Dahlonega Gold Rush Days - October 17th and 18th

Dahlonega Gold Rush Days

October 17th and 18th 2009

Gold Rush Days are held the third weekend in October (the 17th and 18th for 2009), when thousands come to see fall colors peaking and celebrate Dahlonega's 1828 discovery of gold.

Over 300 art and craft exhibitors gather around the Public Square and Historic District in support of this annual event, and it is estimated that a crowd of over 200,000 visit over the weekend to join in the fun and excitement!

It has been voted one of the Top 20 Events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Included in the two day event are a parade, children's activities, a fashion show, gold panning contest, wheelbarrow race, King and Queen Coronation, hog calling, buck dancing contest, gospel singing and other live entertainment, wrist wrestling, and last but not least – some delicious food!

2009 Gold Rush Schedule of Events

Saturday

• 9:00 Official start of Gold Rush Days
• 9:45 Fashion show
• 10:30 King and Queen coronation
• 11:15 Hog Calling Contest
• 11:45 Live Musical Performances begin
• 3:00 Gold Rush Days Parade
• 4:30 Cross Cut Saw Contest
• 5:00 Buck Dance Contest
• 6:00 Traffic Permitted through Square

Sunday

• 9:00 Festival Start time
• 9:45 Live Performances begin
• 3:00 Clogging Contest
• 3:45 Wrist Wrestling Contest
• 6:00 Traffic Permitted through Square

Events and times are subject to changes or delays.

Help support the many good works of the Dahlonega Jaycees

The wine is in the tanks and the harvest is complete

Come to Dahlonega and celebrate with the local Wineries the bounty of their 2009 harvest.

Dahlonega's Wineries & Vineyards

Frogtown Cellars Tastings available Friday 12:00PM - 5:00PM, Saturday 12:00PM - 6:00PM, and Sunday 12:30PM - 5:00PM. The Panini Bar is open Friday and Saturday 12:00PM - 3:30PM and Sunday 12:30PM - 3:30PM unless we serve brunch. We will have Sunday brunches on certain Sundays with either a 12:30PM or 2:30PM seating. Use our calendar link to see which Sundays we are serving brunch. Reservations Required. To make reservations call 706.865.0687 or e-mail Frogtown is a 57 acre wine estate located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains equal distance between Dahlonega and Cleveland Georgia. Frogtown encompasses 40 acres of vineyards and a tri-level gravity flow winery specifically designed to produce the unique wines made from Frogtown grapes. In 1998, native Atlantans Craig and Cydney Kritzer founded Frogtown in a location carefully selected for quality wine grape production and outstanding mountain views, the Frogtown District of Lumpkin County, Georgia. After researching Frogtowns soil, diverse climates and terrain, Craig divided the land up into separate vineyards. He planted different wine grape varieties based on the characteristics of each vineyard site. Frogtown is now home to 40 acres of vineyards planted to 17 different wine grapes varieties, both red and white. Frogtown produces wines under the 'Frogtown' label, 'Thirteenth Colony' label and 'Talking Rock' label. The Kritzer family invites you to come and relax on our deck with a glass of our wine and enjoy the views overlooking our vineyards, lake and the North Georgia Mountains. From Downtown Dahlonega From the square take East Main St, at the second traffic light turn left onto Hwys 60/19 North, following the Georgia Wine High way, you'll pass a water reservoir on your right. Turn right at the Citgo gas station onto Cavender Creek Rd. After 3 miles turn left onto Town Creek Church Rd. After 4.3 miles it dead ends, turn left onto Damascus Church Rd. Look after 1 mile on your left, the winery is the light gray building on the left 100 yards up Ridge Point Drive. Approximate travel time 15min. Visit www.frogtownwine.com Frogtown Cellars, 700 Ridge Point Drive, Dahlonega, GA 30533 ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Wolf Mountain Vineyards 7TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF JAZZ IN THE VINEYARD Enjoy Live Jazz Music and Country French Cuisine. Our Family of Estate Wines will be available for your enjoyment. Vineyard Cafe Thursday-Saturday 12 - 3pm Sunday Brunch Sundays at 12:30pm & 2:30pm Reservations Required Wolf Mountain's pastoral hillside vineyards, fieldstone-encased winery and hospitality facilities overlook the foothills of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The Vineyard and Winery provides the perfect setting for the enjoyment of our award-winning handcrafted wines, Vineyard Weddings, Sunday Brunch, Cafe Lunch and Gourmet Dinners. The European-style Georgia Winery at Wolf Mountain is fashioned after a raised Craftsman-Style cottage and sits atop the Cellar, which is encased in fieldstone. The Winery is 8,000 square feet of indoor function space that includes a dance space, an antique bar area and beautiful fireplaces. The Winery also houses early French winemaking artifacts. Our vision is to create a life-style at Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery that offers our family, friends and guests the highest-possible quality wine and food experiences. Handcrafted Georgia Wines paired with our unique event program is designed to broaden one's knowledge and appreciation of the culinary arts and the marriage of wine and food. The Georgia Vineyard is home to plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Mourvedre, Tannat, Petite Verdot, Malbec and Touriga Nacional. Keeping crop yields low enables us to produce a limited number of elegant handcrafted wines for your enjoyment. From Dahlonega and take Hwy. 19/60 North bypass. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Ridley Road (look for GA Wine Highway sign). Take a left onto Ridley and we are 1/2 mile down on the left. 180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533 Photo by Jerry Morris - Click for larger view. Our vineyard is situated on top of Wolf Mountain at an 1,800 foot elevation. Visit www.wolfmountainvineyards.com or call 706-867-9862 180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533

