Visit Ellijay, Georgia the weekend of October 8 and 9, 2011 to take part in the festivities. Start the day on Saturday, October 8 with the 35th annual Apple Festival 5K Road Race and Fun Run/Walk. The 5K race will begin at 8 AM, the 1 mile run will begin at 8:45 AM at the Ellijay Elementary School on North Main Street in Ellijay.

Registration for the races are $15 each. The closing date for registration is Wednesday, October 5, 2011. For more information about the races call 706-636-3399.

Stop by the Civic Center on Main Street to check out all the antique cars at the Antique Car Show. Don’t forget to add the Georgia Apple Festival at the Ellijay Lions Club in your plans. The Apple Festival will be jam packed with arts and crafts and food vendors. You can find just about anything you want that is apple related not to mention plenty of other goodies. The Apple Festival will be going on October 8, 9, 15, and 16, 2011.

The Gilmer County Fair at the Lions Club Fairgrounds in Ellijay, Georgia is right around the corner. This year the dates for the fair are August 9 through 13, 2011. The exhibits are judged in 3 different divisions: Elementary, Youth, and Adult. There are 10 different categories in the Elementary division, the categories in the Youth division are Agriculture, Crafts, and Food, and in the Adult division are Agriculture, Canning, Baking, Sewing, Needlework, Crafts, Art, Photography, and Quilting. There will be a livestock show on August 9, 10, and 11 at 6 PM. Make sure to visit the back building for the local booths and to pet the animals in the petting zoo.

The fair will be open 6 PM to 11 PM on Tuesday through Thursday and 6 PM to 12 PM on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for students, and children under 6 are Free. You can purchase an armband that is good for all of the rides. Bring in an old pair of glasses, a cell phone or hearing aid and get $1 off admission (limit 1 per person).

706-635-5901

The Taste of Ellijay has been rescheduled to June 2, 2011. For more information call 706-635-7400.

Come on out to Main Street in downtown Ellijay, Georgia on May 26, 2011 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM to sample some of the best food the North Georgia mountains has to offer at the 6th Annual Taste of Ellijay. Many restaurants, caterers and food vendors from around the area will be represented and you will be able to sample their wares. There is no admission for the event. If you choose to get a taste, you can purchase tickets for samples for $1 each.  Sample prices range from $1 to $4. Vendors will be there with merchandise such as books, bakeware and canned goodies. It will be a fun night with music and…did I mention food?

You can purchase sample tickets at the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce located at: 368 Craig St., Ellijay, GA. For more information call 706-635-7400.

Gilmer Arts and Heritage Association (GAHA) is hosting a Picnic by the River on April 30, 2011. This event takes place at the ETC Pavilion on Legion Road in Ellijay, Georgia. Bring a picnic basket and enjoy your meal while listening to the Owl Creek Band. Gates open at 6 PM and the band takes the stage at 7 PM.

You can reserve a table for $60 for members of GAHA, $70 for non-members or bring your own chair or blanket for just $8 per person for members, $10 per person for non-members. For more information and to reserve your spot, call 706-635-5605.

It’s getting close to autumn and that means apple harvest. As the apple houses are gearing up for the season, Gilmer County is gearing up for this year’s Apple Festival. The 39th annual Georgia Apple Festival will be going on the 2nd and 3rd weekends in October – October 9-10 and October 16-17, 2010. Over 300 vendors will be there this year with many crafts and demonstrations as well as good eats! There will also be a parade and antique car show. The car show will be held on Saturday, October 9 at the Civic Center located on Old Highway 5 next to the Lions Club Fairgrounds where the Apple Festival is held. The parade will begin at 10 AM on the following Saturday, October 16.

The festival opens at 9 AM and closes at 6 PM on Saturdays and 5 PM on Sundays. Admission for the festival is $5 for adults, children under 10 are free. Parking at the fairgrounds is limited but there will be free shuttle buses available to take you from the parking areas to the fairgrounds. The shuttle parking areas will be at Gilmer High and Middle Schools, Ellijay Primary and Elementary Schools, and Mountainview Elementary School.