Every event below comes from the group that runs it or from the Gilmer County Chamber’s calendar, which lists it. Each card shows its source and the day we checked it. Where an organizer has not published a time or a date, we say so instead of guessing, and an event drops off the “coming up” list once its date has passed.
Coming up
55th Annual Georgia Apple Festival
Organizer-published for 2026The 55th Georgia Apple Festival: two weekends of juried handmade and hand-crafted vendors, on-site demonstrations, live music and fair food. Rain or shine, smoke-free, no pets (service animals allowed). The organizer has not yet published dates for the next festival.
$10 per person; children 12 and under free Source: Georgia Apple Festival, checked 2026-10-17
Apple Arts Festival (the downtown sister festival)
Organizer-published for 2026The Georgia Apple Festival's free, pet-friendly and accessible downtown sister festival, with arts and crafts vendors and food beside the square.
Free Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
Annual Fall Festival at Cartecay Vineyards
Organizer-published for 2026The vineyard's annual fall festival, listed on the Gilmer County Chamber calendar. Admission is not published in the listing.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
The Artists Guild with Gilmer Arts
Organizer-published for 2026Gilmer Arts' artists guild sessions at the Dalton Street gallery.
Free for members; $15 for non-members Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
A Homecoming with Downtown Roy & Friends (Gilmer Arts fundraiser)
Organizer-published for 2026A fundraising concert for Gilmer Arts at its downtown playhouse on Dalton Street.
$35 Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
City of Ellijay 2027 budget presentation and public hearing
Organizer-published for 2026The city presents its proposed 2027 budget, then holds a public hearing. Adoption is tentatively set for Nov 2, 2026 at 6 PM.
Source: City of Ellijay, checked 2026-10-17
Highland Crossing Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treat
Organizer-published for 2026A drive-thru trick-or-treat at a shopping center, listed on the Chamber calendar. The organizer is a real-estate brokerage, not the city.
Free Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
SayStrong Halloween 5K & Fun Run
Organizer-published for 2026A Halloween 5K and fun run at the county's River Park.
$30 race registration Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
Trick or Treat with Ellijay Lions Club (7th annual)
Organizer-published for 2026The Lions Club's 7th annual Halloween trick-or-treat, listed on the Chamber calendar. This is not a downtown-square trick-or-treat; no 2026 downtown or Harrison Park trick-or-treat has been published.
Free Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
Acoustic Blends with Gilmer Arts
Organizer-published for 2026Gilmer Arts' free open music forum on the third Friday of the month, at the playhouse on Dalton Street.
Free Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
Vanae Ellis with a Sade Experience (Gilmer Arts fundraiser)
Organizer-published for 2026A Gilmer Arts fundraising concert at the downtown playhouse.
$25–$30 Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
Merry Mountain Town Festival (2nd annual)
Organizer-published for 2026The Gilmer Chamber's second holiday festival downtown, the day after Thanksgiving. The Chamber says more details are coming; no 2026 Christmas parade or tree-lighting time has been published.
Listed in the Chamber's free category; no price given Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
Surrender Hill and Friends Thanksgiving Weekend Show
Organizer-published for 2026A Thanksgiving-weekend concert presented by Gilmer Arts at the downtown playhouse.
$31.30 Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
Gilmer Arts Community Chorus Christmas Concert
Organizer-published for 2026The Gilmer Arts community chorus Christmas concert at the high school's performing arts center.
Adults $10, students $5 Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17
Earlier in 2026 (a guide to next year)
These have already happened. Many repeat on a similar weekend each year, but wait for the organizer’s announcement before planning around a 2027 date.
50th Annual Apple Festival 5K & 1-Mile Race
Organizer-published for 2026The 50th Apple Festival 5K and 1-Mile Race, presented by the Ellijay Lions Club, on the festival's first Saturday.
Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17
Not published yet
- A downtown trick-or-treat for 2026: the community trick-or-treat moved to Harrison Park in 2020, but no 2026 date has been published. The October 31 Lions Club trick-or-treat is at the fairgrounds on South Main, not on the square (Gilmer Chamber calendar).
- A 2026 Christmas parade or tree lighting: none published. The Merry Mountain Town Festival on November 27 is the one dated downtown holiday event (Gilmer Chamber).
- The farmers market: no 2026 or 2027 season published (City of Ellijay).
- Spring 2027: no organizer has published 2027 dates for downtown festivals yet.
Who publishes Ellijay’s calendar
The Gilmer County Chamber runs the downtown festivals at the Welcome Center and the Georgia Apple Festival’s public contact line (Chamber contact). Gilmer Arts runs the Playhouse and gallery programs. The city’s Downtown Development Authority lists events it sponsors or assists, but that is a goals list, not a dated calendar (City of Ellijay). One caution: downtownellijay.com is a downtown directory and events site (contact info@downtownellijay.com). Its footer reads ‘© 2022 all rights reserved DTE’. It is a directory, not the city.
Calendar questions
Who runs downtown Ellijay?
The City of Ellijay, through its Downtown Development Authority, which meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM. Downtown is also a designated Historic District.
Source: City of Ellijay
Is downtownellijay.com the official downtown site?
It is a downtown directory and events site, but it does not identify itself as the city, the DDA or a merchants association. The official city site is ellijay-ga.gov.
Source: downtownellijay.com directory
Is there free live music downtown?
Yes. Gilmer Arts hosts Acoustic Blends, a free open music forum, on the third Friday of every month at the Playhouse, 135 Dalton St.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber
When is the Georgia Apple Festival?
On the second and third weekends of October. The 2026 festival, the 55th, ran October 10–11 and 17–18. The organizer has not yet published 2027 dates.
Source: Georgia Apple Festival
Is there a downtown trick-or-treat in 2026?
None has been published. The October 31 Lions Club trick-or-treat is at the fairgrounds at 1729 S Main St., 6 to 9 PM, not on the square.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber
What's on downtown after the Apple Festival?
The Merry Mountain Town Festival on Friday, November 27, 2026, 11 AM to 7 PM at the Welcome Center, 10 Broad St., plus Gilmer Arts shows and third-Friday Acoustic Blends.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber
When is the Ellijay Christmas parade in 2026?
No 2026 Christmas parade or tree-lighting date has been published by the city, the DDA or the Chamber. We will add it when an organizer announces it.
Source: City of Ellijay
Is the Ellijay farmers market running in 2026?
No 2026 season has been published. The last city schedule was the 2023 season: Saturdays 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, May to September, in the courthouse parking lot on Sand Street.
Source: City of Ellijay
When does the Ellijay City Council meet?
On the third Monday of each month at City Hall: a work session at 5:30 PM and the council meeting at 6:00 PM. Meetings are open to the public.
Source: City of Ellijay
Is the Apple Arts Festival free?
Yes. The downtown Apple Arts Festival at 10 Broad St. is free, pet-friendly and accessible, held the same weekends as the main festival.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber
Dates, hours and fees change. For anything official, the city has the final word: City of Ellijay official site
