Ga. Mountain Fall Festival Schedule

The family-friendly Georgia Mountain Fall Festival brings 10 days of fun annually to visitors. From October 12 - 21, the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds hosts the Fall Festival and Georgia's Official State Fiddlers' Convention.

A complete schedule for the second half of the event (October 18 - 21) is listed below. For additional information, visit www.GeorgiaMountainFairgrou nds.com.

Thursday, October 18:

-Arts & Crafts Exhibit from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

-Flower Show continues throughout the festival

-Country musical performances by Phil Dirt & the Dozers and Denise Rains at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Friday, October 19:

Georgia's Official State Fiddlers' Convention Begins!

-Arts & Crafts Exhibit from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

-Flower Show continues throughout the festival

-Music performance featuring "Fiddlin" Howard Cunningham and the Appalachian Tunesmiths with special guest Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper at 2 p.m.

-Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper perform at 5:30 p.m. (note: see adjoining article about Michael Cleveland)

-Fiddlers' Convention begins with categories include beginning fiddler, harmonica, buck dancing, dulcimer, dobro, and old-time banjo. Winners will be declared "Official Georgia State Champions." Competition begins at 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 20:

-Arts & Crafts Exhibit from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

-Flower Show continues throughout the festival

-Fiddlers' Convention continues with categories: senior fiddler, junior fiddler, bluegrass band, finger style guitar, banjo, and mandolin at 10:30 a.m.

-Saturday finalists compete to be declared the "Official State Champions" for each category. Then, stick around for a "Fiddle Off" between Junior Fiddler and Senior Fiddler for the title of "Georgia Mountain Fiddle King." The fun begins at 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 21:

-Arts & Crafts Exhibit from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

-Flower Show continues throughout the festival.

-Interfaith worship service with The Diplomats at 11 a.m.

-Gospel music concert featuring The Isaacs, Chuck Wagon Gang and The Diplomats begins at 2 p.m.

UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS:

Arts and Crafts Show

Educational Historical Demonstrations

Hambone Express 2 Pig Races (performing three times daily)

Zachary the Stilt Walker

Georgia's Official State Fiddlers' Convention (October 19 - 21)

EVENT:

The North Georgia Mountains provide a perfect fall escape, and from October 12 - 21, the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds will host an ideal family adventure. For these 10 days, the Fairgrounds will be filled with arts & crafts, history, music and excitement during the annual Georgia Mountain Fall Festival. Visitors can step back in time as they tour the Fairgrounds' historic Pioneer Village, watch "old ways" demonstrations including a cider press, quilting demonstrations and blacksmithing, get an early start on holiday shopping as they browse the Festival's arts & crafts booths and catch fantastic musical performances by artists such as Phil Dirt & the Dozers and Denise Rains. The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds will also play host to Georgia's Official State Fiddler's Convention, a rousing competition, during the second weekend of the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival. A complete schedule of events can be found by visiting www.GeorgiaMountainFairgrou nds.com.

$8 admission ($2 parking). Children 10 years old or younger are admitted free.

All music performances are included in the admission price.

A discounted three-day FunFest Pass is also available for $20 (save $4) and is valid for any three days of the Fall Festival. It can be purchased in advance or at the gate.

Sorry, no pets allowed.

The Georgia Mountain Fall Festival will be held from October 12 - 21 at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, on Hwy. 76 in the mountain community of Hiawassee on Lake Chatuge.