How fun to explore the creative genius of artisans and crafters as summer rolls into autumn in North Georgia. And don’t be shy about letting the kid in you (along with your own kids) get lost in a corn maze…are you up to the challenge?! 😊 Plan your weekends and mark your calendar now with this list of festivals and mazes. (As with all events, please check with the event organizer to verify any possible cancellations.)
SEPTEMBER
Gold Rush Festival and Concert
Visit The MILL Amphitheater in historic downtown Villa Rica for the annual Gold Rush Festival and Concert. This two day event is fun for the whole family and groups are also welcomed. The weekend kicks off with a concert on Friday night followed by the annual Gold Rush Festival Parade and Craft market on Saturday. Visit Villa Rica, An Amazing Find! Link: Gold Rush Festival and Concert
Paulding Meadows Arts and Crafts Festival
Held each weekend after Labor Day, artisans display and sell their authentic hand-crafted items. Join the community of Dallas, GA, and surround area in this time-held tradition of creativity. Link: Paulding Meadows Arts and Crafts Festival
Waco Fall Fest
This Saturday festival begins with breakfast at 6:00am, a parade at 11:00am and a street dance at 7:00pm. All day arts, crafts, food and entertainment with lots of activities for the kids. Small town, big fun! Link: Waco Fall Fest
Haralson County Fried Pie Fest
Get ready to sample something GOOD in the Fried Pie Cook-Off on Saturday. Enjoy lots of fried and not so fried food, along with arts and crafts, a Car and Bike Show, and tons of musical entertainment up and down Van Wert Street, a children’s area with a carnival-like atmosphere. Link: Fried Pie Fest
Roselawn Arts Festival
Since 1976 the tree-shaded grounds of Rose Lawn, the Victorian home of Methodist Evangelist Sam Jones, has welcomed the finest handcrafters and artists in the southeast to this two-day juried arts festival. Enjoy musical entertainment and performing arts, delicious food, and interpretive tours inside Rose Lawn where docents introduce the Sam Jones’ legacy. Free admission!
OCTOBER
Rock City’s Rocktober Fest
Get in touch with Rock City’s German heritage during the 15th annual Rocktoberfest. Rock City Square is transformed for a celebration of harvests and fall foliage. This premiere autumn festival includes German music with live performances as well as Rock City Raptors birds of prey shows. Step into German culture as we celebrate and honor our founder Frieda Utermoehlen Carter’s heritage, with German food and fun for the whole family. This event has been selected as a 2021 Top 20 Event by Southeast Tourism Society! Link: Rock City’s Rocktober Fest
Georgia Marble Festival
Two days of Arts and Crafts, Food, Music and Live Entertainment on the Headliner Stage, plus a parade, road race marble quarry tourism, kids zone and more! Link: Georgia Marble Festival
Prater’s Mill Country Fair
Celebrating 50 years! A southern festival of quality artists, craftsmen, music, and food! Enjoy mountain music, living history exhibits, handmade crafts, and original art of over 150 talented artists and artisans. Craft demonstrations include blacksmiths, quilting, woodcarving, and hand tufting. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the operating 1855 gristmill, country store, and cotton gin. Continuous entertainment on stage features Appalachian style clogging, country, bluegrass, and gospel music. Link: Prater’s Mill Country Fair
Georgia Apple Festival
Celebrating 50 years! The Georgia Apple Festival brings two exciting weekends to Ellijay, Georgia, every year with hundreds of vendors offering food, art, crafts, and more, as well visitors from all over. 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. Link: Georgia Apple Festival
Apple Arts Festival
During the same weekends as the Georgia Apple Festival a smaller version of the Apple Festival is set up on Ellijay’s downtown square allowing you to enjoy a festival, but also enjoy the local shops and restaurants. This is a free, pet-friendly event. Vendors are set up on broad street next to the Gilmer County Courthouse. Link: Apple Arts Festival
Bremen Pumpkin Fest
Lots of fun: arts and crafts, a kids area with a hay bale maze, pumpkin decorating, train rides, a food court with a variety of incredible treats to try, and entertainment all festival long! Don’t miss out on the Scarecrow Takeover with a tour of the scarecrows throughout town. Link: Bremen Pumpkin Fest
Schnauzerfest Rome
This is the first festival to bring together Schnauzers of all breeds and their “pawrents” in one gigantic celebrations! Various events such as attempting the Guinness World Record for the largest dog walk of a single breed, Schnauzer Agility Contest, Schnauzers Best in Show Contest, and Schnauzer Idol Singing Competition. There will also be Vendors, Schnauzer Rescues and demonstrations on Schnauzer grooming along with many new surprises created just for our 2021 event… and of course, the hotels and businesses will be throwing parties and socials especially for our Festival! Link: Schnauzerfest Rome
Chiaha Harvest Fair
A toe-tappin’, cider-sippin’, fun-for-everyone arts festival…says it all! Link: Chiaha Harvest Fair
Finster Fest
Howard Finster’s historic art environment, Paradise Garden, hosts a two-day art festival where over 60 folk, craft and fine artists from the Southeast and beyond exhibit their works. Three music stages provide a variety of music in Paradise Garden including bluegrass, folk, indie, rock and country. Enjoy true southern foods including BBQ and the famous Chattooga County Garden Club’s pimento cheese sandwiches. Link: Finster Fest
NOVEMBER
Rome International Film Festival
Join with others to view some of the amazing work of film artists. From narrative and documentary features by first-time directors, short films of multiple genres to films from all over the world. High quality films and outstanding special guests make for a fun and exciting weekend! Link: Rome International Film Festival
CORN MAZES
Copper Creek Farm
This is a must-do for fall fun! The corn maze adventure in Calhoun is just part of the 25 things to do at the farm such as the wagon hayride, giant jumping pillow, pig races, petting barn, zip line, gem mining, animated chicken show, and more! For those ready to take on a night adventure, stay for the Haunted Farm…oooooh! Do you dare step into the Haunted Corn Maze and Flashlight Maze? Copper Creek’s 2021 fall season is Sep 24 – Nov 6. Link: Copper Creek Farm
Carlton Farm Corn Maze
Carlton Farms in Rockmart designs and cuts their own maze. It’s an adventure to find your way through 5-acres with 2 miles of trails. It usually takes maze goers 30 minutes to an hour to navigate the maze, so put your thinking caps on. It is perfect for all ages! The corn maze and hayride are handicap accessible. All groups are welcome. The Corn maze is open to the public on weekends only. Link: Carlton Farm