7 Ways to Spend Fall – Fall Activities on Hospitality Highway

12 Oct 7 Ways to Spend Fall – Fall Activities on Hospitality Highway

Fall is here, and you should be too. With so many fall activities on Georgia’s Hospitality Highway, finding ways to spend the season has never been easier. Ranging from fairs and festivals to kid’s activities and from fall foliage to cooler temperatures, we have highlighted some of the seasons can’t miss activities and events.

Cumming Country Fair & Festival – Photo Credit: Cumming Fairgrounds

Festivals and Fairs

Falls and fairs are staples of fall, and in October you can enjoy both at the annual Cumming Country Fair and Festival. This annual fair is packed with carnival rides, theatrical acts, a petting zoo, fair games, live music and more — did we also mention deep-fried Oreos? If the mountains are calling, head to Dahlonega for the annual Gold Rush Days Festival, voted a top event in the southeast. At the festival, enjoy leaf looking and fall activities with over 300 art and craft exhibitors and food vendors lining the streets of the Historic District.

Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival – Photo Credit: Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau 

Fall Events

For a more intimate fall activity, Alpharetta’s Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival event provides two days of song and soul with some of the most well-respected artists in the music industry. For one of Buckhead’s most popular fall social events, secure your seat at the table at “Back on the Farm”. Benefiting the Smith Family Farm and its program, guests taste fresh farm-to-table dishes prepared by celebrity chefs. Lastly, enjoy Roswell’s Alive, a family-friendly free festival that takes place every third Thursday and features live bands, food trucks, kid’s games and more. Another family and community favorite is the annual Sandy Springs Festival which is filled with arts and crafts vendors, cultural performances, a pet parade, classic rides and culinary treats.

Amicalola Falls – Photo Credit: Flickr, Ryan McKee

Leaf-Looking

For one of the most traditional fall activities, enjoy leaf looking from various vantage points. Head for the North Georgia mountains to see fall colors peaking at popular locations such as Amicalola State Park in Dawsonville, home to Georgia’s tallest waterfall. After breathtaking views of the waterfall, climb to the top for a panoramic view of the fall foliage or begin the 10-mile round-trip hike to the Len Foote Hike Inn, nestled in the Chattahoochee National Park Area. The Chattahoochee National Park Area offers experiences with nature ranging from cycling to hiking and makes up over a third of the area in Dahlonega. For an in-town escape, enjoy the foliage waterside on the Chattahoochee River via kayak, canoe or paddleboard, with various take-off points in Sandy Springs and Roswell. For a hidden gem in the city, reap the rewards of fall with a walk on East Palisades Trail that takes you through a bamboo forest to views of the river. Insider tip — it is a popular place to hang an ENO or take your furry friend.

Phipps Plaza – Photo credit: Phipps Plaza

Fall Shopping

Start off in the right boots as cooler temperatures sweep through with a shopping spree on the highway. For higher-end finds and upscale retail, shop Buckhead’s Phipps Plaza to find the perfect coat or home décor. While in Buckhead, indulge in a true Atlanta tradition, over 60 years old by riding the Pink Pig at Macy’s in Lenox Square, symbolic of ringing in the holiday season.  For more eclectic finds and niche boutiques, every fall, a European pop-up market takes over Milton Avenue in Alpharetta with an atmosphere reminiscent of the Parisian streets.  Looking to get the most for your money? Look to the North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville with over 140 designer and name-brand stores and stock your wardrobe for fall.

Wolf Mountain Vineyards in Dahlonega – Photo Credit: Dahlonega Convention and Visitors Bureau 

Beer, Wine and Fall Drinks

Warm-up with an array of craft beers or toast with a glass of wine from Georgia’s Wine Country. Beer lovers unite at Alpharetta’s Jekyll Brewing or Cumming’s Cherry Street Brewing Cooperative for locally-inspired flavors and brews. Try Jekyll’s Cooter Brown or Cherry Street’s Sawnee Mountain’s Porter for a warming libation. In Roswell, Gate City Brewing Company resides in the heart of historic downtown, with a welcoming setting and often hosts community events. The taproom keeps 20 house-brewed beers on draft, making it perfect to find your seasonal brew or year-round favorite. If beer isn’t your taste, head to wine country in Dahlonega and sip seasonal wines from seven different award-winning wineries. Many wineries introduce their new blends in the fall, so be the first to try the newest additions. For an added bonus, take your wine flight out to the vineyards and catch views of the changing leaves.

Roswell Ghost Tours – Photo Credit: Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau

Spooks, Ghosts and Haunted Places

Channel your inner ghostbuster with Roswell Ghost Tour which is led by paranormal investigators. These guides will take you through the historic village and Founder’s Cemetery, as you learn the about the city’s spirits. For an evening adventure that will challenge your cool and navigation abilities, on Haunt Nights at Dawsonville’s Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, find your way out of the elaborate corn maze, lit only by the moonlight.

Spooky Springs – Photo Credit: Sandy Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau

Family-Friendly Fun

Find a pumpkin unlike any other at Kinsey Family Farm in Forsyth County, where the farm grows over 13 pumpkin varieties so you can choose the perfect one. Bring the whole family out for hayrides through the fall foliage or check out the onsite petting zoo. Take the kids and celebrate Halloween with a not-so-frightful evening of trick-or-treat candy stations, face painting and photo ops at Spooky Springs at Abernathy Greenway Park in Sandy Springs or at Legoland Discovery Center’s “Brick-or-Treat” with Halloween-themed activities built just for kids in Buckhead.

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