Mountain Country Christmas in Lights 2025 is a holiday treat for the entire family at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, GA along the shores of beautiful Lake Chatuge in the Northeast Georgia mountains. The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds will transform into a spectacular, magical holiday walk through light show immersed in Christmas music, arts and crafts, food, fun, entertainment, photo opportunities, train rides, and a visit with Santa Claus!  

Event runs 6pm-9pm Thursday, Friday, & Saturday from November 27 – December 6th. Open EVERY night from December 11th – 23rd! (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) 

*Special Drive Thru on Christmas Eve! We will open from 6pm-9pm. There will be no magic show, train rides, or craft vendors. This is strictly a drive thru event. The Grinch will be on site from 6-8, but Santa will obviously be at the North Pole preparing for his big night. Admission will be $20 per car – CASH ONLY. Because we will have limited staff we can not process credit cards, so please pay with cash. 

The Marshall Tucker Band came together as a young, hungry, and quite driven six-piece outfit in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1972, having duly baptized themselves with the name of a blind piano tuner after they found it inscribed on a key to their original rehearsal space — and they’ve been in tune with tearing it up on live stages both big and small all across the globe ever since. Plus, the band’s mighty music catalog, consisting of more than 20 studio albums and a score of live releases, has racked up multi-platinum album sales many times over. A typically rich MTB setlist is bubbling over with a healthy dose of hits like the heartfelt singalong “Heard It in a Love Song,” the insistent pleading of “Can’t You See” (the signature tune of MTB’s late co-founding lead guitarist and then-principal songwriter Toy Caldwell), the testifying “Fire on the Mountain,” the wanderlust gallop of “Long Hard Ride,” and the explosive testimony of “Ramblin,’” to name but a few.

Chris Janson is the real deal—an accomplished, award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter. Janson’s live shows and songwriting set him on a path of great success. The Grand Ole Opry member has amassed billions of global streams, Gold and Multi-Platinum awards, more than 10M in sales as a solo artist, and excess of 15M in sales combined with hits recorded by other notable artists such as Tim McGraw “Truck Yeah”, Lo Cash “How I’ll Always Be”, Hank Williams Jr. “Love This Life”, and more. Janson is best known for his true-to-self anthems, five of which are Number 1 hits,including “Buy Me A Boat”(5xPlatinum), “Fix A Drink”(Platinum), “Good Vibes”(Platinum), “All I Need Is You”and “Done”(Gold). Additional certifications include “Drunk Girl”(Platinum), “Holdin Her”(Gold), and his Buy Me a Boat album (Gold). Janson has been awarded twice with the prestigious NSAI “Top 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” award, received an ACM Award, iHeart Radio Country Song of The Year award, among numerous nominations from the ACM and CMA. He is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, mastering more than 10 instruments.Aside from his music, Janson is a happily married husband and a father. He is involved in many notable Conservation and Philanthropy efforts, alongside his long-time partnership with Bass Pro Shops and his official partnership with nationally branded, Crav’n Flavor. Chris Janson was a small-town kid who dreamed big, won big, and proudly lives the American Dream.

Hiawassee Highlands Wine Festival on April 25, 2026 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wineries, Live Music, Food Vendors, Arts & Crafts Shuttles to local Hotels and Campgrounds

Georgia Mountain Fire & Smoke Cooking Festival in Hiawassee, Georgia will host over 100 Cooks/Chefs offering generous samples of their specialties to all paid attendees that they will prepare on top-of-the-line grills, griddles and smokers. Taster tickets are $30 each, children 12 and under get in free. Early Bird Tickets are $25 each and available through December 31, 2025!

Georgia Mountain Fair Pro Rodeo, May 23 – 24, 2026 at 8pm Join us Memorial Day Weekend for a Rodeo! Enjoy the best bucking horses, bulls, world class contestants from all over the United States and Canada, and the top of the line specialty acts! This is a family event that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat with live entertainment! Admission: $25 – Ages 6 years and up (Children 5 & under Free)

Whether or not your family’s heritage has Scottish ties, come experience Scotland without the need of a passport or international flight across the ocean. Highland dancers, Scottish athletes, family clans, bagpipes and drums and traditional musicians will come to celebrate their heritage at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds on June 6 and 7, 2026. 

