THE GEORGIA MOUNTAIN FALL FESTIVAL
Every year thousands of people from all over the Southeast flock to the small town of Hiawassee to enjoy the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival. It is one of many events hosted by the Fairgrounds throughout the year, but definitely my favorite. The setting is unparalleled—nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on lovely Lake Chatuge, during leaf season when Mother Nature is putting on quite a show. Add to that the legendary musical performers, the genuine mountain handicrafts, the amazing Flower Show, the Pioneer Village, the Fiddlers’ Convention/Competition, the Gator Show, the kids’ attractions and the always popular “festival food” and you’ve got a great family fun destination.
Although there is almost non-stop entertainment of some kind going on at various locations throughout the park, the featured artists perform at the Anderson Music Hall twice daily. This is a wonderful venue, named for “Whispering“Bill Anderson, overlooking the lake, and seating about 3,000. These concerts are included in your Festival ticket price, so that’s a great deal. The lineup is:
10/7/11 Percy Sledge—R & B/Soul singer, best known for his 60’s mega-hit, “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Shows are at 3:00 and 6:30.
10/8/11 Ricky Skaggs—beloved mandolin-playing bluegrass and Christian
Singing star with 14 Grammys. Shows are at 3:00 and 7:00
10/9/11 The Isaacs, the Chuck Wagon Gang and The Diplomats 2:00
10/10/11 Gene Watson—true country legend, best known for his ballads
Also the Red Head Express 2:00 and 7:00
10/11/11 Diamond Rio—very popular group that transitioned from mainstream country to Christian They sing and write songs with positive messages, such as “One More Day” and “The Reason.” Show times are at 2:00 and 7:00
10/12/11 John Anderson—great country singer with hits including “Seminole Wind” and “Straight Tequila Night” 2:00 and 7:00
10/13/11 T. Graham Brown—Georgia’s own country crooner of such 80’s hits as “I Tell it Like it Used to Be” 2:00 and 7:00
10/14-15 The Georgia State Fiddlers Convention/Competition Come hear the best! Finals are at 7:00 on Saturday night
A wide assortment of hand crafted items can be found in the Vendor section. You’ll see blankets, quilts, belts made while you wait, birdhouses, wood turnings, pottery, jewelry and so much more. The daily crafts and exhibits are open from 10AM to 8PM Monday through Saturday and from 10AM to 6PM on Sunday. The Pioneer Village is a recreated mountain town of yesteryear with a log cabin, mercantile store, one-room schoolhouse, barn, corn crib and smokehouse. Along with the Village, you can see authentic mountain demonstrations of the often forgotten “arts” of Moonshine Stillin’, Black Smithin’, Board Splittin’, Quiltin’, Singin’ & Pickin’.
The Georgia State Official Fiddling Convention is on the 14th and 15th. The Competition begins Friday night at 7:00. Categories include beginning fiddler, harmonica, buck dancing, dulcimer, dobro and banjo. There are several competition categories and winners will be declared Saturday night at the finals. Come out and hear some fantastic mountain music, played by experts.
FYI--The dobro is an acoustic guitar with a metal resonator built into its body. It looks more like a guitar, but sounds more like a banjo. It was introduced into Bluegrass music and made popular by Lester Flatt in the 1950’s.
Buck Dancing is a traditional Appalachian solo freestyle dance, similar to clogging & usually accompanied by a fiddle.
The Flower Show is a “perennial” favorite. Be sure to check it out. The Antique Farm Museum houses a wide variety of equipment spanning nearly 2 centuries of farming in the North Georgia Mountains. You’ll 
see a thrashing machine, a baler and a milk-bottling machine. There’s a working mill that grinds wheat into flour. There’s also a sawmill in operation that recreates the traditional sawmill of the mid 1800’s that could turn out 2,000 board feet of lumber each day. In North Georgia there were more than 100 small family-run sawmills before the Civil War.
The new attraction this year is the Gator Show. Come watch the Swampmaster catch and subdue an 8’, 200 pound alligator with his bare hands! There will be 3 entertaining and educational shows each day during the Festival.
New Kiddie Attractions this year are Thomas the Trackless Train, Face Painting and Water Treaders.
Admission to the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival is $10 plus $2 for parking. Children under 10 are free. Music shows are included in your ticket price except on Saturday, October 8th. On that day only, it is $5 for the Craft Show & Exhibits, $7 for the Music Shows and $2 for parking.
Great Family Fun!!