The short answer
Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Roswell, Cumming and Ball Ground had posted ceremonies for that day when we checked on October 19. Dahlonega’s USO tribute show runs November 6 to 8, Suwanee holds its Veterans Memorial Celebration on Sunday, November 8, and Helen’s free art workshop and lunch for veterans follows on November 12. The rest of November brings holiday markets, the Suwanee Wine Fest and the first light shows.
Several towns had not posted their Veterans Day plans by mid-October. This list includes only what a city, chamber or venue had posted for 2026 when we checked on October 19, 2026. After the Veterans Day section comes the rest of November’s dated calendar, week by week, up to Thanksgiving.
Veterans Day observances
USO Show: A Veterans Day Celebration
Organizer date for 2026A USO-style tribute show for Veterans Day with impersonations of performers such as Bob Hope, Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. Veterans and active-duty military get in free. The venue is between Harbor Freight and Dahlonega Fitness and is fully ADA accessible.
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$25 regular, $20 senior/student, veterans and active duty free Source: Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau (Discover Dahlonega), checked 2026-10-19
Veterans Memorial Celebration
Organizer date for 2026Veterans observance on the City of Suwanee community events calendar, held the Sunday before Veterans Day. The city's Greater Good Veterans Memorial stands in Town Center on Main, but the calendar listing itself does not give a location.
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Source: City of Suwanee – Community Events calendar, checked 2026-10-19
Veterans Day Ceremony
Organizer date for 2026The City of Ball Ground lists a Veterans Day ceremony on its 2026 events calendar. The schedule is described as tentative.
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Source: City of Ball Ground – City Events 2026, checked 2026-10-19
Annual Veterans Day Ceremony
Organizer date for 2026American Legion Post 307 and the City of Cumming hold the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater. It includes a keynote address and musical performances by local students, rain or shine.
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Source: Cumming City Center, checked 2026-10-19
Veterans Day Ceremony
Organizer date for 2026The City of Roswell's Veterans Day observance at City Hall begins with an honor walk and is followed by a ceremony. It is free and open to the public.
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Free Source: Roswell365 (City of Roswell), checked 2026-10-19
Veteran's Art Workshop & Lunch
Organizer date for 2026A monthly art class for military veterans and veterans' widows, held on the second Thursday, with lunch included. Each session covers a new art technique, and it is free to veterans and a spouse or companion.
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Free to veterans and their spouse/companion Source: Helen, Georgia Welcome Center (helenga.org), checked 2026-10-19
Wednesday, November 11
Roswell’s Veterans Day ceremony is at Roswell City Hall. The city’s schedule has veterans and guests arriving from 8:30 to 9 a.m., an honor walk at 9:15 a.m. and the ceremony at 9:30 a.m. It is free and open to the public.
In Cumming, American Legion Post 307 and the City of Cumming hold the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The listing includes a keynote address and music by local students, and it goes ahead rain or shine. For the rest of what is around City Center, see Downtown Cumming.
Ball Ground’s 2026 city calendar lists a Veterans Day ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon. The city calls its schedule tentative and does not give a location, so check the Ball Ground city events page closer to the day.
Dahlonega: Veterans Day weekend, November 6 to 8
Dahlonega starts early. USO Show: A Veterans Day Celebration plays the Menagerie Theatre and Event Center on Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7, at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, November 8, at 3 p.m. The show is a USO-style tribute with impersonations of performers such as Bob Hope, Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. Tickets are $25, or $20 for seniors and students, and veterans and active-duty military get in free. The visitors bureau notes the venue is fully ADA accessible.
On Saturday afternoon, November 7, the same venue hosts The Modernaires, a 17-piece swing band with swing dancers, from 3 to 5 p.m. The visitors bureau bills it as part of Veterans Day weekend in Dahlonega, with the same prices and free entry for veterans and active-duty military.
Suwanee: Sunday, November 8
Suwanee’s Veterans Memorial Celebration is on the Sunday before Veterans Day, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. The city calendar listing does not give a location. The city’s Greater Good Veterans Memorial stands in Town Center on Main, but confirm with the City of Suwanee calendar before you go.
