Celebrate a German Christmas in Georgia
ALPINE HELEN-WHITE COUNTY, GEORGIA—SEPTEMBER 2016—Ho! Ho! Ho! From Alpine to Appalachian, get ready to celebrate the holidays with these events in Alpine Helen, a Bavarian beauty set in the Northeast Georgia Mountains, about an hour and a half north of Atlanta.
Fill up your shopping bags at Helen’s annual Christkindlmarkt, a German tradition where the center of town is filled with booths offering specialty gift items, decorations, assorted savory food, drinks and candied treats, December 3-4 and December 10-11, Helen Market Platz, www.HelenChamber.com.
The Helen Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Helen-White County Convention and Visitors Bureau, winds through town 2 p.m., December 10, Downtown Helen, www.HelenGA.org.
Festival of Trees takes place December 9-10 at Helen’s new Holiday Inn and Express downtown, www.HelenGA.org.
Don’t miss the Annual Christmas in the Mountains Lighted Parade, 7 p.m., December 3, in Downtown Cleveland, www.WhiteCountyChamber.org.
Find one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts with German flair, sample pastries and raise a pint to the most wonderful time of the year all while making your holidays brighter with a weekend or week-long getaway. Spend time in the village of Sautee where authentic Appalachian artwork, pottery and hand-made toys make it easy to find something for everyone on the Christmas list. After shopping, relax at one of the area wineries, complete with breath-taking views: CeNita Vineyards and Winery, with magnificent views of Yonah Mountain; Habersham Winery, recipient of 150 medals; Yonah Mountain Vineyards, home to Georgia’s only wine cave. Serenity Cellars, celebrating the fusion of wine, music and art in a setting with Tuscan sensibilities; Cottage Vineyard and Winery, with beautiful vineyard wedding settings with 360-degree mountain views in the North Georgia Mountains; and, Kaya Vineyards and Winery, where you can savor a glass of Georgia wine with a breathtaking view of the vineyards.
Don’t miss a thing: stay in downtown Helen or immerse yourself in a true mountain experience by renting a nearby cabin. Visit www.HelenGA.org for accommodation details and complimentary assistance planning your getaway.