Hiawassee Halloween moving to Fairgrounds
Community October 6, 2021HIAWASSEE, Ga – Halloween 2021 in Hiawassee will be moving to the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.
The event will take place on Sunday, October 31 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and businesses participating will set up in Pioneer Village.
The fairgrounds allow people to space out at least six feet to hopefully prevent the spread of COVID-19. Businesses will be one per booth and children can visit from place to place.
Scarecrow village is remaining on the square. The display officially opened on October 2 and offers several opportunities for passers-by to stop and take a photo.
Local Area Halloween Events
Union County’s also moved its annual Halloween event to Meeks Park on October 31 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“We know everyone will miss the Hometown Halloween on the Square this year but hope that the wide-open spaces of Meeks Park will be a safe alternative until we can get back on the Square next year,” read the Chamber’s online statement.
Halloween at Meeks Park will be socially distanced. The Chamber’s encouraging businesses and non-profits to set up tables and hand out candy. If a business can’t attend, then it can make a candy donation to ensure everyone gets their fill of the sweet stuff. Money donations are also being accepted.
Costume contests by age group will also be held at the event. Some of the categories will include cutest and scariest costumes.
Alcohol ordinance gets second reading, lights galore in city
News, Police & Government December 8, 2020The Hiawassee City Council put the final polishes on the much-discussed Alcohol Ordinance, which would allow for the sale of package liquor in the city. One part, in particular, split the council during the process was how many licenses would the city issue and how would they be distributed.
The city council decided in the final alcohol ordinance draft that one license would be issued and it would be done on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The council approved the second reading of the ordinance. It will be voted on in January.
SEE TOWNS’ COUNTY ARREST RECORDS
The city council approved the alcohol license for Clipper Petroleum doing business as Circle M Food Shop.
The city council also approved renewing the contract with Air-Med for $5,390.
They also approved personnel policy changes.
Hiawassee extended congratulations to the Hamilton Gardens for appearing in the Garden Gateways Winter Edition. The gardens are on Lake Chatuge.
Although the Light Up Hiawassee annual event was cancelled, the Square will remain lit from 5 p.m. to midnight through January 6th. There is a Santa Mailbox and Ordiales said if the letters have a return address, Santa will write back.
The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds is lit up with a spectacular, magical holiday light snow and Christmas music through December 26.
Celebrate a groovy Fourth of July in Hiawassee
Community July 1, 2020HIAWASSEE, Ga – Fireworks and live entertainment are in store for anyone attending Fourth of July celebrations at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.
The Vintage Vixens will be playing a live, outdoor show in front of the fairgrounds’ office. Admission is free and fireworks start at 9:45 p.m. Admission for both events is free with the opportunity to purchase food and drinks.
The all-female group covers some of the biggest hits from the 60s and 70s.
Those attending can bring their own chairs and Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds will have some available.
Cherokee County N.C. Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, and Explore Northeast Georgia Mountains – Mother Nature’s Playground, are helping to host the event.
The music starts at 6 p.m., so be sure to get there in plenty of time to enjoy the band and get a good spot for the fireworks.
Fireworks will be shot from the ballfield.
Sponsors for the Fourth of the July fireworks include Towns County Tourism, United Community Bank, Lake Chatuge Lodge, David Barrett, Towns County Herald, Dr. Lanier and Freddie Nicholson, City of Hiawassee, and Towns County Lions Club.
Also, Lake Chatuge’s boat parade starts at 10:30 a.m. on July 4. Boats will parade past the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, under the Anderson Bridge, and past the Hiawassee Beach before disbanding. The most creative boat will win a $50 prize.
Images are courtesy of Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.
Must-see Christmas display lights up Scataway Road
Community, News December 17, 2019HIAWASSEE, Ga. – A longheld tradition in Towns County is an annual pilgrimage to view a spirited display of Christmas lights on Scataway Road. Robert Buchanan and family welcome the holiday season by decorating their land with thousands of dazzling lights, complete with Christmas music, for young and old to marvel.
The display came to life on Thanksgiving eve and will run until Jan. 2, between dusk and approximately 10:30 p.m. The must-see exhibit is free to the public although donations are appreciated to offset the cost of the electricity consumed.
