Oktoberfest in Helen, GA
Oktoberfest is a huge bucket list trip of mine but getting the time and money to visit Munich during that time is a bit difficult. Thankfully, there’s another option: Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia! This year I’m taking my mom and my golden doodle Maddi to check out this quaint alpine village’s longest running Oktoberfest to satisfy my fall travel urges. Check out how I spent 24 hours in Helen, GA and plan your next fall getaway!
FUN FACT: Helen, GA used to be a lumber town but the more popular plastic became, the more the town struggled. They had to come up with a plan to make the town a success and decided to turn it into a German inspired tourist destination. Clearly, it worked out well for them!
When To Visit for Oktoberfest
Helen is a popular getaway any time of the year but September and October is when you’ll find the town hosting Oktoberfest.
The parade is held on the first Saturday of September then Oktoberfest runs from Thursday to Sunday during September, before becoming a daily activity through the end of October.
Photo by: White County News Staff
Similar to the German celebrations, the weekdays are quite different from the weekend celebrations. Weekends are definitely a busier time to visit, especially for college students and tours, while the weekdays are more family-friendly. All ages are always welcome though, no matter the day you choose to experience the event.
Admission during the week is $10, then $15 on Fridays and Saturdays. We visited on a Sunday which is FREE so we only had to pay for our food and drinks.
Peak Week is one of my favorite times of the year, especially in this area, so I wanted to visit a little later in October. Seeing the leaves changing all around me plus driving around the Blue Ridge Mountain Range was the perfect way to celebrate the fall season!
September: Thursday - Sunday
October: Any day of the month! Sunday is my suggestion for less crowds and free admission
November - August: The town is always filled with its German alpine charm, there just won’t be Oktoberfest events taking place
December: Feeling the need for a Christmas Market? Helen, GA won’t disappoint! Watch Christmas Love Letter (currently streaming on Hulu & Disney+) to see just how beautiful Helen is during the Christmas season!
Where To Stay
The town itself is quite small so there’s not an endless amount of places to stay like in bigger cities. Staying on a Sunday night made it easier to find accommodations and there were still a decent amount of options available during the week when I made my booking. I booked our room around September 25th, but if you want to stay on a Friday or Saturday night I’d suggest booking your hotel further in advance.
We wanted to be within walking distance of downtown but not smack dab in the middle of everything so we chose The Heidi Motel. I had originally booked another hotel but saw the reviews afterwards and quickly switched to The Heidi Motel. Best decision ever! This place was everything we were looking for: quiet, clean, comfy, within walking distance of downtown and dog-friendly.
Having a place to come back to after wandering through the town was well worth the hotel fee (which was surprisingly affordable) and the beds here were so comfy that I felt like I was sleeping on a cloud. Even my mother was saying she wanted to ask where they bought them.
There were a few other places we were considering that had alpine-inspired charm to them like Valhalla Resort Hotel and Castle Inn. If you want something a bit more simple there’s some national chain hotels to choose from like the Holiday Inn, Marriott and Quality Inn.
If you’re traveling with a group, there’s a lot of cabins on Airbnb nearby with remarkable views of the Blue Ridge Mountains! They’re a little further out (maybe 10-20 minutes from downtown) so you’ll have to drive into town but it would be perfect for a weekend getaway. If you do drive into town, there’s plenty of parking and it’s all $10 per day.
Where To Eat
When it comes to finding great food in Helen, the possibilities are endless! Of course, there’s German inspired options all around you, but there’s also delicious pizza and burger joints, southern comforts, light options from Betty’s Country Store (one of the cutest stores you’ll ever find) and more.
We couldn’t decide on a single place so we bopped around to test out a few different spots. The Festhalle is where you’ll find every traditional German dish imaginable, however it’s not pet-friendly so we didn’t go inside.
The Heidelberg was a place I really wanted to enjoy but they were also not pet-friendly. Do not believe the “pets welcome” sign on Apple Maps and Yelp…they’re not allowed. They were nice about it and apologetic but if you’re traveling with a pup, keep in mind that they won’t be allowed in here. Thankfully, King Ludwig’s Biergarten was extremely welcoming of pets so we got to enjoy a mug of Oktoberfest Amber beer and a Sausage Plate with German Potato Salad (yum!) while listening to live music and taking in the city’s German scenery.
Here’s some of my favorite places for experiencing authentic Bavarian pretzels, schnitzel, bratwurst, sauerkraut and sweet treats:
What To Do
Explore the Downtown Shops
There’s so much to explore in downtown Helen! Almost all of the shops are local and run by artists, craftsmen and families so you’ll be supporting small businesses throughout your visit. The Glassblowing Shop had an array of unique and beautiful glass jewelry, home decor, barometers, holiday ornaments and more—plus there was an artist working their craft while we stopped in—no photos allowed so please respect their preferences while they work.
