It’s fall, y’all! Now is the perfect time to get outside and have some fun. Nature puts on a great show at this time of year and communities rev up with fall festivals — all creating plenty of opportunities for good times with family and friends.
To help you plan your weekends this month, Walton Gas has compiled our Top 10 ideas for finding fall fun in Georgia. From leaf peeping to fright fests, we have it covered. The only problem you’ll have is choosing what to do first.
FALL FUN TOP 10
- Hit the trails. Get up close to stunning autumn scenery by taking a hike in a Georgia State Park. Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville and Cloudland Canyon State Park near Chattanooga are fall favorites. To know when to go, follow the state parks’ official Leaf Watch.
- Fall into a festival. From the Roswell Wine Festival on Oct. 1 to the Mountain Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville on Oct. 28-29, there are hundreds of community events scheduled for weekends throughout the month. The Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Oct. 6-14 in Kennesaw, includes Georgia’s official State Fiddlers’ Convention. Festival calendar
- Celebrate Oktoberfest. You don’t have to travel all the way to Germany to enjoy this rite of the season. Visit the small alpine village of Helen for a genuine beer, brats and oom-pah band experience. Or, check out a local brewery or winery that’s marking the season with new releases.
- Pick a perfect pumpkin. Halloween is coming! Pile the family in the car and head to a local farm to pick out a Georgia-grown pumpkin for this year’s jack-o-lantern carving. Find a pumpkin patch
- Take a road trip. Drive Northeast Georgia’s Scenic Highway 197 for some quality leaf peeping and stops to explore local artisan workshops. The Federal Highway Administration names this 27-mile stretch one of the most beautiful byways in the country. More scenic drives
- Experience a fright night. If a good scare is your idea of fun, have a monster good time at haunted houses open this month all over the state. Many of these Halloween venues are hosted by local organizations raising money for community work, so you can get creeped out for a good cause. If you prefer the pro approach, buy a ticket for Netherworld Haunted House in Stone Mountain. Operated by movie professionals, it’s ranked as one of the top haunted houses in the nation.
- Go apple picking. Family-owned and operated u-pick orchards tucked away in the Northeast Georgia mountains offer apples and lots of farm-themed activities ideal for young families. Consider combining a trip to the orchards with a stop at the Georgia Apple Festival, Oct. 14-15 and 21-22 in and around Ellijay. Find orchards
- Ride the rails. Hop aboard a scenic train ride to experience fall’s splendor via rail. For top-notch views, book a seat on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway on a 26-mile journey alongside the Toccoa River.
- Get lost in a corn maze. From spooky to sweet, you can find a corn field run suited to your crowd. Most also feature other family fun activities such as hayrides and campfires. Find a maize maze
- See a Halloween parade. Cap off the month of fun with Atlanta’s Little Five Points Halloween Parade, known as one of the top 10 Halloween events in the country. Outrageous costumes, over-the-top floats and Halloween-themed marching bands make this a spooktacular event not to be missed. This year’s parade is Sunday, Oct. 22.