Fall is not the only time to visit North Georgia’s mountains – spring with its rhododendron blooms, mountain laurel and perfect weather is a great excuse for a day trip. The communities in the mountains are celebrating this time of year with music, food and art festivals for the next several weekends – so there’s bound to be something that fits your schedule:

 Dahlonega’s Bear on the Square Mountain Festival is April 16-17. Music, food and fun in this pretty little town.

 Celebrate Clayton is scheduled for April 30 and May 1 in Clayton. The 12^th annual event includes arts, music, crafts, gardening and a Mountain Heritage Display by the Rabun County Historical Society.

 The White County Cork & Keg Festival takes place in Helen’s Festhalle on the banks of the Chattahoochee River on May 14. Early bird tickets (thru May 9) are $30. (After that it’s $40.)  Taste some of the local favorite’s restaurants, a number of both local wines and some not-so-local and beer from regional craft breweries. This is the event’s second year – not many events of this kind are priced this low. A Colonel Bruce Hampton concert follows – your taste ticket gets you in.

The next weekend complimentary events are scheduled in Sautee Nacoochee and Clarkesville. The Taste of Sautee brings in the best local restaurateurs, local wineries, 35 talented North Georgia artists and all day entertainment. General admission is $5 and a wine tasting ticket is $20. Just 20 minutes away in Clarkesville, the Mountain Laurel Festival will have more food, crafts and music.

Memorial Day Weekend is the date for the 34th annual Arts in the Park Festival in Blue Ridge, featuring 200 artists, children’s activities, music, dance, fine arts and mountain crafts.

If your May is busy, put the 12 Rivers Arts Festival on your calendar for June 11. This juried festival is in Sautee Nacoochee, which has been proclaimed as “one of the best small arts towns in America.” The festival setting is the beautiful Sautee Valley, with picturesque Lynch Mountain overlooking the historic school house that is home to the Sautee Nacoochee Community Association. There will be good food, music and excellent art.