Admission prices for 2026 are Saturday $25 per person, Sunday $20 per person. Ticket price for BOTH days $35 per person for groups of 10 or more $15 per person. Children 7-12 are $5 each and those 6 and under are free. There are no additional charges for any of the children’s activities. There is no additional charge for parking; handicapped parking is available first come first serve.

The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds hosts all the events beginning at 9 am each day. The opening ceremony with the massed bands and parade of tartans will be at 12 noon on Saturday.

Sheep dogs herding sheep and ducks, falcons and birds of prey, Scottish Cows, all come with their handlers. Scottish Athletes, Highland dancers, pipers and drummers all come to celebrate the culture of Scotland, here in the highlands of North Georgia. The blacksmith/knife smith demonstrations and Clan Nan Con will be in set up in the vendor area.

Wee lads and lassies are encouraged to come to the festival with their family. Special activities for the children include the “passport to the clan” where children visit clan tents and learn one fact about each clan earning a stamp, once their passport is full they receive a prize. There will also be face painting and other activities especially for the wee ones. There is no additional charge for any of the children’s activities.

What is a festival without shopping? Many favorite vendors with traditional Scottish wares, clothing and food are returning plus new merchants who are making their first trek to the Georgia Mountain Scottish Festival. Delicious Scottish food, jewelry, sporran, kilts, T-shirts, clothing, and many more Scottish items will be available for purchase.

Come experience “a wee bit of Scotland in the Mountains of North Georgia!”

With a legacy spanning decades,Shenandoah remains one of country music’s most enduring and influential bands. Known for their rich harmonies and heartfelt storytelling, the Grammy, CMA, and ACM Award-winning group has delivered timeless hits like”Two Dozen Roses,”“Church on Cumberland Road,”“Next to You, Next to Me,”“Sunday in the South,”“I Want to Be Loved Like That,”and”Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart.”A platinum-selling powerhouse with over a billion career streams, Shenandoah’s music continues to resonate across generations. Their recent collaborations have reignited fan excitement—“Two Dozen Roses” featuring Luke Combs and “Sunday in the South” featuring Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan both soared to#1 on the iTunes All-Genre Chart, proving the band’s influence is as strong as ever.With a sound that helped define the golden era of ‘90s country and a presence that still commands today’s stages and charts, Shenandoah remains a pillar of American country music.

Sail into summer at the Hiawassee DDA’s 4th Annual FUN-Draiser featuring A1A – The Official & Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show!

On July 18, 2026, we’re taking Towns County straight to paradise. Doors open at 5:30pm and the concert kicks off at 7pm. It will be an evening of classic island vibes and feel-good Buffett energy!

This isn’t just a concert — it’s an experience. Kick back island-style with food trucks, browse a huge silent auction, try your luck with our wine pull, and throw your fins up for a 50/50 raffle.

Two ticket tiers help you choose your version of paradise:

🌴 General Admission – bring your flip-flops and enjoy the island breeze.

🌺 VIP Tables – six premium seats closest to the stage, a delicious charcuterie board, two bottles of wine, and complimentary water/tea/lemonade. It’s basically a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” level upgrade… minus the cheeseburger (but trust us, the food trucks have you covered).

And here’s the best part: every ticket sold helps us grow the Paris Business Center, Hiawassee’s new hub for entrepreneurship and community innovation. The PBC is a thriving small business center and incubator where our region’s businesses can test ideas, attend workshops, and find the support they need to succeed. When you party with us, you’re fueling local jobs, expanding resources for small business owners, and helping this revitalized historic building shine in the heart of downtown. Now that’s a reason to raise a glass!

A1A brings the authenticity, energy, and beach-party magic that venues nationwide call a 10 out of 10, “pure escapism,” and “an experience!” If you’re ready for an unforgettable night on island time, grab your tickets now, because it’s always 5 o’clock in Hiawassee on July 18th.

