SAUTEE NACOOCHEE, Ga. – The crank of an apple cider press, a taste of cornbread cooked over an open fire, and a turn at churning butter will offer visitors a glimpse of mountain life when Hardman Farm hosts its annual Mountain Farm Celebration.
Set for Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the festival celebrates the history and culture of the Sautee-Nacoochee Valley. Through hands-on activities and demonstrations, guests of all ages can explore the skills families relied on in the North Georgia mountains in the late 1800s.
The event draws more than 600 visitors to the historic farm each year.
“This event is a great way to watch history come to life,” said Hardman Farm’s Assistant Manager Sarah Summers. “Visitors can try many hands-on skills that were once needed for everyday life.”
A taste of mountain life
Some of the day’s history lessons will come with something to sample.
Visitors can enjoy treats prepared on the restored wood-fired stove in Hardman Farm’s historic kitchen, taste cornbread cooked over an open fire and sample popcorn grown at the farm. Black powder, blacksmithing, and cooking demonstrations will offer a closer look at other skills that helped shape daily life in the mountains.
“There’s so much to do; it makes for a great day of family entertainment. There’s something for everyone,” Summers said.
Children and adults can try gem mining, play old-fashioned lawn games such as cornhole and croquet, and pet farm animals in the 150-year-old horse barn. Traditional craft vendors will offer Appalachian crafts and handiwork, while local food vendors serve lunch and fall favorites, including funnel cakes, boiled peanuts, and baked goods.
A chance to step inside
The celebration also offers an opportunity to explore the buildings behind a familiar North Georgia landmark. The main floor of Hardman Farm’s 1870s-era mansion will be open, along with its dairy barn, which is more than a century old, and other outbuildings.
Built in 1870 by Captain James Nichols, the house is a grand example of Italianate architecture and was originally known as “West End” because it was at the west end of the Nacoochee Valley, according to the Georgia State Parks website. Its second owner was Calvin Hunnicutt, a wealthy Atlanta businessman who used the house as a summer retreat. The last owner was the family of Dr. Lamartine Hardman, Georgia’s governor from 1927–1931.
The house and the 173-acre site on which it sits were lovingly preserved and donated to the state of Georgia in 1999.
Hardman Farm sits directly across the road from another popular landmark – the Nacoochee Mound, a burial site likely used long before the Cherokee inhabited the area.
“We have folks come by the farm weekly who remark that they’ve passed Hardman Farm lots of times, but have never had the chance to stop in,” Summers said. For those visitors, the festival is an invitation to pause and discover the history they have been driving past.
“This is your chance,” Summers said. “This is a great opportunity to explore the farm, see the mansion and really celebrate mountain life.”
Admission is $8 per person. Children ages 5 and younger are admitted free.
For more information, call the Hardman Farm Visitors Center at 706-878-1077, visit gastateparks.org/HardmanFarm or follow Hardman Farm State Historic Site on Facebook.
Don’t miss what everyone in town is talking about.
Join 4,000+ locals and choose our free newsletter covering news, events and the stories shaping our region.
