09/18/2026
Fall Festival time in Georgia!!!!
FOUR FALL FESTIVALS WORTH PLANNING FOR IN GEORGIA
There is something special about fall in Georgia. The mornings turn cooler, the mountain roads begin to glow with color, and nearly every weekend brings another reason to head north. From German music and apple treats to Appalachian traditions and gold-mining history, you could plan an entire season around Georgia’s fall festivals.
Begin in Helen, where Oktoberfest brings Bavarian spirit to the North Georgia mountains. Running September 10 through November 1, 2026, the celebration fills the Helen Festhalle with polka music, dancing, alphorns, cowbells and plenty of German food. Outside the Festhalle, Helen’s Alpine-style buildings, shops and mountain scenery make the entire town feel like part of the festival. Because Oktoberfest continues for several weeks, it is also the easiest one to fit into your fall plans.
Next, head to Hiawassee for the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, held October 9–11 and October 15–17 at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds beside Lake Chatuge. This festival celebrates the culture of the North Georgia mountains with live music, arts and crafts, festival foods and demonstrations in the Pioneer Village. Carnival rides are offered during the first weekend, while the “Old Ways” demonstrations provide a glimpse into the skills and traditions once common throughout Appalachia.
No Georgia fall would be complete without a trip to Ellijay, especially when the apples are ready. The 55th annual Georgia Apple Festival will be held October 10–11 and October 17–18. Hundreds of vendors bring handmade items, demonstrations, live music and fair food to the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, while the surrounding orchards offer apple picking, c***r, pies, fritters and plenty of reasons to bring home a basket—or two. Despite its size, the festival still holds onto the welcoming, small-town feeling that makes Ellijay such a favorite fall destination.
Finish the season in Dahlonega during Gold Rush Days, October 17–18. The historic downtown square comes alive with arts and crafts, food, music and reminders of the gold rush that helped shape the town. Dahlonega was the site of America’s first major gold rush, so this festival feels especially connected to its setting. While you are there, make time to explore the shops around the square, learn a little gold-mining history or enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery.
If you want to experience all four without feeling rushed, visit Helen in September, choose the first weekend of the Georgia Apple Festival, enjoy Hiawassee during the second portion of the Mountain Fall Festival, and close out your travels with Gold Rush Days. Lodging in these mountain towns can fill quickly during October, so this is one fall adventure that is worth planning ahead.
Whether your perfect autumn day includes dancing to a polka, watching an old-fashioned mountain demonstration, tasting a warm apple fritter or strolling through a historic gold-rush town, Georgia has a festival waiting for you. Pack a light jacket, leave room in the car for a few handmade treasures and apples, and let the mountain roads lead you into fall.
– The Real Georgia Girl
📍Helen Festhalle
1074 Edelweiss Strasse
Helen, Georgia 30545
📍Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
1311 Music Hall Road
Hiawassee, Georgia 30546
📍Georgia Apple Festival
1729 South Main Street
Ellijay, Georgia 30540
📍Gold Rush Days
Historic Downtown Dahlonega
Dahlonega, Georgia 30533