On the third week in September, Buchanan begins creating the impressive winter wonderland, altering the display each year to offer a fresh perspective for visitors. Additional Christmas trees, two giant reindeers, and many more lights debuted in 2019. A single tree on the lot holds over 20,000 glowing lights, taking days in itself to decorate for the festive season.
Scataway Road is located east of Hiawassee, off State Route 76, toward the Rabun County line. The stunning Buchanan display can be seen upon approach when traveling up the winding hill. Visitors are welcome to park in front of the holiday spectacle and safely exit their vehicles to fully experience the magic along the roadway.
Other holiday events include Mountain Country Christmas in Lights at the Georgia Mountian Fairgrounds. Visitors are invited to enjoy caroling, arts & crafts, food, and entertainment throughout the site. The show runs each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday through Dec. 29 from 6 – 9 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge.
Hiawassee Town Square and Mayor’s Park in Young Harris are additionally aglow with holiday decor for the Christmas season.
Craft beer festival proves popular with tourists
News October 27, 2019HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Despite the threat of rainy weather, tourists and locals flocked to the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Saturday, Oct. 26, to partake in the 4th annual Appalachian Brew, Stew, and Que festival. Numerous breweries participated in the popular craft beer event, offering unlimited tastings of their prized concoctions.
Vendors displayed wares ranging from artwork, jewelry, and fresh pecans for visitors to purchase. Area restaurants offered scrumptious barbeque plates, Brunswick Stew, and hot dogs. Musicians – including Rob Tiger of Hayesville, Granny’s Mason Jar of Bryson City, NC, Surrender Hill of Sedona, AZ, Susan Gibson from Texas, and Wyatt Espalin of Hiawassee – entertained the crowd throughout the 6-hour event.
The craft beer festival drew many visitors to the area, a plus for the local economy. Jack and Jaclyn Cook of New Hampshire stationed their recreational vehicle at an area campground to enjoy a slice of autumn in Towns County. The Cooks shared that they hope to retire in Towns County in the future. “We’re here for nine nights,” Jaclyn Cook told FYN. “We really love it here. It’s beautiful and the people are so nice. We’re enjoying the area and the festival very much.”
In short, craft beer is a brew that is made by a small, independent business in their own brewery or someone’s premises to make small batches of beer. It is authentic beer made from hops, barley, and water. It is also common to add other ingredients to create unique flavors. Brewers are transparent about what ingredients are in the beer, and the beer typically (but not necessarily) has bolder flavors.
“While the boom began in earnest in the 1990s, the craft beer revolution started decades earlier,” Vine Pair, a media outlet specializing in beer, wine, and spirits, explained. “The combination of Prohibition and World War II had left America’s beer culture in a sad state, defined by relentless consolidation and the death of local, flavorful brews. It’s impossible to pin an exact date on the birth of American craft brewing, but most would agree that Fritz Maytag’s purchase of a stake in Anchor Brewing in 1965 was a seminal event. The iconic Cascade hop was made available to brewers in 1972. Sierra Nevada Brewing was founded seven years later.”
Entry to the Appalachian Brew, Stew, and Que was $35 online or $40 at the gate. Guests were supplied small, glass souvenir vessels to sample the breweries’ variety of creations.
Stolen fairgrounds’ truck recovered in Lake Chatuge by Towns County Dive Team
News April 6, 2019HIAWASSEE, Ga. – A truck owned by Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds was recovered in Lake Chatuge this morning, Saturday, April 6, after being stolen by an unidentified subject. FYN obtained reports from multiple authorities stating an attempted ATM theft was involved in the incident.
Towns County Fire and Rescue Water Rescue Recovery Team responded to a request from Clay County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina Highway Patrol to locate the vehicle in the vicinity of the Ledford’s Chapel Road portion of Lake Chatuge.
Towns County Divers Jeremy Parker and Jonathan Wilson, along with the dive team leader, Terry Parker, reponded to Clay County’s request for assistance. Recovery Diver Jeremy Parker entered Lake Chatuge, checking in and around the vehicle for victims. No victims were located. Wrecker cables were attached to the vehicle, and it was extracted from the water. The vehicle was discovered approximately 40 feet from the embankment in roughly 12 feet of water.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident.
Reward offered for information on Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds’ truck theft
News April 9, 2019HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County Sheriff’s Office is offering a $500 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the theft and criminal damage which occurred at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. Anyone with information is asked to call the Towns County Sheriff’s Office at 706-896-4444. Any and all information will be kept confidential, the agency said.
