VILLA RICA, Ga. — Two hundred years after the discovery of gold helped shape Villa Rica’s story, the community will come together to celebrate its golden history at the 48th Annual Villa Rica Gold Rush Festival on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
This year’s festival carries special significance as Villa Rica commemorates the 200th anniversary of the discovery of gold in 1826. For nearly five decades, Gold Rush has brought generations of families, friends, and visitors together, and this year’s celebration will fill Downtown Villa Rica with a full day of traditions, entertainment, food, shopping, music, and activities for all ages.
The day begins early with the Gold Rush 5K Race at 8 a.m., followed by one of the festival’s favorite traditions, the Gold Rush Parade at 10 a.m.
At 11 a.m., the heart of Downtown Villa Rica comes alive as the Gold Rush Festival officially opens. Festivalgoers can spend the afternoon exploring craft and merchandise vendors, food trucks, local businesses, gem panning, the Kid Zone, live music, and entertainment throughout downtown.
Music Throughout the Festival
Live music will be a major part of this year’s celebration, with entertainment taking place in multiple locations throughout the day.
The Side Stage on Main Street will feature local and regional musicians from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., including:
Aspen Lee • Chris Odom • Lucas J. Smith • J. Wayne • J. Douglas Wright + Brandon Swafford • Tyler Caldwell
Festivalgoers will also find entertainment at The Mill throughout the festival, giving visitors another place to gather, relax, and enjoy the celebration while spending the day downtown.
Whether visitors are discovering a new local musician, watching a performance at The Mill, or simply enjoying music while exploring vendors and downtown businesses, entertainment will be happening throughout Villa Rica.
Gold Fever Returns with the Third Annual Gold Brick Hunt
The search for gold continues with the return of the Third Annual Gold Brick Hunt.
The popular community tradition invites participants to follow clues and search for hidden gold bricks for a chance to win prizes during the week leading up to Goldrush. They are also scattered around downtown on the day of Gold Rush.
While the Gold Brick Hunt is now in its third year, the 2026 hunt carries an especially fitting connection to the festival as Villa Rica celebrates 200 years since gold was first discovered here.
Additional Gold Brick Hunt rules, clues, and prize information will be shared as the festival approaches.
Celebrating 200 Years of Villa Rica’s Golden History
Gold has been part of Villa Rica’s story since 1826, and this year’s festival provides a unique opportunity to celebrate that history while looking toward the community’s future.
The area’s mining heritage remains visible today at the Pine Mountain Gold Museum, where visitors can experience Villa Rica’s gold-mining history on the site of an actual historic gold mine.
But Gold Rush has grown to represent more than the history that gave the festival its name.
It is a day when the community comes together.
It is seeing familiar faces along the parade route, children enjoying the Kid Zone, musicians performing on Main Street, families searching for a gold brick, visitors discovering downtown businesses, and generations making new memories around a tradition that began nearly half a century ago.
And in a year marking 200 years of gold in Villa Rica, there is even more reason to celebrate.
Gold Rush After Dark
When the daytime festival wraps up at 4 p.m., Gold Rush is far from over.
The celebration moves to The Mill amphitheater for an evening concert featuring Otis Band and Grammy Award-winning Kentucky Headhunters.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7 p.m.
The Kentucky Headhunters have spent decades creating their unmistakable blend of Southern rock, country, and blues, and are known for hits including “Dumas Walker,” “Oh Lonesome Me,” and “Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine.”
The free evening concert will bring a full day of celebration to a close as Villa Rica honors its past, celebrates its community, and marks a milestone 200 years in the making.
GOLD RUSH AT A GLANCE
Saturday, September 26, 2026 — Downtown Villa Rica
8 a.m. — Gold Rush 5K Race
10 a.m. — Gold Rush Parade
11 a.m.–4 p.m. — Gold Rush Festival
11 a.m.–4 p.m. — Side Stage on Main Street
Throughout the Day — Entertainment at The Mill
Festival Activities — Third Annual Gold Brick Hunt, Kid Zone, gem panning, craft vendors, merchandise vendors, food trucks, local musicians and entertainment
6 p.m. — Doors open at The Mill
7 p.m. — Evening concert featuring Otis Band and Kentucky Headhunters
Admission is free.