Ridge
- The 3-day event happens from Thursday – Sunday
- Kickoff Party: Thursday, 9/15/22
- Blue Ridge Blues Train: Friday, 9/16/22
- BBQ Festival: Saturday, 9/17/22 – get advance tickets online for the Saturday event
- Free admission to Smithsonian Museums across the country for Museum Day
- Choice of multiple locations nationwide on Saturday, September 17, 2022
- Advance registration and tickets required
- Free admission to US Forest Service Sites and US National Parks to celebrate National Public Lands Day
- Multiple locations nationwide on Saturday, September 24, 2022
- Free Fishing Days, multiple locations across Georgia
- The 2022 dates for free fishing in Georgia include September 24th (in honor of National Hunting and Fishing Day)
- Discovery Days at Project Chimps, Blue Ridge, GA
Discovery Days at Project Chimps sanctuary in Blue Ridge, GA
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- Get a rare look inside the chimp sanctuary in Morganton, GA
- Guided 60-90 minute walking tours of the sanctuary (moderate hiking with rest stops)
- Held annually in the fall and spring (September 24, 2022 – September 25, 2022)
- Ride the Rails Festival, Mineral Bluff, GA
- Visit the Depot to see progress on the large “HO Scale” model railroad based on the L&N Railroad’s “Old Line” from Atlanta, Ga to Etowah, TN and the branch line through Mineral Bluff to Murphy, NC
- Take trips on different types of railroad cars
- Ride a Railroad Motor Car on a 5-mile round-trip ride through the Iron Bridge and over the beautiful Toccoa River to Murphy Junction and back to the Historic Mineral Bluff Depot
- Take a short ride on the genuine Railroad Hand Car
- Ride the Miniature 7 1/2 Gauge Hand Car
- Dates: September 25, 2021 – September 26, 2021
- Location: Historic L&N Depot, 150 Railroad Avenue, Mineral Bluff, GA
- Ellijay Bacon Fest, Ellijay, GA
- September 25, 2022 at Gilmer River Park
- Oktoberfest, Helen, GA (Thursdays – Sundays in September)
- 51st annual event happening in Fall 2022
- Festhalle activities on Thursdays – Sundays from September 8, 2022 – September 30, 2022
- Of course, the festivities also continue into the following month of October too!
October Events in North Georgia
- Oktoberfest, Helen, GA (daily through October 30)
- Celebrate German culture and heritage through beer, music, and more in Alpine Helen – a small mountain town built to look like a German village
- Festhalle activities daily from October 1, 2022 – October 30, 2022
- Georgia Marble Festival, Jasper, GA (first full weekend of October)
- Arts & crafts, food, music and performances, fine art gallery, parade, guided quarry tours, and a kids zone
- The 2022 event will be held from October 1 – October 2, 2022
- Located at Lee Newton Park, 500 Stegall Drive, Jasper
- Includes free parking and shuttles – no smoking or pets allowed at the festival
- Indian Summer Festival, Suches GA
- The 1st full weekend of October each year
- October 1 – 2, 2022, from 9 am – 5 pm
- Blairsville Sorghum Festival, Blairsville, GA
- 2022 event dates: October 8 – 9 and October 15 – 16 in Meeks Park
- Fall Arts in the Park, Blue Ridge, GA
- 2022 event dates: October 8 – 9
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm at Downtown City Park
- Admission is $5 per person (children under 12 are free)
- Georgia Apple Festival, Ellijay, GA – the area’s biggest festival
- 2022 event dates: October 8 – 9 and October 15 – 16
- Heritage Days Festival, Talking Rock, GA
- October 15 – 16, 2022, from 9 am – 5 pm
- Free admission and parking
- Appalachian Brew, Stew, & Que Festival, Hiawassee, GA
- Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 11 am – 5 pm
- Admission includes unlimited beer tastings from over 60 breweries
- ArtOberfest, Helen, GA (late October)
- This lively annual event coincides with Helen’s Oktoberfest celebrations and includes art from local vendors, face painting, music, and more
- 2022 event dates: October 22 – 23
- Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Hiawassee, GA
- Annual 9-day event held in Hiawassee at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
- The 2022 event will be held from October 7 – October 15
- Free parking and concerts are free with paid $12 admission
- No pets allowed
- Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega
- This 2-day event is held annually on the 3rd full weekend of October
- The 2022 event will be held October 15 – 16
- Boo at the Zoo, Cleveland, GA
- Scavenger Hunt with goodies & prizes given away!