Hiawassee to host several October events
News, Upcoming Events September 17, 2018HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Autumn is a magical time of year in the mountains of Appalachia, with hillsides hued in blazing glory, and seasonal activities and events for residents and visitors to enjoy. Towns County plans to host several events during the month of October.
Towns County Chamber of Commerce President Candace Lee tells FYN that each year, phone calls begin to pour in from widespread locales, excited to learn when the peak leaf colors are expected occur. “The last week in October, into the first week of November, is typically the peak time,” Lee said, “We welcome phone calls, and there is a website that updates the forecast that we use as a guide.”
Scarecrows are planning to “invade” Hiawassee Town Square throughout the month of October, a new addition of seasonal sights to see. Individuals and businesses can stake their creations in the heart of Hiawassee in exchange for a $25 entry fee, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Towns County Food Pantry.
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds will host its annual Fall Festival from October 12 – 20, featuring concerts, arts & craft vendors, and educational demonstrations – such as moonshine making, corn milling, cider squeezing, quilting, black smithing, soap crafting. In addition, the Fall Festival will include the famed Georgia Official State Fiddlers’ Convention, and “Wolves of the World”, the world’s only traveling wolf exhibit. Admission to the fairgrounds is $12.00, with children under 12 admitted free. Three-day passes will be available for purchase at the gate for $33.00. Parking is free. Pets are not permitted.
On Saturday, Oct. 27, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds will feature the Appalachian Brew, Stew, and Que Festival, with 21 breweries participating in the event. Tickets are $40.00 at the gate or $35.00 online.
October will close with Halloween on Hiawassee Town Square, an ever-popular annual event. The festival will be held on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 31, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
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15,000+ expected to attend Bassmaster Elite Tournament
News September 15, 2018YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Towns County first responders met with Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw and Chamber of Commerce President Candace Lee on Friday to put plans in place for the upcoming Bassmaster Angler of the Year tournament, set to kick off Thursday, Sept. 20.
According to the Towns County Chamber, the event is bound to draw between 15,000 – 18,000 visitors to the area. Participants and spectators are expected to begin arriving days prior to the official start of the tournament, with weekend traffic anticipated to become sporadically congested in Hiawassee at times. First responders intend to reduce incoming Georgia Mountain Fairground traffic to a single turning lane during peak hours.
While no specific instructions were issued to the public, emergency crews ask motorists to use caution while traveling due to the population influx. The actual number of visitors may fluctuate, depending on the weather forecast.
“We are excited to be hosting this event,” Candace Lee said, “The cooperation between the county and the city has been fantastic. I hope everyone has a great time and returns for a future visit.”
Fifty fishermen will vye for the coveted title of Bassmaster Angler of the Year.
Fishing competitors are scheduled to launch onto Lake Chatuge at 7 a.m. on Thursday, with daily weigh-ins at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds at 3:45 p.m. The tournament runs through Sunday, Sept. 23. Saturday is an “off” day with no competition scheduled.
Bassmaster Elite Series Outdoor Expo and Bassmaster University will take place at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept, 23, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. Sunday.
Public launch viewing is available during the competition days – Thursday, Friday, and Sunday – at 7 a.m. from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds at 1311 Music Hall Rd. in Hiawassee.
The boat ramps will be closed to the public from 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 23 until 3 p.m.
For additional information, contact Towns County Chamber of Commerce at 706-896-4966
“Saving Georgia’s Hemlocks” at Hamilton Gardens
Upcoming Events September 9, 2017Hiawassee, GA – “Saving Georgia’s Hemlocks” is the topic of the next “Let’s Get Growing” gardening lecture series at Hamilton Gardens at Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee.
The program will be presented at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 15, 2017, at the Hamilton Garden Pavilion, located within the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, by Donna Shearer, chair of the “Save Georgia’s Hemlocks” Association. Her presentation will focus on the pests that are attacking the hemlock trees, and the practical and realistic measures that can be taken by the home gardener to help preserve them.
An invasive insect called the wooly adelgid is putting one of our most majestic evergreen trees in grave peril. Thousands of these beautiful trees have already died in northeast Georgia where the infestation first entered the state 15 years ago. The remaining trees are in great danger of the same fate unless they are protected.
