Festivals and Events In Alpine Helen
There are plenty of reasons to plan a stay in this authentic Bavarian town nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains and Chattahoochee River all year long. Here are our favorite things about our small town that will keep you coming back season after season. Helen Georgia welcomes you with tons of annual festivals featuring good food, local craft beer, award winning wines, music, shopping opportunities, and tons of family friendly activities!
Oktoberfest
 September 5 - October 30 Helen Festhalle 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen Oktoberfest Beer, brats, bands and Lederhosen - the Helen Oktoberfest has them all. Join the longest running Oktoberfest in the United States! There’s beer, delicious German food, dancing and lots of fun activities to indulge in, but the highlight is music, which includes enjoyable performances by German bands from around the country and around the world for your listening and viewing pleasure. For more info check out our Oktoberfest page! |
Fall Color in the North Ga Mountains
 Fall is an amazing time to explore the display of colors in the fall foliage in the mountains. Drive scenic routes, take the stunning hike to Anna Ruby Falls, enjoy a beer at Oktoberfest. With cool and crisp fall temperatures it's the perfect time to escape to a cozy cabin in the North Georgia Mountains. |
Helen Fall Arts and Crafts Show
| October 21-22, 2023 Helen Arts & Heritage Center 25 Chattahoochee Strasse 10 AM - 5:00 PM Art-Oberfest The annual Helen Arts & Heritage Center's fall arts and crafts show. Arts and crafts venders will be displaying leather work, paintings, pottery, wood crafts and arts of all types. Come to Helen, GA to see the Fabulous Fall Colors of the Appalachian Foothills and visit Helen Arts & Heritage Center and meet a few of our local artists. |
Christmas in Alpine Helen
 (photo: Alpine Helen / White County Convention & Visitors Bureau) Helen does Christmas right! The village architecture and holiday lights are so lovely that Lifetime Christmas movies “Christmas Love Letter” and “A Taste of Christmas” were filmed here, and the town is consistently noted as a top holiday destination for lights, festivities and fun! The village’s shops and restaurants don’t close at 5 p.m. here! Visitors come from all over to see the festive shop windows, enjoy German beer and cuisine, and shop for German-styled Christmas gifts, Appalachian arts & crafts, and award winning wines from our local vineyards! |
Annual Lighting of the Village
 November 25 Downtown Helen Annual Lighting of the Village The Annual Lighting of the Village marks the beginning of the holiday season in Helen. At 6pm decorated with 8,000 lights and 800+ ornaments, the 20-foot-tall tree and the entire town will be dressed up and illuminated every night until February 20th. Musical performances by local groups will precede Santa and Mrs. Claus' arrival and children are invited to meet with Santa from 5:00 to 7PM. |
Annual Christkindlmarkt
| November 25-26 & December 2-3, 2023 Downtown Marketplatz, Helen Annual Christkindlmarkt A traditional German event that offers everything from unique gifts and decorations to an assortment of savory and sweet foods, drinks and candied treats. |
Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm
| Friday and Saturday nights December 1-16, 2023 Hardman Farm Historic Site, 143 Highway 17, Sautee Nacoochee, Ga Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm Horse-drawn wagon rides, traditional Christmas decorations and homemade sorghum Christmas cookies beckon visitors to a Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm State Historic Site. Step back in time to a Christmas party in 1877 and come see the Mansion at West End decked in gorgeous period holiday decor, and learn about Victorian Christmas traditions from reenactors in period dress. This open house on Friday and Saturday nights in December is highlighted by twinkling candle lights, live music, smores around the campfire and more! |
Annual Christmas in the Mountains Lighted Parade and Festival
| December 2, 2023 Downtown Cleveland Christmas in the Mountains Parade An Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Mountains in Downtown Cleveland. Christmas carols, hot cocoa and cookies, kids activities, arts & crafts, food booths & more! (photo: White County Chamber of Commerce) |
Annual Helen Christmas Parade
 December 10 2 p.m. Main Street, Helen Helen Christmas Parade Expect big things...and yes, the Big Man -Santa himself- will be there. Rain or shine! This is such a fun small-town parade with fire trucks, horses, dirt-buggies, unique floats, and TONS of candy! The best place to be is across the street from the Downtown Gazebo! |
Dropping of the Edelweiss
 December 31st Helen Festhalle 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen Dropping of the Edelweiss Come help us bring in the New Year with music, food, fun, party hats, dancing and the annual Dropping of the Edelweiss! Light Hors d'oeuvres, party favors and Midnight Champagne Toast. Family Friendly! |
Winter in Alpine Helen
