Mountain Escapes and City Lights: Your North Georgia Weekend Guide

As temperatures rise and the mountain laurel begins to bloom, North Georgia officially enters the festival season.

Whether you are planning on parading around town on Saturday or catching some world-class performances on Sunday, here’s your guide to all that’s going down this weekend.

Friday, May 1: The Kick-Off

1. Hamilton Gardens Rhododendron Festival

• Location: Hiawassee
• Time: Gardens open daily at 9:00 AM.
• Registration: Entry is a $10 donation.
• Details: Best for early birds wanting to beat the crowds.
• Registration and More Info:georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

2. Downtown Canton First Friday: "The Purple Madness"

• Location: Cannon Park
• Time: from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
• Details: A massive Prince tribute performance by Bobby Miller, plus a Kids Zone and a "Cruise-In" car show on Main Street.
• More Info:cantonga.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/2547/255

3. Dahlonega First Friday Concert Series

• Location: Hancock Park
• Time: from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
• Registration: Free, no registration.
• Details: Featuring Ugly Cousin. Bring your own lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
• More Info: dahlonegadda.org

4. Gainesville First Friday: Rock Station

• Location: Historic Downtown Square
• Time: Pre-show fun from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Concert is from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
• Details: Free admission. First come first serve seating. Bring your chairs and picnic blankets to mark off an area for your friends and family group.
• More Info:exploregainesville.org

5. Rome Little Theatre: Love/Sick by John Cariani

• Location: Historic DeSoto Theatre
• Time: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM
• Details: A series of nine slightly twisted short plays about the joy and pain of love.
• Tickets and More Info:romelittletheatre.com

6. Helen State Park After Dark: Moonlight Hike

• Location: Unicoi State Park
• Time: 7:45 PM (check-in starts at 7:00 PM)
• Registration: $10 per person.
• Details: A guided night hike to see the forest's nocturnal side.
• Registration and More Info: unicoilodge.com/events-calendar/

7. Ellijay Improv Night

• Location: Gilmer Arts Playhouse
• Time: from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
• Registration: Tickets are available online for $12
• Details: A night of quick-witted comedy in the heart of the Apple Capital.
• For Tickets and More Info: gilmerarts.com

8. Jasper’s "The Smell of the Kill" A Dark Comedy

• Location: Tater Patch Players Theater 95
• Time: from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
• Cost: Tickets range from $16 to $20
• Details: A sharp, hilarious dark comedy about three wives and a cold basement.
• For Tickets and More Info:taterpatchplayers.org

Saturday, May 2: The Main Event

1. Dolly Day & Dash

• Location: Downtown Ringgold
• Time: Race packet pickup starts at 6:30 AM. Race starts at 8:00 AM.
• Details: 10k, 5k, and Fun Run followed by a Dolly-themed festival.
• Registration and More Info: Race registration required at phoenixraceocr.com

2. Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race

• Location: Downtown Pavilion
• Time: 7:00 AM check-in; a two-day event.
• Details: An intense 8-hour or a 24-hour multi-sport race.
• Registration and More Info: Mandatory racer registration at blueridgemountains.com

3. Tucker Day

• Location: Main Street
• Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Parade starts at 10:00 AM)
• Details: A massive community block party with live music on three stages.
• Registration and More Info: Free admission. tuckerday.com

4. Cave Spring BaconFest & Car Show

• Location: Rolater Park
• Time: from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Details: Bacon-inspired dishes, first 100 in line at the tasting pavilion, and a classic car show.
• More Info:cavespring.ga.gov/events/cave-spring-baconfest

5. Atlanta Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance

• Location: Lanier Islands (Peachtree Pointe), Buford
• Time: from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Public Show)
• Registration: Tickets are available to purchase online.
• Details: Rare historic cars, motorcycles, and wooden boats on the shores of Lake Lanier.
• For Tickets and More Info:atlantamotoringfestival.org

6. Monroe Spring Vintage Market

• Location: William Harris Homestead
• Time: from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Details: Hundreds of antique, vintage, and art-craft vendors on a historic farm.
• Tickets and More Info: harrishomestead.com

7. Discover Toccoa Spring Festival

• Location: Downtown Toccoa
• Time: from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Details: Fine arts, regional beer or wine and a curated makers market.
• Registration and More Info: Free admission. mainstreettoccoa.com

8. Georgia Renaissance Festival

• Location: Fairgrounds in Fairburn
• Time: from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM
• Details: Jousting, giant turkey legs, and 14 stages of interactive entertainment.
• Tickets: Available online at tickets.garenfest.com/renfest

9. May-Retta Daze (Day 1)

• Location: Historic Marietta Square
• Time: from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Details: Juried arts and crafts festival with live acoustic sets.
• Registration and More Info: Free admission. mariettaparks.com

10. Johns Creek International Festival

• Location: Heisman Field
• Time: from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
• Details: A global celebration of food, art, and performance.
• Registration and More Info: Free admission. johnscreekga.gov

11. Roswell Derby de Mayo Block Party

• Location: Gate City Brewing
• Time: from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Details: Kentucky Derby + Cinco de Mayo fusion party and fundraiser.
• Registration and More Info: Tickets at the gate or at gatecitybrewingco.com

12. Jasper’s "The Smell of the Kill" A Dark Comedy

• Location: Tater Patch Players Theater 95
• Time: from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
• Cost: Tickets range from $16 to $20
• Details: A sharp, hilarious dark comedy about three wives and a cold basement.
• For Tickets and More Info:taterpatchplayers.org

Sunday, May 3: The Finale

1. Georgia Renaissance Festival

• Location: Fairgrounds in Fairburn
• Time: from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM
• Details: Jousting, giant turkey legs, and 14 stages of interactive entertainment.
• Tickets: Available online at tickets.garenfest.com/renfest

2. May-Retta Daze (Day 2)

• Location: Historic Marietta Square
• Time: from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Details: A quieter time to shop the vendors before the festival closes.
• Registration and More Info: mariettaparks.com

3. Goat Yoga at Rhatigan Farms

• Location: Blairsville
• Time: from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
• Registration: $20 for adults (pre-register online).
• Details: Stretch and snuggle with baby goats and bunnies to end your weekend with Zen.
• Registration and More Info:members.visitblairsvillega.com

4. Jasper’s "The Smell of the Kill" (Dark Comedy)

• Location: Tater Patch Players Theater,
• Time: from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
• Cost: Tickets range from $16 to $20
• Details: A sharp, hilarious dark comedy about three wives and a cold basement.
• For Tickets and More Info:taterpatchplayers.org

5. Atlanta Film Festival (Final Day)

• Location: Plaza & Tara Theatres
• Time: Screenings begin at 12:00 PM through 10:00 PM
• Details: This is the 50th Anniversary of the festival and your last chance to catch award-winning indie films and shorts.
• Registration and More Info: Tickets starting at $16 at atlantafilmfestival.com

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you have a fantastic weekend exploring everything that North Georgia has to offer!