Ms. Shearer will present the most up-to-date- information about this critical situation, and will suggest options and actions that are available to home owners who have hemlocks growing on their property. Loss of the hemlocks is not only diminishing the beauty and value of the native landscape, but is impacting the environmental health of the forests and waterways.
Unless action is taken, most of these trees will be lost, and the result will be devastating.
The “Let’s Get Growing” gardening lecture series is offered on the first and third Fridays of the month as part of Hamilton Gardens’ community outreach education programs.
These rain-or-shine programs are free, open to the public, and are designed for both the new and experienced gardener
For additional information, call Hamilton Gardens at Lake Chatuge – 706-970-0011.
Bassmaster AOY putting Hiawassee on the map
News September 22, 2018HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year (AOY) competition is luring fishing enthusiasts from miles around, shining a spotlight on Hiawassee and Lake Chatuge. The tournament began on Thursday morning, with boats launching onto the water shortly after 7 a.m. and continued at dawn on Friday until the mid-afternoon official weigh-ins. ESPN is broadcasting the competition, and in an unrelated event, online commercials are scheduled to be recorded on Lake Chatuge after the tournament concludes.
Jim and Carol Falkson, from Oxford, Mississippi, traveled to Hiawassee as avid spectators of the AOY series. “Lake Chatuge is breathtaking,” Carol Falkson gushed, “The surrounding mountains, the small-town vibe of Hiawassee. It’s somewhere we’d certainly love to return in the future. The people have been gracious and hospitable. It’s a gem of a town.”
State Clogging Convention set for October
News, Upcoming Events February 12, 2019HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds announced that the Georgia State Clogging Convention will take place Oct. 5 in Towns County, beckoning avid dancers and spectators from miles around. Hilda Thomason, general manager of the fairgrounds, told board members of the Towns County Convention of Visitors Bureau (CVB) this morning that approximately 100 dance teams are expected to participate, arriving in Hiawassee the night before the all-day Saturday dance-off.
“It’s good and it’s part of our heritage,” CVB Chairman Ronnie Phillips responded to the news. Thomason informed the board that event organizers are interested in a three-year contract with the fairgrounds.
“Clogging is an expressive style of American dance with origins in the folk dances of the British Isles, Africa, and pre-Columbian America,” Ruth Pershing of The Cane Creek Cloggers, a North Carolina dance team, explained. “Settlers in the American South took elements of these styles to form a unique American dance style, Appalachian clog dancing. By the 1930s, professional dance teams had combined traditional dance steps with more contemporary figures, creating colorful and energetic routines for the stage.
“Clogging is thought of by many as an age-old dance form steeped in the rich culture of isolated mountain hollers, maintained alongside ballads, folk tales, and fiddle tunes. In actuality, it is not the least bit static and has quite a complex and multi-faceted history. Its story is only partly known, with many questions that are as yet unanswered and many that will likely remain obscure forever.”
Dailey and Vincent announce 2019 LandFest lineup
Community, Press Release December 18, 2018Nashville, Tenn. – Multi-GRAMMY® nominees Dailey & Vincent are thrilled to announce the stellar artist lineup for their 3-day festival, LandFest In The Mountains & On The Lake, set for September 12-14, 2019 at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, Ga. Talent includes Josh Turner, The Oak Ridge Boys, the Bellamy Brothers, Flatt Lonesome, Malpass Brothers, Terry Baucom & The Dukes of Drive, Primitive Quartet and Chuck Wagon Gang.
Dailey & Vincent’s LandFest In The Mountains & On The Lake 2019 marks the festival’s 6th anniversary of bringing the best American music to fans. One, two and three day passes are available as well as on-site camping. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit DaileyAndVincent.com,
GeorgiaMountainFairgrounds.com or call the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds at 706-896-4191.
