Blue Ridge / Toccoa River KOA Holiday

Tooney's now offers a free, weekly Community Line Dancing Class for Beginners! Mondays only. Doors open at 6 pm, Class starts at 7 pm and typically lasts an hour to an hour and a half. Class is open to all ages and all levels of ability.

Spend some time strolling through 20 acres of Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens, a beautiful woodland garden in the North Georgia Mountains. This magical botanical garden is filled with native wildflowers like trilliums, shooting stars, trout lilies, and more than 1,500 rhododendrons and native azaleas, making it the most extensive collection in the Southeast! Peak bloom time is April & May, and we will celebrate with The Rhododendron Festival! Mark your calendars for four weekends of fun! The 2024 Rhododendron Festival -4 weekends during peak bloom time from April 12th thru May 4th - Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. Live music every Saturday from 12 pm - 3 pm! Admission is $6.00 per person. No pets are allowed inside the gates.

Classic Car Show featuring music, food trucks, arts & crafts, Swap Meet, and cool cars! Spectator admission is $10/per person. Children 12 & under are free! No Pets Allowed Inside the Fairgrounds Gates

Cast - Paddle - Hike - Climb - Ride - Axe Throwing - Outdoor Art- Live Music - Craft Beer and Food and much more. More than a dozen local outfitters and guides can help you learn why fly-fishing is a growing sport, especially among anglers in the Southern Appalachian Mountains who chase the rainbow, brown and brook trout in the region's cold-water streams. NEW! Trout Fest Program Tent presents expanded programs including mountain biking and kayaking. Professional fishing guides and outfitters share their fishing programs that tell our visitors what they need to know for a successful day of trout fishing in the Trout Capital of Georgia.NEW! Trout Fest Activity Zone opens up outdoor fun for our visitors with a climbing wall, a trout-fishing pond, long-saw crosscutting, axe throwing, gem mining and more! Browse, admire and shop a large selection of fine outdoor art produced by local and traveling artists who feature the resources of the Appalachian Mountains in both their materials and their visions. Trout Fest Food Court features new and returning food vendors, and our Beer/Wine Garden will include local craft beer from Grumpy Old Men Brewing a local favorite as well as hard cider from Mercier Orchards.

Have you ever fished ‘til dark? After-hours fishing is always fun. We will provide a great creek side meal to start off the evening and send you & your guides on your way to catch all the trophy trout that are gorging before bedtime. You can expect to get around 3.5 hours (maybe 4) of fishing before it's dark.

HURRY AND BOOK TODAY...ONLY EIGHT SLOTS AVAILABLE Click Here to Make Your Reservation

Starts at 5pm

The 27th Annual Blue Ridge Adventure Race Weekend will take place on May 4th, 2024Length: 12 Hours

Are you ready to take on the ultimate challenge in the great outdoors? Then the Blue Ridge Adventure Race is for you! This thrilling event takes participants on a multi-discipline journey through the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia and is America's longest-running adventure race.

Teams of two to four members, or solos, will navigate the rugged terrain using only a map and compass, trekking through mountains, biking through winding forest trails, and paddling through scenic rivers and lakes. Along the way, participants will face a series of mental and physical challenges designed to push them to their limits.

The Blue Ridge Adventure Race is not for the faint of heart, but for those who are ready to embrace the thrill of adventure and the beauty of nature. You'll experience the rush of adrenaline as you push yourself to the limit, and the tranquility of the mountains as you paddle through pristine lakes and rivers.

The race is open to participants of all skill levels, from seasoned adventure racers to first-time competitors. However, all participants should be prepared for a challenging and demanding event that will test their endurance, navigation skills, and teamwork.

If you're ready to take on the ultimate outdoor adventure, then sign up for the Blue Ridge Adventure Race today. You'll create memories that will last a lifetime and experience the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains like never before. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to challenge yourself and explore the great outdoors because this race sells out yearly.

Plein air artists from all over the southeast will be competing for $2,000 + in awards. The public is invited to come and watch the artists as they paint in beautiful Hamilton Gardens, views of Lake Chatuge, or anything that might strike a creative chord. Saturday afternoon, judging will take place with the awarding of prizes, then the Artists' Gallery will be open for viewing. Paintings will be for sale.Take advantage of this great opportunity to watch these talented artists!Free Admission to the Public

Thursday, May 9, 2024, 7:30 am - 8 pm
Friday, May 10, 2024, 6:30 am - 8 pm
Saturday, May 11, 2024, 6:30 am - 5 pm

Artists interested in participating may get the Artist Information and Registration Form at [email protected]. Registration will open on November 15, 2023.

