DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA—OCTOBER 2024—No need to wait for autumn leaf season to enjoy the cool nights and temperate days in Dawsonville and Dawson County, in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains about an hour northwest of Atlanta and two hours south of Chattanooga. Now’s the time to cut golden-hued flower bouquets, select orange and yellow pumpkins and make memories on welcoming family farms. This less-traveled area is full of outdoor activities, mountain forests and waterfalls, motorsports and moonshine and welcoming local folks. It’s a getaway destination that satisfies serious shoppers, family adventurers and everyone in between.
Here are just a few ways to get a jump on the season, plus some prime outdoor events and activities from September through November (See calendar listings below).
Revel in fields of sunflowers at Fausett Farms from mid-September through October. A family-owned farm since 1858, for 60 years the primary product was poultry which ended in 2011. Now the farm offers nearly a million sunflowers for picking, photography and tours on 30+ acres of beautiful rolling land with mountain backdrops. (11336 Hwy 136 West, Dawsonville, Georgia; 706-265-9661)
Pumpkins and More
Take a two-mile hayride through a pumpkin patch, through a covered bridge filled with singing pumpkins and thousands of colorful zinnias ready for picking. At the end of the ride, get a glimpse of Amicalola Falls, the tallest cascading waterfall in Georgia and the third tallest east of the Mississippi River.
The Burt’s Farm hay ride has become such a popular fall tradition that a fleet of tractors and covered wagons is at the ready. Take home edible memories from the country store – an impressive selection of winter squash, gourds and Indian corn, fresh-baked pumpkin pies, pumpkin rolls, candied popcorn and other fresh baked goodies. (5 Burts Pumpkin Farm Rd, 11336 Hwy 136 West, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534 706-265-3701)
Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch offers a unique twist to the time-honored fall pumpkin patch trip. Each year a 15-acre, elaborate Corn Maze is a different design. With choose-your-own pumpkins, jumping pillow, tire mountain, kids maze, and gem mining, there’s an activity for every age and interest. On Friday and Saturday nights in October, brave the scary-good horror of The Dark Rows, a unique haunted trail through some of the most twisted trails of a separate corn field, illuminated only by the moon. Just be warned, you will not be alone! The misty October night air always seems to bring out the worst in this little patch of corn. Come see what fiendish family fun can be found lurking among the rows. (125 Bannister Road, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 1-888-OSHUCKS)
Visit Bradley’s Pumpkin Patch for choose-your-own pumpkins and fresh produce including gourds, Indian corn and apples. You can find honey, apple cider, quilts, books and more at their country store. Family visits are free; group rates are available for educational field trips. (25 Lawrence Drive, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 770-380-3636) https://www.bradleysfarms.com/
Specialty Floriculturalists
Abbott Creek Nursery, Inc. is a wholesale grower serving the commercial landscape industry in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Specializing in floral color, it’s open seasonally in the spring and fall to retail customers. Buying direct from the grower ensures fresh and top-quality plants and flowers. Choose from flats of in-season perennials and annuals and an assortment of other sizes. In the fall, visit from October through mid-November. Check the website for days and hours. In the spring, they are open the second week in April through the first week in June. (884 Thompson Road, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-265-1607)
Through November, something is always blooming or ready to plant at Jungle Paradise, including thousands of daylilies and daffodils that will come up in the spring. Depending on the season, take a tour and choose azaleas, wildflowers, camellias, perennials, tropical and rare flowers to purchase for a garden retreat. This floral oasis includes a stream along the path through the garden, a picnic area for families or groups and a playground. 929 Mill Creek Drive, Dawsonville, GA 30534; (706) 265-3943
Plan Your Visit:
Saturdays through October 19, 2024 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Amicalola Regional Farmers Market Dawsonville City Hall Farmers Market Pavilion 86 Allen Street Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 265-2442 https://www.destinationdawsonville.com/visit-our-market/ Stock up on fresh produce and much more. The majority of produce is grown in Dawson County or a neighboring county. Leashed pets welcome. The Market was launched by the Amicalola Regional Agriculture Committee, a program of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. October 18 and 19, 2024 7 p.m. Ghost of Racing Haunted House and Ghost Walk Georgia Racing Hall of Fame 415 Hwy 53 East Dawsonville, Georgia 30534 (706) 216-7223 https://www.destinationdawsonville.com/events/haunted-ghost-walk Hop on a hayride tour of the Dawsonville City Cemetery, Town Jail, Old Courthouse, and the Dawsonville Pool Room with creepy stories at each stop. Start and end at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, with a ghost story told inside the Museum. October 25-27, 2024 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 56th Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival and Car Show Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Dawsonville City Hall’s Main Street Park 415 Highway 53 East Dawsonville, Georgia 30534 Kare for Kids-706-216-5273 https://www.kareforkids.org/mountain-moonshine-festival One of the longest running festivals in the U.S., the Mountain Moonshine Festival celebrates the history of Prohibition-era moonshining, the birthplace of stock car racing and the formation of NASCAR racing. The three-day event includes a Moonshine Run, kids’ activities, a parade including vintage stock cars and more, live music, food trucks, arts, crafts and vendor booths. One of the highlights is a huge car show, featuring show cars, race cars and the largest gathering of moonshine hauling cars in the United States. The Festival is KARE’s largest fundraiser; all proceeds go toward the purchase of clothes, school supplies, medical needs and Christmas gifts for children in need in Dawson County. Visit the Website for each day’s full schedule, and the Facebook page for additional details: https://www.facebook.com/MountainMoonshineFestivalDawsonville Nov. 23, 2024 2-8 p.m. Christmas in Dawsonville Dawsonville City Hall and Georgia Racing Hall of Fame 415 Hwy 53 East Dawsonville, Georgia 30534 706-265-6278 https://www.destinationdawsonville.com/events/downtown-dawsonville-christmas-parade-and-tree-lighting/ Race over to Dawsonville, Georgia, the birthplace of stockcar racing, to slow things down for the holidays. Located just an hour north of Atlanta, Dawsonville kicks off the season with the 11th Annual Christmas Parade, Jingle Market and Tree Lighting in Downtown Dawsonville on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Find a perfect streetside spot to experience a true small-town parade as Santa makes his way through the town at 4 p.m. sharp. Sip warm cocoa at the Jingle Market and find perfect Christmas gifts (2-8 p.m.). As the sun begins to set, gather with family and friends around the Christmas Tree and join in the countdown. Enjoy food trucks and live performances (4-8 p.m.), photos with Santa and more. The parade begins Downtown at the Dawsonville cemetery and runs through the historic downtown area and finishes around the Dawsonville City Hall. All other festivities take place at Dawsonville City Hall and the Farmers Market Pavilion For more information, visit destinationdawsonville.com or call the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce at 706-265-6278.