Surround yourself with color in the Northeast Georgia mountains!
There is no better time to visit the mountains of Northeast Georgia than in the Fall. The air is crisp, the nights are cool and the leaves turn to the beautiful yellow, orange and red of the season. The highest peak in Georgia, Brasstown Bald, can be found at the southwest corner of Towns County, touching the sky at 4,784 feet. A popular destination year-round, it becomes a “must -see” in the fall months. On a clear day you can see the Atlanta skyline from the observation deck located in the Visitor Center atop this majestic landmark. Because of its incredible 360-degree view, visitors can see four states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina.
The highest peak in Georgia, Brasstown Bald rises more than 4,000 feet above Towns County. Photo: Towns Chamber
A shuttle to the Visitor Center is available during most of the fall months from the main parking lot. The Visitor Center offers other amenities including a museum documenting Georgia history, geology and the natural world, a movie about the Bald and a wonderful gift shop. Brasstown Bald is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest and additional information can be found on their website.
Celebrate Traditions!
And, what would a trip to Towns County be without a visit to the many fall festivals? Every weekend in October is chock full of family fun. Just a short ride north of Towns County in Brasstown, North Carolina, is a unique school that teaches traditional skills. The John C. Campbell Folk School, one of the very few schools of its kind, is located in a beautiful setting and consists of several buildings: craft shop, woodturning studio, blacksmith shop, painting studio, weaving and fiber building, clay studio, pottery studio and so much more.
The biggest event of the year for this non-profit organization is their Fall Festival always held the first full weekend of October. Many area artists, some of which have honed their talents at the School, sell their products at this event. In fact, this event is so popular with area craftspeople that there is now a waiting line for booth space! For a fantastic sampling of traditional music and dances along with delicious food, crafts, exhibits and demonstrations, visit the John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival.
Photo: Towns Chamber
Step Back in Time
Another favorite Fall event is the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival held on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. This event also features the works of local artists and craftsmen but also offers a peek into the past with many daily demonstrations of moonshine stillin’, board splittin, blacksmithin’, quiltin’, singin’ and pickin’! Tour an authentically recreated mountain town of yesteryear with a mercantile store, one-room school, log cabin, barn, corn crib and smokehouse. And, of course, concerts in the Anderson Music Hall on the Fairgrounds offer daily concerts at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Georgia’s Official State Fiddler’s Convention on the last two days of this 9-day festival. The admission fee allows you to visit the exhibits and crafts as well as that day’s concerts.
For Additional Information:
800-984-1543
[email protected]
www.golakechatuge.com
