HaleyFrom pumpkins and hayrides to arts and crafts booths and live music, the towns around Helen boast some of the best Fall Festivals in the Southeast.
Nestled at the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, Alpine Helen is situated in a prime spot to enjoy fall festivals in many neighboring towns. During October, you’ll find that North Georgia is bursting with unique fall festivals that celebrate harvest time and the changing season.
So if you’re coming to Helen in October, we’ve rounded up the best fall festivals in the area for you to visit. Get ready for corn mazes, caramel apples and bluegrass music.
- Skitts Mountain Farms Fall Festival in Cleveland
- Indian Summer Festival in Suches
- Sorghum Festival in Blairsville
- Oktoberfest Celebration in Helen Festhalle
- Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in Hiawassee
- Blue Ridge Fall Arts in the Park
- Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay
- Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega
- Burt’s Pumpkin Farm in Dawsonville
- Jaemor Farms Harvest Celebration in Alto
Skitts Mountain Farms Fall Festival in Cleveland
Open weekends throughout October, Skitts Mountain Farms in Cleveland, Georgia, offers fun fall activities for all ages. Experience the farm’s hayrides, corn maze and pumpkin patch before having fun on jump pillows, cow trains and huge farm slides. Grab a farm pass for $16.95 per person.
See a taste of all the fun my kids had last fall:
Indian Summer Festival in Suches
On Oct. 7-8, make your way to Suches, Georgia, for the Indian Summer Festival at Woody Gap High School. The festival features food, fun, music and crafts, and is recognized as one of the best festivals in North Georgia.
Sorghum Festival in Blairsville
On Oct. 14-15 and 21-22 drive up to Blairsville to attend Georgia’s official Sorghum Festival, one of the longest running festivals in North Georgia. Enjoy Bluegrass music, cloggers and a variety of artists and craftsmen selling handmade goods. Sorghum is the third most popular cereal grain in the US and a staple of early Georgia farmers dating back to the early 1800s.
Related: Best Activities to Do in Fall Near Helen
Oktoberfest Celebration in Helen Festhalle
Open daily Sept. 28 until Oct. 29, the 53rd annual Oktoberfest Celebration is held in the Festhalle, located at 1074 Edelweiss St. in downtown Helen. You don’t have to travel to Germany to get a taste of Bavarian traditions, such as German beer and foods, lederhosens, live music and polka dancing. Find out everything you need to know about experiencing Oktoberfest in Helen here. Admission is $8 Monday through Friday, $10 on Saturdays and Sundays are free.
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in Hiawassee
From Oct. 6-14, travel north to Hiawassee, Georgia, to experience the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival. With its mild temperatures and beautiful scenery, there is no better place to be than the North Georgia mountains in the fall. This annual 9-day event features arts and craft vendors, educational demonstrations and exciting musical performances.
Blue Ridge Fall Arts in the Park
During the weekend of Oct. 14-15, make your way north to Blue Ridge, Georgia, to enjoy the city’s annual Arts in the Park Festival in the downtown city park. For 48 years, the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association has provided a unique art experience by offering more than 170 artists, exhibitors and vendors displaying a variety of fine arts and crafts, demonstrations, food and more. The event is free for all attendees.
Related: Where to See the Most Colorful Fall Foliage Near Helen
Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay
During the weekends of Oct. 14-15 and 21-22, visitors to Helen can drive farther north to enjoy the 52nd celebration of the Georgia Apple Festival, held annually at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds in Ellijay, Georgia. Nearly a dozen North Georgia orchards are represented at the festival, selling many varieties of apples. Expect more than 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items and many on-site demonstrations, as well as a parade and antique car show. Admission for adults is $10, while children 12 and under are free.
Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega
From Oct. 21-22, head west of Helen to Dahlonega’s Gold Rush Days to see fall leaves peaking and celebrate Dahlonega’s 1828 discovery of gold. Walk around the public square and historic district to enjoy more than 200 art and craft exhibitors, as well as food vendors. Listen to live bluegrass and gospel music throughout the weekend—and stick around to find out who is crowned King and Queen of Gold Rush. This event is free for all attendees.
Burt’s Pumpkin Farm in Dawsonville
Open daily during October, Burt’s Pumpkin Farm is located in Dawsonville, Georgia, and is stocked with every kind of pumpkin and squash color, size and variety you could imagine. It’s also the perfect opportunity to snag that Insta-worthy pumpkin patch photo. Enjoy more than two miles of scenery on covered wagons pulled by tractors through the farm property. Admission to the farm is free, but the hayride is $6 per person, with children ages 2 and under free.
Jaemor Farms Harvest Celebration in Alto
Open daily in October, Jaemor Farms in Alto, Georgia, offers endless fall fun for families. Test your navigation skills with the corn maze, see the farm on a hay ride or let your kids participate in outdoor activities such as skeeball, duck races, farm slides, a pumpkin train, tricycle races, a petting zoo and apple cannons. Admission is $15 for an all-access pass for ages 3+.
What are your favorite fall festivals to attend near Helen?
