It's fall, y'all! Georgia in the fall is a magical time. There's so much to love about autumn in the Peach State, and there's certainly no shortage of Georgia fall activities just waiting to be enjoyed. Whether you're a fan of leaf-peeping or love checking out the best pumpkin patches in Georgia, there's a lot to do here, and those finding themselves Googling "fall activities near me" will end up with a bucket list as long as our coastline. We've done our best to gather up some of our favorite things to do in Georgia in the fall, so get ready to update your to-do list!
Georgia Fall Foliage: Where To Go In Georgia For Fall Foliage
If you're looking for Georgia fall foliage, you're certainly not alone. The gold and reds that grace the North Georgia mountains are absolutely magnificent. When do leaves change color in Georgia? Obviously, the weather can be quite unpredictable, but in general, you can expect to see North Georgia at its peak towards the end of October or early November. The climate in South Georgia isn't conducive to bright colors. You typically won't see much more than browns and dingy orange shades in places like Savannah or Albany, so definitely head to the northern areas of the state if you're interested in leaf peeping.
1. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
Location: Blue Ridge
Wow Factor: The trains here run almost all year long, but the fall foliage rides are some of the most popular.
Need To Know: Tickets sell quickly, particularly at peak foliage times, so make sure to book early on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway website.
When it comes to fall foliage train rides in Georgia, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway reigns supreme. These mountain train rides have both open-air and closed cars and offer up four-hour excursions through the changing leaves. The scenery is magnificent, and it's so nice to experience it from the nostalgic environment of a train - no need to even worry about driving!
2. Tallulah Gorge State Park
Location: Tallulah Falls
Wow Factor: The 1,000-foot deep gorge that gives the park its name is considered one of the seven wonders of Georgia. You'll also find six waterfalls here over the span of a mile or so.
Tallulah Gorge State Park is one of my personal favorite fall destinations in Georgia. The foliage here is absolutely magnificent, and you'll find some incredible trails here - check them out from our friends at AllTrails. Whether you're hiking along the gorge floor (note that a permit is required) or checking out the rim trails, you're in for a real treat with a visit here. This is a bucket-list must for any nature enthusiast!
3. Brasstown Bald
Location: Towns/Union County
Wow Factor: This is the tallest peak in Georgia at 4,784 feet above sea level.
Need To Know: You can either hike to the peak or take a shuttle to the summit.
As the highest natural point in Georgia, it goes without saying that Brasstown Bald offers up some pretty amazing views. One way to make sure those views are even more amazing? Visit at peak foliage season. The mountain is located in North Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains, the state's best area for leaf peeping, and you'll be able to catch a glimpse of Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina on a clear day.
Best Pumpkin Patches In Georgia
One of the best family fall activities in Georgia is to head out and explore a pumpkin patch. These charming farms feel like a step back to simpler times, and you can often find all sorts of fun activities there, like corn mazes, apple cider donuts, and more. Looking for the best pumpkin patches in Georgia? Check these gems out:
4. Washington Farms
Location: Bogart
Wow Factor: There are tons of activities here, with pig races, a mega slide, corn maze, petting zoo, ropes course, and so much more.
Need To Know: This year's season runs from September 21-November 3, 2024. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Washington Farms website.
Washington Farms offers up so many great family-friendly activities. I visited alone with an adult friend last fall and was shocked how much fun we had - it really made me feel like a kid again! If you're just interested in checking out the pumpkin patch, you don't even need an admission ticket. If you're heading out with kids, I highly recommend buying the tickets, because there were so many great activities for the little ones to enjoy.
5. Smith's Farms Pumpkin Patch
Location: Bowersville
Wow Factor: This spot might not be quite as luxurious as some of the other pumpkin patches on the list - it's just pumpkins for sale. However, these are not your typical pumpkins, and there's a huge variety available for purchase at great prices.
Need To Know: Be careful when searching the internet for info, as there are several Smith's Family Farms throughout the country. This one's in Bowersville, GA and can be reached by phone at 706-371-9559.
Smith's Family Pumpkins may be "just" a small patch sold in someone's driveway, but these are some pretty spectacular gourds! Owner Dusty Smith has been in the news for his record-setting pumpkins of unusual size, with multiple state records being set for heavy gourds. He's also working on creating the world's first strain of glow-in-the-dark pumpkins - pretty cool!
6. Burt's Pumpkin Farm
Location: Dawsonville
Wow Factor: The Dawsonville area is perfect to explore in fall, and any trip to this charming small town must include a visit to this pumpkin farm.
Need To Know: Burt's Pumpkin Farm will be open for season from September 1-November 10, 2024.
Burt's Pumpkin Farm has been around for more than 50 years and is a long-held tradition for many North Georgia families. You'll find a huge selection of pumpkins here, from massive monstrosities to tiny gourds. There's also a great little farm store where you can pick up other goods.
7. Southern Belle Farm
Location: McDonough
Wow Factor: More than 20 different fall activities are available here!
Need To Know: This year's fall season runs from September 18-November 3, 2024.
Not only does Southern Belle Farm have one of the best pumpkin patches in Georgia, it's also home to a fantastic four-acre corn maze. This farm near Atlanta has been in the same family for the last 80 years. It's open seasonally for various events throughout the year, but fall is a particularly special time, as you'll find family-friendly fun like pig races, a corn box, and, of course, plenty of pumpkins to choose from. Note that fall activity tickets must be purchased in advance from the Southern Belle Farm website.
