Fall festivals and special events in Athens

Submitted by the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau

Fall is not just for football in Athens, Georgia. October is also festival season! A wide range of special events with live entertainment and local flavor abound in Athens this October.

On Saturday October 10th, Sandy Creek Park plays host to the 25th annual North Georgia Folk Festival. The festival features a mix of traditional and modern folk blues and bluegrass music, playing non-stop from 12 - 9 p.m. A variety of craft demonstrations (including folk painting, furniture making, wood working, and more) supplement the live music. The festival also hosts a special kid's program from 11 - 2 p.m., making the event a family affair. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children 12 and under. For more information visit www.athensfolk.org.

The annual Athens to Atlanta Road Skate takes to the streets of the Classic City for the 28th consecutive year on October 11th. The world's largest point-to-point inline event combines the beauty of northern Georgia, the friendliness of the in-line skating community, and the rigors of distance skating. It's more than a road skate; it's the defining outdoor skating event in America. The skater can choose to pursue a 38, 52, or 87-mile distance skate on four or five wheels. All skaters, except those in the 52-mile event, start in Athens and roll through the rural Georgia countryside through the first two checkpoints to the 38-mile station. Free bus service takes the 38-mile finishers either back to Athens or to the 87-mile finish line in Atlanta. Registration rates range from $30-$100 depending on registration date and race distance. More information, including starting times, maps, and itineraries are available on the event's website: www.a2a.net.

For the 6th year in a row the Dixie Film Festival brings world class film from around the world to Athens' Carmike Theater. The festival has gained worldwide attention in its first five years for featuring high quality films and filmmakers from twelve different countries. The event runs from October 16th-18th, with a concluding awards presentation. Tickets are $10 per showing or $35 for an all-festival pass. A complete list of films and show times is available on the festival's website www.dixiefilmfest.com.

The latest chapter in Athens' growing arts scene is the October 16th grand opening of the Mercury Artworks gallery at the new Hotel Indigo. The evening not only debuts the exhibition, "Terre Verte," a selection of art from local and national artists, but also features live entertainment including aerial dance, multi-media music, interpretive performances and contemporary dance. Festivities take place at the gallery at 500 College Ave. from 8 - 10 p.m. Overnight VIP hotel packages are available through the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau, www.VisitAthensGA.com.

The 10th annual Fall Winefest gives Classic City adults a chance to unwind. On October 25th, the lawn of Ashford Manor will be a haven for food, drink, and live music. Twenty five local restaurants and eight different wineries, package stores, and breweries will provide samples of their products. Local favorites like Harry Bissett's New Orleans Café, Last Resort, The National, and Speakeasy will be catering the event. Festival-goers can enjoy beverages from several local wineries, Five Points Bottle Shop, Terrapin Brewery, and more. The festival also features a raffle, silent auction, and live music. Tickets to the event are $30 advance, $35 at the door, and $20 for OCAF members, with all proceeds benefiting the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation. Registration is available at the www.oacaf.com.

Halloween in Athens is the ultimate adults-only party. Athens nightclubs will be alive with the undead on the 31st of October with live music and fun costumes. Bands and fans alike dress in wild costumes to celebrate All Hallows Eve. The Athens nightlife scene doesn't get any better than on Halloween, making it a perfect weekend for a getaway to Athens! Live Music performance calendars are available at www.flagpole.com.

For more information about any of these festivals plus complete Athens travel information including special discounts and packages, visitwww.VisitAthensGA.com or contact the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau at (706) 357-4430, toll-free 800-653-0603.

The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau is a proactive sales and marketing organization whose primary goal is to increase the economic impact of the hospitality and visitor industry by attracting individual visitors, group tours, and meetings and conventions to Athens. Tourism WORKS for Athens, contributing $207.15 million in spending, 2,440 jobs, $44.83 million in wages earned, $7.73 million in state tax revenues, and $6.24 million in local tax revenues in 2007.

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