Fall Festivals in Athens
Friday, September 19th, 2014
Football season is in full swing and the fall festivals are kicking off. The weather is cooling down and the beautiful colored leaves are starting to fall. It's finally Fall in the Classic City! The next month promises a full calendar of music, entertainment, art and fitness events for the whole family to enjoy. It's the perfect time of year to grab the kids, load up the car, and take a fun-filled weekend trip to Athens!
Zombie Farms Halloween Trail returns to Athens this year for the month of October. A step beyond the typical corn maze or haunted house, guests will have the opportunity to venture out on a guided tour through a farm supported by the tireless labor of zombies. The half-mile Dark Trail will be filled with fog, eerie sounds and, of course, the undead. The farm is open Friday andSaturday nights from 8 - 11:30 p.m. throughout the month of October. Tickets are $20. For more information visit zombiefarms.com.
The 4th Annual Autumn Harvest Feast presented by the Athens Farmers Market is Sunday, October 5th from 4 - 7 p.m. at The Hill. Athens' finest local chefs will prepare locally-sourced ingredients from the Athens Farmers Market for a truly amazing meal. There will be live music and a silent auction to accompany the delicious family-style feast. The guest of honor and speaker at this year's feast is Michel Nischan, founder and CEO of Wholesome Wave. All proceeds from the event benefit Wholesome Wave. Tickets are $75 and may be purchased at autumnharvestfeast.brownpapertickets.com.
The 30th Annual North Georgia Folk Festival will return to Sandy Creek Park on Saturday, October 11. This year Norman Blake headlines this exciting event featuring live folk and Americana music, plus unique arts and crafts workshops and activities for festival-goers of all ages. Kids events last from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., while music will be played from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and arts and crafts demonstrations will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to Sandy Creek Park is $2 a person, ages 4-64. Admission to the festival is $15 for adults, $8 for students at the gate. There are advance ticket discounts and family packages available for purchase online. The festival is free for all children under the age of 12. Additional North Georgia Folk Festival information is on the Athens Folk Music and Dance website at http://athensfolk.org/.
October 11 marks Terrapin Brewery's 5th Annual Hop Harvest Festival. The festival will feature the release of Special Release beer So Fresh & So Green, Green.Mouth-watering food, live music and a wide selection of Terrapin favorites will make this year's festival one to remember. There will be eight special casks, each made with a specific hop, an artisan market with locally crafted trinkets and treasures, a community art project prepared by Dana Jo Cooley and a number of other exciting surprises. This event does sell out, so attendees should purchase a pre-sale glass voucher at $20. Five dollars of each sale will be donated to Dogwood Alliance. The Hop Harvest Festival is from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. More information is available at terrapinbeer.com.
The oldest and most famous road skate in America, theAthens-to-Atlanta Road Skate, will be held onSunday, October 12. It covers a fun and challenging 87-mile course departing Athens and heading through beautiful country roads and bustling city streets, ending in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward Skate Park. For those skaters who aren't prepared to take on 87 miles, alternative 38-mile and 49-mile course options are also available. The Athens-to-Atlanta Road Skate allows participants to push themselves physically while bonding with fellow skaters. Those skating in the 87- and 38-mile tracks will depart from The Classic Center in Athens, Georgia at 7:30 a.m., while those participating in the 49-mile track will leave on a bus at 8 a.m. from The Classic Center and be transported to their race start in Dacula, Georgia, to begin skating at10 a.m. Registration costs range from $85-$100. The Athens-to-Atlanta Road Skate's website has additional race information, at http://www.a2a.net/.
This year marks the fourth year of the AthFest Half Marathon, taking place October 19. Kick off race weekend with the AthHalf Fitness Expo on Saturday, October 18, at The Classic Center in downtown Athens, Georgia. Open from 12-6 p.m., the Expo will provide individuals with discounted running and exercise merchandise, free samples of fitness products and several fitness- and wellness-related demonstrations and exhibits. The race itself takes place Sundaymorning, October 19, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Clayton Street in Athens and winding through the historic streets of the Classic City, past rabid fans, live music stages, and major area landmarks, through the University of Georgia's campus and ending with a victory lap of Sanford Stadium. Registration is $70 per person through September 30, and increases to $80 from October 1 to October 18. Additional race weekend information can be found at http://athhalf.com/.
The Lickskillet Artist Market & Festival is returning for its 5th year on October 25. The annual event features a variety of free indoor/outdoor activities for all ages including an artist market with eclectic artist wares for sale, artist demonstrations, live music, kid activities, food vendors, live music and tours of the Ware-Lyndon Historic House Museum. There will be on-going art demonstrations by members of Lyndon House Arts Center guilds, including ceramics, paintings, drawing, woodworking, metalworking and quilting. Local food vendors will be present to sell refreshments including White Tiger Gourmet, Dondero's Kitchen, the Lil Ice Cream Dude and more. Visit lyndonhouseartsfoundation.com for more information.
The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau has a complete calendar of even more autumn activities, events and festivals going on this fall in Athens, Georgia, and may be contacted at their website at www.VisitAthensGA.com, or by phone at 706-357-4430, or toll-free at 800-653-0603.
