Dahlonega GA News | Famous Music Festival Celebrates 20 Years

Published on January 20, 2016

MOUNTAIN RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

In the midst of Georgia's splendid Southern Appalachian Mountains, there is a gorgeous, peaceful and scenic mountain town called Dahlonega. Known for its natural beauty, and the high quality of life, Dahlonega is often referred to as the best place to live in Georgia. While residents and visitors enjoy the great outdoors, there are many other wonderful reasons to love this charming little town. One, for sure, are the great venues for music, and the rock and rolling fun of the annual winter music festivals.

In April, the Bear On The Square Mountain Festival will be celebrating its 20th year. The annual festival showcases Southern Appalachian music, local art and folklore and will be held the weekend of April 16-17. Attendees will enjoy local bluegrass music, an Acoustic Open Mic event, Master Music Classes, and dance performances. With local crafts, storytelling, activities and food, The Bear On The Square is a wonderful weekend of fun for the whole family.

Living in Dahlonega is a nature lover's dream, filled with rivers, creeks, mountain peaks, and spectacular waterfalls. Here one can enjoy hiking, canoeing and kayaking, trout fishing, golf and more, as well as some of the country's best scenic motorcycle rides. The city also has top-ranked schools, excellent medical centers, and is home to North Georgia College and State University (NGCSU). And while some may say Dahlonega is the best place to live in Georgia, the city has the accolades and distinctions that can prove it, including:

23rd Best Small City in America - Charles Anderson's In Search of Eden
2010 Downtown Development Award of Excellence - Georgia Downtown Association
2012 Best Wine Town Runner Up, Southern Dream Towns – Garden & Gun Magazine

Dahlonega has been recognized as a haven for outdoor sports, having been named:

4th Best Summer Weekend Escape in 2014 - USA Today Travel
2005 Georgia's Premier Sports Cycling Community - Georgia General Assembly
10th Best Course You Can Play in Georgia - Achasta Golf Course - Golfweek Magazine

As for the local music culture, there are many more places in Dahlonega to catch a live performance. Venues include The Crimson Moon (known as “the southeast’s most intimate music venue), The Holly Theatre (with live concerts and Broadway musicals), and several public parks and squares, where festivals and concert series play throughout the year. Upcoming events in February 2016 include:

DJ Trivia at Spirits Tavern, Monday Feb. 1
Live Music at The Bourbon Street Grille: Justin Bridges, Thursday Feb. 4
Cabaret at The Holly Theatre, Friday Feb 5
The Crimson Moon: Bernie Nelson and Mark Garrison, Saturday Feb 6
Lounge Night With Live Music at Spirits Tavern, Thursday Feb 11
The Crimson Moon: Cumberland River (Bluegrass with Country), Friday Feb 12
Colleen Orender's Love Song Revue at The Moon, Sunday Feb 14
Live Music at Shenanigan's with Tim O Donovan, Friday Feb 19
Live Music at Shenanigan's with Three Quarter Ale, Saturday Feb 19
Lounge Night With Live Music at Spirits Tavern, Thursday Feb 25

With so much to do in Dahlonega, this is a great place to explore for your retirement in Georgia. Dahlonega has incredible Lake Lanier lakefront homes for sale, and an abundance of wonderful Georgia mountain vacation homes. The area also has a number of wonderful master-planned communities, where many Baby Boomers enjoy retirement in Georgia. Two of these popular communities for retirement in Georgia are:

Achasta - An exclusive gated golf community with Dahlonega homes for sale. The golf club here features an 18 hole Championship Golf Course designed by Jack Nicklaus, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a private clubhouse with dining. Residents also enjoy extensive hiking and biking trails. If you are looking for Lake Lanier lakefront homes for sale, Achasta is one of the top golf communities in Georgia.

Marina Bay - Just south of Dahlonega, Marina Bay is one of the few first-class lake communities, with lakefront homes, lake view homes, and mountain vacation homes. It's hard to find anything like it for those who love to spend their time boating, with a private deepwater marina (280 slips) and an 11 acre park for boat storage. Mountain vacation homes here start from the upper $300k's and go up to as much as $1.5 million. The gated community offers stunning views of Lake Lanier.

There are just a few of our favorite gated communities in the area. Winter is great time to visit Dahlonega, and enjoy the fun of the annual local winter music scene. When you go, be sure to check out some of the nature trails and beautiful waterfalls, as well some of the area's best retirement communities.

If you'd like more info to get to know the area better, ask for our free Dahlonega relocation information.