THE TOCCOA HARVEST FESTIVAL!…read more The Toccoa Harvest Festival takes place in downtown Toccoa in Stephens County during the last week of October. It is now in its 40th year. We decided to visit for the first time this year. We headed out before dawn and as the sun came up, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery and change of colors. As per usual, we had planned to get there at least an hour before the start of the actual event which was scheduled to start at 10 am. We actually arrived around 8:30 am and was surprised to see several vendors already set up as well as volunteers providing directions. These small town people don't play! After eating breakfast we set out to view the vendors' wares and to see what was "poppin". My first stop was at the classic car show where I met Kent and his classic blue Chevy truck, (see the photo). `I absolutely love classic vehicles, (especially trucks), so I always have to get the "back story". This truck was purchased approximately four years ago when it was seen on someone's property. Kent had asked about the truck but the man had said that his son was planning on purchasing it. Approximately one month later, Kent saw the truck and stopped by again. At that time he was told that someone else was interested in the car and had stopped by earlier in the day. Kent offered the man cash on the spot and sealed the deal. He then spent the next four years stripping the truck and rebuilding it. All of the work was done in his garage or yard, including the paint. I was blown away to know that he had completed all of the work, (except the welding) himself. He did a phenomenal job because he showed me his book that documented the process. Collectors always have a book to document their restoration process so just ask if you are curious. I really enjoyed talking to this guy! We met another guy who had this sick 1935 International "flower wagon" that was once used to transport flowers to funerals. It too had been totally stripped and restored with a beautiful red interior and custom additions. Incredible! I could have spent hours here but I needed to explore more. There were a variety of vendors selling a variety of items such as candles, holiday décor, homemade soaps, jewelry, toys, hair accessories, art leather goods and more. I ran into my favorite jewelry vendor who I tend to purchase sets from exclusively. She didn't have anything that I don't already own so I ordered a custom piece that I will pick up at the next festival, because we just tend to run in the same circles. I must confess that I am getting a great deal because I am a repeat customer and she wants a pound cake! She is one of the few vendors who actually uses sterling silver and genuine stones while the others will just tell you that those materials are too expensive. I also like her because she does the larger adjustable statements pieces with matching earrings. Enough about my favorites! They had a Christian choir singing in the square, an activity area for children, full service restrooms that didn't include a porta-potty, great food options including Lobster, Mongolian Beef and Thai, carriage rides, baked goods, and probably some things that I just did not get to see. It was a beautiful day for the festival and it all started with a beautiful drive up from Alpharetta and ended with a visit to see the falls. When you visit the festivals, take time to see the landmarks visit the local vendors and spend time in the community. Your visit is always appreciated! By the way, if you like the frequent sound of trains running through a small town, Toccoa is your kind of town!

This festival was a blast! If you love Bluegrass you must…read moreattend this next year. The festival runs from a Friday to sunday. Friday evening you check in at the main stage tent. For 5.00 you get a bidding paddle for live and silent auction. All the food you can eat, this year provided by Bourbon Street. Shimp, cornbread, deserts. Fab! All the wine you can drink. Yes you read that correctly! Plus you can purchase your Bear on the square tshirt! Bid on wonderful items! Listen to live music. I got to meet Ugly Cousin! Definitely go to the festival on Sunday. This is when the gospel music is until around 1pm Then, this year headlining the event was Becky Buller. Amazing song writer, singer and fiddle player. I got to meet her also and she signed all my stuff! Food, food, and more food. Everything you want. I got a gyro. It was awesome. A bit pricy but it's a festival. Basically if you enjoy Bluegrass go to this festival. You will get to meet some amazing artist that are very willing to speak with you and appreciate that you are a fan. Definitely going back next year.

WHERE IS THAT BEAR?…read more This is the twentieth year for the "Bear on the Square" Festival and I thought that it would be interesting because of the emphasis on Appalachian music and culture. We love all genres of music and enjoy being able to hear something different and speak with the various artists. Storytelling, workshops and demonstrations were also featured. This festival is a huge favorite of the locals and the highlight on a Sunday morning is the gospel jam which is held in a tent overflowing with attendees. This jam should have been held in the local park because of its size and the interest that it generates. During the Gold Rush Festival, the Sunday service is held in the park and it is wonderful and accessible to all. As a rule, we always attend the festivals on opening day (Saturday), because it has a fuller and more varied schedule. On this day, many of the acts were not scheduled to perform until later in the day around 1pm but since we were there at 9 am, we would love to have seen musical acts performing at that hour. The cool aspect of this festival was being able to talk to artists such as the resident weaver who were working this very sophisticated weaving machine that was making cotton wash cloths. She had been weaving since the age of seven and had definitely discovered her passion. I also enjoyed talking to the dulcimer artist who carefully constructed custom dulcimers one or two at a time. The craftsmanship was impeccable and it usually takes a minimum of three months to create one from beginning to end. You get to totally customize your own design and whatever you want, he will make an effort to execute it. There were plenty of vendors who were showcasing personal wares such as jewelry, pottery, leather, wood products, instruments, clothing, food items and more. This was just a beautiful day to walk around, explore and mingle with vendors and visitors. It was also a great way to cap off the weekend after spending all of Saturday working in the yard. Next year we will be sure to arrive on Saturday so that we can take advantage of the full schedule.

