Fall Festivals Within Driving Distance

Dawn Mulford – Contributing Columnist

The summer heat will not last forever, and what will you do with the family when those great fall lower temperatures arrive? How about attending some great festivals within driving distance? 

We’re surrounded by family friendly, low-cost options that will provide great memories for all ages. Many of these festivals offer music, rides, petting zoos, hayrides, local produce, and specialty food and drink—all of them within a day’s drive. What could be better?

Creating an annual event that the whole family can enjoy and repeat again and again is easy! One of these festivals even includes a Christmas Tree Farm.

The fall offers fantastic colors and cooler temperatures. Why not attend more than one of these festivals? Gas up the car, grab the family, and enjoy what the Southeast has to offer.

• Duluth Fall Festival in Duluth: This annual festival in late September offers live music, food vendors, arts and crafts, a parade, a 5K run, and a large play area for children. It’s a pet-friendly event as well. Find more information at duluthfallfestival.org/.
• Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay: Taking place in October, this popular festival features numerous craft vendors, delicious apple treats (like apple dumplings and cider), and activities for all ages. You’ll find plenty of food options and games to keep everyone entertained. Find more information at georgiaapplefestival.org/.
• Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park: While not exclusively a fall festival, the Yellow Daisy Festival in September is a large arts and crafts show with hundreds of vendors. Stone Mountain Park itself provides a plethora of family-friendly activities like a scenic railroad, skyride, mini-golf, and a laser show, making it a great destination for a fall day. You can easily spend the whole day at the park. Find more information at stonemountainpark.com/yellow-daisy-festival/.
• Prater’s Mill Historic Site in Dalton: This historic mill hosts a fall craft festival in October featuring live demonstrations, food vendors, live music, and a wide variety of crafts. It’s a great place for family gatherings and has been a tradition for many. Find more information at pratersmill.org/event/pmcfsun/.
• Ole McDermitt’s Farm in Carrollton: Features a pumpkin patch, hayrides, slides, and farm animals that you can pet and feed. They also have concession stands, face painting, and gem mining. Find more information at olemcdermittsfarm.com/.
• Cagle’s Family Farm in Canton: This farm has a challenging corn maze, sheepdog demonstrations, farm animals, a pumpkin patch, and a wagon ride with a bonfire. Find more information at caglesfarm.com/.

Dawn Mulford has been in the travel industry for over 40 years—first in corporate and then leisure travel. For the last three years, she has been in the top two percent of travel agents out of 10,000 agents in the Travel Leaders Network group. Dawn has been blessed with a lifetime of travel, a fulfilling job, and the ability to work from home. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with great clients and friends. Call or text her at 423-777-8785, or email her at dawn@larimarvacations.com.