Holiday lights stay up through February 19; New Year’s Eve, Fasching and other events continue through the winter
HELEN, GEORGIA—AUGUST 2023—A tiny town so magical and photogenic that two Lifetime Christmas movies have been filmed here. A top destination for lights, festivities and fun where the holiday spirit is extended into February. That’s Alpine Helen, Georgia, about an hour and a half north of Atlanta in the Northeast Georgia mountains.
From the day after Thanksgiving through February 19, 2024, this picturesque Bavarian village is dressed up and illuminated every night. Visitors come from all over to see the festive shop windows and streets, savor authentic German beer and cuisine and to buy handcrafted and imported Christmas tree ornaments all year long. Winter temperatures range from 60 degrees during the day to a low of 20 degrees at night, and he town’s specialty retailers and restaurants stay open on the late side, so visitors can continue to enjoy days and evenings at this time of year.
Here are just a few of the events happening in Helen from New Years through
Dropping of the Edelweiss New Years Eve Celebration – December 31, 2023
Some towns drop a possum, potato or a giant grape. Alpine Helen, a storybook-perfect Bavarian village in the North Georgia mountains, celebrates the Dropping of the Edelweiss. Once found only in the most remote, rockiest areas of the Alps, this fuzzy white star-petaled flower once was plucked by suitors (“I’d climb the highest mountain for you”) and is a symbol of courage and devotion in Switzerland, Alpine Germany and Austria.
On December 31, 2023, ring in the New Year with music, food, fun, party hats, dancing and the annual Dropping of the Edelweiss at the Helen Festhalle from 8 p.m. to midnight. Dance or sway to live music, including a noted Polka band with other popular dance music interspersed. Celebrate with hors d’oeuvres, party favors and a midnight champagne toast. The Festhalle bar will be serving beer and wine for purchase. Family Friendly; kids under age 6 free admission. Helen Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen, Georgia 30545; 706-878-1908
Fasching Celebration (German Mardi Gras)-January 27, February 2-3 and February 10, 2024
Fasching is the German and Austrian celebration of Mardi Gras. Helen is such a hospitality town that it created an extended celebration on the weekends before Lent. On January 27 at 1 p.m. join in or watch a walking parade through downtown with Schnapps shot stops on the way to the Chattahoochee River, where the brave and hearty jump or wade in for a tubing parade. (Schnapps shot registration: $20 for adults 21+; I.D. required, register from 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. sharp at the Helendorf River Inn & Conference Center, 33 Munich Strasse, Helen, GA 30545) Afterward, join the party hosted by the Faschingsverein of Helen organization at the Helendorf River Inn & Conference Center. $5 per person, BYOB, doors open at 6 p.m. and music is from 7-11 p.m.
The next weekend, February 2-3, join the Hüttengaudi(a fun-filled evening of partying) starting Friday at noon with apub crawl and scavenger hunt. You’ll have plenty of time to pace yourself and complete it, as it ends on Saturday at 6 p.m at the Hofbrau Haus Biergarten where the winner will be drawn. The Fasching celebrations conclude on February 10 with a Mardi Gras costumed party from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Helen Festhalle at 1074 Edelweiss Strasse hosted by the Helen Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 706-878-1908 or visit helenchamber.com.
WinterFest Arts Tour / Sautee Nacoochee Arts Festival – February 18–19, 2024
WinterFest Arts Tour is a weekend festival that presents more than 175 artists at four locations over the two days leading up to Presidents Day. The sites are the Helen Arts & Heritage Center, Hardman Farm Historic Site, the Sautee Nacoochee Center and Unicoi State Park & Lodge. The dates and times at all four locations are Saturday, February 18 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday, February 19, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. so there is no rush to see everything in one day and the amenities and attractions at each site can be savored. At each location, local and regional artists will display, sell and demonstrate their skills and bring to life new and exciting pieces. Visitors may purchase raffle tickets to win gift baskets contributed by participating venues. Food service or vendors are present at some sites.
There is no charge for WinterFest at each venue, but a multipart ticket may be purchased to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes valued at $250 and above. One ticket is $10 or get a book of five tickets for $40. To be eligible to win, the ticket must be stamped at each location. Tickets may be purchased online or at any of the four locations. The tickets are a fundraiser designed to support the educational efforts of the Sautee Nacoochee Center. For more information call 706- 878-3300.
Stay
Alpine Helen and White County offer lodging options for every taste and budget. In town near the festivities, choose from whimsical Bavarian-themed inns and hotels, along with B&Bs, condos, cabins and flagship chain hotels on the river or overlooking the colorful village. Just outside of town are mountain cabin hideaways, condos, RV parks and Unicoi State Park and Lodge with cabins and a full range of camping options. https://HelenGA.org