SPECIAL EVENTS FOR JUNE, 2011
June is a very busy month in the North Georgia Mountains! Water related activities get into full swing Memorial Day Weekend and run through Labor Day Weekend. If you plan to come to Blue Ridge in June, be assured that you can be just as energetic as you want to be. We have something to interest everyone, with events ranging from hot air ballooning to rodeos. Certain events run on the same night each week throughout the season. I’m listing those first. Activities that are starred (**) have either an article or a blog located on this www.Rainbowcabins.com website with more detailed information. I hope you’ll check them out.
**Each Thursday evening, May through October, from 6 PM to dusk, you can attend “Pickin’ in the Park” at Horseshoe Bend Park in McCaysville. Family fun includes local musicians playing good ole mountain music. Bring a blanket, a picnic, fishing poles or tubes. This beautiful park is located right along the Toccoa River.
**Blue Ridge Farmers Market opens June 4, 2011, and runs thru October. Each Saturday morning from 8 AM to noon in the downtown City Park you can support our local farmers and take home tasty fresh fruit & veggies as well as homemade goodies.
**Each Saturday, April through December, Hightower Creek Farms offers a Barn Tour from 11 AM to 3 PM. Come enjoy this serene farm setting and learn about the Gentle Giant horse breeds of the Clydesdale and Shire. You can take a horse-drawn carriage ride, shop in The Plough Gift Store and fish for trout in the creek. Located in Hiawassee, it’s just a short drive from Blue Ridge. (770)363-3154
**Every weekend from mid-April thru October, Mercier’s Orchards offers the public a chance to pick their own fruit. June is cherry pickin’ time, but they also offer strawberries, blueberries and apples whenever they are in season. Call (706) 632-3411 to see which fruit is available when you are in town. A lot depends on our crazy weather.
From 6/4/11 to 7/9/11, The Arts Center in downtown Blue Ridge is hosting the Community Quilt Exhibit. Celebrate our heritage with the age-old artistic craft of quilting. I have it on good authority that this year’s exhibit is the best ever. Business hours are Tuesday & Thursday 10-4, Friday & Sat. 10-6.
The Friday Night Concert Series runs May thru October at the historic Old Courthouse on the Square in Blairsville. Come hear the best in gospel, country, bluegrass and classical music from 7 PM to 8 PM, weather permitting.
Union County Farmers Market & Trash to Treasure Sale occurs every Friday from April 15, 2011 to October, 11th 8 AM to 1 PM on Old Smokey Road next to the Home Depot. You can get your fresh produce and enjoy a giant garage sale all at the same time. There’s always a great variety of wares.
**Blairsville is also home to the Misty Mountain Railroad, America’s largest 0-gauge train display featuring 14 Lionel trains that travel on a one mile track over bridges, trestles and thru tunnels. Mr. Griffin, its creator, gives tours to the public every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday promptly at 2 PM from May thru December. It’s best to arrive at 1:45. The tours last about an hour. This is fun, folks—for all ages. My grandkids loved it almost as much as I did! (706) 745-9819
June 2-4 38th Annual Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race
** North Georgia’s Alpine Village of Helen is the site for the start of the race to see which balloon gets to the Atlantic Ocean first. There will be many balloons that aren’t racing to give you rides and lots of games, food, etc.
June 3-4 Buzz in the Blue Ridge Chainsaw Extravaganza
Also in Helen, GA. 10 AM-6 PM
Come experience the sounds and precision of the growing art form of chainsaw sculpture. (Didn’t I promise you a wide variety of activities this month??) Located on N. Main Street—just follow the noise
June 3 & Saturn: Jewel of the Heavens
June 10th Shown at the Rollins Planetarium on the campus of Young Harris College located at 1 College Street.
Showtime: 8:30PM Adults $3.00 and children $2.00
Saturn is one of the most magnificent planets in our solar system. In this 3-D environment you will be able to see this great ringed giant and sail past the millions of icy particles that make up its rings. You’ll uncover its unique moons and the violent storms which make up its atmosphere.
June 4 Murphy Spring Festival
This all day event located in downtown Murphy, NC, features arts, crafts, food, music and antique cars. Fun for the whole family!
June 4-5 Georgia Wine Country Festival at the Three Sisters Vineyard
June 11-12 Come to the 10th annual outdoor wine-art-music festival. Free admission.
June 18-19 Wine tasting, folk art, horse-drawn vineyard wagon rides
** Sat. 10 AM-6 PM and Sun. 11 AM-6 PM (706)865-9463
June 10-12 Antique Wooden Boat Show
Luxury abounds at this fancy boat show located at the Ridges Resort & Marina, nestled in a beautiful cove of Lake Chatuge. Proud boat owners of these exquisite vessels will be on hand for questions & comments.
3499 Hwy 76 West, Young Harris, GA 30582 (888)834-4409
June 11 Bulls N Barrels Rodeo
** Located at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, GA 6 PM
Family fun!
June 11 Kids Fishing Rodeo
** Vogel State Park 8AM to Noon For anglers 12 & under
June 11 Three Rivers Music Jam
6 PM to 10 PM at the City Parking Lot on River Street in historic downtown Ellijay
Live music, food and fun-- featuring The Atta Boys
June 17-19 Starlight Music in the Mountains Festival
Jonica Gap Campground in Mineral Bluff, GA
Awesome musicians will perform throughout this weekend festival. There will be an 11.5 mile Mountain Bike Race on Sat. at 9 AM—thru the gap, forests and hills on a dirt road. (706) 374-5465
June 18 The Original American Idol—The Corvette
Nearly 200 Corvettes will be on display in downtown Blue Ridge. Come celebrate the history and the art of this classical piece of Americana. Free.
Food, music and family fun all day!
June 20-26 Christian Motorcycle Association
Christian bikers gather all week at the GA Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, GA.
June 24 Classic Car Cruise-In
Come by the Dairy Queen parking lot in Blue Ridge on Old Hwy 5 by the Home Depot. You can walk around admiring the classic cars while sipping a chocolate shake. This is a monthly event.
June 25-26 6th Annual Mountain Fling Arts & Crafts Show
Sat. hours—9 AM to 5 PM Sun. hours—11 AM to 4 PM Free
Location: North GA Technical College Campus in Blairsville on the main highway Indoor and outdoor booths are filled with juried American made, one of a kind items crafted by local artisans. A garden section with plants and yard décor is new this year. Come browse!