LANDFEST IN THE MOUNTAINS & ON THE LAKE 2019 LINEUP:
Thursday, Sept. 12 – Gospel Night:
Flatt Lonesome
Chuck Wagon Gang
Primitive Quartet
Dailey & Vincent
Friday, Sept. 13:
Terry Baucom & the Dukes of Drive
Bellamy Brothers
Dailey & Vincent
The Oak Ridge Boys
Saturday, Sept. 14:
Fan Jam
Malpass Brothers
Dailey & Vincent
Josh Turner
ABOUT DAILEY & VINCENT:
Grand Ole Opry Members, five-time GRAMMY® award winners individually, three-time GRAMMY® award nominees collectively, four-time DOVE Award winner and winners of 35 IBMA Awards altogether (including 3-time IBMA Entertainer of the Year Award winners and 3-Time Vocal Group of the Year Award winners), Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent (and their world-class band) bring their blend of American music; defined as bluegrass, traditional country and gospel music, across the globe and to iconic venues such as the Ryman Auditorium and Carnegie Hall. Now on Season 3 of their nationally broadcast television series, “The Dailey & Vincent Show on RFD-TV,” Dailey & Vincent bring their music to a national audience on a weekly basis. After a decade spent performing together and with over 1,000 airings of their PBS special “Dailey & Vincent ALIVE – In Concert,” their concoction of fantastically instinctive vocal blends of Dailey’s tenor and Vincent’s reedy harmonies has gained them well-deserved praise for their own distinctive style and worldwide recognition as American Music gold. Their most recent live CD, “Dailey & Vincent ALIVE,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts and remained at the top position for over 15 weeks. Dailey & Vincent’s latest release of their first-ever Christmas album, “Dailey & Vincent: The Sounds of Christmas” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Holiday Chart, landing right behind Michael Bublé and Pentatonix as the only country, bluegrass and gospel act in the Top Ten.
RECOMMENDED TWEET:
.@DaileyVincent announce LandFest In The Mountains & On The Lake lineup w/ @JoshTurnerMusic @OakRidgeBoys @BellamyBrothers and more Sept. 12-14, 2019! Tix: daileyandvincent.com
March for Jesus event planned for August
Community, News July 31, 2018HIAWASSEE, Ga. – March for Jesus, a 2.7 mile spirited trek from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds to Cedar Cliff Road, is planned for Aug. 25. The event is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Anderson Music Hall, with music and fellowship following the 10 a.m. march.
Organizer Terry Rathmann says that the event was created to impact families, churches, and communities, as well as states and the nation itself, in a positive, sustainable way with God’s help.
“Parents need to be the role model for their children as they journey to be more Christ like,” Rathmann explains, “Physical growth of human beings is very obvious. We start out as infants and we physically grow until we can walk, and talk. Believers in Christ Jesus should grow Spiritually as well. This Spiritual growth powered by the Holy Spirit should also be very obvious to your family members as well as to those who belong to your sphere of influence. Many of us have asked God, what are you doing about the current events of this world? God may respond by saying, I created you. So it all begins with the family unit.
“A spiritually unified family should attend their local church and connect with other brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. We are commanded to share our love with one another and we can do this by encouraging one another through the good times as well as the bad times,” Rathmann continued, “God did not create us to isolated from one another, God created us to be engage with one another out of love and gratitude. A unified Body of Christ will impact the local community, and then the unified Body of Christ will impact the regional communities. The positive impact will be obvious and contagious. The unified Body of Christ will be the light that shines brightly even in the darkest of times. God has made promises to us and God has made a Covenant with His creation. If we follow His commands, we will see His blessings fall upon us.”
Additional information on March for Jesus can be obtained by emailing Terry Rathmann via [email protected]
Christmas Parades Down Main Street
Community, News November 26, 2018HIAWASSEE, Ga. – The holidays have arrived, and families lined along Main Street, ringing in the season with the annual Towns County Sheriff’s Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 24. “Making Spirits Bright” was this year’s theme, with spectators encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys to local children for the Empty Stocking Fund.
The parade began at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds at 6 pm, heading east toward Hiawassee Town Square. The roar of sirens could be heard long before the procession arrived at its final destination shortly after 6:30 pm, with children anxiously awaiting the festive floats, and of course, Santa Claus.
Parade participants tossed candy to onlookers, waving and wishing the crowd a very “Merry Christmas.”
Georgia Bass Nation High School rode in the procession, with the Adam Kennedy team winning first place, followed by Reel Money Team Trail placing second, and the Towns County Lions Club landing a respected third.
“Thank you all for making this another successful parade,” Towns County Sheriff Chris Clinton expressed, “New, unwrapped toys for underprivileged Towns County children are accepted at our courthouse and administrative offices, as well as monetary donations.”
“Light Up Hiawassee” is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1, on Hiawassee Square.