Ellijay: Georgia's Apple Capital
Orchards, cider donuts and the Georgia Apple Festival, October 10 to 18 this year
The short answer
The Georgia Apple Festival
55th year, two October weekends
The festival is a four-day craft and food show with hundreds of vendors, live demonstrations, music and festival food. Tickets are sold at the gate and online. There's no on-site shuttle this year, pets aren't allowed (service animals are), and it's a smoke-free event. A Georgia Apple Festival 5K runs during the same dates.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 10-11 and October 17-18, 2026 |
| Where | Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main Street, Ellijay, GA 30540 |
| Tickets | At the gate or online |
| Parking | See the Gilmer Chamber for current parking information |
| Shuttle | None this year |
Festival details from the official 2026 festival page.
Orchards and apple stops
Gilmer County grows more than 22 apple varieties, and the harvest runs from June through November, according to Explore Georgia. Most roadside stands cluster along Highway 52 East, east of downtown Ellijay, and October weekends bring heavy traffic. B.J. Reece Orchards, there, is open year-round, with apple cider donuts, homemade breads and fried pies from its bakery, next to Reece's Cider Co.
Orchard hours, u-pick dates and fees change with the crop and the weather, so check each orchard's own page or call before you drive out.
| Place | Where | Details |
|---|---|---|
| B.J. Reece Orchards | Highway 52 East, Ellijay | Open year-round; bakery, cider donuts, fried pies; Reece's Cider Co. next door |
| Mercier Orchards | 8660 Blue Ridge Dr, Blue Ridge; (706) 632-3411 | Mon-Thu 9-5, Fri-Sun 9-6; 40+ apple varieties; hard cider tasting room; bakery and market. See our Mercier page. |
Beyond the orchards
Fill the rest of the day in Gilmer County
Ellijay is more than a place to buy apples, which matters when the drive is nearly two hours each way. Explore Georgia describes a walkable downtown square with boutiques, antique shops, tasting rooms, galleries and restaurants. It also lists a few distinctive stops:
Cider and wine
Reece's Cider Co. offers tastings next to B.J. Reece Orchards, and Cartecay Vineyards is known for its patios with vineyard views.
Bigfoot museum
EXPEDITION: Bigfoot! is a museum of Sasquatch lore with what its owners call the largest permanent display of Sasquatch artifacts, footprint casts included. It's a quick, quirky stop with kids. It has no tie we could find to the 2008 Bigfoot in a freezer, which thawed into a rubber suit.
The Cartecay River
Tubing and kayaking here are summer activities, so they won't be on the October menu, but they're worth knowing about if you come back in warm weather.
Farmers markets
Summer farmers markets run May through September, another reason apple season isn't the only time to visit.
Festival weekend tips
The festival goes ahead rain or shine, and tickets are available at the gate as well as online. Because there's no shuttle and the festival site doesn't list parking details, check the Gilmer Chamber before you leave, and plan for the drive to take longer than the 1 hour 40 minutes it takes on an empty road. Leave the dog at home. A good plan is to visit the orchards on Highway 52 East first thing, when stands are quietest, and save the festival for later in the day.
The drive and a waterfall stop
From Helen, plan on about 66 miles and an hour and 40 minutes through the mountains, with GA-52 into Ellijay a favorite of motorcyclists. Amicalola Falls State Park sits on GA-52 along the way: its 729-foot falls are what the lodge calls the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi. Parking is $10 per vehicle, and the East Ridge Trail is closed for maintenance. Amicalola's Fall Fest is Saturday, October 31, noon to 4 PM.
Closer to Helen, you can also try Cornelia's Big Red Apple for an apple-country history stop.
Quick questions
When is the Georgia Apple Festival in 2026?
October 10-11 and 17-18 at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main Street. It's the festival's 55th year.
How far is Ellijay from Helen?
About 66 miles, roughly 1 hour 40 minutes without traffic. October weekends take longer.
Does the Apple Festival go on if it rains?
The festival's website says it's happening as planned, rain or shine. Tickets are available at the gate and online.
What else is there to do in Ellijay besides apples?
Explore Georgia lists a walkable downtown square, Reece's Cider Co., Cartecay Vineyards, the EXPEDITION: Bigfoot! museum, and summer tubing and kayaking on the Cartecay River.
Can I bring my dog to the Apple Festival?
No. Pets aren't allowed; service animals are.
More to explore
Related destinations, trails and experiences nearby
