Events & Festivals
Year-round celebrations, German traditions, and mountain festivities that make Helen one of Georgia's liveliest destinations
Helen keeps a full calendar for a town of a few hundred residents. Oktoberfest fills the Festhalle for about seven weeks each fall, the Lighting of the Village and Helen's Christmas Market open the holiday season the weekend after Thanksgiving, the June balloon race sends hot air balloons toward the Atlantic, and Fasching brings costume parties in late winter. Around those anchors you will find parades, car shows, ranger-led hikes at Unicoi and Smithgall Woods, and festivals in the neighboring mountain towns. The dates below come from the organizers and update with our full events calendar.
Coming Up Next
The next confirmed events in Helen and the nearby mountain towns.
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October 23, 2026
Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Unicoi
Unicoi State Park Visitor Center · 2:00 PM
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October 24-25, 2026
Art-Oberfest Arts & Fine Crafts Festival
Helen Arts & Heritage Center · Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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October 24, 2026
State Park After Dark Night Hike at Unicoi
Unicoi State Park Visitor Center
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November 27, 2026
Annual Lighting of the Village
Riverside Park (Edelweiss River Park) · 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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November 28-29 and December 5-6, 2026
Helen's Christmas Market (Christkindlmarkt)
Downtown Marktplatz and Unicoi Hill Park · 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day
Event details
Featured Events
The signature celebrations that draw visitors from across the Southeast and beyond.
Oktoberfest
The Helen Chamber of Commerce bills its Oktoberfest as the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States. It fills the Festhalle on Edelweiss Strasse every fall: Thursday through Sunday in September, then every night from October 1 until the first Sunday in November, with Bavarian bands, dancing, German food, and beer. Sunday admission is free, and weeknights are the calmest time to go.
Helen's Christmas Market (Christkindlmarkt)
On the two weekends after Thanksgiving, the Helen Chamber of Commerce fills the downtown Marktplatz and Unicoi Hill Park with vendors selling handmade Christmas gifts, decorations, sweets, and treats. Admission is free, the market runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 5, and it opens the morning after the Lighting of the Village, so the lights are already up.
Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race
Each June, hot air balloons lift off from Helen in a long-distance race toward the Atlantic coast. Launches depend on the wind and weather, so check the organizer's schedule the week of the race and be ready early in the morning.
Fasching (German Carnival)
Fasching is the German carnival season before Lent. In Helen it means costume parties at the German restaurants, the Faschingsverein's sidewalk parade, and a costume party with live music and dancing at the Festhalle, with prizes for the best costumes.
Seasonal Events Calendar
Plan your visit around Helen's year-round lineup of festivals, celebrations, and outdoor activities.
Fall
September - November56th Annual Helen Oktoberfest
Happening now
Helen's Oktoberfest at the Festhalle, billed as the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States, with live German bands, polkas, wursts and beer.
Art-Oberfest Arts & Fine Crafts Festival
October 24-25, 2026
The Helen Arts & Heritage Center's fall festival brings regional artists and craftspeople to the center's grounds on Chattahoochee Strasse to show and sell original, handmade work.
Mountain Farm Celebration at Hardman Farm
October 24, 2026
An old-fashioned country fair in the Nacoochee Valley with Appalachian skills demonstrations such as quilting, weaving, black powder and moonshining, apple cider from a hand-cranked press, and cooking in the historic farm kitchen.
Rods on the Hooch Fall Car Show
Early November 2026 (date TBA)Date TBA
Alpine Helen's fall car show lines classic cars and hot rods up beside the Chattahoochee River.
Annual Lighting of the Village
November 27, 2026
Helen switches on its holiday lights as Santa and Mrs.
Oktoberfest Parade
September 11, 2027
The parade that opens Helen's Oktoberfest steps off at noon on Edelweiss Strasse, turns onto Chattahoochee Strasse and then Main Street.
Helen's Alpine Village Arts & Craft Show
Late September 2027 (dates TBA)Date TBA
A three-day outdoor arts and crafts show at Unicoi Hill Park on Main Street during an Oktoberfest weekend, with crafts, fine art, antiques and homegrown products.
Winter
December - FebruaryHelen's Christmas Market (Christkindlmarkt)
November 28-29 and December 5-6, 2026
The 19th annual German-style Christmas market fills the downtown Marktplatz and Unicoi Hill Park with handmade gifts, decorations, sweets and treats, run by the Helen Chamber of Commerce.
Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm
Fridays and Saturdays, December 4-19, 2026 (Dec 4-5, 11-12, 18-19)
Step into an 1877 Christmas at the Nichols family's decorated mansion, where costumed interpreters and seasonal music fill the rooms.
