Build your Ellijay day
Pick a date and what you like. The planner lays out a day from this guide’s checked hours, events, seasons and closures.
Three days that work (the planner needs JavaScript; these don’t)
- Half day on the square: the Gilmer Arts Gallery at 207 Dalton St. (Tue–Sat 11–5), lunch from the places on and around the square, then the Tabor House History Museum at 138 Spring St. (Thu, Fri and the first four Saturdays, 11–3, mid-March to mid-December).
- An orchard day (June–November): Gilmer County harvests over 22 apple varieties in that window; R and A Orchards (5505 GA-52) lists a year-round market, bakery and cafe, and Hillcrest Orchards is at 9696 Hwy. 52 E.
- A lake day: Carters Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir downstream on the Coosawattee; most day-use areas charge $5 per vehicle, card only. Its project office is in Chatsworth, Murray County.
Getting here
The Chamber says Ellijay is “just 90 minutes north of Atlanta” (Gilmer Chamber). GA 515, the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway, runs as a four-lane bypass through East Ellijay (Wikipedia). Measured from East Ellijay, Blue Ridge is about 15 miles northeast, Jasper 19 miles south, Chatsworth 25 miles west and Dahlonega 38 miles southeast on GA 52 (Wikipedia). We have found no sourced drive times from the square itself, so we don’t print any.
When to come
- June to November: apple harvest season in Gilmer County (Gilmer Chamber).
- Second and third weekends of October: the Georgia Apple Festival; the 2026 festival ran October 10–11 and 17–18, and 2027 dates are not yet published (organizer).
- Third Fridays: free Acoustic Blends at the Gilmer Arts Playhouse (Gilmer Chamber).
- November 27, 2026: the Merry Mountain Town Festival at the Welcome Center, 11 AM to 7 PM (Gilmer Chamber).
The events calendar has every organizer-published date.
Before you go
- Tabor House History Museum closes from mid-December to mid-March (Historical Society).
- Gilmer Arts is open Tuesday to Saturday only (Gilmer Arts).
- River tubing and the Carters Lake beach are summer-only.
- No official downtown parking guidance exists; see parking.
Planning questions
Where is Ellijay, Georgia?
Ellijay is the county seat of Gilmer County in the north Georgia mountains. The Gilmer Chamber describes it as about 90 minutes north of Atlanta, in the foothills of the Appalachians.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber
Where is the Tabor House History Museum?
At 138 Spring Street, one block off the square. It is open mid-March to mid-December, 11 AM to 3 PM on Thursdays, Fridays and the first four Saturdays of the month. Phone 706-276-1861.
Source: Gilmer County Historical Society
What are Gilmer Arts' hours?
Gilmer Arts lists Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Phone (706) 635-5605.
Source: Gilmer Arts
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 can you pick apples near Ellijay?
The Chamber says Gilmer County harvests over 22 varieties from June through November. Each orchard sets its own picking days and hours, so check before you drive out.
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
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
How far is Ellijay from Atlanta?
The Gilmer Chamber says Ellijay is 'just 90 minutes north of Atlanta'. We have not found a more exact sourced drive time.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber
How far is Ellijay from Blue Ridge?
Measured from East Ellijay, Blue Ridge is about 15 miles northeast. Jasper is 19 miles south, Chatsworth 25 miles west and Dahlonega 38 miles southeast on GA 52.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the Gilmer County Chamber visitor office?
At 696 First Avenue in East Ellijay, not downtown. Phone 706-635-7400, email info@gilmerchamber.com.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber
Is the Downtown Ellijay Welcome Center open every day?
We could not find published opening hours. The Welcome Center at 10 Broad St. is the listed venue for the Chamber's downtown festivals; call the Chamber at 706-635-7400 before you go.
Source: Gilmer County Chamber
Dates, hours and fees change. For anything official, the city has the final word: City of Ellijay official site
