Reporting by Miguel Legoas, Athens Banner-Herald/Athens Banner-Herald
The official start of fall was on Sept. 22, and Georgia’s calendar is already full of festivals and fairs. Some are seasonal with pumpkins and costumes, while others offer particularly unique experiences.
Here are 9 fall festivals in Georgia you should check out
Oliver Hardy Festival
Every year, Harlem celebrates its most famous native: Oliver Hardy of the classic film and comedy duo “Laurel and Hardy.” Fans dress as them, and the museum is open to watch their movies and look at their memorabilia. There’s also a parade as well as several food and gift vendors. For more info, go to harlemga.org/bc-oliverhardysteering/page/oliver-hardy-festival.
- When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 with the parade at 10 a.m.
- Where: Downtown Harlem along North Louisville Street
- Price: Admission is free
Tybee Island Pirate Festival
Want to party like Captain Jack Sparrow? This is a weekend-long pirate festival with a parade, costume contests, a “Buccaneer Ball,” and other thematic entertainment.
- When: Thursday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 11 with times varying by event.
- Where: Across Tybee Island
- Price: Vary by event, with a full schedule available at tybeepiratefest.com/festival-info/schedule.
Georgia National Fair
The theme for this year is “America 250: Georgia Grown” honoring the American farmer and showcasing Georgia’s major agricultural industry. There will be nine concerts, livestock shows, various competitions, and other entertainment.
- When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 8-18
- Where: Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter at 401 Larry Walker Pkwy, Perry
- Price: On-site general admission is $15 with card or $20 with cash for ages 11 and up. Seniors 60 and up are $10. Children 3-10 are $5 while younger kids are free. Info on discounted tickets and ride prices can be found at georgianationalfair.com/p/getconnected/pricing.
Wild Rumpus
The 18th annual Wild Rumpus is a Halloween spectacle complete with parade, costumes all over, live music, dance parties in the street, food and drinks. For more info, go to wildrumpus.org.
- When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 with the “Midnight Howl” after party 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Where: Downtown Athens
- Price: Admission is free
Savannah Water Lantern Festival
Savannah is joining over 100 cities around the world hosting festivals where guests design their own lanterns and launch them into the water in a truly mesmerizing sight. There will also be live music, food, scavenger hunts, and gift packs. For more info, go to waterlanternfestival.com/events/savannah.
- When: 4:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3
- Where: Lake Mayer Park at 1850 East Montgomery Cross Rd, Savannah
- Price: Starting at $31
Vogel State Park’s Fall Festival
Vogel State Park will be transformed for Halloween with a campsite/cottage decorating contest, trick-or-treating in the campgrounds, and ghost stories at Possum Holler. There will also be hayrides, a rubber duck race down Wolf Creek, and vendors with food and crafts.
- When: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. A full schedule can be found on the festival’s Facebook event page.
- Where: Vogel State Park at 405 Vogel State Park Rd, Blairsville
- Price: Park passes are $10 per day or $70 for a year. They can be found at gastateparks.org.
Stone Mountain Park Pumpkin Festival
During the day, Stone Mountain has autumnal fun activities like a pie eating contest and a new hay maze. Then at night, things get a bit more spooky with a pumpkin tree lighting, pumpkin drone/light show, and “Enchanted Glow-a-Parade.” For more info, go to stonemountainpark.com/activity/events/pumpkin-festival.
- When: 2-10 p.m. every Friday-Sunday now through Nov. 1
- Where: Stone Mountain Park at 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain
- Price: General admission is $50 for ages 12 and up, $37 for children 3-11, and younger children get in free.
Helen Oktoberfest
Probably the most popular Oktoberfest celebration in Georgia, this one runs for several weeks with various events throughout including a stein holding competition, parade, and a Halloween costume party. These and more are all enjoyed in an Alpine-style village that looks like it was built in Europe. For more info, go to helenchamber.com/oktoberfest.
- When: Thursday-Sunday until October, then it’s nightly; 6-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6-11 p.m. Friday, 1-11 p.m. Saturday, and 1-7 p.m. Sunday.
- Where: Downtown Helen
- Price: Vary depending on the day, ranging $10 to $25 for adults, $5 to $12 for children ages 6-12, and free for younger kids. Active and retired military get in free with military ID.
Atlanta Chili Cookoff
Over 50 different amateur chefs, restaurants, and caterers will be competing for best chili recipe with attendees voting for their favorites. There will also be music, drinks, and other entertainment. For more info, go to atlantachilicookoff.com.
- When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14
- Where: Brook Run Park at 4770 N. Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody
- Price: Tickets start at $20
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald.
Related: The biggest fall fairs in Georgia are coming. Here’s when these 12 open
