All About Fall 2023

ALL2023ABOUT Fall Fall IN

NORTH GEORGIA

GUIDE

TO FALL FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

THROUGHOUT NORTH GEORGIA

NORTH GEORGIA

All About Fall IN

Fall in North Georgia is hard to beat. Nice weather, beautiful colors and a plethora of places to go and things to do.

North Georgia boasts activities for just about everyone; from corn mazes and pumpkin patches, to apple picking, to fairs and festivals to leisurely drives through the mountains to the see the leaves change color.

Along the way don’t forget to stop by some of the local places to eat the food, buy the goods and to see what each community has to offer.

I am sure that you won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy Fall!

Stephanie Woody Group Publisher The Times • Forsyth County News Dawson County News

Date(s) of Event

Green for September

Orange for October

Red for November/ December

Event Name

Description and highlights of the event.

Event Location, City Hours

Contact information and website

Quick Reference

Music

Food/Drinks

Nature

SEPTEMBER 1-3

IPRA Rodeo

Arts/Crafts

Carnival Rides/ Games

The IPRA Rodeo is an annual Labor Day weekend event. The show features bull riding, bare back riding, barrel racing, cowgirl breakaway roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping and saddle bronc riding.

The Rodeo will be at the Cumming Fairgrounds Covered Arena on at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 1 and Saturday, Sept. 2; and at 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3.

The Cumming Fairgrounds is at 235 Castleberry Road in Cumming. Visit cummingfair.squarespace.com/ ipra-rodeo for more information.

SEPTEMBER 16-17

SPLASH Art Fest

The Cumming Art Fest, a two-day art-lovers extravaganza, is planned for Sept. 17-18 at the Cumming City Center. 423 Canton Rd, Cumming, GA 30040. For more information, visit www.cummingcitycenter.com and @cummingcitycenter on Facebook and Instagram.

Bring

Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm Fri & Sat 11am-11pm

OCTOBER 20, 21 & 22 Cumming Greek Fest

We’re back and better than ever! With free on-site parking, a new festival layout, expanded hours, and updated dining service offerings, we hope you’ll come dance, eat, and shout “Opa!” with us once again on our 16-acre property off Bethelview Road in Cumming. Visit the festival for a unique opportunity to experience the rich Greek culture. There will be live entertainment, including traditional bouzouki and other live music, and energetic performances from a Greek dance troupe.

Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Greek Orthodox Church, 3074 Bethelview Road, Cumming, GA 30040.

OCTOBER 5-15 Cumming Country Fair & Festival

The Cumming Country Fair & Festival is back for 2023 at the Cumming Fairgrounds. It will run from Oct. 5 and continue through Oct. 15. The Cumming Fairground is at 235 Castleberry Road. Pets, coolers, alcohol and outside food or drinks are not allowed in the Fairgrounds. Fair patrons are welcome to bring strollers, wheelchairs, and chairs for concerts. Hours are 4-10 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight, Saturday; 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday.

This year’s concert performers will be Neal McCoy on Friday, Oct. 6, Mark Wills on Tuesday, Oct. 10 and Randy Houser on Thursday, Oct. 12. All concerts will begin at 8 p.m. and will have no fees other than admission to the fair. 235 Castleberry Rd, Cumming, GA 30040. For more information, call 770-781-3491, visit Cummingfair.net or follow the City of Cumming on Facebook.

festival which will include vendors, food trucks, music, and much more. 7-10 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 7 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday; 6-9 p.m., Sunday.

235 Castleberry Rd, Cumming, GA 30040. For more information visit: www.fourscytheshaunt.com.

Make sure to Like or Follow our Facebook or Instagram page for all the updates on the Haunted House.

$7 off a $35 purchase or more

Excludes special orders, optics, DSC Memberships, gift cards, previous purchases, online orders and sale items. Can not be combined with any other offers. Dawsonville location only.

