November in the North Georgia Mountains brings cooler temps, scenic winter landscapes and a number of ways to help you get into the holiday spirit. Make your plans now for a midweek or weekend stay in the Sautee Nacoochee area during the holiday season to enjoy the shopping, festivities, exhibits, mountain holiday culture and more.
Nearby you’ll find the Village of Sautee offers many wonderful shops with unique finds for Christmas giving, as well as the nearby Scenic Highway 197, which features artisans offering everything from fine handcrafted furniture, folk art to metal sculpture and one of a kind art pottery. A variety of shop keepers in the area keep it interesting year round with a unique selection of merchandise no matter when you choose to visit. And Georgia wines from one of the several nearby vineyards also make wonderful Christmas and hostess gifts. Once you settle in, you’ll find that Christmas in Sautee combines a wonderful shopping experience with many opportunities to re-visit the culture of a genuine old fashioned mountain holiday season.
One of the truly wonderful things about the winter season in the Valley area is the opportunity to take in the holiday festivities scheduled here and in neighboring communities. You’ll take home memories of an old fashioned Christmas when you stay in our corner of the North Georgia Mountains, and if you’re lucky, that might include a light dusting of snow to give your photographs that perfect signature.
Come dressed for the winter season and get outside to enjoy a glimpse of holiday mountain heritage. Plan to visit the Sautee Nacoochee Center, our community’s hub of art, culture, music and dance from November 8-December 24, 2013 in the Twin Art Galleries for the Happy Holidays Art Show. Both of the Center’s galleries will be filled with a selection of handmade items perfect for gift giving. Jewelry, paintings, fiber art, stained glass, mosaics, wood carving, and prints are just a few items to check out for gift giving in the Twin Galleries.
Christmas at the Cabin is on the calendar for December 7, 2013 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the African American Heritage Site on the Sautee Nacoochee Center campus. Don’t miss one of the most beautiful and unique local events of the season as primitive and beautiful decorations fill the old African American slave cabin giving visitors a glimpse of an old fashioned Christmas. Take in the scents of Christmas past as beeswax, pine, and cinnamon fill the air. Hot mulled cider, old fashioned gingerbread and handcrafted ornaments will be available. Best of all, you’ll enjoy interpretations of 19th century life by craftsmen, performed by the soft glow of firelight. Traditional tunes, holiday music will be performed by local musicians and a bonfire rounds out this annual event.
Nearby Dahlonega, North Georgia’s historic 19th century gold mining town, will present a series of events and shopping on the square during an Old Fashioned Christmas from November 29 – December 22, 2013. The Lighting of the Square kicks off a month long series of holiday events around downtown Dahlonega that will inspire visitors to get into the spirit of an old fashioned Christmas. The month long celebration offers plenty of opportunities for guests to enjoy horse drawn carriage rides, historical tours of downtown Dahlonega with transportation by old fashioned trolley, old timey music and clogging, Christmas carolers, and handbell ringers and, on December 7, 2013, the annual Christmas Market opens featuring the work of local artisans for sale.