Fall Festival Fever Hits Georgia

ATLANTA, October 1, 2008 - Georgia's fall festivals are in full swing! Our mild climate and crisp autumn air offers plenty of opportunities to discover outdoor adventures, activities and festivals this fall. Oktoberfest celebrations, harvest and arts & crafts festivals can be found all across the state offering Georgians and visitors opportunities for day trips or weekend getaways. Head to the North Georgia Mountains for the 10-day Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in Hiawassee and enjoy a spectacular line-up of musical acts including the state's Official Fiddler's Convention. Experience the arts at the Art in the Square arts festival in Gainesville or the 12th Annual Tybee Festival of the Arts on Tybee Island. Have fun at the Flowery Branch Fall Festival, or explore your artistic side at either the Sequoyah Art and Craft Festival in Summerville, or the Harvest Square Arts and Crafts Festival in Marietta. Celebrate AutumnFest at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain every weekend in October. Trek up to 'alpine' Helen, where one of the biggest Oktoberfest celebrations in the Southeast lasts until November 2nd. Relax at a beer-garden, browse the specialty shops, enjoy the beautiful mountain autumn, and then make your way to the Festhalle at night for authentic German bands, food, beer and fun. Enjoy the Fort Gordon Oktoberfest celebration, with all the typical German touches, as well as fairgrounds and a Flea Market that draws tens of thousands. Dig into succulent bratwurst and delicious sauerkraut while enjoying the sounds of Germany at Rock City's ROCKtoberfest every Saturday and Sunday in October. Taste Georgia at the 2008 Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, or at the Greek Festival in Augusta. You can also get a palate-full at the CSRA Wine Festival in Martinez, and enjoy the Augusta Rose Show while you're there. Have fun with the whole family at the Cherry Log Festival; go back in time at the Andersonville Historic Fair in the historic, civil war village of Andersonville; or get your fill at the Rock Shrimp Festival in St. Marys. Pick the perfect pumpkin, spy a laser show, or get lost in a corn maze at the 6th Annual Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain. Even the state parks catch the autumn festival fever. Check out Laura S. Walker State Park's Fall Festival, just south of Waycross, Mistletoe State Park's Family Fall Fest, in Appling, Vogel State Park's Fall Hoedown, in Blairsville, or the Smithgall Woods Conservation Area's Fall Celebration, in Helen. You'll find a combination of hayrides, music, pumpkin scavenger hunts, dancing, campfire stories, apple bobbing, marshmallow roasting, a night hike and even a campsite decorating contest. Festivals have been a mainstay of American culture for centuries, and Georgia offers something for everyone. Included is just a sample of the many fall events taking place across the state. To learn about these festivals and more, visit www.exploregeorgia.org. The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Event dates for featured festivals: Andersonville Historic Fair – October 4-5 Art in the Square – October 4 Augusta Rose Show – October 4 AutumnFest – October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 Cherry Log Festival – October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19 CSRA Wine Festival – October 4 Flowery Branch Fall Festival – October 4 Georgia Apple Festival – October 11-12, 18-19 Georgia Mountain Fall Festival – October 10-19 Greek Festival – October 9 - 12 Harvest Square Arts and Crafts Festival – October 28 Laura S. Walker State Park Fall Festival – October 18 Mistletoe State Park Family Fall Fest – October 18 Oktoberfest – September 11 – November 2 Oktoberfest – October 17-19 Pumpkin Festival – October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26 Rock Shrimp Festival – October 4 ROCKtoberfest – October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 Sequoyah Art and Craft Festival – October 18 Smithgall Woods Conservation Area Fall Celebration – October 18 Tybee Festival of the Arts – October 18-19 Vogel State Park Fall Hoedown – October 18