Enjoy music by Wyatt Espalin & friends on two stages, arts and crafts, food trucks, 30+ Wineries, and tours of the blooming Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens.

No Pets Allowed Inside the Gates

During Discovery Days, families will have the opportunity to see and learn about the former research chimpanzees living right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Come early and stay after your tour to visit the Discovery Zone booths and explore our new hiking trails! Food vendors will be onsite, and you are welcome to bring your own picnic to enjoy by our scenic koi pond. Closed-toed hiking shoes are strongly encouraged. The tour of the habitat consists of a moderate hike on a gravel road. Out of respect for the chimpanzees, please only carry water during the tour; they may get jealous of snacks or juices they see you enjoying, which they can not! We will have bottled water for sale, but we encourage you to bring your reusable water bottle, as we will also have a water refill station set up. In addition, we will have Project Chimps reusable water bottles for sale in our merchandise area that you can pick up while you are here! We have limited cart seating available for those who reserved them in advance. Upgrade to a VIP ticket for a more intimate tour (including exclusive locations), access to upfront parking, and the VIP lounge! Tickets are available via our website. Bottled water will be for sale and a water refill station if you bring your own container. Discovery Days is rain or shine!

Join us Memorial Day weekend for our 48th Annual Spring Arts in the Park fine arts and fine crafts festival held in the beautiful Downtown City Park of Blue Ridge, Georgia. Shop from a variety of artworks from over 175 juried fine arts and fine crafts exhibitors, enjoy tasty food, and engage in multiple artist demos throughout the weekend festival.Pets are welcomed as long as they are leashed and well-behaved. Festival is held rain or shine. Weekend Admission: adults $5; children under 12 free. All proceeds benefit the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, a 501c3 non-profit community arts association.

This class is a more in-depth take on our Exploratory Kids Fly Fishing class. In this 6-hour class we will teach basic knots, seine the creek for aquatic insects, identify them and pair them with flies, watch how flies are tied, practice casting on and off the water, learn the steps to rigging your rod, how to properly fight & land a fish, and how to safely handle & release them. We will provide all gear, lunch, snacks, & water. Parents are welcome to stay.

Events Details: 
8 total participants
$250 per participant 
Ages 5-12

The backbone of homesteading is learning the ability to properly put away your harvest by canning, drying, freezing, etc. It is a tradition, born out of necessity, that is now a time-honored tradition and a movement that is ever-increasing in popularity.Join The Folk as we present a three-part canning series over the summer. In this class, part 1, we will discuss and practice different water bath techniques (and why), along with pickled products you'll be proud to serve on your supper table.
Sunday, June 9th at 2:30 pm
Instructor: Luke
Cost: $50
Class Limit: 18

Another Cozy Country gathering of your favorite Artisans! An “ inside out” event of approximately 35 artisans, some cloistered inside the dining area of the college and the rest interspersed outdoor in the covered patio area.Enjoy the start of the Summer Arts and Crafts season by visiting this fabulous inside/outside event featuring your favorite local and regional artisans. This is a purely handcrafted show with delightful items that are very often one of a kind. Choose from home decor, personal pampering, kitchen goodies, needfuls, plus more. Free admission and parking.Admission is FREE.

This parade started in the 1950's and it is a time for all of Blue Ridge to come together and celebrate the 4th of July as well as the way Blue Ridge, Georgia used to be. Bring your antique vehicles, dress in period attire OR not, it is up to you.

Start your July 4th celebration with a scenic 5K run through beautiful historic downtown.We are so excited to be back with our 4th of July celebration run.Note this year's race will take place on Thursday, July 4th!
DISCOUNT PRICING FOR CHILDREN UNDER 10.

STROLLERS WELCOME AT THE BACK OF THE PACK.

DOGS WELCOME AT THE BACK OF THE PACK AND NOT IN THE REGISTRATION/PACKET PICKUP LINE ON RACE DAY.

WALKERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

Fireworks are being put on by the Lake Blue Ridge Civic Association. Begins at dusk.
Places for viewing:
- Morganton Point Recreation Area
- From a boat in Lake Blue Ridge near the Lake Blue Ridge Dam
- The Lake Blue Ridge Marina
- Lake Blue Ridge Dam, as well as adjacent areas by the "tower in the lake."

