Hemlock Fest

Hemockfest is an annual bluegrass, blues, and rock music festival held to benefit efforts to save the Hemlock trees of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are threatened by an invasive parasite, the wooly adelgid. It is a three-day event Nov. 1-3, 2013, featuring music from such genres as singer songwriter, blue/newgrass, blues, Celtic rock, and jam bands. Hemlockfest also features arts and crafts vendors, demonstrations and exhibits on nature and rustic living, tasty food and beverages, and unique performances by fire dancers, puppet artists and other entertainers. All of the proceeds of Hemlockfest go toward efforts to preserve the Hemlock trees and combat the wooly adelgid parasite.

Visitors can come for a day or camp out for the weekend at the beautiful Starbridge Retreat, a 40-acre site near historic Dahlonega (about an hour north of Atlanta, GPS coordinates: 34 30' 54'' -83 53' 34.8"), featuring primitive campsites, a lake, and a scenic music venue.