Fall Fun in Georgia's Lake Country - Georgia's Lake Country

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Fall Fun in Georgia’s Lake Country

Fall Fun in Georgia’s Lake Country

As summer fades, Georgia’s Lake Country continues to offer a year-round escape. Discover the vibrant fall festivities across the four communities surrounding Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair. From craft breweries and live music to ghost tours and chili cook-offs, there’s something extraordinary for everyone to enjoy during this enchanting season.

"Autumn foliage on the banks of Lake Sinclair."

Eatonton

Fall in Eatonton offers a captivating array of festivities that perfectly capture the essence of the season. One of the most spine-tingling experiences is the Haunted Eatonton Ghost Tours. As the temperature drops and the nights grow longer, ghost enthusiasts and history buffs gather to explore the eerie tales and haunted legends that have been passed down through generations. One of our generation’s great Southern [ghost] storytellers, Ann Hite will guide you through a 2-hour walk through the heart of historic and haunted Eatonton, while weaving together local hauntings and history.

The Taste of Eatonton is a culinary highlight in Georgia’s Lake Country each fall. Set in the heart of downtown Eatonton, this event brings together the area’s best restaurants, chefs, and food enthusiasts for a night of delicious bites and local flavors. Attendees can sample a variety of dishes, from Southern comfort food to creative gourmet fare, while enjoying the vibrant community atmosphere. Whether you’re a foodie or just looking to indulge, the Taste of Eatonton is a must-attend celebration of the region’s rich culinary scene.

For a fun night out, don’t miss the A1A Jimmy Buffet Experience at The Plaza Arts Center. The energy, musicianship, originality, and excitement that have always surrounded an A1A performance is an experience and a driving force that has helped the band remain the first and longest running Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show in history.

Greensboro

Spend your fall break in style at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee. After a day filled with outdoor adventures, satisfy your appetite at Gaby’s by the Lake, a delightful restaurant overlooking Lake Oconee. With a menu featuring a variety of dishes, including fresh seafood and Southern-inspired cuisine, Gaby’s offers a perfect dining experience with breathtaking lake views. It’s also the perfect spot to watch a football game around the bar! And don’t forget the s’mores! Each night, guests can bask in the soothing glow of a lakeside bonfire, a cherished tradition at the resort. This nightly ritual includes the irresistible pleasure of toasting s’mores over the crackling fire, adding an extra layer of sweetness to the experience. Weather permitting, between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., guests gather just outside Amore del Lago to partake in this timeless treat, all while enjoying the tranquil ambiance of the lakeside setting.

October 25th head over to Rhythm & Brews at the Sandy Creek Barn. This annual event features live music from 38 Special, craft breweries and wineries at a restored wood-beam barn dating to the 1820s. With food from the Reynolds culinary team, you are sure to have an unforgettable evening with their general admission or VIP experience. Must be 21+ to attend.

There’s no better way to experience the vibrant colors of fall than from the serene waters of Lake Oconee. As the leaves transform into a stunning tapestry of reds, oranges, and yellows, the lake offers the perfect vantage point for leaf-peeping by boat. Glide across the calm waters while surrounded by the beautiful reflections of autumn foliage, giving you a front-row seat to nature’s seasonal show. Whether you’re steering your own boat or enjoying a guided cruise from Young Harris Watersports, the crisp fall air and breathtaking views make this an unforgettable experience. For photographers and nature lovers alike, it’s the ultimate way to capture the beauty of fall in Georgia.

Madison

Renowned as the home of one of Georgia’s largest and best-preserved National Register historic districts, Madison has long attracted travelers excited to learn more about the history of this small town. Spooky season offers visitors a chance to dive even deeper into the strange history and mysteries of the historic district as North Georgia Tours offers Haunted History Tours select evenings in September through October. These popular walking tours give visitors the chance to join a local expert as she uncovers sites of hauntings, local legends, and a heaping helping of local history.

Make plans to return for Madison’s Annual Downtown Chili Cook-Off & CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) GA State Championship Open Cook-Off, on October 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With toe-tapping music, a marketplace with handcrafted wares, a beer pub, and a public chili sampling, there is no shortage of fun for the whole family. Sampling wristbands go on sale at noon, and sampling is from 12:30-2:30 p.m. or until the chili runs out. Got a great chili recipe? Enter the competition here!

A girl waves from a tractor in the Bostwick Cotton Gin Festival's parade

Or come back and embrace the spooky season with the family at a Haunted Village, on October 21, at Hard Labor Creek State Park, Georgia’s second-largest state park. This “slight-fright” event will have PG tours running every ten minutes from 1:30-4:30 p.m. and PG-13 tours from 6:30-9:30 p.m. lasting approximately 20 minutes. Groups as large as 12 may go through together. $10 admission and $5 parking fee. For more information, call (706) 557-3001. Even better, stay overnight in one of the park’s cozy cabins or pitch a tent in the campgrounds. At night, roast s’mores in your very own fire pit and scan the sky for shooting stars. In the morning, admire the autumn foliage along the hiking trails, tee off at The Creek Golf Course or paddle along the lake in a rented kayak – ADA kayak launch available.

Looking for something really unique? Come out to Georgia’s Lake Country on October 28 for the Cotton Gin Festival in Bostwick. An easy 15-minute drive from Madison, watch one of the southeast’s largest tractor parades, tour a working cotton gin, take part in the morning road race, shop arts and crafts at vendors’ booths and listen to live music, and take photos in front of the Susie Agnes Hotel. The Cotton Gin Festival originated to raise funds for the hotel’s restoration in the late 1980s. You may recognize the hotel from the cult classic film “My Cousin Vinny.”

Friends walk the trails at Lockerly Arboretum

Milledgeville

As autumn sets in and many trees and plants begin their winter siesta, Lockerly Arboretum comes alive! Boasting 50 acres of gardens, walking trails, and a pond, visitors can stroll along the one-mile nature trail, home to many mature hardwoods, ferns and tea olives, which are blooming and fragrant. The 2024 fall season will feature Forest Forms, towering sculptures of animals lining the trails, beginning October 5th, 2024.

Get in the fall spirit with a ghost tour. Hear about Milledgeville’s spooky and sinister past during the Ghosts of Milledgeville Walking Tour. Join us on select evenings and Saturday mornings in October for a guided walking tour of some of Milledgeville’s hauntings throughout downtown.

Vendors line the streets in Milledgeville

Deep Roots Festival is the busiest day of the year in downtown Milledgeville, and you don’t want to miss it. Saturday, October 19th will be a full day of fun, you can expect food trucks, local vendors, a classic car show, a kid’s zone, and the most popular: live music. Local performers will entertain crowds throughout the day on the local stage, and headlining musicians will perform beginning in the evening and finishing at midnight.

Milledgeville welcomes the return of Bulldog alumni each fall. Get back into the bulldog spirit by attending the GMC annual alumni festivities from Thursday, October 24th through Saturday, October 26th. Activities for alumni will include a golf tournament, an alumni parade, an Andrews Brothers Dueling Pianos Show, and many other opportunities to connect with old and new friends alike.

Paired with local farmers around Lake Country, Comfort Farms offers fresh produce, poultry, and more at their farmer’s market. Come out every other Saturday and pick up delicious fresh food! This hidden gem in Milledgeville is an agri-therapy farm that helps veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and we are all blessed by the farm as a result. See their Facebook page to learn more about their fall events!

With so many events in Georgia’s Lake Country this fall, find the perfect place to stay while you play.