Dahlonega GA News | Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega

Published on October 12, 2015

BEST FALL FOODIE FESTIVALS

Fall is the perfect season to explore the North Georgia Mountains to see the crimson, orange and gold fall leaves changing color in anticipation of a peaceful winter rest. But, there is a different kind of gold in the hills of Dahlonega, Georgia. The fourteen karat kind, as in jewelry making, diamond holding gold.

Dahlonega is located a short hop up Georgia State Route 400, about an hour north of Atlanta. Site of America's first gold rush in 1828 and a popular retirement destination to find Georgia mountain properties. The saying "there's gold in them thar hills" originated in Dahlonega in an attempt to keep miners from leaving the North Georgia gold rush for the one in California. Gold still appears in streams around town and the occasional nugget is found in area creeks, but for the most part the legend of gold is what is celebrated in the area and mountain golf courses.

Gold Rush Days is the Fall festival held annually on the third weekend of October in the town square of Dahlonega. This years dates are October 17-18. The event is centered around the town square in downtown Dahlonega and annual attendance is estimated at 200,000. A family friendly event with a wealth of arts and crafts vendors, food and performances there is something for kids of all ages. Here is a sampling of this year's scheduled events:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH

8:00 – Gold Rush 5K
10:00 – Beard Growing Contest and Hog Calling Contest
10:30 –Gold City Squares (Square Dancing)
11:00 – Old Time Fashion Show
11:15 – Water Balloon Toss
12:00 –T.W. Holeman Music Group (Southern Gospel)
1:15 – Liars Contest (Short Stories/Tall Tales)
2:00 – King & Queen Coronation
2:15 – Chattanooga Choo Choos (Clogging)
3:00 – Gold Rush Parade
GOLD RUSH CONCERT
4:45 – 6:00 –Radford Windham and Step Back Cadillac (Southern Rock and Acoustic Folk Music)
6:30 – 8:00 – Ugly Cousin (Bluegrass and Acoustic Folk Music)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18TH

9:30 – Bluegrass Sunday
10:15 – Coley (Christian Acoustic Singer/Songwriter)
11:00 – Threadbare Skivvies (Folk Band)
11:00 - Gold Panning Championships on the Gold Museum Lawn
12:00 – Cross-Cut Saw Competition
1:00 – Carpet Capital Cloggers Performance
1:30 – Synergy Cloggers Performance (National Champions)
2:30 – Wrist Wrestling Competition

After attending the festival and touring the quaint and artisan filled town square of Dahlonega, why not visit take a look at two Georgia mountain properties near downtown?

THE ACHASTA GOLF CLUB

If mountain golf courses are your dream retirement venue, the Achasta Golf Club is a short drive up Highway 60 from downtown Dahlonega. Construction began in the early 2000's on the former family farm. The goal in planning the gated community was remaining sensitive to the environment while accommodating a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. The golf course is located along the Chestatee River and meanders through the lower parts of the property while homes are sited overlooking the course and taking advantage of mountain views of the rolling Piedmont and lower Blue Ridge Mountains. The golf course has had recent extensive landscaping and was ranked the 12th best public/resort course in Georgia by Golf Week magazine in 2015. Golf villas, rustic mountain homes and homesites are available in Achasta.

Social life in Achasta golf club is centered around its clubhouse - Social hours and a new pop up restaurant event are held in the clubhouse as well as yoga classes, bible study and garden club meetings. The Grille at Achasta is located on site for neighborhood dining or banquet facilities.

MARINA BAY ON LAKE LANIER

Georgia mountain properties at Marina Bay on Lake Lanier are located 20 minutes from downtown Gainesville, a charming village with shopping and medical facilities available. Marina Bay also has easy access to Georgia State Route 400 and Interstate 985 allows for quick trips to Atlanta.

Located on 3.5 miles of waterfront on Lake Lanier, the gated community has it all. A marina, 14,000 square foot clubhouse with a resort-style swimming pool and a community great lawn. There are 400 homesites in the gated community so if Lake Lanier homes for sale are what you are looking for, you'll find it here. If a custom built home is your retirement dream, that can be had here as well with choices from lakefront to lakeview or mountain view lots available. Other amenities in the gated community include a tennis village, fitness center and deep water marina.

Resort style living on Lake Lanier and a short commute to shopping and amenities makes this a great place to call home. Social events are centered around the clubhouse that features card rooms,outdoor fireplace and kitchen with a lawn area for special events. The tennis village features stone pavilions and arena style seating to watch matches. All of this can be accessed by walking trails connecting the community. While hiking the property, there are pocket parks located around the community to relax and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Beat the Gold Rush and head to the North Georgia mountains this weekend. There are more types of gold in them thar hills than imaginable, including one-of-a-kind Georgia mountain properties, breathtaking Lake Lanier homes for sale, and challenging mountain golf courses.

If you're exploring the area for the first time, ask for our free Dahlonega relocation information to help you learn more about the area.