Community Calendar
Dahlonega Events & Festivals
Dahlonega’s calendar is packed year-round with festivals, wine events, live music, art fairs, and seasonal celebrations that draw visitors from across the Southeast. Here is your complete guide to what’s happening in the Gold Rush mountains.
Annual Festivals
Gold Rush Days
OCTOBER · SIGNATURE EVENT · 200,000+ VISITORS
Dahlonega’s signature annual celebration takes place each October on and around the Historic Public Square. Gold Rush Days draws more than 200,000 visitors over two weekends, making it one of the largest and most beloved festivals in the Southeast. Expect fine arts and crafts from hundreds of juried artists, live music on multiple stages, gold panning competitions, parade, carnival rides, and a legendary gathering of the mountain community. The event coincides with peak fall foliage season, creating an extraordinary setting of color in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Dahlonega Wine Festival
SPRING & FALL · WINE TASTING · LIVE MUSIC
Celebrating North Georgia’s thriving wine industry, the Dahlonega Wine Festival brings together the region’s finest wineries for a weekend of tastings, food pairings, and live music. The festival is held twice annually — in spring (May) and fall (October) — and takes place at various vineyard locations around Dahlonega. Winemakers are available to discuss their craft, and festival-exclusive wine releases make this a must for oenophiles.
Chestatee River Paddle Festival
JUNE · PADDLING RACES · FAMILY FUN
The annual Chestatee River Paddle Festival celebrates Dahlonega’s outstanding water recreation with a full day of canoe and kayak racing, recreational paddling events, and a festival atmosphere on the riverbanks. Events are organized by skill level, from novice family categories to competitive sprint racing. The festival raises funds for river conservation and is a beloved early summer tradition.
Wine & Jazz in the Mountains
SEPTEMBER · OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES
Each September, Dahlonega’s mountain vineyards host a weekend jazz concert series that perfectly pairs the region’s award-winning wines with world-class music. Held at rotating vineyard venues across the Dahlonega Plateau Wine Trail, Wine & Jazz in the Mountains is an intimate, upscale event limited to a few hundred guests per venue — making advance ticket purchase essential.
Spring Wildflower Festival
APRIL–MAY · NATURE · HIKING
The North Georgia mountains host an extraordinary wildflower bloom each spring, with trillium, mountain laurel, rhododendron, and dozens of other species carpeting the forest floor. The Spring Wildflower Festival celebrates this annual spectacle with guided hikes, wildflower photography workshops, and educational programs at Amicalola Falls State Park and along the Appalachian Trail corridor.
Holiday Mountain Market
NOVEMBER–DECEMBER · HOLIDAY SHOPPING · LIGHTS
The Historic Public Square transforms into a holiday wonderland each November and December, with the annual Holiday Mountain Market, Christmas lights, holiday shopping events, and the beloved Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The mountain setting, historic architecture, and festive atmosphere make Dahlonega one of the most enchanting holiday destinations in the Southeast.
Weekly & Recurring Events
Dahlonega Farmers Market
SATURDAYS · SEASONAL · LOCAL PRODUCE
Every Saturday morning from spring through fall, the Dahlonega Farmers Market brings together local growers, artisan food producers, flower farmers, and craftspeople on the Public Square. Expect fresh produce, homemade jams and preserves, local honey, cut flowers, and prepared foods from local bakeries and kitchens. A wonderful way to start a Saturday morning in Dahlonega.
Live Music at the Crimson Moon
YEAR-ROUND · ACOUSTIC · NATIONAL TOURING ARTISTS
Dahlonega’s beloved Crimson Moon Café hosts nationally touring acoustic and Americana artists year-round in an intimate listening room setting. Shows are typically Thursday through Saturday evenings, with advance tickets strongly recommended for headline performances. The Crimson Moon has hosted hundreds of artists over the years and remains one of North Georgia’s premier live music venues.
EVENTS CALENDAR
📅 January: Winter wine events
🌸 April–May: Wildflower season
🚣 June: Paddle Festival
🍷 September: Wine & Jazz
🍂 October: Gold Rush Days
🎄 December: Holiday Market
PLAN AHEAD
Gold Rush Days and the Fall Wine Festival are Dahlonega’s most popular events. Book accommodations 3–6 months in advance for October weekends. Hotels and vacation rentals sell out quickly during peak festival season.