Helen: Thursday, November 12
The day after Veterans Day, the Helen Arts and Heritage Center holds its monthly Veteran’s Art Workshop and Lunch, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It meets on the second Thursday of each month, for military veterans and veterans’ widows. Each session covers a new art technique, lunch is included, and it is free to veterans and a spouse or companion.
Military prices on our list
A few November listings carry military prices. The Helen Chamber’s Oktoberfest FAQ lists free entry for active and retired military with ID, and Oktoberfest runs through November 1. Blue Ridge on Ice, which opens November 17, lists $10 admission for active military. The December run of Annie at Dahlonega’s Holly Theater lists military discounts.
- The Helen Oktoberfest, held at the Helen Festhalle, is billed by the Helen Chamber as the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States; the 2026 edition runs September 10 through November 1. Helen Chamber of Commerce
Veterans Day events that had not posted
These were missing a 2026 date on the organizers’ own pages when we checked on October 19, 2026:
- Dahlonega: the Veterans Day parade and the Run for Rangers festival. The Modernaires listing mentions the parade but gives no date, and the organizer’s page still showed an older year.
- Dawsonville: the Dawson County Veterans Day ceremony or parade.
- Jasper: the Veterans Day parade or ceremony, historically run by American Legion Post 149.
- Alpharetta: the city’s Veterans Celebration Lunch.
- Blairsville, Hiawassee, Blue Ridge and Ellijay: we found no 2026 Veterans Day listing on a primary source.
County veterans service offices and American Legion posts are the best places to ask about these. We add them when a date appears.
The rest of November, week by week
November is when the region turns from fall festivals to holiday markets. Here are the month’s other dated events, then the details by week.
Hiawassee Night Market (First Friday, holiday theme)
Organizer date for 2026The First Friday artist and artisan night market on the town square, with live music, food and art. This edition has a holiday theme, with music by Steve Vaclavik. Presented by the Hiawassee Downtown Development Authority; admission is free.
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Free Source: Lake Chatuge Chamber of Commerce, checked 2026-10-19
Handmade for the Holidays
Organizer date for 2026A holiday market of local and regional artisans selling handcrafted goods. Listed items include soaps, woodwork, jewelry, pottery, toys, fiber art and glass art. Admission is free.
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Free Source: Blue Ridge / Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism (blueridgemountains.com), checked 2026-10-19
2026 OTM Fall Marketplace
Organizer date for 2026Of These Mountains' fall marketplace of artists, makers and vendors at the Rabun County Civic Center pavilions, timed for early holiday shopping.
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Source: Of These Mountains, checked 2026-10-19
Suwanee Wine Fest
Organizer date for 2026The 13th annual Suwanee Wine Festival in Town Center Park, with unlimited samples of more than 150 wines, a Georgia winery section, ready-to-drink cocktails and beer. The festival also has live music, local vendors and food. It is 21 and older only, and tickets are required.
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Source: Suwanee Wine Fest, checked 2026-10-19
Suwanee Winter Farmers Market
Organizer date for 2026Shorter winter version of the Suwanee Farmers Market, held two Saturday mornings a month from November through April. It takes place at the same downtown site as the summer market.
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Source: City of Suwanee – Farmers Market, checked 2026-10-19
2026 Holiday Bazaar
Organizer date for 2026The Lake Chatuge Chamber of Commerce's holiday bazaar with regional vendors selling crafts, art, photography, pottery, decorations and holiday foods. No pets are allowed. Daily admission is $5, and children get in free.
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$5 daily; children free Source: Lake Chatuge Chamber of Commerce, checked 2026-10-19
Annual Christmas Tour of Trees
Organizer date for 2026A display of decorated Christmas trees at Serenity in the Mountains, open on two Sunday afternoons. Proceeds support Shop With a Cop. Admission is $20 per person.
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$20 Source: Blue Ridge / Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism (blueridgemountains.com), checked 2026-10-19
Songwriters Festival
Organizer date for 2026Three-day weekend of live performances by songwriters at Lanier Islands Resort. Performers play their songs and tell the stories behind them.
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Source: Lanier Islands Resort, checked 2026-10-19
Cumming Steam, Antique Tractor & Gas Engine Exposition
Organizer date for 2026This annual exposition at the Cumming Fairgrounds shows antique tractors and steam engines alongside modern vehicles and large farm machinery. It runs over two days.