The apple pies and apple fritters are amazing. Definitely recommend. The lines are long but worth…read morethe wait. Goes without saying that their apples are delicious. Friendly people as well.

They retired and are no longer in business. Lovely gentleman on the phone. Wish I could of had the…read morechance to go.

They have a great setting with the patio overlooking the grapes and mountains. We thought the wine…read morewas fantastic, wife and I each got a tasting with is four 2oz pours and a glass you keep. The tastings are $35 a piece which is higher than most we've seen. As much as we liked the wine the cost per bottle was out of our normal range so we passed on grabbing anything to go. If you want to treat yourself, this would be a great place to do so n

Views of the vineyards were great here. Live music and great wine options. Service was great. It…read morewas just so packed in the afternoon, so get there early if you want to relax.

I really wish we would've allowed more time and visited on a day with better weather…read more Unfortunately, it was a rainy afternoon when we stopped in and also on the last day of my visit so we were somewhat rushed. I wanted to purchase some jams to bring back home (SoFL) so we only visited the gift shop. Specifically, I was in search of T.O.E. Jam. It took a hot minute, but eventually I located it. The gift shop has a wide variety of merchandise and a massive jam selection. There are endless gift options available and the folks at the counter were very friendly. I'll definitely return on a future visit and will go when we have more time. I'd love to check out the farm.

We visited the farm about a a week ago as a school field trip. We came again about a week later as…read morea family day. The farm and employees are absolutely amazing and kind. The store was a highlight because it had Whole Foods, merchandise, bathroom with changing tables etc. I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, so those things are important. We were able to ride the hay ride today and walk the corn maze. The farm is pretty big and there's a-lot to enjoy and site see. This will be our go -to until season ends. Family friendly and affordable. Also, I e noticed people saying the location isn't correct. Don't go by Yelp. The address is 18 Sorghum Mill Dr Lakemont GA, 30552 United States

This was truly an amazing location to come to, grab a nice bottle of wine, a few bites & just sit &…read morewatch the amazing scenery! Friendly staff & even friendlier patrons!

Delicious white semi-sweet wine! Lovely patio for sipping. Highly recommend a visit. Soft music…read moreon the patio with a. Ire of the vineyard

The food was super expensive. The sample tickets were $1 and esch sample would range from 1-5…read moretickets. All the samples were cold. They claimed there was free activities for the kids not true $15 for bounce houses. The only good thing was a dessert stand they had fair prices and excellent desserts. other than that very dissapointed.

I really loved the home town feel of it. Loved the music and…read moreshow. Food was fairly priced. About 50¢ each. Our favorite was the she crab soup (2 tickets) and the Irish car bomb ice cream (5 tickets). Tasty samples all over the place for 2 to 3 tickets. The free shuttle parking was not well marked. We abandoned that and wound up parking at the library, which was free as well.

Great place to get some fresh vegetables and home style breads. Large assortment of jams, sauces,…read moredressings, etc. Grab some boiled peanuts while you're here. Note: they do charge 3% for using a credit card, but no surcharge for debit.

We had a great experience in the early morning of the Fourth. My wife wanted to take a trip so I…read moremade it happen. To beat the heat and the traffic, we got up early just to drive to Alto, and our trip to and from were uneventful. I love places like this. This is a old-timey farm market and country store grocery stop with a lot of local favorites, fresh produce, and Georgia-grown options. We purchased an assortment of items. I love the strawberry cake and the strawberry ice cream here. The attendants are also very kind and welcoming. It's not everyday you can find July Price peaches and yellow zucchini, and this location as both of those. Highly recommended for a day out with the family or a find of locally produced delights!