Wild

DECEMBER 2

Cumming Christmas Parade

The City of Cumming will hold its fourth annual Cumming Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2. The parade features musical performances, floats and vehicles ranging from Jeeps to firetrucks to SWAT vehicles used by Forsyth County’s Sheriff’s Office leading to the festival at the Cumming Fairgrounds. 235 Castleberry Rd, Cumming, GA 30040. For more information, call 770-781-3491, visit Cummingfair.net or follow the City of Cumming on Facebook.

Visit aFarm

Sure, farms are fewer and farther between than they used to be in Forsyth County, but several of the ones left are more family-friendly than ever.

Looking to pick fruit in the spring or pumpkin in the fall? Go to Warbington Farms, where there’s also a corn maze, petting zoo and a family fun park. Never cut down your own Christmas tree?

Then head to Bottoms Tree Farm or Kinsey Family Farm where you can chop down the tree of your choosing, as well go on a hayride or see a variety of farm animals. Each offer plenty for families to do year-round.

Warbington Farms: 5555 Crow Road, Cumming, GA 770-889-1515

www.warbingtonfarms.com

Bottoms Christmas Tree Farm: 5880 John Burruss Road, Cumming, GA 770-887-2728. Bottomstreefarm.com

Kinsey Family Farm: 7170 Jot Em Down Road, Gainesville, GA 770-887-6028.

www.kinseyfamilyfarm.com

All About Fall IN HALL COUNTY

SEPTEMBER 1

Sock Hop Block Party

3:30-10 p.m.

Main Street, Flowery Branch

renee@flowerybranchga.org

SEPTEMBER 2

Folk Pottery Show & Arts Festival

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sautee Nacoochee Center

283 Hwy 255, Sautee GA 30571

(706) 878-3300, snca.org

SEPTEMBER 3

Music in the Branch

7-8:30 p.m.

Flowery Branch Amphitheater

5603 Mitchell Street, Flowery Branch

ThisSeasons Events

• Cumming Police Department Presents Back N Black: AC/DC Tribute (Benefiting Creative Enterprises) Sept. 1st, 7-10 p.m. Lou Sobh Amphitheater

• Tin Cup Grill Cruise-In Car Show

Sept. 7th, Oct. 5th & Nov. 2nd, 6-9 p.m. on Vision Drive

• Interstellar Echoes: A Tribute to Pink Floyd Sept. 9th, 7-9 p.m. at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater

• Cumming Art Fest – Sept. 16th & 17th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day on Vision Drive

• G Clef & The Playlist – Sept. 22nd, 7-9 p.m. at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater

• The Bourbon Brothers Band – Oct. 20th, 7-9 p.m. at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater

• Brotherhood: A Doobie Brothers Tribute Band Oct. 27th, 7-9 p.m. at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater

• Skyler Saufley – Nov. 3rd, 7-9 p.m. at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater

• Cumming City Center Winter Market – Nov. 18th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Vision Drive

• Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration – Nov. 18th, 6-7 p.m. at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater

Thank you to our event partners: Lou Sobh Automotive, Four Carsons Entertainment, SPLASH Festivals, Pieces & Peaches Boutique, Tin Cup Grill, Cumming PD, and Local Church Forsyth!

SEPTEMBER 8 -

OCTOBER 30

52nd Annual Oktoberfest

• Helen Festhalle, Helen

• Weekends from Sept. 8 through 25 and every day from Sept. 29 through Oct. 30; hours vary

• Beer, brats, bands and Lederhosenthe Helen Oktoberfest has them all. Join the longest running Oktoberfest in the United States, which runs from September 8 through October 30.

helenchamber.com/oktoberfest-menu/ oktoberfest-info

SEPTEMBER 9

Atlanta Dragon Boat Festival

6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lake Lanier Olympic Park

3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville tracybarth@dragonboatatlanta.com

SEPTEMBER 9

Car Show and Chili Cook-off

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Downtown Flowery Branch

SEPTEMBER 9

Wildlife Festival

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Elachee Nature Science Center

2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville

SEPTEMBER 17

Butterfly Release Contest

1 to 6 p.m.