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Source: City of Cumming – Events for November 2026, checked 2026-10-19
Holiday Market at Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association
Organizer date for 2026A holiday retail exhibit of artwork and handcrafted items made by the arts association's member artists. Jewelry, pottery and paintings are among the items for sale. It runs for about five weeks, Tuesday through Sunday.
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Source: Blue Ridge / Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism (blueridgemountains.com), checked 2026-10-19
Blue Ridge on Ice
Organizer date for 2026A seasonal pop-up ice rink at the Blue Ridge Farmers Market, next to the Swan Drive-In. It is open to skaters of all levels and has a concession stand. Admission is $15 for ages 13 and up, $12 for ages 12 and under, and $10 for active military.
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$15 (13+); $12 (12 and under); $10 active military Source: Blue Ridge / Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism (blueridgemountains.com), checked 2026-10-19
Cumming City Center Winter/Holiday Market
Organizer date for 2026The fifth annual holiday market brings more than 100 local vendors to Cumming City Center, along with Santa photos, live holiday music and a kids' zone. The day finishes with the City Center Christmas tree lighting and concert.
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Free Source: Cumming City Center, checked 2026-10-19
Sunday, November 1
Gainesville Parks and Recreation holds a free Day of the Dead Celebration on the Midland Greenway from 4 to 7 p.m., with live music, performances, food vendors and activities for all ages. It is also the last night of Helen’s Oktoberfest at the Festhalle.
November 6 to 8
Hiawassee’s First Friday Night Market on November 6 has a holiday theme, from 5 to 9 p.m. on the town square, with live music, food and art. Admission is free. On Saturday, November 7, Blue Ridge holds Handmade for the Holidays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fannin County Schools Agriculture Facility, with free admission and artisans selling soaps, woodwork, jewelry, pottery, toys, fiber art and glass art. Clayton’s Of These Mountains Fall Marketplace runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rabun County Civic Center pavilions.
Suwanee has two events that Saturday. The 13th annual Suwanee Wine Fest in Town Center Park starts at noon, with unlimited samples of more than 150 wines and a Georgia winery section. It is 21 and older only, and tickets are required. Earlier that morning, the Suwanee Winter Farmers Market opens its season, from 9 to 11 a.m. The Lake Chatuge Chamber’s Holiday Bazaar in Young Harris runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 a day, children get in free, and pets are not allowed. In Blue Ridge, the Annual Christmas Tour of Trees at Serenity in the Mountains opens on Sunday, November 8, from 2 to 5 p.m., and again on November 15. Admission is $20.
November 13 to 15
Lanier Islands Resort in Buford holds its three-day Songwriters Festival from November 13 to 15, with songwriters playing their songs and telling the stories behind them. The Cumming Steam, Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Exposition fills the Cumming Fairgrounds on November 13 and 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Saturday, November 14 is the last market of the Alpharetta Farmers Market season, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. On Sunday, November 15, the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association opens its Holiday Market, which runs until December 19, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
November 17 to 22
Blue Ridge on Ice opens on November 17 at the Blue Ridge Farmers Market. Admission is $15 for ages 13 and up and $12 for ages 12 and under. Canton’s Holiday Tree Lighting and Drone Show is on Wednesday, November 18. Gainesville Glows opens on November 19, Magical Nights of Lights and the Flowery Branch lantern parade follow on November 20, and Saturday, November 21 brings the Cumming City Center Winter/Holiday Market from 10 a.m. The two city pages disagree on its closing time, 6 p.m. or 5 p.m. The same Saturday has the Dawsonville Christmas parade and Gainesville’s Jingle Mingle. Santa at Avalon in Alpharetta starts on Monday, November 23.
The tree lightings and light shows have their own guide, and the last week of the month is covered in Thanksgiving weekend in North Georgia.
How far to drive
Free-flow drive times from downtown Atlanta to the towns with Veterans Day events, computed with the OSRM routing engine, with no traffic:
- Roswell: 35 minutes (22.4 miles) from downtown Atlanta
- Suwanee: 42 minutes (33.3 miles) from downtown Atlanta
- Cumming: 51 minutes (39.3 miles) from downtown Atlanta
- Ball Ground: 59 minutes (50.1 miles) from downtown Atlanta
- Dahlonega: 84 minutes (65.6 miles) from downtown Atlanta
- Helen: 112 minutes (87.6 miles) from downtown Atlanta
For a week-by-week view as November goes on, use this weekend in North Georgia, or filter by town and date in the events finder.