180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533 ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~ Blackstock Vineyards and Winery Monday - Saturday: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. We're pleased to invite you for Lunch and Music each weekend. Join Us! Wild Game** Dinner at BlackStock Saturday, 26 September, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a glass of wine on the deck this weekend. There is plenty of Music on the Deck and tastings are available at the tasting bar. BlackStock Vineyards and Winery, producing Georgia wine in the beautiful Dahlonega Mountains of North Georgia, provides an atmosphere that is warm, relaxing, and friendly. Enjoy sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the panorama of lush vine- yards, while experiencing some of the best wines in the Southeast. Whether on our covered-deck among the vines, or in our Appalachian-style lodge, Blackstock provides an incredible backdrop for a true Appalachian-mountain experience, lingering over a glass of wine and often enjoying live bluegrass, blues, or folk music. From Dahlonega square: Take East Main Street 7/10th's of a mile to Hwy 19/60. Turn left (north) on 19/60 and travel 2.1 miles to Cavender Creek Road. Turn right on Cavender Creek and go 3.9 miles to Town Creek Church Road. Turn left on Town Creek Church and go 4.3 miles and dead-end at the entrance to BlackStock Vineyards & Winery. Visit www.bsvw.com or call 706-219-2789 BlackStock Vineyards and Winery, Dahlonega, GA

