Check out the Georgia Literary Festival this weekend in Blue Ridge

It's a first ever--Georgia Literary Festival in the mountains.

It kicks off this Friday evening with music, story telling and poetry readings and with the Blue Ridge Community Theatre's feature of a Mark Twain look alike performance on early American humor.

Public events start at 7:30 p.m.---Readings in the Fannin Courthouse jury room. There are displays of appalachian history and culture, as well as books for sale in the big tent by the courthouse.

On Saturday at 9 a.m., the Fannin High School Drama Department presents a readers' theatre of Herbert Byron Reece's life written by a Gainesville Georgia playwright.

At 10 a.m., Young Harris College president Cathy Cox talks about Reece's Intellectual home at YHC.

The rest of the day includes a plethora of writers speaking and reading from their works including: poet Bettie Sellers, civil war novelist Philip Lee Williams, Dana Wildsmith, James Lorence, naturalist Amy Blackmarr, historian Jonathan Sarris, columnist Ethelene Dyer Jones and essay writers Carol Crawford and Steve Harvey. Also, Joe Dabney, who wrote about moonshiners and how they make the stuff, will talk about his humorous interviews with mountain folks.

Events take place in various churches, tents and courtrooms in Blue Ridge. There will also be opportunities to meet the authors and buy an autographed book.

Children activities are scheduled throughout the day.

On Sunday afternoon, the festival continues with Appalachian music, opportunity to talk with authors, kids programs, train excursions and Marionette shows.

The Georgia Literary Festival is a weekend jam packed with literary and mountain cultural events. And it's all happening in downtown Blue Ridge starting this Friday.