Nightlife in Helen, Georgia

Beer halls, live music, riverside bars and what the Festhalle has on after dark

By The Explore Helen Editorial Team Updated October 8, 2026 Hours and numbers from each venue; bands change weekly

The short answer

Through November 1, the Festhalle's Oktoberfest is the biggest night out in Helen, open nightly in October. The rest of the year, live music happens at The Heidelberg's Bierhimmel hall, Bigg Daddy's (Friday and Saturday nights), the riverside decks and the wineries. It's a small town, not Atlanta, and most bars are within a short walk of each other. Pick a designated driver or a ride before you start.

The Festhalle calendar

1074 Edelweiss Strasse · Helen Chamber of Commerce, 706-878-1908

Festhalle events from fall 2026 through fall 2027
When	What
Through Sun, Nov 1, 2026	Oktoberfest, nightly in October. Mon-Thu 6-10 PM, Fri 6-11, Sat 1-11, Sun 1-7. Adults $10 Mon-Thu, $15 Fri-Sat, Sunday free; kids 6-12 $5 or $7.
Sat, Oct 10, 6-8 PM	3rd Annual Stein Holding Competition
Sat, Oct 31	Halloween costume party
Thu, Dec 31, 2026, 8 PM-midnight	Dropping of the Edelweiss, the 13th annual New Year's Eve party: $30, kids 6-16 $15, under 6 free. Live music, dancing, hors d'oeuvres, champagne toast at midnight.
Sat, Feb 6, 2027, 6-11 PM	Fasching costume party with live music and dancing; food and a cash bar
Sat, May 29, 2027, 6-11 PM	Bavarianfest, Memorial Day weekend
Thu, Sep 9, 2027	Oktoberfest 2027 opens

The Chamber also runs BINGO at the Festhalle on Tuesday and Friday nights in spring and summer (the 2026 season ended August 28). Oktoberfest rules: every adult is ID-checked, no smoking inside, no pets (trained service animals only), and no advance tickets except for groups of 25 or more. Details on the Chamber's Oktoberfest page, and see our Festhalle guide.

Bars, beer halls and live music

Bars, pubs and live-music venues in Helen with addresses and hours
Venue	Where	What to know
The Heidelberg	8660 N Main St · 706-878-0061	Three floors: a dining room (Sun-Thu 11-9, Fri-Sat 11-10), a pub and the Bierhimmel Konzerthalle, the live-music hall. Pub and Bierhimmel hours vary, so check its calendar.
Bigg Daddy's Restaurant and Tavern	807 Edelweiss Strasse · 706-878-2739	Live music Friday and Saturday nights, a Sunday jam on the outdoor deck from 2 to 7 PM, 17 beers on draft and over 100 bottles.
Hofbrauhaus Restaurant & G.I. Germany Pub	9001 N Main St · 706-878-2248	A riverside German pub with bratwurst and schnitzel, styled after Munich's beer hall.
Cowboys & Angels	60 Chattahoochee Street · 706-878-3433	Bar and grill with bourbon cocktails and steaks, open daily 11 AM-10 PM, with a pet-friendly deck.
Troll Tavern	8590 N Main St · 706-878-3117	Riverfront patio and bar; German imports like Warsteiner Dunkel and Paulaner Oktoberfest. Mon-Thu 11-9, Fri-Sun 11-10, seasonal and subject to change.
Alpine Brew Deck	Downtown	A deck bar with mountain views, German beer and pretzel bites with beer cheese. Check its Facebook page for hours and bands.
Paul's Margarita Deck	8537 S Main St · 706-878-2468	The deck at Paul's Steakhouse, which is open seven days from 4 to 10 PM and has been in Helen for over 60 years.
Monday's Pub	7934 S Main St · 706-878-0094	A family-owned pub with pool tables, wings and ribs, and live music now and then.
Two Tire Tavern	8735 N Main St · 706-878-1002	Family-owned tavern with outdoor seating and table service.
King Ludwig Biergarten and Old Bavaria Inn	Downtown (Old Bavaria: 8619 N Main St)	Soft pretzels with beer cheese at King Ludwig; a long import-beer list and accordion music at Old Bavaria Inn.

Sources: The Heidelberg, Bigg Daddy's, Troll Tavern, Cowboys & Angels, Paul's Steakhouse and the visitors bureau's guys' weekend guide. Lineups are on each venue's own page or Facebook. More in our live music guide and late-night dining.

Live music at the wineries and beyond

Scheduled live music outside the bars
Where	When	Notes
Habersham Winery	Saturdays 2-5 PM and Sundays 1-4 PM through Oct 31, 2026	Free. The music then pauses until May 1, 2027.
Creekstone Winery, After Hours	Friday and Saturday, 6-9 PM, into December	Check the winery's events page for the final date.
Uhuburg castle, Contra at the Castle	Sat, Nov 7, 2026, 7:30-10:30 PM	Contra dancing at the castle on Ridge Road.

From Habersham Winery's events page. The Alpine Songwriters Festival has used the bandshell on River Street, Hofbrauhaus and Cowboys & Angels in past years; check helenga.org for the next one.

Spirits and moonshine

R.M. Rose and Company Distillers (8160 S Main Street #A1, 770-744-5017) has a tasting room in Helen with complimentary whiskey tastings, bourbons and creams, a rustic cocktail lounge, a full bar and rocking chairs outside. Betty's Country Store (18 Yonah St, 706-878-2943) is listed by the visitors bureau under wine and spirits as well as groceries; ask what's being poured. For the history behind Georgia moonshine, read our moonshine heritage guide.

Getting home safely

Downtown Helen is compact, and many venues are within a few blocks of each other. Don't count on a rideshare to show up quickly; the visitors bureau's transportation page lists local options, including Rivers Edge Golf Carts as a taxi (8016 S Main St, 706-206-2365), Elite Excursions & Wine Tours and VIP Southern Tours / Georgia Wine Bus (706-348-8747). Golf carts aren't allowed on Main Street. If you drive, read our parking guide first, and note that left turns onto N Main St are restricted at certain times. Dress in layers: the average low in November is 36°F.