Fall is coming. And it’s spectacular in Northwest Georgia.
The local liturgy turns to Festival Season each September. Around here, we relish in our seasons. Festival season in Northwest Georgia is how we mark time, celebrate our cultures, our roots, and our hometown rhythms.
Fall is families piling into hayrides and choosing their most sincere pumpkin. It’s mariachi bands and craft fairs, Friday night lights at Dalton High, Southeast, or Northwest. It’s lining Market Street for the traditional homecoming parades, and tasting pumpkin spice everything. When the air changes, locals settle around the fire pit, enjoy a cool morning run, head to Children’s Hill at the Guild, and savor the final concerts at Burr Park.
So go ahead and declare it early. Fall is here. Almost. The anticipation alone is glorious.
Our favorite fall traditions are outlined below, so plan your usual stops and maybe add in something new.
Fall Festival Season Dates
Off The Rails Concert Series
Dates: Fridays, June 6 – September 19
Location: Burr Park, 101 S Hamilton St, Dalton, GA 30720
Details: Free summer-to-fall outdoor concert series with live music, food trucks, and local vendors. Family and pet-friendly.
Ultimate Fall Fest
Date: Saturday, September 13
Location: Ringgold Market Pavilion, 96 Depot St, Ringgold, GA 30736
Details: Fall kickoff with artisan booths, music, food trucks, and games.
Creative Arts Guild Festival
Date: September 20-21
Location: Creative Arts Guild, 520 W Waugh St, Dalton, GA 30720
Details: Visual arts, dance, live music, food vendors, and interactive art experiences.
Hispanic Heritage Month Community Cultural Celebration
Date: September 25, 5-7pm
Location: Dalton State College Intramural Field
Details: Family-friendly event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, with food trucks, DJ, dancers, musicians, and children’s activities.
Georgia Apple Festival
Dates: October 11–12 and 18–19
Location: Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main St, Ellijay, GA 30540
Details: A North Georgia tradition with crafts, apple treats, local goods, and entertainment.
Prater’s Mill Country Fair
Dates: October 12–13 (9 AM–5 PM)
Location: Prater’s Mill Historic Site, 5845 GA-2, Dalton, GA 30721
Details: Historic fair with bluegrass, Southern food, craft booths, and mill tours.
Festival Del Sabor – Latin Taste Festival
Date: Tentatively Oct
Location: Burr Park
Details: Taste cuisine from over 19 countries, and enjoy live music and dancing from across Latin American traditions!
Black Bear Festival
Date: October 19-October 20
Location: Jenkins Park, 1252 N Main St, Trenton, GA 30752
Details: Community festival with local music, crafts, food trucks, and family activities.
Dalton High School Homecoming Parade
Date: September 29, 2025
Location: Harmon Field, 406 N Thornton Ave, Dalton, GA 30720
Details: Parade, pep rally, and Friday night football game.
Día de Los Muertos Festival
Date: Saturday, November 1
Location: Burr Park, 101 S Hamilton St, Dalton, GA 30720
Details: Cultural celebration with altars, food, music, crafts, and family fun.
Fall Family Festival at Dalton State College
Date: October 23, 5-9pm
Location: Pope Student Center
Details: Family-friendly event for the community to gather and enjoy children’s activities, crafts, food trucks, and more.
Chickamauga Pumpkin Fest
Date: Tentatively October
Location: Downtown Chickamauga, Gordon St & Cove Rd, Chickamauga, GA 30707
Details: Pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating, costume contests, and family fun.
Moonlight and Moonshine in Tunnel Hill
Date: Tentatively October
Location: Historic Tunnel Hill, 215 Clisby Austin Dr, Tunnel Hill, GA 30755
Details: Evening market and celebration of Appalachian food, crafts, and music.
