It's back to another weekend after the holiday-shortened work week, but that just means more ways to get out and have fun across Northest Georgia!
Here is this weekend's list of events:
Name: Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Gainesville
Date & Time: Saturday, September 6, 5:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd., Gainesville
Details: Join us in September 6th, 2025 for the annual Lake Lanier Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Georgia’s biggest Hong Kong cultural event of the year! Thousands of competitors and spectators join to cheer their favorite teams, witness cultural events during the opening ceremonies, and indulge in cuisine from around the world. Get the full schedule of the day’s events online at www.dragonboatatlanta.com.
Name: TGIF: Pep Rally, Winder
Date & Time: Friday, September 5, 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: Jug Tavern Park, 139 E Athens St., Winder
Details: Get ready to cheer on the new school year at TGIFF – Thank Goodness It’s a First Friday. This month’s focus will be a Pep Rally in downtown Winder! Enjoy performances by local schools, a DJ, inflatable games, a rock wall, and delicious food trucks. This free event is the perfect way to bring the community together and celebrate school spirit with friends and family. In addition to the festivities, the City of Winder is partnering with Apalachee High School to host a resource fair, offering support and information for those who may need it as the community marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic event at the school. Get details at https://www.cityofwinder.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/5262/17?curm=9&cury=2025.
Name: 55th Annual Oktoberfest, Helen
Date & Time: Now Through November 2, Various Times
Location: 1047 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen
Details: Join us at the Helen Festhalle for the OFFICIAL Helen Oktoberfest celebration! The Helen Oktoberfest is the longest running Oktoberfest in the United States. The 2025 Helen Oktoberfest runs from September 4 through November 2. The 2025 Oktoberfest Parade will begin at 12:00 PM on Saturday, September 6, 2025. The tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest will take place immediately after the parade at the Fussen Biergarten at the Helen Festhalle. Get all the Oktoberfest details online at https://helenchamber.com/oktoberfest/.
Name: 57th Yellow Daisy Festival, Stone Mountain
Date & Time: Now Through Sunday, September 7, 9a.m. – 5p.m./6 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Location: 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain
Details: Celebrate one of the nation’s top arts & crafts festivals - named among the best by Sunshine Artist Magazine and the Southeast Tourism Society! Now in its 57th year, the Yellow Daisy Festival brings together more than 400 artists and crafters for four full days of shopping, creativity, and fun at Stone Mountain Park. Get details by visiting https://stonemountainpark.com/yellow-daisy-festival/.
CONCERTS
Name: First Friday Concerts, Gainesville
Date & Time: Friday, September 5, 4 – 10 p.m.
Location: 112 Main St., SW, Gainesville
Details: Enjoy the beauty of Downtown Gainesville with a free community concert. Just bring a blanket or lawn chair! This month you can enjoy classic country tunes with the Gregg Erwin Band. First Friday Concerts are rain or shine! The vendors’ booths and kids’ activities kick off at 4 p.m. and at 7 p.m. the concert begins. Find out more information by visiting https://www.exploregainesville.org/first-friday-concerts/.
Name: Music in the Branch, Flowery Branch
Date & Time: Sunday, September 7, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Location: Flowery Branch Amphitheater, 5603 Mitchelle St., Flowery Branch
Details: Join us on the 1st Sunday of each month at 6:30 PM for Music in the Branch, our free concert series featuring incredible local artists! Bring your lawn chair, your friends, and your love for live music to the amphitheater and enjoy an evening of great tunes under the stars. This month’s featured group is “The WheelMen.” Get all the details at https://discoverlakelanier.com/events/.
Name: Brother Jason and the Red Dirt Saints, Cumming
Date & Time: Friday, September 5, 7-9 p.m.
Location: Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd., Cumming
Details: Music That’s Good for Your Soul. Hailing from the Foothills of North Georgia, Jason Gardner is new talent with an old soul. You can catch him, or his band, playing at your local bars and breweries, filling the room with his powerful vocals and bluesy guitar licks. Perfect for all ages and audiences. This is a free concert for the community. Just bring a blanket or lawn chair. Get details at https://cummingcitycenter.com.
Name: Elevation, U2 Tribute Concert, Cumming
Date & Time: Saturday, September 6, 7-9 p.m.
Location: Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd., Cumming
Details: The Fall Concert Series at Lou Sobh Amphitheater provides free concerts for the community. This week join us for a special tribute to U2, by Elevation, a band based out of Atlanta. Just bring a blanket or lawn chair; your friendly dog on-leash are also welcome. Get details at https://cummingcitycenter.com.
Name: Rock the Block, Duluth
Date & Time: Friday, August 15, 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: Duluth Town Green, 3167 Main St., Duluth
Details: Get ready to turn up the volume and kick off the weekend with Rock The Block: Live & Loud Fridays! Every Friday night from May 30 – September 19, Town Green transforms into the ultimate outdoor concert experience. This week’s featured group is Sarah Nova Band. This band brings cover music to life with fresh energy and storytelling. They find a way to turn familiar covers into immersive, memorable moments! Find out all the details online at https://downtownduluthga.net.
Name: Rumours ATL: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Athens
Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m.
Location: Georgia Theater, 215 N. Lumpkin St., Athens
Details: This show is for those ages 18 and older. Enjoy all your favorite Fleetwood Mac sounds and songs by this favorite tribute band. Get your tickets by visiting https://www.americantowns.com/event/rumours-atl-a-fleetwood-mac-tribute-18-over-2025-09-05-tm-athens-ga.html.
THEATER PRODUCTIONS
Name: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Dahlonega
Date & Time: Now through Sunday, September 7, Various Times
Location: Holly Theater, 69 W. Main St., Dahlonega
Details: The classic tale of a magical wardrobe that takes 4 siblings to new and magical worlds. They encounter a witch, a lion, This show is 1 hour long and rated G – perfect for all ages! Get your tickets by visiting https://hollytheater.com.
Name: Steel Magnolias, Dahlonega
Date & Time: Now Through Sunday, September 14, Weekends Only, Various Times
Location: Menagerie Theater, 406 East Main St., Suite A2, Dahlonega
Details: Steel Magnolias is a poignant comedy-drama that explores the lives and friendships of a group of Southern women in a small Louisiana town, highlighting their resilience in the face of life's challenges. Produced by MelloDrama Productions, get your tickets at https://www.mellodramaproductions.com/.
Name: Players Guild Presents: The Mousetrap, Sugar Hill
Date & Time: Now Through September 14, Various Times
Location: The Eagle Theatre, 5029 W Broad St., Sugar Hill
Details: The Players Guild brings the mystery The Mousetrap to life at the Eagle Theatre. The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie is a murder mystery set in a snowy countryside guesthouse, where a group of strangers become suspects when a murder occurs nearby and a detective arrives. The newly opened Monkswell Manor, run by Mollie and Giles Ralston, becomes the stage for a thrilling game of cat and mouse as the snow-bound guests reveal their secrets and suspicions. Get tickets by going to https://cityofsugarhill.com/events/event/players-guild-presents-the-mousetrap/.
Name: The Wiz, Lawrenceville
Date & Time: Now through September 7, Various Times
Location: Lawrenceville Arts Center, 125 N. Clayton St., Lawrenceville
Details: Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Wiz at the Lawrenceville Arts Center—experience the magic of this Tony Award-winning musical filled with R&B, soul, and gospel as Dorothy journeys through a dazzling Oz! Get tickets online at https://my.lvilleartscenter.com/overview/142252.