- Hold a Tarantula, Dig for Treasures, check out adorable “Dressed” up animals, Learn about the creepy and crawlies
- Cost is Zoo admission plus any add ons you may like
- Fall Foliage rides on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
- Wurst Festival Ever, Blue Ridge, GA
- October 22, 2022, from 1 pm – 7 pm
- Dancing Goats FolkFest, Ellijay, GA
- October 22 – 23, 2022 in Gilmer County’s River Park
- Juried folk art show and sale
- Live home-grown music (all day on both days!)
November Events in North Georgia
- Veteran’s Day, multiple locations offering
- Hemlock Fest, the first full weekend in November
December Events in North Georgia
- Mountain Country Christmas in Lights in Hiawassee
- $6 admission (kids 12 and under are free)
- Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from Nov 24, 2022 – Dec 23, 2022
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Christmas Express, Blue Ridge, GA (weekends) Ride the holiday train and see Santa, Mrs. Claus, & the elves. Listen to Christmas stories and sing carols.
- New Year’s Wine Train, Blue Ridge, GA – (New Year’s Eve – Adults 21+ only) celebrate New Year’s Eve! Listen to live entertainment, receive party favors, adult beverages, and appetizers on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway train.
- New Years Fireworks, Hiawassee, GA
- Free fireworks show at the fairgrounds
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In addition to these exciting annual events, you can find lots of other special events all year round. Visit one of North Georgia’s live music venues to find amazing talent at venues like Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds and The Crimson Moon.
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Tips for Enjoying Festivals and Events
Always double-check the event details before your trip. Know when events have special parking options, extended / shortened hours, and restrictions for age groups. Call or visit the event website directly for the most current information.
Go hands-free. Men and women can carry cross-body bags or use backpacks to carry their belongings and keep their hands free.
Protect your hearing at loud events. Earplugs come in many styles so adults can choose the type that they find to be the most comfortable. Give kids a little extra protection with noise protection headphones.
Let kids be silly. These events are some of the best places to let the kids wear glow sticks, animal headbands, temporary tattoos, and have their faces painted.
Have fun! Enjoy the clean air and stunning mountain views while you spend time celebrating the best of North Georgia’s local culture. Wear a silly themed hat to a food festival or dress your dog in lederhosen for Oktoberfest. Let yourself get caught up in the festive spirit of the event!
Have a great time at whatever North Georgia mountain event(s) you choose!
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What events are you planning to see? Know of any other great events to share? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
If you decide to visit this country, be sure to go to Sea Island, where you will be fascinated by the lush vegetation along the entire avenues. This part of the country is known for the Spanish moss that hangs from the trees and gives it a fairy-tale look, and a special attraction of this destination is Glory Beach, a beach named after the movie “Glory” that was filmed there.
Hi Bojana,
Although Sea Island is in the USA (and in Georgia), the experience on the coast is much different than in North Georgia. The 2 places are only about a 6-hour drive from each other, but they are each very unique places.
Wow, there are so many events happening in the US! I have never been to Georgia, but with so many activities and places to visit, it really highlights what this place has to offer. I love nature and walks and things to do as a family so your article is a great place to start checking out what Georgia has to offer.
Thanks for sharing !
Hi Louise, There are always fun things to explore in North Ga, but it can be helpful for planning to see them presented in a quick list. I hope you are able to find the perfect time for a visit with your family!
