Celebrate a German Christmas in Georgia
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.
Festival of Trees takes place November 18-December 8 at Unicoi State Park and Adventure Lodge, www.HelenGA.org.
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 1-2 and December 8-9, Helen Market Platz, www.HelenChamber.com.
Don’t miss the Annual Christmas in the Mountains Lighted Parade, 7 p.m., December 1, in Downtown Cleveland, www.WhiteCountyChamber.org.
Join in a Victorian Christmas, 4-7 p.m., December 7-8 and December 14-15, at the Hardman Farm State Historic Site and see the house gently dressed in period holiday décor while learning about Victorian holiday traditions, Sautee Nacoochee, www.GeorgiaStateParks.org/HardmanFarm.
The Helen Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Helen-White County Convention and Visitors Bureau, winds through town 2 p.m., December 8, Downtown Helen, www.HelenGA.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: Habersham Winery, recipient of 150 medals; Yonah Mountain Vineyards, home to Georgia’s only wine cave. Sylvan Valley Lodge and Cellars, home of the Frolicking Faerie wines; 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.