Fins up — we’ll see you at the FUN-Draiser!

LASER LIGHT SHOW

JULY 25

KIDS ACTIVITIES 5 – 9 P.M. (kids 12 and under free)

LASER SHOW AT 9:45 P.M.

Peter is ready to perform some of his biggest hits from his legendary pop band Herman’s Hermits. See him take on the Anderson Music Hall Stage at 7pm!

THE BELLAMY BROTHERS: THE LOVE STILL FLOWS…

Howard and David continue to prove that the trail they’ve ridden to fame has been as unique as their

music itself—music that is now celebrating 40 years of success.

The Bellamy Brothers latest project is their new album titled ‘40 Years’ is an ambitious project that

celebrates their career with 20 of their biggest hits and then adds 20 brand new songs in this 2 cd

anniversary collection.

EXILE…

Exile formed in 1963, looking to play small clubs in Richmond, Kentucky, but managed to top both the pop and country charts during their 60-year-long career. Their most successful hit, “Kiss You All Over” spent four weeks at the top of Billboard’s pop chart in 1978. In the early 1980s Exile started to focus on country music. During their run on the country charts, Exile has successfully had ten No. 1 singles, including “I Don’t Want To Be A Memory” and “Give Me One More Chance.” The hit song “Kiss You All Over” was used in the 1996 Adam Sandler movie Happy Gilmore and in the 2006 film Employee of the Month. They have toured with acts including Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, The Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers and The Judds. The five original Exile members re-formed in 2008 and continue to tour today. Current members of the band include J.P. Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny LeMaire, Marlon Hargis and Steve Goetzman. 2023 celebrates 60 years for the band and the 45th anniversary of the hit song “Kiss You All Over.” The band is currently on tour promoting their most ambitious album project ever, A Million Miles Later, released in August 2023.

Multi-platinum Quartz Hill Records’ Joe Nichols is one of country music’s most-lauded recording artists. A 21st century traditionalist, Nichols is an artist who is both timely and timeless – one who has racked up more than TWO BILLION cumulative audio streams/views including a half-dozen No. 1 singles and ten Top 10 hits with a sound that blurs the boundaries between country music’s past and present. It’s an approach that has earned Nichols three GRAMMY nominations, a CMA award, an ACM trophy, a CMT “Breakthrough Video of the Year” Award as well as multiple gold and platinum-certified records. Nichols’ additional honors include awards from Billboard, Radio & Records and Music Row Magazine as well as a New York Times “Best-Albums-of-the-Year” nod. The celebrated star has appeared on national media programs ranging from the ACM Presents: Superstar Duets in CBS primetime to The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The View, Entertainment Tonight and Austin City Limits. He also made his big screen debut in the feature film Murder at Yellowstone City.

Nichols’ 11th career studio album, Honky Tonks and Country Songs, is available now across all digital retailers and streaming partners. The first single from the album, “Better Than You,” is a Top 40 hit and rising at U.S. Country Radio.

The Randy Travis: More Life Tour

More Life Tour features the legendary country singer and his co-star in independent film The Price, James Dupré. The Country Music Hall of Fame member’s long-time touring band rejoins “Hoss,” as they affectionately call Travis, on the road for the first time since right before his stroke in 2013. The show will consist of Dupré and the band performing all of his iconic number ones including “On The Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “Three Wooden Crosses.” Randy Travis will make a special appearance, engaging with the audience and taking part in the show. Please note:While he will not be singing, his presence will make for an unforgettable experience.VIP passes are available in most markets that include a meet and greet with the country icon, himself. “We are incredibly excited to be back on the road and give Randy’s fans a chance to hear his music live again, and who better to sing his many hits than James Dupré?” said Mary and Randy Travis. Always wanting to please his fans, and not willing to give up creating despite the after-effects of the stroke, the long-time Grand Ole Opry star stunned the world by releasing two songs newly created with the use of advanced technology over the past two years, “Where That Came From” and “Horses in Heaven.” For more information about the More Life Tour and everything Randy Travis, please visit www.RandyTravis.com.