 (photo: Alpine Helen / White County Convention & Visitors Bureau) (photo: Big Sky cabin) Relax, Rejuvenate and Regroup Everyone needs to after the Holidays. Winter in the mountains has it own special beauty; long range views open up and you will often wake to snow covered mountains in the distance. Take a deep breath and enjoy the view while sitting by the fireplace in a warm cozy cabin... or get right into nature and experience beautiful waterfalls and trails in the North Georgia Mountains by starting your New Year off with a First Day Hike on New Years Day! |
Fasching - German Mardi Gras
| Throughout the Month of February Fasching 2023 February 4: Tubing Parade and Party February 10/11: Pub Crawl & Scavenger Hunt February 18: Fasching Party 7-11pm at the Festhalle Fasching (Mardi Gras, German style) is the traditional German season of celebrations before Lent. Come celebrate Mardi Gras in Helen throughout the month of February! |
Winterfest Arts Tour
| February 18, 2023 Helen Winter Arts Festival 75 artists in 2 locations over 2 days, art demonstrations throughout the weekend. Pottery, painting, jewelry, fused glass, fiber art are just a few of the types of artwork that will be available at the festivals. |
Wine Highway
 (photo: Yonah Mtn Vineyards) Throughout the Month of March Georgia Wine Highway The Georgia Wine Highway is a statewide wine tour that allows participants to travel all over the state in the span of a month to see and experience all that Georgia growers and wine makers have to offer. This is a passport style event where you purchase your passport at the first winery you attend. You will then get a collector's glass and passport which will give you admission to all participating wineries at no additional charge. Member wineries and Affiliate Members will each provide their own unique open-house format, with many offering food and wine pairings, music, barrel and library wine tastings and more. Tour our beautiful Vineyards and Wineries in Helen and the surrounding areas! |
WineFest
| Spring Event Habersham Winery 7025 South Main Street, Helen WineFest WineFest is an annual event in North Georgia Wine Country. Our state's fine wines - made from locally-grown grapes - are here for you to sample in one location. We also have food and live music. Plus... arts and crafts. WineFest, held every spring, is hosted by Habersham Winery and sponsored by the Winegrowers Association of Georgia. |
Helen Trout Tournament
 April 1st, 2023 Chattahoochee River in Helen Helen Trout Tournament The annual HELEN TROUT TOURNAMENT is celebrated in Alpine Helen, Georgia the last Saturday of March each year. Join us as anglers from across the region fish the Chattahoochee River in hopes of reeling in the big one. Over $4,000 in prizes. |
Annual Alpine Helen Songwriters Festival
| April 28-30th 3 day, 3 venue Festival Helen Songwriters Festival Hear from the songwriters who wrote the soundtrack for the 80s, 90s, and early aughts. Enjoy a full weekend getaway around this unique event. Three venues, ten songwriters, the music never stops! |
Corvair Springfest
| April 21-22, 2023 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen, Georgia Corvair Springfest For more than 35 years, owners of their beloved Corvairs take part in this Springfest hosted by the Corvair Society of America. The festivities include car corral, rally through the scenic countryside, slow drags, valve cover races, raffle, swap meet, cash bar, 50/50 drawing, door prizes. German beer and food from the food vendors during this Helen, Georgia event. |
Spring Bierfest
| May 6, 2023 1pm-4pm Helen Festhalle 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen Spring Bierfest Over 100 Beers to sample at this Bier Tasting Event!! Sautee Hard Cider, Terrapin, Highlands, Hofbrau, Creature Comfort, Erdinger, Paulaner, Miller, Southern Brewing and more. Live German bands, traditional German dancing and food! |
Bavarianfest
| May 27, 2023 Memorial Day Celebration at the Helen Festhalle Bavarianfest A true Bavarian celebration featuring live oompah music, cold brews and authentic eats! Come celebrate the lives of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice with the Annual Bavarianfest in Alpine Helen - free admission for all active military, retired and veterans, plus a guest. Prost! |
Cabin Fever: Annual Bluegrass and BBQ Festival
| Smithgall Woods Cabin Fever Bluegrass Festival Live music from multiple bluegrass acts, food vendors, arts and crafts, non profits, and much more! This is a family friendly event! |
Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race
 (photo:helenballoon.com) June 1-3, 2023 33 Munichstrasse, Helen Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race The South's oldest balloon event and the United States' only long distance hot air balloon race will begin (weather permitting) with a mass ascension of around 20 bright and colorful hot air balloons, in North Georgia's Alpine Village - Helen! While the competition to the Atlantic continues, other balloonist compete in local events. Local flying events will take place also on Friday and Saturday. |
Crush Fest at Yonah Mountain Vineyards
| August Event Yonah Mountain Vineyards Crush Fest Yonah Mountain Vineyard's annual day-long festival features live music, food trucks, an artisan market, wine tastings, and a chance for attendees to take part in the festival's signature traditional barefoot grape stomping event! CrushFest attracts more than 5,000 visitors of all ages from around the Southeast. |