Apple Festival

The apple festival in Ellijay, Georgia is a celebration of the local apple industry and its history. The festival has been held every October since 1971 and offers handmade crafts, live music, and delicious apple treats. The festival is also a showcase of the local culture and heritage, with a parade, an antique car show, and on-site demonstrations of traditional skills.

The history of the apple industry in Ellijay dates back to the early 1900s, when many farmers began to replace cotton with apples as their main crop. This was due to the damage caused by the boll weevil, a pest that devastated the cotton fields in the 1920s. The apple orchards proved to be more resilient and profitable, and soon Gilmer County became known as the “Apple Capital of Georgia”. The apple festival was started in 1971 by the Ellijay Lions Club and the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce to honor the apple and its contribution to the local economy.

The dates and events of the apple festival in 2023 are as follows:

• The festival will take place on two consecutive weekends: October 14th-15th and 21st-22nd.

• The festival hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on both Saturdays and Sundays.

• The festival location is the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main Street, Ellijay, GA 305401.

• The admission fee is $10 per person, and children under 12 are free.

• The parking donation is requested by local civic and school groups, and the amount may vary.

• There will be over 300 vendors and exhibitors, featuring a variety of handmade, hand-crafted items, such as candles, hats, woodwork, art, and more.

• There will be live music performances by local bands and artists throughout the festival.

• There will be food stalls offering a range of apple products, such as pies, fritters, cider, jam, and more.

• There will be no pets allowed at the festival grounds.

• There will be an Apple Arts Festival in downtown Ellijay on both weekends, coinciding with the main festival2. This will feature more vendors and crafts, as well as a kids zone and a beer garden.

• There will be an Apple Festival Parade on Saturday, October 14th at 10:00 am in downtown Ellijay3. This will include floats, marching bands, antique cars, horses, and more.

• There will be an Antique Car Show on Sunday, October 15th at 1:00 pm at the Civic Center parking lot3. This will display classic cars from different eras and models.