Gilmer County, located about 80 miles north of Atlanta, is known as the “Apple Capital of Georgia.”
The county produces 600,000 bushels of apples every year. In celebration of its heritage, the area holds the Georgia Apple Festival every October.
The festival, held annually since 1971, is complete with everything one would expect from a festival – from inflatable festival toys to arts and crafts to all sorts of food. Of course, there are funnel cakes and any number of apple delicacies, ranging from apple dumplings to fried apple pies.
This year’s Georgia Apple Festival was kicked off this weekend and will continue next Saturday and Sunday.
Like other places in Georgia, Gilmer County’s economy once centered on cotton. But, once the boll weevil destroyed cotton, apples took over as an an important crop in many parts of the state.
Tickets for the festival are $5. For more information, visit www.georgiaapplefestival.org.
