Fall Festivals in and Around Atlanta
Ellijay, which is about one and one-half hours north of Atlanta hosts the Georgia Apple Festival on the second and third weekends in October, which features local and regional craftspeople. Ellijay is located in Gilmer County, which is the largest apple producing county in the state. My mother used to make the trek to Ellijay every October to attend the festival and purchase bushels of apples, having then put herself in the position of using them all before they went bad. We enjoyed many an apple pie, apple cobbler, and anything else she could think of to make with all of those apples she brought home!
http://www.tripsmarter.com/atlanta/archives/fallfoliage.htm
Stone Mountain, located about 30 minutes east of Atlanta, is home to the world’s largest relief carving, the Confederate Memorial. Stone Mountain Park holds several festivals in the fall.
In early September, they host the Yellow Daisy Festival, which was voted the Nation’s #1 Arts & Crafts Show by Sunshine Artist Magazine. It features more than 500 artists from 38 states and two countries, and there are so many options for food that you will have a difficult time making up your mind, and minding your diet.
During the last three weeks of October, Stone Mountain Park holds the Pumpkin Festival. This festival also offers arts and crafts, but also many fun pumpkin-related activities and games.
Fall is also the season for the Annual Highland Games in Stone Mountain Park. This festival is comprised of Highland events, dancing, music, and the Parade of Tartans, just to name a few.
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/festivals-events-concerts/
One of the biggest fall festivals in Georgia is Oktoberfest in Helen, which is located about two hours north of Atlanta, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The town is a recreation of an Alpine Village.
Oktoberfest runs from mid-September through early November, and features shopping in the specialty and import shops in the quaint village, complete with cobblestone streets. In the evening, the main attraction is the Festhalle where they serve German food and beer, and you can dance a polka, if you are brave enough to try it.
Oktoberfest is the biggest tourist attraction for Helen, so prepare yourself for the crowds. If you want to stay in Helen, it is a good idea to book your accommodations as early as possible in one of the hotels or in the cabins along the river.
http://www.helenchamber.com/
Marietta, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, hosts the Harvest Square Arts & Crafts Festival. This festival features specialty arts and crafts and is held the first weekend in October.
http://festivalsandevents.com/festival.php?state=GA
About 45 minutes south of Atlanta is the town of Sharpsburg. Each September they host the Old Town Sharpsburg Annual Fall Festival, featuring antiques, collectibles, arts, crafts and music. This year it is being held the weekend of September 16th and 17th. The town is home to shops dating back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, which you can peruse if you wish.
http://www.thecitizen.com/node/9046
Sandy Springs, a northeastern suburb of Atlanta holds its Sandy Springs Festival the third weekend in September every year. This year it is the weekend of September 16th and 17th. This is Sandy Springs’ biggest festival of the year. It features arts and crafts, a collector car show, the Kiwanis Pet Parade and many other events for all ages.
http://www.sandyspringsfestival.com/
These are just some of the many fall festivals Atlanta and its surrounding areas has to offer. Peruse some of the sites and check out what else there is to see.
