Upcoming Fall Festivals

The brisk fall season in the mountains of East Tennessee are not complete without plenty of festivities to celebrate the drop in temperatures, the change of colors and the increase of pumpkin spice.

Stretching beyond the state line is a thrilling fall festival for all ages at Prater’s Mill Country Fair.

Prater’s Mill Country Fair will be held on Saturday Oct. 8 and Sunday Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Dalton, Georgia at the historic Prater’s Mill. There will be a plethora of events and booths including jewelry, pottery and food.

“Our slogan is we have the best southern food on this side of heaven,” said Mikey Sims, Fair Director of Creative & Marketing.

Prater’s Mill is a historic site to celebrate the rich history of farmers in the heart of Northwest Georgia and its ties to Appalachian culture. It is complete with a wheat mill, milling stones and the modern day attractions.

Prater’s Mill is owned by the people of Whitfield County, Georgia. However, the site is operated by Prater Mill’s community of friends who volunteer to support and care for the mill and its history.

In 1971, “the Prater’s Mill Foundation was formed with the mission to protect, preserve and present the heritage of the Prater’s Mill Site for future generations,” according to their mission statement.

The Country Fair is a non-profit event vital to their fundraising budget. All proceeds go to the upkeep and day-to-day operations of the mill. The admission price is $10 per adult, and the event only accepts cash.

The festival would not complete without the Prater’s Store where visitors can enjoy southern cuisine and pick up some souvenirs. The fair will host live entertainment, a petting zoo, hiking and demonstrations of life at the mill.

This year the fair will be introducing many new booths where visitors can pay a small fee to experience events and foods reminiscent of Appalachian lifestyle. One of their exciting new events will be a wagon ride drawn a Clydesdale horse throughout their nature trails.

Parking at the festival is free and guidance is offered to make the experience stress-free. Shuttles will run throughout the day and are handicap accessible. The fair also recommends visitors to wear comfortable shoes in order to cover the vast terrain easily.

If you are planning on visiting the Prater’s Mill Country Fair, do not forget to bring your pets and their leash with you. The event is for family members of all ages and breeds.

Prater’s Mill is located at 5845 Highway 2, (Dalton, GA 30721) 10 miles Northeast of Dalton and about 30 miles south of Chattanooga, TN. Some Navigation systems still use 500 Prater’s Mill Road, Dalton GA 30721, according to their website.

This fair is a glimpse into both the history and present of the communities of Dalton, Georgia, and it gives visitors fun and delicious ways to celebrate.

For more information visit their website.

Another local festivity is the Annual Cleveland Apple Orchard festival. The festival will take place on Oct. 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday in downtown Cleveland.

There will be food, live music, art and craft show, petting zoo and children’s activities. Day passes for adults are $7 per person.

The live music will include Lee and Luke Mercer, Grayson Russell and Chad Willson. Artists looking to get involved next year must send a demo through the Apple Festival website.

Each day will have a performance of “Grease” by the Bradley Central Theatre.

Multiple giveaways will occur throughout the days. Anyone with paid admission can enter and win, but they must be present to win the prize. There is only one entry per person and they must be registered through the Apple Festival Information table.

The Apple Dessert Contest will be looking for the best homemade apple dessert, judging them on Saturday, Oct. 15 between 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and the winners will the announced at 2 p.m. The grand prize is a $50 gift certificate and the second place prize is a $25 gift certificate. More information is on their website at clevelandapplefestival.org.

If students are interested in receiving service hours, volunteer then fill out the appropriate paperwork through the Leonard Center to receive credit. If you are looking to volunteer, contact the Apple Festival through their website.

One of Cleveland’s local festivities is the Grit and Grace Fall Market. The Grit and Grace Fall Market is set to take place on Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

After opening Grit and Grace in January of 2020, owners and Lee alumni Melody and Brandon Miles, held their first outdoor market. Many of the vendors they carry in their store were unable to attend their normal vendor events, so the outdoor market displays local businesses who pay for spaces in order to sell their unique items while customers walk through the aisles. 

The Miles held their first Grit and Grace market during fall of 2020, only having roughly 40 vendors. Now, there are 75-80 vendors who participate in the market with thousands of people attending. They hope to support local businesses and give them an extra chance at selling in Cleveland, said Melody Miles. 

“It’s a good way to bring attention to our store, because a lot of people come and don't realize the store is here,” said Brandon Miles. “But it’s also good for downtown Cleveland, with the revitalization efforts that are happening here and getting people down here and realize there is stuff to do downtown.”

If you’re interested in selling items, Grit and Grace is currently accepting applications for their Christmas market which will be held on Dec. 3. The Miles say anyone is able to apply.