The skies over the twin cities of McCaysville, Ga and Copperhill, TN will be lit up on Saturday night. Anywhere downtown is a great viewing area!Don't want to drive? You can board the Firework Express in Downtown Blue Ridge and arrive by train.

Five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, meet for a long weekend every August…for over 30 years. Free from husbands, kids, and jobs, they sojourn to North Carolina's Outer Banks to catch up, laugh, and meddle in each other's lives. One struggles with “perfection”. One aspires to a personal life as ordered as her courtroom. One is determined to hold on to her youth and has the marriages to prove it. And one arrives with some startling news! And as they work through the challenges of men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce, and aging, they rally ‘round their own with the strength and love that makes this a comedy about friendships that last forever.

Delving further into our canning series, this class will focus on the art and beauty of pressure canning. It should be noted that The Folk are NOT rebel canners (not that we care if you are) and will be following the USDA guidelines.Join us as we learn about jar types, food acidity, lids, different types of canners, recipes, and the joy of being a slave to the pressure dial.Class Date: Saturday, July 13th at 4 pmInstructor: Luke
Cost: $50
Class Limit: 18 - 20

The Butternut Creek Festival is one of the finest juried arts and crafts shows in the southeast. The two-day festival showcases the work of 80 to 85 artists and craftsman in categories from basketry, candles & soap, fine art, fabric art, and decorative painting, to glass, jewelry, metal working, photography, pottery, scrimshaw, and wood turning.Held annually at Meeks Park in Blairsville, Georgia, Saturday 10AM to 5PM & Sunday 10AM to 4PM.Free admission and free parking with shuttle service from the parking lots to the show site.You don't want to miss it!

NO Pets Allowed in Meeks Park!

America's ONLY 2 State 5K Series! The Riverwalk Run Series will take you through two historic stateline downtowns: McCaysville, GA, and Copperhill, TN.The 2024 Walk the Line 5K will be held on Saturday, July 20, at 6:30 pm. This one-of-a-kind, 3.1-mile course includes not only two charming Southern towns in different states but a path that will bring participants alongside the famous Toccoa River and across the area's iconic steel truss bridge—one of only a few left in America.Parking is free and plentiful, located right across the finish line at McCaysville's City Park.* Race Timeline *4:30 PM Race Setup6:30 PM Race Starts at McCaysville Information Center7:30 PM Race Cutoff 8:00 PM Awards at TOONEYS

We invite y'all to join The Folk as we teach and demonstrate how to get involved in the time-honored Appalachian tradition of wood carving. We will be taking green and aged wood to hand carve a spoon or ladle, discuss the necessary tools and history, and send you home with some blanks to practice your new craft.
 Saturday, July 27th at 5 pm

Instructor: Lucas
Cost: TBD
Class Limit: 20

Finishing up our three-part canning and food preservation series, we will mosey into the art of drying/dehydration and freezing. Cans take up a lot of space, and a dedicated freezer is sometimes the best way to preserve the nutrients in your harvest. We invite y'all to come learn some of our trade secrets to help deepen your commitment to homesteading because freezing and drying is more than just throwing some stuff in a bag.

Saturday, August 10th at 4 pm
Instructor: Luke
Cost: $40
Class Limit: 20

THE KIWANIS CLUB OF BLUE RIDGE'S 28TH ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO! SAVE THE DATE!All proceeds benefit the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Club which supports local charities such as The Fannin Chapter of Boys and Girls Club of America, Fannin County Family Connection, Feed Fannin and more.Events will include: Bronco riding, calf roping, calf scrambles, bull riding, bareback riding, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, ladies breakaway roping and more!Food and fun for all ages.
Friday & Saturday, August 16th and 17thGates open at 6:00 pm - Rodeo begins at 8:00 pm.Sponsored by The Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge and Mountain Valley Motors

74TH ANNUAL GEORGIA MOUNTAIN FAIR
The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds proudly hosts first-class musical performances, arts & crafts, fun carnival rides, unique attractions, and a glimpse into North Georgia's rich history and culture.Scoop up your friends and pack the family for a fun and memorable North Georgia Experience! Be sure to frequent the website to stay current with dates and fair events.

