This fall, Athens awakens once again as the leaves don their vibrant autumn tones and stakes its claim on rich culture, quirky style, and traditional celebrations. Athens has much more to offer than just football; from the Terrapin Hop Harvest, to the annual Wild Rumpus Parade, there is plenty to enjoy beyond the hedges. With all of the exciting and attention grabbing events, Athens proves to be much more than a football destination in the Fall, but a place where visitors’ favorite fall activities are wrapped into one, so make arrangements to plan a weekend getaway to Athens this season.

September 2016 Events

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia will host the 24th annual Insect-ival on September 17 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center and Conservatory. Join the Garden staff and volunteers for creepy, crawly fun. Discovery stations, roach and beetle races, an insect cafe, puppet shows and, of course, lots of live insects will also highlight this year's event! Don’t miss the opportunity to view dozens of beautiful, native butterflies fluttering around the gardens. This is a wonderful outdoor activity, so visitors will want to take advantage of it! For more information, visit the event website.

Mark the calendar with a big green X for September 24 because it is the 7th Annual Hop Harvest Festival presented by Terrapin Beer Co. As always, the Hop Harvest Festival at Athens brewery will feature a special release beer So Fresh & So Green, Green, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Dogwood. From 4:30 - 8:30 p.m., Packway Handle Band will provide live music. A wide selection of Terrapin favorites, as well as all things “hoppy,” will make celebrating this year’s festival one to remember. But, without a doubt, the hops will be the star of the show. So come out and support one of the great local Athens business, and have a ton of fun in the process. Keep in mind, tickets will sell quickly!

October 2016 Events

Athens, GA celebrates the 32nd Annual North Georgia Folk Festival on October 8. The day-long festivals include musicians, artists, storytellers, food, kid’s activities, and craft demonstrations. This exciting event is open to all ages, and there and plenty of fun to go around for everyone! Children under 12 have free admission to the event, student tickets are $8 and adult tickets are $15. Park admission for everyone aged 4-64 is $2. For more information, check out their website, http://athensfolk.org/festival/.

Come out and celebrate UGA’s Homecoming Parade on October 14, right in downtown Athens! This annual parade is led by the spectacular Redcoat Band and has appearances by the UGA cheerleaders, athletes, and other university and Athens dignitaries. In typical parade fashion, there will be an abundance of ornate floats and displays made by both students and faculty. In addition to the parade, a variety of other events will be taking place for homecoming. Numerous alumni reunions and tailgates will be held as well as a carnival and a concert! More UGA homecoming information can be found at http://www.ugahomecoming.com/, or http://www.visitathensga.com/events/uga-football/.

The Classic City Fringe Festival, an event spanning several days (October 27 - 30) and in several venues throughout downtown, celebrates the amazing variety of fringe artists and performers who call Athens home. The Fringe Festival serves as an outlet for performers on the “fringe,” such as street theater, circus and cabaret performers, burlesque and vaudeville, performance art and avant-garde dance and movement, stand-up comedy and improv, experimental art and film and music. These artists’ out-of-the-box performances will inspire, challenge, shock, and of course entertain with a collection of performances and visuals unlike any other event this season. Attendees will have full access to this exciting event all weekend long. Learn more about this alternative festival on their website, http://classiccityfringefestival.com/.

The Lickskillet Artist Market and Festival is a unique artists market and festival for the whole family. This exciting indoor/outdoor event features eclectic wares for sale by artists of all ages, demonstrations by area artists, live music, children’s art activities, food vendors and tours of the historic Ware-Lyndon House. Taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 22, it will be perfect fall weather to enjoy a full day of everything the festival has to offer! This is a rain or shine event. Artists interested in reserving a table or visitors that are just in need of more information, can head over to the event website, https://lyndonhouseartsfoundation.com/lickskillet-artists-market/.

The 7th annual AthHalf take place on October 8 - 9 and combines Athen’s love of music and art with its vibrantly enthusiastic health community to raise funds and awareness for AthFest Educates, a nonprofit organization dedicated to music and arts education. This year's AthHalf course will be the same route used since 2013, which includes an exciting victory lap around the famous hedges of UGA's Sanford Stadium and a fun-filled finish in the Tate Center parking lot and West Lawn. With pace groups ranging from runners, to joggers, to walkers, this race is something any participant can enjoy- no matter their speed. For those that would like to help, but not participate in the race, AthHalf personnel are always looking for volunteers! Make a weekend of it by checking out Athens’ renowned live music scene on Friday and the Fitness Expo on Saturday. With an outpouring of interest in the race every year, make sure to sign up ASAP in order to secure your spot, http://athhalf.com/.

Every year, The Wild Rumpus Parade and Spectacle takes over the heart of Athens and never disappoints. This year the Monster Mash Kids’ Halloween Party for families will be on Friday, October 28. There is fun in the streets as hundreds of people dress up and parade the streets. The parade marches through the historic downtown district with an outdoor stage show with the Rumpus Band, followed by a gigantic after-party. Enjoy the spectacle from the sidewalks, or join in on the march. Whichever way, The Wild Rumpus sets out to amplify the massive display of creativity by its’ residents while supporting their self-expression in an inviting, and safe environment. For more information, go to http://www.wildrumpus.org/.

November 2016 Events

The arts at UGA will be spotlighted during a nine-day festival from November 2 - 13 when members of the UGA Arts Council will host events and activities that include concerts, theater and dance performances, art exhibitions, poetry readings, author panels and book signings, lectures and discussions on the arts and creativity, and more. During the duration of the event, the 2016 Spotlight on the Arts festival will feature many performers including The Dardanelles, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and others. Learn more about this the Spotlight on the Arts festival at http://arts.uga.edu/.

With so many fall festivals and events taking place this season, start preparations for a perfect fall weekend soon. Check out the VisitAthensGA.com/fall page to get a head start.