Celebrating Ellijay's apples since 1971
An independent guide to the Georgia Apple Festival, the orchards of Georgia's Apple Capital and the mountains around them.
Expected Saturday–Sunday, October 9–10 and October 16–17, 2027
Organizers had not announced 2027 dates when we last checked. The festival is usually held on the second and third full weekends of October, so these are projected dates. Confirm on the official festival site before you book.
Welcome
Every October, Ellijay celebrates the fruit that has shaped Gilmer County's economy for generations. The Georgia Apple Festival runs across two weekends at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, with a large arts and crafts show and plenty of apple treats. It is a popular fall trip from Atlanta and beyond.
Come hungry. Fried pies, cider, apple butter, caramel apples and cider donuts are part of the tradition, both at the festival and at the apple houses along GA-52. Many visitors pair a festival day with picking their own apples at one of Ellijay's orchards.
This site helps you plan the trip: expected dates, admission, parking and shuttles, which orchards to visit, and what else to do in the North Georgia mountains while you are here. We are not the festival organizer, so for official details always check the Georgia Apple Festival.
Activities around Ellijay
Ellijay sits where the Cartecay and Ellijay rivers meet, surrounded by national forest. Hike to Amicalola Falls or climb the old stone tower at Fort Mountain State Park. Take an easy stroll in River Park, float the Cartecay, or ride the Bear Creek trails. You can even stand at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail atop Springer Mountain.
After a day outdoors, try a local vineyard or cidery on the Sips trail, or head downtown for dinner at River Street Tavern, The Roof or Cantaberry.
The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, with forest trails and long views. It is one of the most rewarding day hikes within reach of Ellijay.
The Gennett Poplar on the Bear Creek Trail is more than 100 feet tall and roughly 18 to 20 feet around, a short walk from the trailhead.
Kayak, tube or just sit by the water. The Cartecay is the river that flows past the orchards on GA-52 and into downtown Ellijay.
Ellijay orchards
Gilmer County grows more apples than any other county in Georgia, more than 600,000 bushels a year according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia. A visit is not complete without a stop at an orchard or apple house. A few favorites:
Shopping in Ellijay
Downtown Ellijay's courthouse square and River Street are lined with antique shops, boutiques and specialty stores such as Ellijay Antiques, Outback Antiques and Bavarian Chocolatier.
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Plan a visit to Georgia's highest point: daily hours, the $10 fee, the shuttle vs. the steep 0.6-mile paved trail, longer hikes, dogs and holiday closures.
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Where to eat in Ellijay, GA, sorted by need: downtown dinner, patios and dogs, barbecue, beer, and lunch near the Highway 52 orchards, with current hours.
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How much snow North Georgia really gets, which months and mountains are most likely, how to check roads before you drive and where to find guaranteed snow.
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Where to swim, rent a pontoon or launch a kayak on Lake Blue Ridge, with Forest Service fees, marina rules, camping at Morganton Point and winter water levels.
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