North GA Food Festivals
Sorghum syrup, apples, craft beer and chili: the food festivals worth a drive from Helen
What's on this fall
North Georgia's festivals grow out of what the mountains grow: sorghum cane, apples and grapes. They're also a good excuse to see a county square or a pumpkin patch you wouldn't otherwise drive to, and most pair easily with a day based in Helen.
The table below puts the confirmed 2026 dates first, then what's coming in 2027. Drive times are from downtown Helen without traffic; on festival weekends, add time for the line of cars.
Coming up this fall
| Festival | When and where | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sorghum in the Mountains Festival | Oct 10-11 and 17-18, 2026, 9 AM to 5 PM; Meeks Park, 490 Meeks Park Rd, Blairsville (about 50 min) | Syrup made on site from cane pressing to boiling, crafts, clogging, pole climbing, log sawing and a biscuit-eating contest. Parade Saturday, Oct 10 at 10 AM; Sorghum Stomp concert that night at 7 PM at Grandaddy Mimm's Distilling Co. |
| Georgia Apple Festival | Oct 10-11 and 17-18, 2026; Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 S Main St, Ellijay (about 1 hr 40 min) | The 55th festival: hundreds of vendors, demos, live music and apple treats. Admission $10, children under 12 free. No pets (service animals allowed). No shuttle this year. |
| Jaemor Farms Harvest Celebration | Daily through Nov 8, 2026; Alto (about 45 min) | Corn maze, pumpkin patch and hayrides. General admission $19 Mon-Thu, $21 Fri-Sun; Flashlight Nights Oct 23 and 24 until 9 PM. |
| Mountain Moonshine Festival | Oct 23-25, 2026; Dawsonville (about 1 hr) | Car show, Moonshine Run, Saturday parade and live music. Free admission; parking donations $10 to $25. |
| Appalachian Brew and Music Festival | Oct 24, 2026, 11 AM to 5 PM; Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee (about 35 min) | Tastings from 70+ breweries and Americana music. Tickets $55 in advance through Oct 23, $60 at the gate. |
| Toccoa Harvest Festival | Oct 24-25, 2026; downtown Toccoa (about 45 min) | 160+ craft and food vendors, live music and a car cruise-in. Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM. |
| Chili Cookoff at CeNita Vineyards | Nov 14, 2026, 2 PM to 5 PM; Cleveland | Taste chili and vote for the People's Choice winner; a glass of wine gets you a voting ticket. |
Check each organizer's site before you go, because weather and venue rules can change. For everything else this month see the events calendar and the October guide.
Sorghum and apples
Sorghum is the mountain festival crop. The Blairsville festival has been held since 1969, and you can watch the syrup go from pressed cane juice to the boiling pan. Bring cash for syrup jars and wear shoes that can handle a grassy field. Union County doesn't allow pets in Meeks Park.
The Ellijay festival fills a fairground with crafts, demos, live music and apple treats. Because both festivals run the same October weekends, pick one per weekend and book your Helen lodging early.
Later in 2027
| Festival | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Mountain Fire & Smoke Cooking Festival | May 14-15, 2027; tasting tickets $30 | Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee |
| Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival | May 15-16, 2027 | Historic square and Hancock Park, Dahlonega |
| Habersham Winery WineFest | Early May 2027, date to be announced; usually the first Saturday in May | Habersham Winery, Helen |
| Crush Fest at Yonah Mountain Vineyards | Aug 28, 2027 | Cleveland |
| Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival | Early August 2027 (dates to be announced); cancelled in 2025 and 2026 | Dillard |
| Grape Stomp at Paradise Hills | Early September 2027, date to be announced | Paradise Hills Winery, 366 Paradise Road, Blairsville |
Dates marked as to be announced come from the organizers' usual timing, so confirm before you book. Habersham Winery's WineFest is a free celebration of its own wines, per the winery.
Know before you go
Bring cash
Syrup jars, apple pies and craft booths often take cash.
Layer up
Mountain mornings in October are cool. Average highs in Helen run about 70 and lows about 46.
Leave the dog home
Meeks Park and the Apple Festival don't allow pets (service animals welcome at the Apple Festival).
Plan the drive
Distances are from downtown Helen. Use a parking guide for Helen itself, and arrive early at the festivals.
Festival questions
When is the Blairsville Sorghum Festival in 2026?
October 10 to 11 and 17 to 18, 2026, at Meeks Park. The parade is Saturday, October 10 at 10 AM.
When is the Georgia Apple Festival?
October 10 to 11 and 17 to 18, 2026, at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds. Admission is $10 and children under 12 are free.
Is there a food festival in Helen?
Habersham Winery's WineFest is in early May, and Oktoberfest and the Christmas Market have food too. See the events calendar for current dates.
Is the Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival happening?
No. It was cancelled in 2025 and 2026. Organizers plan to return in 2027, so check the festival site.
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