Blue Ridge Wine and Jazz Festival is bringing great music, great wines, fine art, and delicious cuisine, to beautiful Ellijay, GA.We will be offering a diversity of wines from around the world, including those made locally in North Georgia and the North Carolina region.Enjoy delicious food prepared locally and listen to top jazz performers also from the region. Purchase wine by the glass or bottle and bring your blanket and lawn chairs to relax in while listening to great music. The focus of the Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival is for the North Georgia Mountains to be recognized as “A Cultural Tourism Destination”, to feature regional wines being produced locally, provide financial support and opportunities for area students of Jazz music, and awareness to the community as to the importance of this legendary American music style.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Apple season has settled into the mountains of southern Appalachia and what better way to celebrate apples and homesteading than with making your own fresh cider? Join the Folk as we explore the orchard, pick your own fruit, learn a bit about the history of cider pressing and then press your own cider in our vintage wooden apple press.Hopefully, you'll leave with a memory to last a lifetime and a love for the beautiful flavor of fresh cider, but you will definitely leave with a half-gallon of your orchard brew.

Saturday, September 14th at 3 pm

Instructor: Luke
Cost: $40
Class Limit: 35

13TH ANNUAL BLUE RIDGE BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL

GATES WILL OPEN AT 11:30 AM. Downtown Blue Ridge sets the stage as a fantastic backdrop and venue location for a perfect early fall event. The leaves change with cooler days and crisp evenings inviting outdoor activities! The sounds of Blues music and the sweet smell of BBQ from local and regional cookers will fill the air as families and groups of friends enjoy this unique setting and event.
The Music Line-Up will be posted closer to the event. 

THERE ARE MULTIPLE PAID PARKING OPTIONS IN DOWNTOWN BLUE RIDGE; ALSO, THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE $5.00 PAID PARKING AT BOTH THE FANNIN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL (4560 OLD HWY 76 BLUE RIDGE, GA 30513) AND THE BLUE RIDGE FARMER'S MARKET (787 SUMMIT ST. BLUE RIDGE, GA 30513). BOTH LOCATIONS WILL HAVE COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLES RUNNING BACK AND FORTH TO AND FROM THE FESTIVAL FROM 11:30 AM UNTIL 10:00 PM.

DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS EVENT: NO PETS, NO COOLERS, & NO SMOKING

Join us October 5th - 6th, 2024 to celebrate the 42nd Annual Georgia Marble Festival. You will enjoy Arts, Crafts, Music & Performances on our Headliner Stage, Fine Art Gallery, Parade, Road Race, Quarry Tours, Kids Zone, Live Demonstrations of Marble and Granite Sculpting, Pottery, Chainsaw Carving, and more, along with an array of Festival Food.
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Brought to you by the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Blue Ridge, Georgia. This is not just a race; it is an unforgettable event! The best part of the season, a beautiful location, music, and a hot meal.October 5, 2024

Lengths: 50K, 30K, or 15K

This is not just a race; it is an unforgettable event! The best part of the season with a beautiful location, music, and a hot meal. The Blue Ridge Ultra is a 50K loop trail race is deep within the beautiful Chattahoochee National Forest of the North Georgia Mountains. It consists of 20 miles of the Benton MacKaye trail, 2 miles of Hidden trails and 9 miles of Forest Service roads. You will experience tough and sometimes technical spots, single-track trails, small creek crossings, steep ascents and even steeper descents all while enjoying the leaves changing colors. Start and Finish at the historic Shallowford Iron Bridge spanning the Toccoa River. This race will challenge the most experienced racer and provide a memorable experience for those looking to complete a trail run in the mountains of Blue Ridge. Using the same trails, there is a 30K and 15K option. Break the men's or women's 50K course record and get $250.

First two weekends in October, the community of Cherry Log celebrates the harvest with the Cherry Log Festival. Serving delicious homemade breakfast and lunch, offering arts and crafts, homemade cakes, pies and canned goods, bluegrass, gospel, and country music at the Cherry Log Community Clubhouse, 341 Cherry Log Street.Great food and entertainment. Fun for the whole family! Plenty of free parking is available.

We invite you to celebrate Appalachian heritage at our 48th Fall Festival, featuring a wide variety of craftspeople, continuous live music and dance, craft demonstrations, good food, and much more! Saturday & Sunday, October 5 & 6, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Look forward to the 2024 Fall Festival on October 5th - 13th from 11 am-6 pm. With its mild temperatures and beautiful scenery, there is no better place to be than the North Georgia Mountains in the fall! Each October, the 9-day event features arts & crafts vendors, educational demonstrations, and exciting musical performances! Enjoy carnival rides from Midway Rides Unlimited! Enjoy over a dozen rides, including a carousel, Ferris wheel, bumper cars & more! Rides for the adults & the kiddos! Plus, fair food, games, and more!

