Each fall, Dahlonega’s historic square fills with music, hand-crafted art, and the scent of festival food as Gold Rush Days returns. Held annually on the third full weekend in October, the two-day celebration honors the area’s 1828 gold discovery and welcomes thousands of visitors to explore more than 200 arts, crafts, and food booths across the Public Square and Historic District. It’s a classic small-town festival with a big footprint—rooted in heritage and focused on community.

Dahlonega’s story is foundational to American mining history. Two decades before California’s 1849 rush, prospectors poured into the North Georgia mountains, sparking the nation’s first major gold rush. To stabilize commerce and coin local gold, the U.S. opened a Branch Mint in Dahlonega in 1838, which produced over $6 million in gold coins before closing in 1861. Reminders of that era still shape the town’s identity today.

The festival’s setting is part of the experience. At the center of town, the Old Lumpkin County Courthouse (1836) now houses the Dahlonega Gold Museum, where visitors can see artifacts from the mining era and learn how gold transformed the region. Local lore even notes the courthouse’s brick contains trace amounts of gold—a tangible nod to the past that sits just steps from vendor tents and live music stages each October.

Gold Rush Days is intentionally volunteer-run and mission-driven. The organizers emphasize servant leadership, preservation of local history, and support for small businesses. One hundred percent of festival profits are returned to the community—funding scholarships for local students, the Empty Stocking holiday program, direct assistance initiatives, and other nonprofit efforts throughout the year. The event has also been recognized as a Top 20 Event in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, a testament to its quality and regional draw.

Beyond nostalgia, the festival delivers real economic impact. Downtown shops, restaurants, lodging, and outfitters benefit from the steady stream of fall travelers, while civic groups raise funds and recruit new volunteers. The timing coincides with peak leaf color, giving out-of-town guests a scenic introduction to Lumpkin County’s trails, wineries, and waterways—and encouraging repeat visits long after the tents come down.

History doesn’t sit behind glass here—it’s lived. Families can pair a festival day with a stop at the Gold Museum or a gold-themed experience nearby, connecting the dots from early placer mining and the Dahlonega Mint to the modern, welcoming mountain town that grew from it. That blend of heritage, hospitality, and hands-on community service is why Gold Rush Days endures: it’s not just a weekend on the calendar, but a tradition that stitches together Dahlonega’s past and future—year after year.