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~ Montaluce Winery and Estates Saturdays in September, WINE U at 4:00 PM ~ Mediterranean Panorama The wines of the Mediterranean countries are diverse and make for perfect summertime enjoyment. Join one of our staff sommeliers for a guided and informative exploration of wines from Spain, Italy, France, & Greece. The cost is $25 per person - reservations required. Join us September 11th and 25th, and October 9th and 23rd for Dinner and a Movie at Montaluce! Join us for dinner at Le Vigne and stay after to enjoy the great classic. A perfect date night! There is no charge to stay and enjoy the movie on the covered veranda. Refreshments are available during the movie! The Movie will begin at approximately 9pm. Annual Harvest Festival The wine is in the tanks and the harvest is complete! On October 17th and 18th, come celebrate with us the bounty of our 2009 harvest. Live music, hayrides, special events for the kids, amazing food and wine and more will make this annual event something you'll remember! Also, don't miss the Eurocross bike race being held in conjunction with our festival! The Montaluce Tasting Room is open 7 days a week now. Monday thru Wednesday: 11am to 5pm; Thurs thru Sat: 11am to 6pm; Sunday: Noon to 6pm Our Restaurant open for lunch every day but Monday We're open for dinner Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The more than 35 acres of Montaluce’s vineyards will include varieties of premium vinifera grapes including, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sangiovese, and others. Montaluce is dedicated to growing and making premium wines, which will compete, favorably with other premium wines around the world. We invite you to experience the beauty of our vineyards and taste the quality of our wines as Montaluce takes its place as one of the premium wine estates located on the Dahlonega Plateau, one of the truly unique emerging wine-growing regions of the United States. Scenic Route Through Dahlonega Take Route 400 N toward Dahlonega. Turn left on Route 19/60 N and travel for 5.5 miles. Go 1/4 around Dahlonega town square and bear right onto E. Main/52 business. Turn left on Route 19/60 Business/Grove St. (first stop light). Travel for 1.3 miles, then turn left on Oak Grove Rd. Travel for 3.8 miles to stop sign. Turn right on Hightower Church Rd. Montaluce is .5 miles on left. Visit www.montaluce.com or call 706-867-4060 501 Hightower Church Road, Dahlonega, GA 30533 ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Three Sisters Vineyards Tasting Room at Three Sisters Vineyards Thursday/Friday/Saturdays 11am - 5pm Sundays 1pm - 5pm Weekdays By Appointment. Annual Taste of Georgia Wine Country on Saturday/Sunday September 12 &13 It's harvest time in the North Georgia Mountains! Come have a little taste of "Georgia Wine Country" at Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery. Our 7th Annual "Taste of Georgia Wine Country" happens Saturday/Sunday September 12 & 13 between 12:30 - 5PM. Complimentary tastes of Three Sisters, Chestatee and Walasiyi wines in our tasting room during these two days. Live musicians will be presented on the NEW "Crush Pad Deck" both days. One Saturday it is the return of the very cool Pick Kings and Sunday the fabulous Buzzard Mountain Boys. Come help us celebrate the end of the growing season! This is Another Three Sisters OPEN HOUSE. No Admission. Situated on 184 acres between the historic mountain villages of Dahlonega and Cleveland/Helen, Lumpkin County's first vineyard, Three Sisters holds the historic distinction of being "Dahlonega's First Family Farm Winery." Three Sisters Vineyards' mission is to produce fine wines in an honest and unpretentious manner. FROM DOWNTOWN DAHLONEGA: Take E. Main St. (also Business 9/52 North) and travel 0.6 miles to the stoplight at Wal-Mart. Turn Left on to Highways 19/60 & 9/52 North towards Suches/Blairsville. Go thru the stoplight at Highway 52 and travel 2.0 miles NORTH on 19/60(past the Dahlonega reservoir) to Cavender Creek Rd. Turn Right on Cavender Creek Rd (at the Cavender Creek CITGO)and go 3.8 miles to Town Creek Church Rd. Turn left on to Town Creek Church Rd at the GREEN Lumpkin County Sign Post With Wineries Listed on it and travel on Town Creek Church Rd for 2.7 miles to Shoffeitt Rd. You'll see the Shoffeitt Corner Store. (Look again for the GREEN Lumpkin County Sign with Three Sisters on it at Shoffiett Rd.) Turn left on to Shoffeitt Rd and go 1.1 miles until you come to Vineyard Way. Turn right and travel up the gravel road to the white buildings by the pond. Visit www.threesistersvineyards.com or call 706-865-9463 439 Vineyard Way, Dahlonega, GA 30533

Dahlonega's Tasting Rooms

Wine Tasting at its Best around Dahlonega's Public Square Wine Tasting at its Best at the following venues: Dahlonega Tasting Room featuring Habersham Wines 16 North Park Street · Public Square Naturally Georgia featuring Tiger Mountain Vineyards 90 Public Square North Upstairs Downstairs, featuring Georgia Wines Tasting Room 16 Public Square South · Public Square