Quinlan Visual Arts Center

514 Green St. NE, Gainesville

770-536-2575, qartscenter@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 17

Dahlonega Trail Fest

Trail Fest, a project of Yahoola Outdoors, is a festival of outdoor enthusiasts revolving around all aspects of non-motorized recreation: hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, orienteering, and more! The festival features authors, speakers, workshops, music, vendors, and non-profit groups.

Dahlonega, Ga

www.dahlonegatrailfest.org

SEPTEMBER 23

Flowery Branch Fall Festival

10 a.m.

Main Street, Flowery Branch

www.troop-228.com

SEPTEMBER 23

10th Annual Swim Across America Atlanta Open Water Swim

7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Lake Lanier Olympic Park

3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville

770-401-9247

alisonmillsaps@swimacrossamerica.org

SEPTEMBER 23 & 24 Pooches in the Park

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 126 Harrison Street, Braselton

SEPTEMBER 29 & 30

Hall County Master Gardeners’ Fall Garden Expo

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center

1855 Calvary Church Road, Gainesville

770-535-8293

mastergardener@hallcounty.org

OCTOBER 1 - 2

Georgia Marble Festival

• Lee Newton Park, Jasper

• Saturday Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Come out and enjoy arts, crafts, music and performances on the Headliner Stage, fine art gallery, parade, road race, quarry tours, kids zone, live demonstrations of marble & granite sculpting, pottery, chainsaw carving and more along with an array of festival food.

www.pickenschamber.com/ marble-festival

OCTOBER 2

A Little Night(hawk) Music

Concert Series

7:30 - 9 p.m.

Ed Cabell Theatre - Lobby 3040 Landrum Education Drive

Oakwood, GA 30566

https://connect.ung.edu/home_login

OCTOBER 5

University of North Georgia Sinfonietta Concert

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Shott Performance Hall

322 Georgia Circle, Dahlonega, GA 30597

OCTOBER 7, 8 AND 14

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Gainesville Theater Alliance

5 to 11 p.m.

UNG-Gainesville Performing Arts Center

3040 Landrum Education Drive, Oakwood gainesvilletheatrealliance.org

OCTOBER 8 - 9

Arts in the Park

• Downtown City Park, Blue Ridge

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• With over 170+ artists, exhibitors, and vendors booths, our visitors enjoy a variety of fine arts and fine crafts, demonstrations, food, and much more during the Arts in the Park festivals. www.blueridgeartsinthepark.com/

2023-fall-arts-in-the-park

OCTOBER 8-9, 15-16

Georgia Apple Festival

• Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, Ellijay

• Saturday Oct. 8 and Saturday Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday Oct. 9 and Sunday Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• This is the 51st year of the annual festival. You can expect over 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made, and a parade and antique car show each year.

www.georgiaapplefestival.org

OCTOBER 11 - 14

Motul Petit Le Mans

Michele Raceway Road Atlanta 5300 Winder Highway, Braselton 770-967-6143, info@IMSA.com

OCTOBER 13 - 15

Mule Camp Market

October 13-14, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

October 15, Noon to 5 p.m.

Midland Greenway

682 Grove Street, Gainesville

Jefferson CITY OF

Jefferson, a 200 plus year old community, is located in Northeast Georgia. A picturesque community set among the gently rolling hills in the piedmont region. The landscape is dotted with small farms and lakes. Like many small towns in the south, we have gradually made the transition from primarily agriculture, to a balance of commercial and industrial businesses. Most people move to Jefferson for economic opportunity, its small town atmosphere, acceptance of newcomers and wholesome environment for raising a family. The City's leadership is working to maintain Jefferson's small town character while strongly encouraging the development of a diverse economy that employs the growing local workforce.