When do the leaves peak in North Georgia?
Usually in late October to early November. In its October 14, 2026 Leaf Watch report, the Georgia Forestry Commission said peak viewing in north-central Georgia looked to be late October to early November, and that the northeast mountains should peak in the last week of October or first week of November. Higher elevations change first. Check the weekly reports, because timing shifts with weather each year.
Source: Georgia Forestry Commission, Leaf Watch Report (October 14, 2026)
Where do the leaves change first in North Georgia?
At the highest elevations. The Georgia Forestry Commission notes that areas above 3,500 feet tend to change quickly and color first. Georgia State Parks says Black Rock Mountain State Park near Clayton, at 3,640 feet the highest state park in Georgia, is usually one of the first places to show vibrant fall color. Brasstown Bald, the state's highest point, is another high-elevation viewpoint.
Source: Georgia Forestry Commission, Leaf Watch Report (October 7, 2026)
What are the best state parks for fall color in North Georgia?
Georgia State Parks' own Leaf Watch list of popular fall-color parks includes, in the North Georgia mountains, Amicalola Falls near Dawsonville, Black Rock Mountain near Clayton, Tallulah Gorge, Moccasin Creek on Lake Burton, Smithgall Woods and Unicoi near Helen, Vogel near Blairsville and Fort Mountain near Chatsworth. The agency encourages weekday visits because access can be limited once parking fills.
What is the highest point in Georgia?
Brasstown Bald, in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, is the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 feet above sea level. The U.S. Forest Service runs a visitor information center at the summit and notes it is a short drive from Blairsville, Hiawassee and Helen. For comparison, Georgia's highest state park, Black Rock Mountain near Clayton, sits at 3,640 feet.
Source: USDA Forest Service, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
When is Helen Oktoberfest?
The 2026 Helen Oktoberfest runs September 10 through November 1 at the Helen Festhalle, according to the Helen Chamber, which bills it as the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States. Helen itself is styled as Georgia's Alpine Village, remade with Bavarian-style facades in 1969. Downtown Helen is about 1 hour 52 minutes from downtown Atlanta without traffic.
Source: Helen Chamber of Commerce
When is Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega?
Gold Rush Days is always held the third full weekend in October, according to its organizers. The festival celebrates Dahlonega's 1828 discovery of gold, which set off the first significant gold rush in the United States. Dahlonega's historic public square, laid out in 1833, is the heart of the town and sits about 1 hour 24 minutes from downtown Atlanta without traffic.
Source: Gold Rush Days Festival (Dahlonega Jaycees)
When is the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay?
The Georgia Apple Festival is held over two weekends in October in Ellijay and East Ellijay. Ellijay is the seat of Gilmer County, which the chamber calls the Apple Capital of Georgia; local orchards harvest more than 22 apple varieties from June through November, and some, like B.J. Reece Orchards, offer U-pick apples, a bakery and a petting farm.
Source: Georgia Apple Festival
When is the Georgia Marble Festival in Jasper?
The Georgia Marble Festival is held the first full weekend of October in Jasper, the Pickens County seat. It features arts and crafts, music, festival food, quarry tours, marble-sculpting demonstrations and a free Kids Zone. Pickens County sits on a major marble deposit, and the Georgia Marble Museum shares a building with the county visitor center in downtown Jasper.
Source: Pickens County Chamber of Commerce
What October festivals are there in North Georgia towns?
Several recur every October: Dahlonega's Gold Rush Days (third full weekend), Jasper's Georgia Marble Festival (first full weekend), the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay (two weekends), Blairsville's Sorghum in the Mountains Festival, the Cumming Country Fair & Festival, and Blue Ridge's Fall Arts in the Park (second Sunday). Helen Oktoberfest runs through November 1 in 2026. Always confirm dates with the organizer.
Source: Gold Rush Days Festival (Dahlonega Jaycees)
Written by the The Georgia Journal Editorial Team. AI tools help us draft; people check every fact before it publishes.
Dates, times and rules can change. Each listing links the organizer or local government page it came from, with the date we checked it; confirm there before you go.