Best Fall Festivals In Georgia
We may not get much stereotypical fall weather in the southern portion of the state, but don't sweat it... you can still enjoy some of the best fall festivals in Georgia whether you're down south or up in our mountains! Here are a few of our favorites:
8. Plains Peanut Festival
Location: Plains
Wow Factor: This small-town fetival has been going strong for 26 years.
Need To Know: This year's event takes place on September 28, 2024.
Plains, Georgia was thrust into the national spotlight when hometown hero Jimmy Carter was elected president. The population of this South Georgia city hovers around 550 and even today, it's immensely proud of Carter. You'll find all kinds of attractions related to his life and presidency. One of the biggest annual events in Plains is the Plains Peanut Festival, which inclues a road race, live entertainment, kiddie rides, vendors, train rides, and more. This is a day of small-town fun in South Georgia that's such a blast for the entire family! Find out more from the Friends of Jimmy Carter website.
9. Georgia National Fair
Location: Perry
Wow Factor: More than 550,000 visitors attend this massive fair, which includes livestock shows, fine arts competitions, 4-H events, a circus, rides and games, fair food, live music, and nightly fireworks.
Need To Know: This year's fair runs from October 3-13, 2024.
The Georgia National Fair is the Peach State's official, state-sponsored fair, and it's always a blast (and easy to see why it's an annual tradition for many!). There's something for everyone here, from kids to grandparents, and there are events and demonstrations going on every single day.
10. Georgia Mountain Fall Festival
Location: Hiawassee
Wow Factor: You'll find musical acts, arts and crafts, carnival rides, and some fun cultural and history displays here.
Need To Know: This year's Georgia Mountain Fall Festival is set to run from October 11-13, 2024 and again from October 17-19, 2024.
The Georgia Mountain Fall Festival has a variety of fun attractions that you won't find at many festivals. The Pioneer Village is a replica of an old mountain town that provides a fascinating look back in history. You'll also enjoy interfaith worship services each Sunday, plus concerts and more.
11. Gold Rush Days Festival
Location: Dahlonega
Wow Factor: Dahlonega was actually home to the country's first gold rush.
Need To Know: This year's festivities are from October 19-20, 2024.
Today, the "gold rush" time period is mostly associated with California, but the country's first major gold rush actually took place in Georgia! This family-friendly festival celebrates life in this amazing small town, and has so much to enjoy, including live music, fun contests, arts and crafts vendors, a king and queen coronation, and a 5K race.
Free & Cheap Georgia Fall Activities
Finding fun things to do in Georgia in the fall doesn't have to cost a fortune. Times are tough, and it's not always in the budget to take a lengthy road trip across the state. If you're looking for simple Georgia fall activities that won't cost an arm and a leg, check these out:
12. Enjoy the beaches during the off season.
Location: All over the state
Wow Factor: Fall is a great time to visit beach and lakeside towns without all the crowds, and amenities like parking and hotel rooms are often considerably cheaper.
Need To Know: Be careful if you decide to head into the water, as lifeguards are often not on duty after Labor Day.
There are so many great places to spend a day on the water in Georgia, whether it's one of our lakes or rivers or down in our Golden Isles. Many people only visit these places in the summertime, but you're really missing out if you don't head here in the cooler months. It's so much more peaceful and you can really feel in touch with nature when the crowds are not present, plus you won't have long wait lines at restaurants.
13. Go for a hike at a state park.
Location: All over the state
Wow Factor: There are 49 state parks in Georgia (plus a multitude of state historic sites).
Need To Know: Daily parking passes at Georgia state parks are $5, but many public libraries have ParkPasses that can be checked out to exempt you from having to pay the fee.
Hiking in the Peach State is amazing at any time of year - we have so many great hiking trails in Georgia. However, I've got to say that fall is my favorite time to hit the trails. Hearing the leaves crunch underfoot, seeing the golds and reds of autumn's hues, and feeling the crisp breeze in the air: there's nothing like it! If you're looking to check out some of the state's best trails, take a peek at our friends at AllTrails to find some great recommendations.
14. Enjoy the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States.
Location: Helen
Wow Factor: This event has been going strong for more than 50 years, and it's one of the biggest fall festivals in Georgia.
Need To Know: This year's Oktoberfest runs from September 5-October 27, 2024.
There's nothing like Oktoberfest in Helen, GA - it's a two-month party that will make you feel like you're in Germany instead of the North Georgia mountains. If you want to participate in all of the festivities, you'll need to purchase a pass for the Helen Festhalle, which varies from $10-12 on weekdays and Saturday, and is free on Sunday. I'm not a huge drinker and mostly enjoy watching all the goings-on rather than participating myself, so when I'm in the area, I typically just check out all the events going on outside of the Festhalle and don't spend a dime other than parking.
15. Visit Ellijay, GA - perhaps for the Georgia Apple Festival in October!
Location: Ellijay
Wow Factor: Admission is just $10 for adults, and kids 10 and under are free.
Need To Know: This year's Georgia Apple Festival runs from October 12-13 and October 19-20, 2024.
The Georgia Apple Festival
takes place on two back-to-back weekends in October. There are more than 300 vendors here, making it the perfect place to get an early start on your Christmas shopping. There's all kinds of family fun, including rock climbing, pony and camel rides, and inflatable bounce houses. Of course, there's no shortage of food trucks available, and you an also enjoy fair foods like funnel cakes and apple dumplings.
What's on your Georgia fall bucket list? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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