Helen's Annual Lighted Christmas Parade
December 12, 2026
A small-town evening parade through downtown Helen with fire trucks, horses, dirt buggies, homemade floats, lots of candy and Santa himself.
Dropping of the Edelweiss - New Year's Eve Celebration
December 31, 2026
Helen's 13th annual Dropping of the Edelweiss rings in the new year at the Festhalle with live music, dancing, party favors, heavy hors d'oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight; beer and wine are sold.
48th Annual Hogpen Hillclimb 18K & Cool River Tubing 5K
January 16, 2027
One of Georgia's best-known road races: the 18K climbs more than 2,500 feet from downtown Helen up the Richard Russell Scenic Highway to Hogpen Gap, and a 5K starts and finishes in town.
Faschingsverein Helen Sidewalk Parade and Party
January 30, 2027
Helen's Fasching club leads a costumed sidewalk parade through town, followed by a party with live music at the Helendorf River Inn.
Fasching (German Mardi Gras) at the Festhalle
February 6, 2027
The Chamber's German Mardi Gras party at the Festhalle with live music, dancing and prizes for best female, male and couples costumes (costumes encouraged, not required).
WinterFest Arts Tour
February 13-14, 2027
A two-day arts tour on Valentine's weekend with about 175 artists showing, selling and demonstrating at four locations: the Helen Arts & Heritage Center, the Sautee Nacoochee Center, Hardman Farm Historic Site and the Fireside Arts & Crafts Show at Unicoi State Park.
Spring
March - MayHelen Trout Tournament
March 27, 2027
Fish the Chattahoochee through downtown Helen for tagged trout worth cash prizes up to $1,000; the Chamber stocks more than 400 pounds of trophy trout and Georgia DNR stocks the river too.
Corvair Springfest
April 16-17, 2027
A weekend for Corvair owners from across the Southeast, with a People's Choice car show of 1960-1969 Corvairs (up to 300 cars), an autocross that spectators can watch, valve cover races and an indoor swap meet in the Festhalle.
Alpine Helen Volkswanderung (Volksmarch)
Late April 2027 (date TBA)Date TBA
A non-competitive German-style 'people's walk' for all ages: a 10K or 5K hike on the Helen to Unicoi Trail, or a flatter 5K walk through town and along the Hardman Heritage Trail by the river.
Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo
April 25, 2027
A cycling ride with timed climbing segments over the mountain gaps made famous by the Tour de Georgia, starting and finishing in Helen.
Habersham Winery WineFest
Early May 2027 (date TBA)Date TBA
Habersham Winery's annual anniversary party, now a free celebration of its own wines rather than a multi-winery festival, with live music and food trucks on the grounds.
BavarianFest
May 29, 2027
A Memorial Day weekend party at the Festhalle that opens with a Color Guard honoring the military, followed by a live oompah band, dancing, beer, wine and wursts.
Opening Day for Helen Tubing & Water Park
Memorial Day weekend 2027 (opening date TBA)Date TBA
Helen Tubing & Water Park opens for its daily summer season, with tube floats down the Chattahoochee through town and the water park.
Summer
June - AugustHelen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race & Festival
Early June 2027 (dates TBA)Date TBA
The South's oldest balloon event and the only long-distance hot air balloon race in the U.S.
Shriners Parade
June 12, 2027
The Yaarab Shrine Shriners bring their motorized mini cars and parade fun to downtown Helen for their annual parade, which usually runs from the Festhalle across the river and down Main Street.
4th of July Fireworks
July 4, 2027 (confirm closer to date)Date TBA
Helen's annual Independence Day fireworks over the river at dusk, launched from behind the Alpine Village Shoppes and the Helen Welcome Center.
Helen Import Day
Early August 2027 (date TBA)Date TBA
A large import car show started by a group of car friends in 2014, held on several acres in Helen with show cars, vendors and a family-friendly crowd.
Georgia Mountain Fair
August 13-21, 2027
Hiawassee's summer fair on Lake Chatuge, held since 1950, with a carnival every day, arts and crafts, Pioneer Village demonstrations and concerts at Anderson Music Hall.
Browse the Full Events Calendar
All 360 upcoming events across Helen and the North Georgia mountains, searchable by month, category, keyword, and your trip dates. Festivals, holiday events, concerts, car shows, and more.
Plan Around an Event
The best way to experience Helen is during one of its iconic festivals. Book your accommodations early - events like Oktoberfest and Christkindlmarkt draw visitors from across the country, and lodging fills up fast.
Plan Your Visit