Annual Festivals

The Official Georgia Apple Festival is presented by the Ellijay Lions Club and the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce every year. It is held in October each year in the City of Ellijay. There are over 300 vendors and exhibitions. The vendor booths range from candles, crafts, woodworks, food, and art to wildlife, blacksmith, and glass blowing exhibits.

The festival is held the second and third weekends in October each year. It takes place at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds on Old Highway 5 South. Admission is $5, kids under 10 are FREE. Parking donation is $2 (Goes to Boy Scouts). No pets are allowed.

The number of exhibitors is too great for a single day visit. Plan on staying the weekend. We recommend getting the full enjoyment of the visit by renting a North Georgia cabin. This will give you time to enjoy the food and the hundreds of exhibits without rushing and missing the hidden treasures.Why do we celebrate apples? In the early 1900's cotton was a large part of the Georgia economy. In the '20s the evil weevil known as the boll weevil came through and messed that up. The apple orchards saved the day for Gilmer County Georgia. In the early '70s, we started celebrating the Apple and what it did for the local economy during the hard times created by the loss of the cotton crops.Contact Scott Sharp

Georgia Apple Festival
P.O. Box 1225
Ellijay, Ga. 30540

706-636-4500

#historicdowntownellijay

9 Comments

  1. Martin Miller on 05/21/2010 at 3:30 pm

    I always wondered how the Apple Festival came about in North Georgia. Thanks for the info.

    Reply
  2. Kathy Andrews on 08/14/2010 at 3:32 am

    we been visiting apple festival for 7 years.we enjoy the crafts,food,and shows.
    our children enjoy the kids area with the rock climb,bible story,golf game,
    and sand art.and rodeo bull.looking foward to the apple festival 2010.

    Reply
  3. Atlanta Web Design on 10/07/2010 at 2:12 pm

    We are visiting Ellijay for the first time this weekend. The kids are excited to go apple picking!

    Reply
  4. Jimmy McCurry on 10/17/2010 at 8:42 am

    I was at Ketners Mill yesterday the amt of people were enoumous I realy wonted to go to you apple festival as well but did not plan to try an make on one day an one the other day it’s a little hard for us older folks. Looks like the three main festivals praters, ketners, an your apple festival would cooridnate things a little better you probably lost thousands of dollars for have it on the same weekend as did ketners. for I ask the girl at the ticket booth yesterday an at 1:30 we were in the 9000 range. Not dis respect to any one but the coordinators of all need to corrordinate a little closer RECON !!!! THANK YOU

    Reply
  5. Paulette Roy on 12/30/2011 at 2:09 pm

    Looking for a 2012 Georgia Apple Festival Vendor Application …

    Reply
  6. John Waters on 09/07/2012 at 9:26 pm

    Yes I am looking for the vendors information as I tried the link in the above message but I am unable to locate. Any help I would appreciate. Thanks JW

    Reply
  7. Susie Marriott on 10/08/2014 at 11:20 pm

    I moved from Florida and last year was my first time going to the apple festival, I loved it.
    I cannot wait until we go again this year.

    Reply

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