65 KISSAM STREET

JEFFERSON, GA 30549

OCTOBER 15-16

Gold Rush Days

• Dahlonega, Ga

• Festival booths will open at 9 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. both days

• Over 200 art and craft exhibitors and food vendors gather around the Public Square and Historic District in support of this annual event. It is estimated that a crowd of over 200,000 visits over the weekend to join in the fun and excitement! The Gold Rush Days Festival has been voted one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.

goldrushdaysfestival.com

OCTOBER 21

Gainesville Chicken Festival

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lake Lanier Olympic Park 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville

OCTOBER 22-23

Oberfest Arts and Crafts Festival

• Helen Arts and Heritage Center, Helen

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The family friendly event includes artists and fine craftsmen from across Northeast Georgia, as well as mountain music, face painting, baked goods and more.

www.helenarts.org/festivals

~Tim & Lindsay White

BOO at the Zoo

• North Georgia Wildlife and Safari Park, Cleveland

• Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The perfect Halloween Alternative Event for those wanting to bring their kids to a fun and safe place to get some treats and just have loads of fun! You may even find a pig with wings, a goat dressed like a cowboy and a unicorn!

www.northgeorgiazoo.com/ boo-at-the-zoo

All About Fall IN

DAWSON COUNTY

SEPTEMBER

Fausett Farms Sunflowers

• 11336 Highway 136 West, Dawsonville

• Fausett Farms’ 2023 sunflower season will open this September. After opening day, the farm is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

• For 60 years, the farm’s main business was poultry farming, which ended in 2011. Now the farm offers 900,000+ flowers or 30+- acres of beautiful sunflowers for everyone to come out and experience God’s beauty.

www.fausettfarmssunflowers.com

Burt’s Pumpkin Farm

• 5 Burts Pumpkin Farm Road, Dawsonville

• Burt’s Farm will open for its 2023 season beginning on Sept. 1. Hours vary by month; full hours are listed on the website.

• Come experience the fall season at Burt’s Farm in the secluded North Georgia mountains! The only thing more beautiful than the fall foliage is the sea of orange created by thousands of Burt’s pumpkins. Hayrides, pumpkin patch, fresh-baked goodies and fall decor.

www.burtspumpkinfarmga.com

SEPTEMBER 10 - NOVEMBER 13

Uncle Shucks Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

• 125 Bannister Road, Dawsonville

• Hours vary by month; full hours are listed on website, uncleshucks.com

• Explore the corn maze, pick up your pumpkin, enjoy the goat walk and shoot off the corn cannon! Uncle Shucks’ 2023 season will run from Sept. 10 through Nov. 13, and “The Dark Rows” haunted corn trail will be open Friday and Saturday nights in October.

uncleshucks.com

56th Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival and Car Show

• Dawsonville, Ga

• See the parade of moonshine and revenuer cars to kick off festivities at 9 a.m. on Saturday. May great vendors — something for everyone.

Live entertainment, car show, legendary race car drivers, vintage race cars and more authentic moonshine-hauling cars than you’ll ever see gathered in one place anywhere in the U.S.! CruiseIn and Swap Meet held at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. A portion of the proceeds benefit K.A.R.E. for Kids, Inc.

www.kareforkids.org

OCTOBER 31 Trunk or Treat

• Rock Creek Park, Dawsonville

• 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

• The purpose of this event is to provide the children in the community with a safe place to trick-or-treat. Admission is free and so are most of the activities. Candy, treats, toys, promotional items, carnival games, bounce house, hayrides and more.

www.dawsoncountyga.gov/parksrec/ page/trunk-or-treat

September 1-3

i PRA (International Professional Rodeo Association) World Championship Rodeo

Friday & Saturday 8 PM • Sunday 7 PM Admission (Advance Tickets Available): 11 & up - $20.00 10 & under - FREE

8 EvEnt RodEo includEs: Bull Riding, Barrel Racing, Steer Wrestling, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bareback Riding, Calf & Team Roping, Cowgirls Breakaway Roping

OctOber 5-15

Cumming Country Fair and Festival

Mon-Thurs 4 pm - 10 pm

Friday 4 pm - Midnight

Saturday 10 am - Midnight

Sunday 12:30 - 9:00 pm

Fair Admission: 11 & up - $10.00, 10 & under - FREE

Advance Tickets Available through October 4th - $7 Free Parking