Don't Forget the Fall Hammer! 

Mark your calendar for Friday, September 27 & Saturday, September 28 for the Fall Hammer-In at Trackrock. 

Activities include bladesmithing, hawk forging, leather crafting and forge building.  Watch, meet and talk with several talented bladesmiths.  See what it takes to transform old discarded steel scrap metal into functional works of art. Fine craftsmen from several states attend, some collectors bring their collections to display, knifemaking supply vendors participate and others come just like to look and talk knives. 

This is a family oriented event open to all with no admission fees, so come join in the fun!  More info at www.georgiaknifemakersguild.com

We appreciate your overwhelming response to last month's poll for Fall Camp dates. 

We are happy to announce that Fall Horse Camp will be held the week of October 14th.                    ...

If you are interested in a Fall Horse Camp, please email Sonya at trackrockstables@windstream.net 

Forms and more information are available at http://www.trackrockstables.com/horseCamps.html

More Fun Things to Do this Fall!    

Follow this link to the Blairsville Chamber of Commerce newsletter which has many interesting opportunities for this Fall. 

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Fall--The-Perfect-Season-in-Blairsville-Georgia.html?soid=1101861701056&aid=qsO-xZRMJOg

What's Happening...    

August 31 & Sept 1 - Unicoi Art Fest, Helen;

www.robinrobertspromotions.com 

August 31 & Sept 1 - Georgia Mountain Heritage Festival, Blairsville; http://www.unioncountyhistory.org 

September 6 - Merle Haggard in Concernt, Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, Franklin; http://www.greatmountainmusic.com

September 6 - Blairsville Cruisers Block Party, location TBA, Blairsville; http://www.blairsvillecruisers.com

September 6 - Lake Chatuge Classic Fishing Tournament, Hiawassee; http://www.mountaintopga.com

September 7 - Blairsville Cruiser's Cruise-In, Blairsville Restaurant, Blairsville; http://www.blairsvillecrusers.com

September 13, 14 & 15 - Georgia State H.O.G. Rally, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee; http://www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

September 14 - Mountain Music Arts & Crafts Festival, Vogel State Park, Blairsville

September 20 - Glow in the Dark Golf Tournament, Butternut Creek Golf Course, Blairsville: http://www.unioncountyga.gov

September 21 & 22 - Celebrate Autumn Arts & Crafts Show, North Georgia Technical College, Blairsville; http://www.mtnregartscraftsguild.com/

September 26 thru October 27 - Oktoberfest, Helen; http://www.helenga.org

September 27 thru 29 - St. Francis of Assisi Fall Festival, Blairsville; 706-745-6400

September 28 - Puttin' on the Dog Fundraiser - food, wine tastings, live music, silent & live auction for the benefit of Towns/Union County Humane Society, Blairsville; http://www.ucfarmersmarket.com

September 28 & 29 - National Alpaca Farm Day Open House, Lasso the Moon Alpaca Farm (just 2 miles from Trackrock), Blairsville; http://www.alpacamoon.com/index.html

September 28 & 29 - Summer's Last Kiss Arts & Crafts Show, Hiawassee Square; http://www.mountaintopga.com/events/

October 3 - Fall Foliage Train Ride, Blue Ridge; http://www.brscenic.com

October 4 - Blairsville Cruisers Car Show & Block Party, 4-8pm, Union County Farmer's Market, Blairsville; www.blairsvillecruisers.com

October 5 & 6 - Indian Summer Festival, Suches; http://www.indiansummerfestval.org

October 5 & 6 - John Campbell Folk School Fall Festival, Brasstown, NC; www.folkschool.org

October 5 - Blairsville Cruisers Cruise-In at the Blairsville Restaurant, 4-8pm, Blairsville; http://www.blairsvillecruisers.com

October 5 - Foxfire Mountaineer Festival, Rabun County Civic Center, Clayton; http://www.foxfiremountaineer.org

October 10 thru 12 - Autumn Leaves Craft Show, Franklin, NC; more info at 828-349-4324 

October 11 thru 19 - Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee; http://www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

October 12 - Georgia Mountain Jubilee, Clayton; http://www.georgiamountainjubileecom

October 12 & 13 - Blairsville Sorghum Festival, Meeks Park, Blairsville; http://www.sorghumfestivalblairsville.com

October 12 & 13 - Fall Arts in the Park, Blue Ridge; http://www.blueridgearts.net

October 12 & 13 - Georgia Apple Festival, Ellijay; http://www.gilmerchamber.com

October 19 & 20 - Blairsville Sorghum Festival (2nd weekend), Meeks Park, Blairsville; http://www.sorghumfestivalblairsville.com

October 19 & 20 - Georgia Apple Festival (2nd weekend), Ellijay; http://www.gilmerchamber.com

October 19 & 20 - Gold Rush Days, Dahlonega; http://www.dahlonega.org

October 19 - 29th Annual Good Neighbors Classic Car Show, United Community Bank, Blairsville

October 25 & 26 - Misty Mountain Quilters Guild Quilt Fest, Union County High School Gym, Blairsville; http://www.mistymountainquiltguild.org

October 25 & 26 - 17th Annual Pumpkin Festival, Franklin, NC; http://www.pumpkinfestfranklin.com

October 26 - Annual Harvest Festival, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris; http://www.cranecreekvineyards.com

October 26 & 27 - Punkin' Chunkin', Brasstown NC; http://www.ncmtnchamber.com/activities/fall/punkin-chunkin

October 26 & 27 - Rabun Leaf Festival, Rabun County Civic Center, Clayton; http://www.robinrobertspromotions.com

October 27 - Pumpkin Express Train Ridge, Blue RIdge; http://www.brscenic.com

Every Wednesday & Saturday, tours at 2pm - Misty Mountain Model Railroad, http://www.mistymountainmodelrailroad.com

She'll Be Coming Down the Mountain...

She's very subtle.  You'll first notice that little chill in the evening air.  Next you might hear sounds that make you think of her, the crackle of a late evening fire, a certain rustle of the leaves as you take a stroll along a trail, and then before you know it she's here! Lady Autumn has arrived in all her gloriously colored finery!

After experiencing Trackrock in the fall, I can say it's like no other fall season I've seen anywhere.  Surrounded by our beautiful mountains year-round, you start to notice just at the tip-top peaks a difference in the shades of the trees.  As the days in fall go by you'll see that bit of color, the golds, reds, yellows and everything in between, slowly come down the mountain.  If you could fast forward a video camera and point it toward our mountains, I have no doubt Lady Autumn would appear to be pulling down a multicolored shade over the greenness of summer, just a bit at a time.  It's a sight to behold!

Now is the time to get out that light jacket, stack up the firewood, go for that late afternoon horse back ride or stroll and enjoy the ambiance of Mother Nature in her beautiful new clothing.  Hot dogs, s'mores and campfire stories go well together around the crackle of the fire in evening-time.  

Folks visiting Trackrock can enjoy the laid back comfort of fall for weeks on end, starting late August and early September, first with the deep reds and not ending until the last yellow leaf falls from the maples in November.  If you've never experienced Trackrock in the fall, why not start this year?