Even though the stores started putting out their Christmas things before Halloween, and Hallmark was showing Christmas movies before Thanksgiving, we still felt the need to do something to get us in the mood. Many of the Hallmark movies show Christmas in a small town with simple activities, like festivals and holiday markets that don’t include huge admission fees, and a few years ago we put on our bucket list “A Small Town Christmas”. This was our year and we chose a place close by in Georgia. Actually, our destination included a general area in North Georgia with several small towns with lots of different activities to choose from.
Last year we noticed in the credits of one of the Hallmark movies that part of it had been filmed in Dahlonega, Georgia. Not too far from Dahlonega is Cleveland, Hiawassee, and Helen, all fitting the description of “small town” so that was where we were heading. We invited Jim’s two sisters, Carol and Lyle and off we went. Our base camp was Helen with its Alpine theme and distinctive German faire.
Helen, Georgia
We only had three days to convert our Scrooge-like attitudes to visions of sugar plums and, as we have experienced in Alaska, the weather was not going to help us out much. Rain and cold temperatures were highly likely for at least Friday and Saturday but we were determined to not let it stop us. According to all the Chamber material we gathered there were 2 parades, 3 markets for shopping, town and tree lightings in each town, a Victorian Christmas House, a Christmas Concert, and a Mountain Country Christmas in Lights; all happening during our three day stay. These special events were in addition to all the charming little shops found in the town squares of all three towns. “Shop till you drop” became our mantra and we even found ourselves in a Walmart twice during our stay.
Hiawasse, GA – Christmas in the Mountains
Village in Hiawase all decorated with lights
Petting Zoo
Photo booth at Christmas in the Mountains
The only activity we missed was the Christmas Parade and that was because we were too wimpy to stand in the rain. The parade took place as scheduled even though the rain was heavy! That evening, after the parade and a quick dinner, we attended a concert by the North Georgia Chamber Symphony at the Methodist Church in Dahlonega. What the heck! It was raining and it was inside where it was dry. We sat in the balcony with a planned escape route should things require an early exit. Much to our surprise, the concert was excellent with 25 extremely talented musicians who made the time fly by. Who knew violins, cellos and violas could sound so good.
Sunday was sunny and warm so we took advantage of the nice weather. After attending a service at a quaint little church in Helen, we walked around their Christkindle Market set up in small white tents along the street. The most interesting of all the items were rusty tools, I mean drill bits and pliers kinds of tools, made of delicious Belgian chocolate. You had to see this to believe it.
Hard to believe these items are chocolate
After lunch we hiked to Anna Ruby Falls in the Unicoi State Park
Water flowing from Ruby Falls as we walked to the falls
Ruby Falls
and then on to Dahlonega to check out their stores and have a delicious dinner in one of their restaurants. By the time the weekend was over, we were all singing along with the Christmas songs on the radio and Carol was planning her decorating when she got back home. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Stores on the square in Dahlonega
On the square in Helen, GA
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