Festivals and Fairs

With nearly 200 years of history, the Appalachian culture of Habersham County, its apple industry, beautiful mountains and diverse cultural background provide its communities with ample opportunities for signature events.

The arts play a significant part of life in these hills. Live theatre performances, authentic handmade pottery, good food, beautiful art work and  much more are available for the interested traveler.

Events vary from the nationally-known Chattahoochee Mountain Fair to Cornelia's Big Red Apple Festival to the Mountain Laurel Festival.

Chattahoochee Mountain Fair

The Chattahoochee Mountain Fair has become the largest event in Habersham County, drawing more than 20,000 fairgoers annually. It is also ranked as one of the top 20 events in the Southeast for September.

The fair attracts tourists from all across the United States. Open for nine days each year, the fair features the Miss Chattahoochee Pageant, talent, arts, rides, special entertainment featuring well-known local and regional groups each night, livestock exhibits and petting zoo, rodeo, motorcycle show, and much more.

Several features set this fair apart from all other fairs and events. Examples include the Everything Elvis Show that takes place on the last Saturday night. Cornelia is home to the largest Elvis collection in the world, and the owner and curator of the Everything Elvis Museum hosts the Everything Elvis Show at the fair each year. The show features three Elvis tribute artists who were former winners of the competition at the Everything Elvis Festival.

Other features include a sanctioned rodeo; livestock exhibits and livestock shows involving boys and girls from 5 to 18 years old; and 4-H and FFA contests that include creative entries of photography, clay, flower arranging, scarecrows, pumpkins and more.

Kids Farm and Fun Day has become a major feature of the fair. Staged on the first day of the fair, children get to see how animals live, work and play. From the experience of trying to milk a cow to seeing how baby chicks are hatched or bees make honey, the children see sights that few are now privileged to enjoy. Every fourth grade student in Habersham County’s public and private schools gets a free trip to this Farm/Fun Day. This event engages local businesses as well as schools.

Big Red Apple Festival

The Big Red Apple Festival is held in October each year in Cornelia, Georgia. It is a fun-filled day for the whole family with lots of stuff to do such as a parade, arts and crafts, great food, car show, live entertainment, hayrides and much more.  Other features include a 5K run and the "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" breast cancer awareness walk.

Mountain Laurel Festival

The oldest festival of its type in Georgia, the Mountain Laurel Festival is held in May each year in Clarkesville, Georgia, and features a vibrant collection of fine artists and craftsmen.  The festival presents an exceptionally wide selection of arts and crafts including ceramics, jams and jellies, jewerly, leather, paintings, drawings, sculptures and photography.  The festival also features a parade, live entertainment, food, and more. The Mountain Laurel Festival is regularly listed on the Top 20 Events in the Southeast.