Suches, Georgia ~ The Valley Above the Clouds Annual Festival. First Weekend in October on the grounds of Woody Gap School ~ Georgia's Smallest Public School. GA Hwy. 60, between Dahlonega and Blue Ridge ~ Activities and family entertainment Saturday & Sunday 9 to 5 ~~ Tons of Great Vendor Booths ~Pottery ~ Quilts ~ Homemade Goodies ~ Leather Crafts ~ Needlework ~ Folk ArtJewelry ~ Furniture ~ Photographs ~ Stained Glass ~ Whirligigs ~ MoreFree Parking ~ Admission ~ (Under 6 FREE)~ Good Things to Eat ~Featuring pork BBQ plates and sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the fixins'! Many vendor snacks such as funnel cakes, boiled peanuts, cotton candy, fried apple pies, and homemade preserves.

55TH ANNUAL SORGHUM FESTIVAL -OCTOBER 12TH & 13TH AND OCTOBER 20TH & 21ST - 2024 Georgia's official Sorghum Festival is one of the longest-running festivals in north Georgia. A parade kicks off the event. Bluegrass music, cloggers, plus many other forms of entertainment add to this event which features a variety of artists and craftsmen who sell handmade goods. Sorghum is the 3rd most popular cereal grain in the US and a staple of early Georgia farmers in the early 1800s. It is a very festive and great event for the entire family.

The event is on Saturdays and Sundays only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Welcome to North Georgia! The Georgia Apple Festival brings two exciting weekends to Ellijay, Georgia, every year, with hundreds of vendors offering food, art, crafts, and more, and visitors from all over. The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay, and Gilmer County invite everyone to come and enjoy the Georgia Apple Festival. Celebrating the 52nd year of the Georgia Apple Festival!! This event hosts over 250 vendors offering handcrafted items, including jewelry, accessories, pottery, woodworking, baskets, toys, soaps and candles, yard art, photography, packaged food products, and more. It's the perfect place to find unique handmade gifts for friends or loved ones. Fried apple pies, fried Oreos, gyros, homemade root beer, freshly made pizza, barbecue, and boiled peanuts are just the beginning of the delicious foods that you will find at the Georgia Apple Festival. This event is considered one of the top food festivals in the State of Georgia. More than 35 food concession vendors serve savory food for you to enjoy.

Fine art, great food, and fall colors on the trees and the canvases. Enjoy the small-town charm of Blue Ridge at one of our signature events, Fall Arts in the Park. This fall arts and crafts festival features hundreds of regional artists and craftsmen, Special events for the kids, and live musical performances. Don't miss visiting The Art Center in the historic Fannin County Courthouse and browsing the National Photography Exhibit in The Art Center Gallery.

Admission is $5 for adults, and kids (12 and under) are admitted free of charge.Festival hours are 10 am to 5 pm on both days.

2024 GEORGIA APPLE FESTIVAL OCTOBER 12TH & 13TH AND OCTOBER 19TH and 20TH. Welcome to North Georgia! The Georgia Apple Festival brings two exciting weekends to Ellijay, Georgia, every year, with hundreds of vendors offering food, art, crafts, and more, and visitors from all over. The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay, and Gilmer County invite everyone to come and enjoy the Georgia Apple Festival. Celebrating the 52nd year of the Georgia Apple Festival!! This event hosts over 250 vendors offering handcrafted items, including jewelry, accessories, pottery, woodworking, baskets, toys, soaps and candles, yard art, photography, packaged food products, and more. It's the perfect place to find unique handmade gifts for friends or loved ones. Fried apple pies, fried Oreos, gyros, homemade root beer, freshly made pizza, barbecue, and boiled peanuts are just the beginning of the delicious foods that you will find at the Georgia Apple Festival. This event is considered one of the top food festivals in the State of Georgia. More than 35 food concession vendors serve savory food for you to enjoy.

 - Saturday and Sunday from 9am - 5pm -

This year's parade of homes will take place over three days, beginning October 18th and ending October 20th, 2024 from 10 AM – 5 PM each day. Attendees are invited to participate in any/all days of the parade.