This is one of the best festivals around!! There's so much homemade stuff by some talented people!…read more Make plans to see this festival every time they have one! April and Oct are huge

BRASLETON ANTIQUES AND ARTISAN FESTIVAL!…read more The Antiques Festival is a semi-annual affair that is in its 13th year. It is a free festival that takes place in downtown Brasleton with approximately 150 vendors participating . Parking is free and convenient if you arrive early. The festival starts on Friday afternoon and continues through Sunday evening, (Oct 21st-23rd). You will find a variety of items here including vintage, repurposed, farmhouse, handmade, home décor, pottery, furniture, collectibles, art and so much more. If you are looking for something very specific or just wanting to browse for things you don't need, this is a great opportunity to do so. This festival is perfectly timed for those looking for holiday décor or fall accents. In addition to the vendors, there were food trucks and a play area for kids. We arrived 30 minutes before the event started and were able to purchase items during this time. I love being able to get first pick because the bracelet that I purchased was one of a kind. My husband also purchased a unique item. During this time, we were able to spend time talking with vendors, taking photos and learning more about the products. Attending these festivals is a great way to support small businesses and Yelping helps to shine the light on some businesses that would otherwise go unnoticed. I could not photograph all of the items of interest because some of the items cannot be photographed due to a fear of being "hi-jacked" which I certainly understand. One such vendor had unique sculpted items that were absolutely beautiful but since she only presents once or twice per year, her items are not often seen. She is very low-profile and her items should definitely be put on display for all to see. Although there were several food trucks, no one was serving breakfast which was a missed opportunity. Also if you wanted to get something to eat, there was no designated dining area for those who prefer to sit and dine. I also missed having a bit of music while I shopped. Never the less, I had a nice time and was just glad to get out and enjoy the weather, vendors and fellow shoppers on such a beautiful day!

Visited today on a spectacular spring day (happened to be Earth Day.) The sky was so blue, the…read morebirds were singing, and the gardens were bursting with color. My favorite part of the gardens is the Japanese garden with its countless deep red Japanese maples, reflecting pools, shaded benches for contemplating the gardens' beauty. It's a beautiful place to take a stroll and have lunch in the shaded outdoor dining area next to the sandwich shed. Sandwiches are delicious, prepared by the fabulous Home Restaurant in the area. Make a day of it! Bring your book, have some lunch, and walk the gardens for a peaceful day out in nature.

There are plenty of parking spaces, you will see guides to lead your car to available spot…read more Currently tulips are off from its peak season, you can still see some, daffodils are in full bloom, also the azaleas are poised to burst forth at any moment. With weak or no cellular signal or Wi-Fi available within the gardens, visitors can pay full attention on admiring the beauty of nature. The gardens occupies total of 376 acres, featuring over 250 acres of landscaped gardens divided into several distinct sections: the Japanese Gardens, the Monet Waterlily Gardens, the Daffodil Gardens, and the Manor Gardens. The Japanese Gardens occupy a central position within the estate, covering 40 acres and featuring streams, ponds, miniature islands, small bridges, and Japanese maples. As one strolls through this section, one can deeply contemplate the core tenets of Japanese aesthetics: *Mono no aware* (物の哀れ the pathos of things), *Wabi-sabi* (侘寂 Wabi-austere beauty and sabi -rustic patina or beauty in aging), and *Yūgen* (幽玄 profound and mysterious grace and subtleness rather than obvious beauty. mystery). *Mono no aware* is certainly palpable here; the seasonal colors are vivid, yet most of the tulips have already faded. However, visitors do not see the withered blooms, as they are swiftly cleared away. This practice is, in fact, an authentic element of Japanese aesthetics--one that does not seek to deliberately pander to visitors. After all, imperfection and impermanence inevitably evoke a sense of melancholy, which lies at the very heart of Japanese aesthetic philosophy. As for *Wabi-sabi* and *Yūgen*, they are subtly woven into every detail of the landscape, inseparable from the whole. I could sense the garden's inherent simplicity and minimalism--its use of "negative space" and evocative atmosphere--such as the circular stone steps leading into the lake, only to come to an abrupt stop. Is it perhaps an example of the essence of sudden enlightenment found in Buddhist philosophy? Throughout the gardens, various Japanese-style shrines and stone lanterns are scattered everywhere, exuding that distinct aura of ethereal elegance and profound tranquility characteristic of traditional Japanese gardens. The floral plantings are meticulously designed to rotate with the changing seasons: spring brings a display of tulips and daffodils; summer features water lilies--specifically in the "Monet Water Lily Garden," which boasts 140 varieties of lilies and a replica of Monet's bridge; and autumn offers a vibrant tapestry of colorful foliage alongside sweeping fields of Sulfur Cosmos wildflowers. I visited the Butchart Gardens in Victoria over 30 years ago--a truly stunning garden that, at the time, was awash with tulips. In terms of sheer size, Gibbs Gardens is more than six times larger than Butchart Gardens.