Festival season is right around the corner in Blairsville!
Festival season is right around the corner in Blairsville!
Festivals of Blairsville!
Nestled in the North Georgia Mountains, Blairsville-Union County is a scenic beauty. Amongst the plethora of lodging locations, local cuisine, small shop boutiques, and more, Blairsville has anything you could imagine – including a festival season! Whether it’s pairing good times with moonshine, or bagpipes with drums, Blairsville knows how to celebrate.
May
If you have a green thumb, spend a day in one of the most beautiful parts of North Georgia: Hiawassee and the exquisite Hamilton Gardens. Each weekend from April 22 through May 22 – peak bloom time – enjoy crafters, food, live music, beverages, and a plant sale at the Rhododendron Festival. This gorgeous botanical garden is filled with native flowers such as shooting stars, trout lilies, and more than 1,500 rhododendrons, as well as azaleas, making it the largest collection in the Southeast! Admission is only $5 per person.
With Memorial Day ahead of us, you’ll want to plan accordingly. The Blairsville-Union Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for May 28. Join Blairsville-Union County in honoring the men and women who gave their all at this local celebration ceremony. The parade is also the kick-off to the Spring Arts, Crafts and Music Festival, a Union County tradition since 2009. This two-day festival around the Square in Downtown Blairsville features crafts unique to our region.. And, of course, music! Catch some of our local favorites such as Kim & Curtis Jones of Mountain Gypsy Music that will be in and around the Square all weekend.
June
For the 17th year in a row the Scots will gather once again in Blairsville. The Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games will be June 11 and 12 as Scottish athletes, family clans, traditional musicians, and bagpipes and drums all come to celebrate their heritage together. Join with them at Meeks Park beginning at noon with the opening ceremony of massed bands and a parade of tartans. Enjoy a weekend of sheep dogs and birds of prey, blacksmith and knife demonstrations, and much more while celebrating Scottish heritage. Admission is only $20 and children 10 and under are admitted free! Special activities for children include a “passport to the clan” where children visit clan tents, learning about the clan and “traveling” to the next, getting stamps as they go. Dare to try the famous Scottish cuisine, haggis, at one of the many food vendors – and don’t go home without a kilt of your own!
July
Annually, during the third weekend of July, the Butternut Creek Festival is held in Blairsville. This year mark your calendars for July 16 and 17! This festival is one of the finest arts and crafts shows in the Southeast. Showcasing the work of more than 70 crafters and artists in categories including candles and soap, basketry, fabric art, jewelry, decorative painting, photography, and more, the Butternut Creek Festival is one many to look forward to. Held at Meeks Park from 10AM-5PM on Saturday, and 10AM to 4PM on Sunday, festival admission and parking are free – with a shuttle service included!
Moonshine and good times – where could you go wrong? The first annual Mountain Music & Moonshine Festival will begin on Friday, July 29, in the old courthouse on the Square at 7PM. Hosted by the Union County Historical Society and sponsored by Blairsville’s own Grandaddy Mimms Distilling Company, this free event is the perfect way to start the weekend. The festival will run throughout the weekend beginning at 10AM to 11PM on Saturday, and 10AM to 5PM on Sunday – rain or shine! Join in on the fun of live music, food vendors, and more. Some of Blairsville’s local favorites such as The Bone Daddy’s Band and Kim & Curtis of Mountain Gypsy Music will be attending, as well as regional favorites Three For Silver of Kentucky and The FBR Band of Nashville – just to name a few! The main headliner, Craig Campbell will take the stage at Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co Saturday night, purchase your ticket early, this will be a sell-out event. As more bands are added, the excitement for July grows. There are many memories to be made at this first-ever festival – you don’t want to miss out!
As winter turned to spring, and spring turns into summer, Blairsville-Union County celebrates everything from mountain heritage to meeting Peter Cottontail. Find out more about festivals, events, eateries, shops, and all things Blairsville at visitblairsvillega.com.
