Somewhere just off scenic GA 400, a festival is getting underway. From North Fulton County to Lumpkin County, the Hospitality Highway leads you to one festival after another, from September through December: classic car shows, old-fashioned county fairs, tantalizing "Tastes of" and gatherings dedicated to moonshine and gold rush fun in the fall. Winter brings tree lightings, historic homes dressed to the holiday nines, visits with St. Nick and old-fashioned Christmas cheer and merrymaking.
There are a variety of fun family events close to home worthy of checking out:
Alpharetta's Old Milton Country FairSat., Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
On the grounds of old Milton High School, now Milton Center
Admission: Free
www.oldmiltoncountryfair.com770-653-6821
Festival features: Interactive festival with heritage demonstrations, old-time children's and carnival games, square dancing, arts and crafts, watermelon and pickle eating contests; antique wagon/tractor/car show; farmers market; contests.
Alpharetta's FunFest & Classic Car ShowSaturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
North Point Mall
Admission: Free
www.Alpharettafunfest.com770-360-9042
Festival features: car show; Kids' Zone with petting zoo, arts and crafts area, rides and games; Cuisine Scene with many of the areas fine restaurants; entertainment throughout the day and evening.
Cumming-Forsyth Grass in the Grove Bluegrass FestivalSat., Sept. 19, 11-4 p.m.
Shady Grove Campground on Lake Lanier
Admission: $10/per vehicle; RV and tent campsites available; boats welcome to anchor in any of the coves outside of the park.
www.lakelanier.com/events/bluegrass-festival770 781-2217
Festival features: Day long musical festival with both traditional and contemporary bluegrass bands. Bands include Honi Deaton & Dream, 4Ever Blue, among others.
Cumming Country Fair and FestivalOct. 8-18: 4-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 4-Midnight Fri.; 10 a.m.-Midnight Sat.; and 12:30-7 p.m. Sun.
Cumming Fairgrounds
Admission: $7/adults; $3/ages 5-18; Free/ages 4 and under. Advanced tickets (available Sept. 1-30): $5/adults; $2/ages 5-18.
Parking: $3. Handicap parking available.
www.cummingfair.net770-781-3491
Festival features: more than 40 rides from the James H. Drew Exposition; Heritage Village; Indian Village; daily attractions; concerts by Lorrie Morgan on Oct. 9; concert on Oct. 13 TBA; Downhere on Oct. 14; The Charlie Daniels Band on Oct. 15; and Ray Price on Oct. 16. Concerts are free with paid admission to the Fair.
The Taste of RoswellSat. Oct. 17, 12-5:30pm
Historic Town Square
Admission: Free
www.visitroswellga.com1-800-776-7935
Festival features: Sample the culinary delights by Roswell restaurants amidst the ambiance of the Historic District and musical entertainment from the bandstand. Restaurant "tastes" range from $0.50 to $3.00.
Dahlonega Gold Rush FestivalSat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Dahlonega Public Square
Admission: Free
www.dahlonegajaycees.com706-864-7247; 1-800-231-5543
Festival features: Recall the first gold rush in the U.S. with more than 300 art and craft exhibitors; parade; children's activities; fashion show; gold panning contest; wheelbarrow race; King and Queen Coronation; hog calling and buck dancing contests; gospel singing and other live entertainment; wrist wrestling; lots of delicious food.
Dawson County Moonshine FestivalSat., Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 25, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dawsonville Town Square
Admission: Free
www.dawson.org1-877-302-9271
Festival features: Celebrate NASCAR and the days of moonshine and souped up cars with crafts, food, music, exhibits and entertainment; parade; car show, including vintage racecars and their drivers; kid's games and rides; storytelling; visits to an old Moonshine still.
Christmas in RoswellNov. 21- Dec. 31
Roswell Historic District
Admission: Trilogy Pass to all 3 homes; $18.00 for adults; $15.00 for children ages 6-12; Children under age 6 free. Individual tickets; $8.00 for adults; $6.00 for children ages 6-12; Children under age 6 free.
www.visitroswellga.com1-800-776-7935
Festival features: Experience the magic and wonder of the holiday season at Bulloch Hall, Barrington Hall and Smith Plantation Home, each dressed in seasonal splendor and open for tours. Shop in period storefronts for one-of-a-kind gifts or celebrate with friends and family at one of Roswell's unique restaurants.
Dawsonville Lighting of the TreeLast week of November/First week of December
City Hall
Admission: Free
www.dawson.org1-877-302-9271
Festival features: Lighting of the Tree; pictures with Santa; seasonal festivities.
Dahlonega's Old Fashioned ChristmasBegins Fri., Nov. 27 through December with the parade on Dec. 5
Dahlonega Public Square
Admission: Free
www.dahlonega.org1-800-231-5543
Festival features: This event kicks off with the lighting of the Square on Nov. 27 and includes the lighting of the tree; visits with Santa; parade; extended shopping hours on the Square and merchant Open House; entertainment; refreshments; lighting of the luminaries; parade; sleigh bell tour.
For more information on these and other events along Hospitality Highway, visit
www.hospitalityhighway.com.
Labels: Alpharetta, christmas, cumming, dahlonega, dawson, dawsonville, event, fair, fall, festival, forsyth, GA400, hospitality highway, lumpkin, Milton, moonshine, north fulton, roswell
The City of Johns Creek and Keep Johns Creek Beautiful will hold a household hazardous waste collection day on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Home Depot, 5950 State Bridge Road. You can bring up to 10 gallons of hazardous waste including paints, solvents, aerosols, herbicides, pesticides, mercury, batteries and electronics. TVs, propane cylinders and fire extinguishers also can be disposed of for a small fee ranging from $10 to $25.
This free event is open to Johns Creek residents only and participants must pre-register. Registration forms are available on the
City and
KJCB Web sites as well as at Johns Creek City Hall, 12000 Findley Road, Suite 400.
For more information about the event, contact Kathy Reed at Keep North Fulton Beautiful, 770-551-7766 or KathyReed@KeepNorthFultonBeautiful.org or see the
flyer.
Labels: disposal, hazardous, houshold, johns creek, keep johns creek beautiful, keep north fulton beautiful, north fulton
The Fulton County Board of Education unanimously approved a redistricting plan for North Fulton high school students next year which allows rising sophomores to remain at their current school. Previously, only rising juniors and seniors were availed that option under school system policy.
As with all hardship exemptions, students who opt to remain at their current school will be expected to provide their own transportation.
The new attendance lines will go into effect in August 2009 to accommodate the opening of the new high school in Johns Creek. The changes impact Alpharetta, Chattahoochee and Northview high schools.
Allowing rising 10th graders to remain at their current school will not cause significant enrollment changes, according to statistics from school staff. Chattahoochee High and the new Johns Creek high school site are expected to see 75 and 72 fewer students, respectively, than projected, while Northview's population will jump by 98 students; and Alpharetta High's numbers will go up 49 students.
The move to allow three grades of students to remain at their current school should satisfy many parents who were upset with the new district lines. Because of the proximity of the three schools to one another, staff was challenged to fill the new high school, balance attendance at all four schools while keeping neighborhoods intact.
For drafts of the new districts, as well as a form to submit comments about the redistricting, please
click here.
Labels: Alpharetta, chattahoochee, high schools, johns creek, north fulton, northview, redistricting