Well, I don’t think this article is for everyone. I believe that it is only meant for individuals who live in the US or are looking to visit the US. I have always wanted to visit the US in the far future so this would be a good place to start. I will be sure to bookmark this article.
Hi Aubin, You are correct that this article is for those who plan to spend time in North Georgia and want to know what kind of events that they could attend during their visit. We hope to see you here one day!
Thank you so much for this excellently written article. We love nature, and it seems Georgias mountains have everything for a natural heart. The Georgias Mountains is a cool area for kids too. Friday night gazers of the Galaxy at the Brasstown Bald sounds great to me. I have already marked the Goga & Goga section in my calendar. I am loving it. I never heard of this, and I have to check this out. Thank you so much. Monique
Hi Monique, It’s nice that there are so many quirky and fun events to enjoy throughout the year. My favorites are usually in the warmer months and include the fantastic Georgia Wine Highway annual event!
My favorite kind of vacation is to visit the mountain areas and hike all day long. I really loved reading this article because of the important information it contains about the mountains in Georgia and the wide variety events that take place.
After reading this article my next vacation is definitely going to be in North Georgia with my friends because of how awesome the events sound (Oktoberfest would be amazing with a group of friends in a big rental house!).
Great work!
I agree that it’s great to share a vacation experience with friends and family when possible. Being able to rent an entire cabin or house in the mountains can be the perfect way to get to spend extra time together!
Hi, this looks like an amazing experience. I love nature myself, and I also enjoy hiking, star gazing, campfires and all of that.
Looks like there is many great festivities in order that I would enjoy. Who ever is running these things has pretty good taste. This would be a great vacation for me at about any time of year.
I love studying the universe, so the Friday night Spring events at Brasstown Bald looks like they package have it all, thanks.
Hi Jake, the Brasstown Bald peak is probably at least a hundred miles from any major city, so it’s a pretty good spot to stargaze on the East Coast!
Wow, you have so many nice posts about Georgia.
Thank you for putting together this awesome piece on the annual events in the Georgia mountain. It is really interesting to see the many events for each month of the year in Georgia.
I love Friday Nights at Brasstown Bald. Looks quite interesting to me.
Friday Nights at Brasstown Bald is definitely a great way to enjoy during the Spring in the Georgia mountains!
Hello!
You show events every month of the year in the mountains of Georgia and from what I see are all spectacular places. I would also like to find where you can fish. I love it and I often go to different places here in Argentina. Again Thank you for telling me if there is one where I can go fishing.
We are a group of friends that we could travel. Thank you so much!
Hi Claudio, There are lots of great places to fish in the Georgia mountains including lakes, rivers, streams, and stocked ponds.
Great to make an article to summarise all the activities going in in the area! It’s especially helpful to plan a trip this way! I also absolutely love your website, it’s so great to see that you’ve created it with all kinds of colours that you’d encounter in nature, so it’s very fitting with the area you are promoting on your website. Bookmarked your page and hope to be booking a stay at the Georgia Mountains.
Thanks so much for the bookmark! I hope you have a fantastic visit and let me know if you have any questions about the area while you plan your trip!!
I can see that there are alot of events schedule for the month of August and September. These months happened to be during holiday. It will be so amazing to go to mount Georgia with my kids to experience these events as their package for holidays. I have never been there before. I can’t wait to see how there BBQ festivals and other championship festival look like. I just hope we won’t be stranded over there. I will be on the lookout for how the hotels in the area look like.
Hi Stella, The Georgia mountains can be busy during the fall, as the changing colors of the leaves attract many people from all over. I do suggest that you find accomodations for October weekends well in advance.
If you cannot find a place in the mountains, there are always plenty of rooms available in the larger cities of Chattanooga TN, Greenville SC, and Atlanta GA…. all of which are a fairly quick drive from the mountain towns!