A guide to seeing Georgia’s Oktoberfest in one day (Helen, GA)
*Bookmark for later if you’ll be planning your trip in the future
So you want to attend Oktoberfest but can’t get all the way to Germany this year? Or perhaps you’re just curious about this little Georgia gem. Whatever the reason, you can experience a little piece of the famous fest by visiting Helen in the North Georgia Mountains. It’s a little traditional German town filled with lots of good eats, good music, and shops to browse. The tips below share my favorite way to experience the festival after attending for over a decade.
1. I highly recommend hiking into Helen. There are a few trails that allow you to do this, just do a quick google search, but it’s well worth it and the beer will taste that much better once you get there! Our favorite hike starts near the lodge and is about 3 miles and not too strenuous.
2. You’ll probably be ready to eat after your hike and I highly recommend a traditional dish. There are a few more touristy places that are really good but you’ll want to get your name on the waitlist ASAP. If you’re willing to walk and look around a bit, you’ll find several local spots too with no wait (I love the Dog Haus).
3. Once you’re well fueled, walk around the streets and check out the sights. There are local artisan and gift shops, tons of sweets, and live music around every corner.
4. Next up is, of course, a good German beer (or two, or three). There are several traditional festhalles and Biergartens which are super fun. If they’re overcrowded, I’d recommend finding one of the local joints with live music. Just walk around a bit and you’ll find several options!
5. Once you hike back out, sober up, and head home I recommend finding at least one local produce stand or corn maze to check out. This year I went to a stand called Fred’s Famous Peanuts and got a giant pumpkin, an assortment of apples, local honey, and peanuts. It was delightful.
I hope these tips help. If you check out Oktoberfest this year let me know!
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xx Victoria
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