If you have been thinking about a trip to Helen for tubing, winetasting, or simply a fun get-away from busy everyday life, then you need to know the best times to visit Helen, GA! Below we are going to discuss our top three times of the year that visitors need to know about!
In the Summer
To begin with, we have the summer months which is arguably one of the best times to visit Helen, GA. With tubing and hiking trails being such an extreme attraction in Helen visitors need to know the most optimal times of the year to plan their vacation.
The tubing season typically starts in May around Memorial Day weekend and can last until Mid-October depending on weather.
Additionally, the busiest times will be Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. It would not be a great idea to hit the main summer crowd and float down the river with hundreds of people disturbing your relaxing afternoon.
June and July
The main summer crowd will last through June and July can get quite busy as there will be people everywhere. Alternatively, there are amazing hikes, restaurants and scenic spots to enjoy as well if the river seems to have a few too many tubes in it.
August and September
August and early September are probably the best times to go visit Helen in the summer months when kids are starting up school again and the weather is just warm enough to compensate for the cool river.
We recommend these months for many reasons, but the main one being that less people will mean a more relaxing trip.
We recommend staying for at least 2-3 days when visiting Helen in the summer months to make sure you hit several hiking trails and tube down the river at least once or twice.
In the Fall
The Fall season in Helen is centered around epic hikes through the canopy of multi colored trees, and the city festival of Oktoberfest which has been the longest running Oktoberfest in the US!
The leaves start to change color in mid-October and can occasionally still be seen through late November. Hikes are highly recommended during this period as nature will be at its most beautiful moment!
For instance, if you are a photographer or simply love taking photos of nature, this will be the most opportune time to capture some breathe taking nature shots.
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, which is the main attraction in the fall, is hosted by Helen Festhalle. The entire festival typically kicks off in September and will last until the 27th of October. This festival has everything including beer, brats, bands, parades, and plenty of drinks for all.
The event is scheduled out below for every weekend during September and almost everyday in October. The best times to visit Helen, GA for Oktoberfest are listed below:
Celebration days
- 5th – 8th September (Thursday – Sunday)
- 12th – 15th September (Thursday – Sunday)
- 19th – 22nd September (Thursday – Sunday)
- September 26th – October 27th (Everyday)
The Price of Admission for adults:
- $8 Monday – Friday
- $10 on Saturdays
- Free on Sundays
The Times of daily events:
- Weekdays 6:00 – 10:30
- Friday 6:00 – 12:00
- Saturdays 1:00 – 12:00
- Sundays 1:00 – 7:00
Kids under the age of 6 are free and kids ages 6-12 are half price as the adult prices above.
- $4 Monday – Friday
- $5 on Saturdays
- Free on Sundays
Oktoberfest is the best time of year to see Helen for couples and adults that are looking to get a real authentic German October feel. If you like beer, festivals, community and nature, then I am pretty sure this is the perfect time for you to come to Helen!
In the Winter
In the Winter, you do not have tubing or festivals, but what you do have is Christmas events and winter hiking!
Beginning at the end of November, the winter season starts to take hold. Many of the towns in north Georgia, including Helen, become magical Christmas villages. There is even an annual Christkindlmarkt (which is a fancy word for Christmas market). In addition, there is a Christmas Parade that attracts hundreds of visitors every year.
Christmas Parade
The Christmas parade is usually the first or second Friday of December around 2pm in the afternoon. The parade has Christmas elves, characters, and Santa that walk downtown and greet people.
Christkindlmarkt
The Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market) is usually held in the first two weekends of December on Saturdays and Sundays. The aim is to bring the German tradition for food, music and entertainment to Helen in order to promote culture! Markets will have imported and local Christmas specialties for people to purchase and enjoy! We recommend this as one of the best times to visit Helen, GA.
Both of these events are a great way to kick start your holiday season and get everyone in the festive mood! If you do end up going to either of these events, remember it will be quite chilly in the mountainous air, so it is best to layer up!
Winter Hiking
Meanwhile for the winter hiking, all the trails remain open that are open in the summer and fall seasons. Getting out of the house in the winter is a great rejuvenator for anyone as it is easy to get down and feel stuck at home all the time.
Our favorite path for hiking in the winter is Anna Ruby Falls. It is less than a mile, but it offers 2 gorgeous waterfalls that will make any photo savvy hiker ecstatic. To get there, drive 5 mile north of Helen.
This makes for a great 2-3 hour trip depending on how long it takes you to hike and take photos. There are numerous hikes that can be taken, and most will be decently short, so we suggest taking advantage of the convivence while in Helen.
Dahlonega
Afterward, if you are looking for another awesome location to check out in a day, then definitely check out Dahlonega after seeing all that Helen has to offer! It is a town about 25 miles away has an awesome light display throughout the town. There is also plenty of time for caroling, carriage rides, horse riding, and plenty of eggnog.
For more things to do in Helen, please check out our other article: 5 Things to do in Helen Georgia. Thanks for reading our article on the best times to visit Helen, GA!
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