Haunted Helen
Halloween events, ghost walks and the legends of Helen's valley
Haunted Helen, in short
Halloween 2026 calendar
Helen and the towns around it, in date order.
| Date | Event | Time | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursdays, Oct 8-Nov 5 (plus Sun Oct 25, Nov 1) | Crime and Punishment Historical Walking Tour | 2-3 PM | Dahlonega Gold Museum (about 45 min) | $5 |
| Fri-Sat, Oct 9-10 | Judy Harris Memorial Ghost Walk | Tours 7-8:30 PM | Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, Dawsonville | Check the museum |
| Fri-Sat, Oct 16-17 | True Crime and Wine | Vendors open 5 PM | Kaya Vineyard & Winery | $70 with two glasses of wine |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Halloween Haunted Hike | 5-7 PM | Smithgall Woods State Park (about 10 min) | Reservation required; $10 plus parking |
| Fri, Oct 23 | Halloween Scavenger Hunt | 2 PM | Unicoi State Park | Reserve online |
| Sat, Oct 24 | State Park After Dark night hike | Evening; reserve online | Unicoi State Park | $10 per person |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Spooky Tales on the Trails | 7-8 PM | North Rim Trail, Tallulah Gorge (about 1 hr) | Parking fee |
| Oct 29-31 | The Haunted Village | 6:30-9:30 PM | Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee | $5 advance; $7 at the gate; ages 6 and up |
| Fri, Oct 30 | Blairsville Boo Bash | 4-7 PM | Meeks Park, Blairsville | Free |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Oktoberfest Halloween costume party | Regular Saturday hours (1-11 PM) | Helen Festhalle | $15 adults; $7 kids 6-12 |
| Sat, Oct 31 | BOO-nicoi Halloween Family Fun Night | 6-8 PM | Unicoi State Park | Free |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Hallo-Wine Costume Party | 11 AM-6 PM | Paradise Hills Winery | No cover; pumpkin carving $25 |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Scares on the Square | 5-7 PM | Downtown Dahlonega | Free |
Several of these require reservations, so book early. We haven't found a current source for a downtown Helen trick-or-treat, so don't count on one. For the rest of fall, see our fall festivals guide and the events calendar.
The legends locals tell
Folklore, not documented fact.
The Nacoochee Valley's best-known story is the legend of Sautee and Nacoochee, a Romeo-and-Juliet tale. The story goes that Nacoochee, a Cherokee chief's daughter, fell for Sautee, a warrior of a rival tribe; when the two were caught, Sautee was thrown from a cliff on Yonah Mountain and Nacoochee leapt after him. The chief supposedly buried them together in the mound beside Highway 17. Archaeology tells a different story: the New Georgia Encyclopedia reports that a 1915 excavation found about 75 burials from the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The mound itself is reconstructed and sits on private property, so you view it from the roadside. Our Nacoochee Valley history page covers what's known.
In town, Two Tire Tavern on North Main Street (8735 N Main St) is the building ghost-tour guides most often point to; tour lore says it dates to 1913 and began as a hospital, and the stories mostly involve its basement. Treat all of that as local lore. The Welcome Center lists it as a bar and restaurant, so you can go in for a drink and decide for yourself. Evening ghost walks have run from Unicoi Hill Park and from the tavern; the operators change, and their websites weren't loading when we checked in October 2026, so confirm current dates and prices on a booking site before you plan around one.
Farther north, a stone cairn at Stone Pile Gap (US 19 at GA 60, north of Dahlonega) marks the legendary grave of Trahlyta, a Cherokee princess in a story involving a kidnapping and a spring said to keep her young; travelers add a stone for luck. Park at the pull-off and cross the road carefully. And at the Sautee Nacoochee Center (283 GA-255 North, 706-878-3300), you can learn about the valley's Native history; check the site for hours.
More ghost stories
Our ghosts and legends of North Georgia page covers Dahlonega's Gold Museum, the Smith House and more. The fall color is also at its best in late October; see our fall color guide for a daytime plan.
