Georgia's Best Festivals in 2025
Get in on the action — from apple picking to food sampling — at some of Georgia’s signature events.
Explore Georgia for a long weekend or holiday getaway to enjoy signature events and festivals that capture the best of each season, from Savannah to the North Georgia mountains. Mark your calendars, book your rooms and be among the first to get your tickets to these best fests of the year!
St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, Georgia
St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah
March 17, 2025 - Head to Savannah to celebrate the 201st anniversary of the city's famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the largest of its kind in the South and the second-largest in the country! It's a high-stepping event that dates back to 1824 and is the pinnacle of a weekend-long celebration. Wear lots of green (and some good walking shoes), then raise a pint and dance a jig to the sound of bagpipes on the city’s cobblestone streets.
International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia
International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon
March 21-30, 2025 - Usher in springtime with this magnificent display of nature at Carolyn Crayton Park during the International Cherry Blossom Festival in the heart of Macon. The town is awash in cotton-candy pink as 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom, making Macon the "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World."
Liam's Cheese Shoppe decorated during the Thomasville Rose Show & Festival
Thomasville Rose Show & Festival
April 25-26, 2025 - Held in downtown Thomasville for more than 100 years, the Thomasville Rose Show & Festival in April offers a visual feast when spectacular floral displays take over the town. Restaurants get in on the fun, too, as they incorporate the flower into rose dishes and drinks (think rose sangria and macarons), making it a truly multi-sensory experience.
Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee, Georgia
Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee
Aug. 15-23, 2025 - It’s yesterday once more at the fun-filled Georgia Mountain Fair held every August on the shores of Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee. Delight in vintage carnival rides, stroll the 1800s mountain village, and check out demonstrations of pioneer crafts, from moonshine making and cider squeezing to quilting and blacksmithing.
Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia
Hot Air Balloon Show & Glow in Pine Mountain
Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 2025 - With more than 2,500 acres of gardens to explore, Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain is a scenic wonderland all year long. Each Labor Day weekend, it becomes even dreamier as dozens of glowing hot-air balloons take to the sky at sunset, followed by an extraordinary fireworks show, during the popular Hot Air Balloon Show & Glow.
Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival
Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival
Sept. 19-21, 2025 - This September extravaganza draws art lovers from far and wide to Augusta’s historic downtown. In addition to a juried fine arts competition and crafts market, the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival features live jazz music, a beer garden with Southern brews, and a wide variety of international eats.
B.J. Reece Orchards in Ellijay, Georgia. Photo by @justthekings
Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay
Oct. 11-12 & 18-19, 2025 - Apples are the stars of the show each October at the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, known as the "Apple Capital of Georgia." Come for the fresh-picked apples and stay for the parade, vintage car show and abundance of sweet treats — from apple butter to apple fritters to apple cider slushies. Check out our full event guide, then plan your trip!
Gold Rush Days parade in Dahlonega, Georgia
Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega
Oct. 18-19, 2025 - Crisp mountain air and peak fall foliage set the stage for the Gold Rush Days festival in October. Thousands gather to celebrate the anniversary of the 1828 discovery of gold in Dahlonega by panning for gold, mining gemstones, attending the annual parade, and purchasing local art.
Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia. Photo by @floridadonny
Helen Oktoberfest
Sept. 4 - Oct. 26, 2025 (various dates) - Follow the sound of oompah bands to Helen, the Bavarian-inspired town where revelers don lederhosen and dirndls to celebrate Helen Oktoberfest, a traditional folk festival from September through late October. Raise a pint in the Festhalle, chow down on bratwursts and kraut, and dance along to traditional German tunes. Get all the fun details in our full event guide.
Find many more music, food and arts festivals on the Explore Georgia Calendar of Events.
