Every autumn I like autumn more. The intense heat of summer is past and the spectre of another bleak winter haunts those of us who don’t enjoy frolicking in the barren season of winter.
The best part of autumn is Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega — held annually on the third weekend of October.
Glory in the fall colors and celebrate the discovery of gold in Dahlonega back in 1828.
Gold Rush Days always has an abundance of tasty festival food, fabulous music, stuff you cannot buy or see anywhere else and some of the best people watching anywhere.
Important Note: Please bring your own parking space. Thank you.
Hundreds of art and craft exhibitors gather around the cool historic square.
Believe it or not, many of these artists are so inept at business that you can fool them into trading their priceless pieces of art for (ready?) mere money!
Better get to Gold Rush Days before they come to their senses.
In addition to taking advantage of artists, this popular two-day event has a parade, children’s activities, a fashion show, gold panning contest, wheelbarrow race, King and Queen Coronation, hog calling, buck dancing contest, gospel singing and other live entertainment, wrist wrestling, and last but not least – some delicious food!
Gold Rush Days Schedule
All Day
Free Water Station, Gift Basket Drawing, Baby Comfort Area, Games for Children, Face Painting, Live Music (Country Gospel, Gospel, and Contemporary Christian Music) – sponsored by Dahlonega Baptist Church (Hancock Park)
Saturday October 19th
- 9:00 – K.I.S.S. Club Performance (main stage)
- 10:15 – Old Timey Fashion Show (main stage)
- 10:45 – Chattanooga Choo-Choos from Tennessee Clogging Performance (main stage)
- 11:15 – Clogging Competition (main stage)
- 11:30 – Jesse Mariah Williams (main stage) [www.jessemariahwilliams.com]
- 12:00 – T.W. Holeman Gospel Singing Group (main stage)
- 1:00 – Cross Cut Saw Competition (main stage)
- 2:00 – King and Queen Coronation (main stage)
- 3:00-4:30 – Parade (street)
- 4:45 – Radford Windham & Step Back Cadillac (main stage) [www.facebook.com/
RadfordWindhamStepBackCadillac] - 6:30-8:00 – Coal Mountain Band (main stage) [www.reverbnation.com/
CoalMountainBand]
Sunday October 20th
- 9:00 – AliCats Dance Studio (main stage)
- 10:00 – Hog Calling Competition (main stage)
- 10:30 – The Highbeams (main stage) [www.highbeamsmusic.com]
- 11:00- Gold Panning Championships (Gold Museum Lawn, registration opens at 9:00, check with registration table for details on divisions, contests and times)
- 11:30 – Buck Dancing Competition (main stage)
- 12:00 – Destitute Way (main stage) [www.reverbnation.com/
destituteway] - 1:15 – Ryan Boss (main stage) [www.ryanbossmusic.com]
- 1:45 – Kayla Armstrong (main stage) [www.kaylaleigharmstrong.com]
- 2:30-5:30 – Wrist Wrestling (main stage)
Click Here for 2013 Gold Rush Days Festival’s Facebook Page