There were so many shops to choose from but a few stood out more than others for me:
Wildewood Shop - there were so many patio decor items to transform your space into a backyard oasis along with handcrafted jewelry, candles, clothes, knick knacks and more, plus a space for gem mining to see what unique pieces you can sift out.
Glassblowing Shop - I could’ve spent hours in here just watching the artist work. I actually want to find out of there’s glassblowing classes near me in Nashville when I’m home because this could easily become my newest addiction
Christmas Shoppe - this should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever met me. My obsession with Christmas may be stronger than Chris Kringle’s
FUN FACT: the love balloon found in the middle of the downtown square (also called Marktplatz) was crafted by local welders at Owens Welding in Cleveland so that visitors could place their love lockets here instead of the bridges in town. The locks were adding almost 15,000 pounds of weight to the bridges in town so they created a gorgeous solution that doesn’t cause damage to this gorgeous little town. The hot air balloon is a symbol for the city because of the Atlantic Balloon Race
Stroll Along the River
Heidi is perfectly situated along the Chattahoochee River so make sure you take time to slow down and cross the bridge to listen to the water flowing. You can even take a tube ride down the river when the weather is warmer. During the later months of the year though, bundle up and enjoy the river from the bridge or one of the restaurants overlooking it like Alpine Brew Deck, Troll Tavern, Cafe International, Paul’s Steakhouse or their Margarita Deck just behind the Steakhouse. Sadly the margarita deck wasn’t dog-friendly so we couldn’t hangout back there but Alpine Brew Deck was great for all of us to enjoy the scenery and yummy bites.
The Troll Tavern is a really cool space to check out! It’s literally under the bridge so you’ll feel like you’re in a hidden gem tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the Main Street.
Ride the Georgia Mountain Coaster
I was so excited to ride the Mountain Coaster through the trees, especially with the leaves changing! I’m a big adrenaline junkie but, I won’t lie, I was a bit nervous when I walked up to get my ticket. It seems scarier than it really is so don’t let your fear talk you out of enjoying the ride. If you want to go for a second ride on the same day just show them your receipt from your first ride to get the second one half off.
Wander Downtown At Night
Once the sun goes down, do yourself a favor and wander the nearly empty streets and admire the gorgeous lights. Everything closes down a bit earlier here, but that just means you can take a peaceful stroll filled with charm and quiet to admire your surroundings without crowds.
Grab Coffee with a View & a Dog Park
One of my neighbors told me about Jumpin Goat Roasters and I’m so glad she did! I was planning to stop in for coffee to-go and 15-20 minutes to let Maddi get some energy out before our drive home. Things quickly changed and 2 hours later I was forcing myself to leave this magical spot!
They have two locations—one in Helen and another 5 miles down the road in Cleveland. The Helen location is the cutest little country store located in the historic Nacoochee Village (7086 Main Street, Helen, GA). We stopped in to grab a seasonal latte and some bags of coffee to take home.
I didn’t realize it wasn’t at the location with the dog park so, after buying our fresh ground bags, we continued about 10 minutes down the road (2404 Helen Highway, Cleveland, GA) to check out their Roasting House & Tasting Room. The entrance is tucked away a little so be on the lookout for the driveway as soon as you pass the Urgent Care when you’re coming from downtown Helen. It’s very dog-friendly, but be aware that the only dogs allowed inside the Roasting House must be carried. The staff members were the sweetest people and got a total kick out of Maddi abiding by their rules!
After hanging out on the lawn and taking in the beautiful mountain views we moved over to the dog park for Maddi to wander around and play. Many of the locals come here each day specifically to use the dog park so we quickly went from meeting one dog to playing with about 10 fur buddies. I definitely had an exhausted pup for my drive back to Nashville.
Drive Through the Blue Ridge Mountains
This is my favorite time of year with the leaves changing and crisp fall air settling in. Driving from Nashville is usually a 4.5 hour drive but I knew I would be extending it about another hour so I could drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains base. We drove through on a Monday so it felt like we had the road completely to ourselves. The route we chose took us through the Russell Scenic Highway, parts of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Blairsville’s town square and up into North Carolina before heading west towards Chattanooga. This drive is worth every second and I highly suggest making time for it rather than simply sticking to the main highway.
What To Wear
Feeling extra festive? This time of year is your opportunity to go all out and wear a dirndl and make the most of the Bavarian holiday season. If you want to keep it casual that’s totally fine. I wore leggings, a tank top with a warm and cozy cardigan and some good boots I’d be comfortable walking around in. Most people were wearing casual outfits as well, but I did see a lot of people embracing the event with their dirndls and lederhosens. Whatever makes you feel best, you’ll be welcome here.
