DAHLONEGA, Ga. — A parade through historic downtown. Music drifting across the Public Square. Crowds browsing handmade crafts, sampling festival food and cheering on contestants trying their hand at everything from pie eating to hog calling.
Gold Rush Days brings it all together Oct. 17–18 for one of Dahlonega’s most anticipated weekends of the year.
The 72nd annual celebration is expected to draw thousands of visitors over the two days. More than 200 arts, crafts, and food vendors are set up in the public square and historic district. Against a backdrop of fall color, the festival turns downtown into a gathering place where local history, hometown pride and old-fashioned fun share the spotlight.
Held the third full weekend in October, Gold Rush Days celebrates Dahlonega’s 1828 discovery of gold. Recognized as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events in the Southeast, it gives visitors plenty of reasons to spend a day — or the whole weekend — exploring.
Saturday lineup
Saturday began with the Dahlonega Rotary-sponsored Gold Rush 5K at 8 a.m., followed by the festival opening at 9 a.m. Music, dance and performances presented by the Historic Holly Theater’s “Dahlonega’s Got Talent” fill the weekend schedule.
Saturday’s entertainment includes the Gainesville Ballet Company, The Raven Welch Band, The Oak Grove Boys, and Radford Windham and Step Back Cadillac. Between performances, pie eating, beard growing, apple bobbing and hog calling bring a playful dose of competition to the festivities.
One of the weekend’s biggest draws, the Gold Rush Days Parade, steps off at 3 p.m. Saturday. This year’s procession carries a particularly meaningful homecoming for grand marshal Dr. Bobby Mayfield.
In 1979, Mayfield was an 18-year-old Jaycee helping organize the parade. Forty-seven years later, he returns to lead it. A 30-year military veteran, longtime Lumpkin County educator and District 2 county commissioner, Mayfield will be recognized on the Main Stage at 1 p.m. Saturday.
“Just being able to reminisce about the days spent with that great bunch of people and all of the good times they had while helping our community is a reward beyond measure,” Mayfield said.
The celebration of community service continues at 2 p.m., when Ben and Pud English are crowned Gold Rush King and Queen. Ben has volunteered with organizations including Community Helping Place, the Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club, Dahlonega Methodist Church, and the Sheriff’s Volunteer Organization. Pud, whose family roots run deep in Dahlonega’s history, has devoted countless hours to local charities, festivals, and community traditions, including Old Fashioned Christmas.
A new master of ceremonies
A new voice will welcome visitors to the Main Stage this year.
Dathan Harbert, better known as Miner “D,” becomes just the third emcee in the festival’s history. Involved with Gold Rush Days since 2013, Harbert brings more than 20 years of experience at Consolidated Gold Mines and a passion for preserving the celebration’s history and traditions.
Harbert follows longtime Atlanta weatherman Guy Sharpe and Henry “Doc” Johnson, who retired last year after 25 years as the festival’s voice.
Sunday lineup
The fun continues Sunday when the festival reopens at 9 a.m. The lineup includes the UNG String Band, Team Bell and Friends Gospel, Sam McDuffie, Gold Country Squares, and Sniffy & The Lips.
A cross-cut saw competition at 11:15 a.m. and an arm wrestling tournament at 3 p.m. give spectators more opportunities to cheer.
For visitors, Gold Rush Days offers a fall weekend filled with shopping, food and entertainment. For Dahlonega, it is a chance to celebrate the people and traditions that keep the town’s history alive.
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