Tickets for the Blue Ridge Mountains Parade of Homes are just $25, changing to $35 on October 11th, 2024, with proceeds from the event being donated to scholarships for local students. This all-access pass includes general admission for an individual 18 years of age and older, for any/all days of the Parade of Homes. Children under 18 are free with purchase of an adult ticket.

Tickets purchased online will be available for pickup at the Parade of Homes check-in location, SouthState Bank in Blue Ridge, GA, on any day of the event – Co-sponsored by Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet.

Heritage Days Festival is held the third full weekend in October and is the year's highlight in Talking Rock. Vendors from around the state join with shop owners from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. for a festival that includes food, fun, and music. Our little town will be filled with booths featuring various arts, crafts, and antiques during the twenty-ninth Annual Heritage Days Festival. There will be activities for the young and young-at-heart, great music, and delicious food. You can take the kids to the free bounce houses, face painting, rock painting craft area, or relax in the park along the banks of Talking Rock Creek. This year will include Rubber Duck races in Talking Rock Creek. Proceeds will be donated to local charities, Pickens Animal Rescue and The Pregnancy Center.

 Admission and parking are free!

Welcome to North Georgia! The Georgia Apple Festival brings two exciting weekends to Ellijay, Georgia, every year, with hundreds of vendors offering food, art, crafts, and more, and visitors from all over. The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay, and Gilmer County invite everyone to come and enjoy the Georgia Apple Festival. Celebrating the 52nd year of the Georgia Apple Festival!! This event hosts over 250 vendors offering handcrafted items, including jewelry, accessories, pottery, woodworking, baskets, toys, soaps and candles, yard art, photography, packaged food products, and more. It's the perfect place to find unique handmade gifts for friends or loved ones. Fried apple pies, fried Oreos, gyros, homemade root beer, freshly made pizza, barbecue, and boiled peanuts are just the beginning of the delicious foods that you will find at the Georgia Apple Festival. This event is considered one of the top food festivals in the State of Georgia. More than 35 food concession vendors serve savory food for you to enjoy.

The 2024 Appalachian Brew, Stew, & Que Festival brings you great craft breweries from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina & Alabama. There will also be delicious food from area restaurants, regional arts & crafts, and Appalachian & Americana music! Tickets $55 at the gate; $50 in advance online

Includes: 
63+ Breweries, Unlimited Tasting, Souvenir Glass, Music and Vendors
No Pets Allowed Inside The Gate

Gold Rush Days are always held the third full weekend in October. It is a time for thousands to come and see fall colors peaking and celebrate Dahlonega's 1828 discovery of gold. Over 300 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 visit 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. Join them in downtown Dahlonega and you will see why!

October 22, 2024 - October 23, 2024 from 9am - 5pm

Candy distribution starts at 5 pm AND the Costume Contest will begin at 5:30 pm 
Categories
Infant to 2 years
3 to 4 year olds
5 to 6 year olds
7 to 8 year olds
9 to 10 year olds
11 to 14 year olds
15 to 17 year olds
18 & up
Groups of any size. The pet category is for dogs and cats only—no large animals.

2024 BIGFOOT BOOGIE 5K Join us for America's ONLY 5K Road Series that crosses 2 states! The Riverwalk Run Series offers four opportunities, all in McCaysville, Georgia and crossing into Copperhill, Tennessee. Our next event is the Bigfoot Boogie 5K on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 5:30 pm. RAIN or SHINE! The course takes runners through the charming downtowns of McCaysville, Georgia, and its sister city, Copperhill, Tennessee. The community is united by a state line at the heart of the historic Copper Basin. Covering 3.1 miles, the course crosses from Georgia into Tennessee and back into Georgia. Participants will also run alongside the famous Toccoa River and across the city's iconic steel bridge—one of only a few left in America. The series was created by the McCaysville Business Association, a non-profit organization, to foster further economic, cultural, and social growth within the community. Drive up for the day or spend a weekend with family and friends in the area's hundreds of scenic cabins. Located just a few miles north of Blue Ridge, Georgia, the region offers plenty of activities that include live music, rafting, craft beer breweries, hiking, fly fishing, and more! Parking is free and plentiful, located right across the finish line at McCaysville's City Park.

The race is for all abilities, from walkers to the serious competitor. We are one of the biggest races in our surrounding area with over 700 runners, walkers, and fans joining in the Thanksgiving fun! Don't worry, you will be home in time to put the turkey in the oven! Now, let's get trotting! Thursday, November 28, 2024; Registration Opens at 7 a.m.; Race Begins Promptly at 8 a.m.