Growing up in the North Georgia mountain town of Blairsville, three things were certain: death, taxes, and the Sorghum in the Mountains Festival. For nearly six decades, locals have longed for the second and third weekends in October when they can gather to celebrate the cultural heritage of sorghum making. It’s also a time they can come together to make lasting memories, share endless laughter, and teach local history.

Over the many years of this North Georgia fall festival, visitors from all over have found a love for mountain culture, and they too look forward to coming up to the mountains to experience the richness of the Sorghum in the Mountains Festival. The festival not only brings a smile to their face but also leaves them walking away with a piece of Union County history neatly packaged in a mason jar.

Let’s take a deep dive into all thing’s sorghum, and hopefully it’ll inspire you to see for yourself what the hype is all about in the newly designated Sorghum Capital of Georgia.

What is sorghum, and why is it popular in southern Appalachia?

Sorghum is a grain belonging to the grass family. It thrives in the mountain soil found in North Georgia, and upon cultivation and production, it can be turned into a sweet syrup. As early as the mid-1800s, sorghum became a staple crop in Union County and became a household sweetener when sugar was either too expensive or unavailable. To this day, sorghum is used in recipes or spread across homemade biscuits in the Blairsville community.

Sorghum in the Mountains Festival History

With sorghum being a staple crop in the community, local leaders and producers got the idea to popularize their syrup by creating a North Georgia fall festival: the Sorghum in the Mountains Festival. However, the festival evolved to be more than just a showcase of local tradition.

“The festival’s founding purpose was for all profits to help local families who are in need and to fund local scholarships. More broadly, the festival also acts as a staple fundraising event for many other organizations. Countless vendor booths represent groups, such as the Diamond Club, Kiwanis International, and 4-H Club, who raise funds for various youth opportunities. Conversations about community service often cite the need for reciprocity, and the festival was founded to live out that term. Everyone benefits in this exchange–especially local youth. Time and effort from volunteers contribute to multiple weekends’ worth of fundraising opportunities that then funnel right back to the community.” – Mikala Jones-Wall, Local Resident and Long-Time Sorghum Volunteer

Thousands of dollars have been raised over the years to support community efforts thanks to the commitment of those who have put on this festival through the years. And as those initiatives have grown, so too has the popularity and tradition of the festival.
Since it’s founding in 1969, the festival has continually outgrown its space. From a church revival tent on the town square, to the old Fort Sorghum, and to its present location at Meeks Park, yearly attendees continued to drive the success of the beloved festival. But it’s not just community outreach that keeps people coming back. The festival is truly one of a kind.

Festival Games, Attractions, Vendors, and More!

Across two weekends, Festival goers have an array of activities to participate in as well as local vendors to purchase local products from. Families, couples, local kids, and everyone in between have looked forward to this event for decades. Here’s why:

Events

• Sorghum Parade – Downtown Blairsville opens the first weekend of the festival with the annual parade. There are horses, an assortment of floats, the local high school band, veterans groups, and the yearly Hillbilly Carpool which you must see for yourself. This family-friendly parade has warmed the hearts of people for generations.
• The Sorghum Stomp – This event happens the first night of the festival. Grandaddy Mimm’s hosts a concert at the distillery downtown, and it is a tribute to southern music and good times.

Games

• Pole Climbing – Fastest time to reach the top of a 20 foot pole wins!
• Log Sawing – a team of two people will use a crosscut saw to see how fast they can saw the log.
• Rock Throwing – Who can throw the rock the farthest.
• Sack Race – the first person to cross the finish line hopping in their burlap sack wins (this is for the kids)
• Biscuit Eating – Who can eat the most biscuits within a set time limit (with or without sorghum syrup).

 
Sorghum Making

Throughout the weekend, festival goes can watch sorghum be made from beginning to end! You’ll watch everything from the juices being drawn from the sorghum stalks, to how it’s cooked, and eventually how it makes it’s way into the mason jars you purchase. Watching our producers make sorghum is like going back in time, and is one of the many reasons people keep coming back year after year.

Vendors

Vendors from all over southern Appalachia flock to the festival to showcase their goods and products. From local honey to homemade apparel and just about everything in between, you won’t be disappointed. Come check out over 100 vendors that will be at this year’s festival!

The Sorghum in the Mountains Festival is more than just another event. It celebrates the cultural heritage of Blairsville through one of southern Appalachia’s longest produced crops: sorghum. The identity and southern hospitality of Blairsville is truly what’s on display, and this community is proud to share these weekends with all who come to visit. This North Georgia fall festival one of the many things you can do in Blairsville in the fall. Be sure to mark every second and third weekend of October on your calendars! We’ll always be happy to see you at the festival!

Please join us October 17-18, 2026 for the Sorghum in the Mountains Festival!

Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the first weekend of the festival, October 10-11, was cancelled. The parade and Sorghum Stomp concert have been rescheduled for the 17^th.