Producing more than 600,000 bushels of apples every year, it is no wonder that Gilmer County, specifically Ellijay, is known as the Apple Capital of Georgia. That being said, it makes perfect sense that Ellijay is home to the biggest apple event in the state – the Georgia Apple Festival, which takes place during the second and third weekends in October, for 2013 the dates are the 12th – 13th and 19th – 20th.
Visitors from all over will flock to this North Georgia city to enjoy arts, crafts, food and other activities all apple-related. More than 300 vendors attend every year, offering every apple product known to man. There will also be live, on-site demonstrations to teach guests how to make certain crafts and products. Some of the festival events include:
- Antique Car Show – Saturday the 12th at the Gilmer County Civic Center
- Apple Festival Parade – Saturday the 19th at 10 a.m. in Historic Downtown Ellijay
- Apple Arts on the Square – both weekends of the festival in Downtown Ellijay
The festival is from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays and from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sundays at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds. Admission is $5 with children under 10 free of charge. Parking is also free, but donations are always appreciated.