Fall color drives, waterfalls, wineries and a lively party
HELEN, GEORGIA—August 2024—Each fall, seekers of lively festivities and those who cherish quiet mountain getaways head to Alpine Helen/White County, Georgia. Some take the roads less traveled, seeking fall color, waterfalls, wineries and cool mountain air. Others flock to the celebratory Bavarian-themed town of Helen for entertainment, dining, shopping and staying close to the action during Helen’s biggest party of the year.
Kicking off the fall season is the Helen Oktoberfest, the longest running of its kind in the United States, held from September 5 – October 27, 2024, with weeks of dancing, entertainment, food, and, of course, beer–and wine. The Helen Chamber hosts this a 54-year tradition featuring jovialität and fröhlichkeit, musicians, dancers and performers from Germany and German communities from many states. Why Oktoberfest? This Blue Ridge foothills area is often compared to Bavaria, which inspired Helen’s Alpine architecture, cobblestone pathways and gingerbread-laced buildings.
Starting at 6 p.m. on September 5 the riverside Helen Festhalle welcomes visitors for German bands, dancing and authentic food and beverages in an atmosphere like no other. Saturday September 7, the Oktoberfest Parade kicks off with a colorful swirl of costumed marchers and bands pumping out traditional music on drums, Alphorns, cowbells, accordions and more. The first keg-tapping of the festival will take place afterward at the Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Street.
In the Festhalle, see performers in traditional dirndls, Tyrolean hats and lederhosen, sample the beers and the best of the wurst (six kinds), German potato salad, red cabbage, potato cakes, American dogs, chicken fingers, desserts, snacks and more.
Helen’s Oktoberfest Festhalle is open September September 5 – October 27, 2024 (check times at the website). Festhalle Admission: Monday-Friday $10, Saturday $12, Sunday free. Active and retired military with ID, free; kids 6-12 half price; under 6 free. Check https://helenchamber.com/oktoberfest for group discounts and Friday/Saturday passes.
Check the schedule for additional events. For instance, those age 21 and over can participate in Helen’s traveling Oktoberfest keg-tapping ceremony on Saturdays that rotates to various biergartens, restaurants and taverns. In this German tradition an officiant says a few words, the crowd chants and then imbibes from the freshly tapped keg. Listen for these two phrases: O’zapft is! (It’s tapped!) and “Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa!” (One, two, three. . . drink!).
Events throughout the town add plenty of fun, while shops and dining establishments create their own festival ambience. Give local wine equal time! Take a break for serene vineyards and mountain views at several award-winning Helen-White County wineries. Each has its own personality and ambience, and several have special fall events. Check the events schedule for details closer to the season.
Oktoberfest Pro Tips
Helen has a road less traveled through town. Edelweiss Strasse runs virtually parallel to South Main Street, from the Budgetel Inn and Suites at the south end to the public parking at Chattahoochee Strasse on the north end. Visit during the week to enjoy fewer crowds. Early risers find more leisurely morning breakfasts and shopping before the party crowd gets started. Book accommodations well in advance. For more details go to https://helenchamber.com/index.html
Stay
Stay at the heart of the action in downtown Helen or head to the peace and quiet of a scenic mountain retreat. Pick from charming bed and breakfasts, quaint alpine-themed motels, cozy cabins, a vibrant collection of vacation rentals or a luxury boutique hotel. Whether you choose a remote cabin, a small property on the river or a branded hotel within walking distance of the Alpine Village, book early for this very popular celebration. Helenga.org/lodging
More Fall Events
Plenty more events are happening in Alpine Helen/White County in the fall. August 31 kicks off the month with a Folk Pottery & Arts Festival at the Sautee-Nacoochee Cultural Center, while artists’ renditions of the season are on display in the Color Me Autumn Art Exhibit from September 12–November 3 at the Helen Arts & Heritage Center. On September 28, meet farm animals, play harvest-themed kids activities, shop for locally made crafts, local fresh produce and other goods at Agrifest in nearby Cleveland, Georgia.
On October 26 Hardman Farm State Historic Site’s Mountain Farm Celebration includes hands-on pioneer skills demonstrations, traditional craft vendors, local authors and historians, apple cider from a hand-cranked press, biscuits cooked on a wood-fired antique stove and much more. October 19-20 brings the Artoberfest Arts and Fine Crafts Fest, showcasing original/handmade works by the region’s finest artists and craftspeople. For more details and events, check the Helen Event Directory.