Scenic Day Trip to Mountain Fests
Take a short drive east on Hwy. 515 to Union County and the beautiful towns of Blairsville & Suches
By Tobie Chandler,
Director of Tourism, Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce
Blairsville-Union County is located just 30 minutes east of Blue Ridge and easily accessible off Hwy. 515/76. Here you’ll find great restaurants, cute shops, friendly people, beautiful natural attractions and several don’t-miss fall festivals.
Top of Georgia
Rising 4,784 feet above sea level, Brasstown Bald is the highest peak in Georgia, making it a great vantage point for fall foliage. Not only can you see four states from the obser-vation deck, but you can even see the Atlanta skyline on a clear day! Explore the museum, watch a short video, and learn about early Georgia history. You can take a shuttle to the top, or enjoy a challenging walk up the paved 1.2-mile Summit Trail.
Mountain Fests
Natural and cultural heritage collide at the Mountain Heritage Festival held on Labor Day weekend (September 1-2). Admission and parking are free.
Georgia’s most beloved state park, Vogel State Park, hosts its annual Mountain Music & Arts & Crafts Festival on September 15 from 10am-5pm, and then a Fall Festival on October 27 from 12pm-7pm.
The Blairsville Extreme Adventure Race (BEAR) takes off on September 22 at Meeks Park. Unleash your wild side while competing and exploring the mountains, rivers, lakes and trails of beautiful Blairsville.
The Indian Summer Festival brings “The Valley Above the Clouds” alive in Suches on the first weekend in October (October 6-7) from 9am-5pm. The morning begins with the annual 5k, 10k & 1-mile Run Above the Clouds. Afterwards, enjoy arts, crafts, music and more at the festival on the Woody Gap school campus.
The 49th annual Sorghum Festival takes over Meeks Park for two continuous weekends: October 13-14 and 20-21 from 9am-5pm. Live demonstrations of old-fashioned sorghum syrup making and moonshine distilling are the highlights. But this popular festival also showcases local arts and crafts, delicious treats, a kids’ area and live music.
Admission is $5 per person (kids under 12 are free), with free parking and shuttles available. On Saturday, October 13, the Sorghum Festival Parade will roll through town at 11am. You can also enjoy traditional square dancing, an Appalachian tradition, on Saturday evenings (Oct. 13 & 20) at 8pm.
Finally, car lovers will not want to miss the Good Neighbors Car Show, held on October 20 from 8am-4pm in the United Community Bank parking lot. More than 200 new and antique cars will be on display.
For detailed local area information on events, dining, shopping and lodging, stop by the Welcome Center at 129 Union County Recreation Road. Or go to VisitBlairsvilleGa.com.
