Festivals, Flying Pumpkins and Falling Temperatures Pack a Big Mountain Weekend

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — The mountains are putting on a full fall weekend, with two festivals, the closing day of a third, and the season's first real taste of cold weather all on the calendar.

In Blairsville, Sorghum in the Mountains takes over Meeks Park on Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 a.m., after Hurricane Isaias wiped out the festival's first weekend. The Sorghum Parade rolls Saturday at 10 a.m. on a revised route through downtown — Blue Ridge Street construction sends the parade down England, Kimsey and Cleveland streets and around the square — with road closures beginning about 9:30 a.m. Festivalgoers can watch sorghum syrup being made the old-fashioned way and take in log sawing, pole climbing and the biscuit-eating contest.

In Brasstown, the Punkin Chunkin Festival gets an early start Friday evening with the "Anything Pumpkin" and Chili Cook-off at 6 p.m. on the historic Hayesville square. The main event follows Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 811 Settawig Road, where trebuchets and air cannons launch pumpkins in sessions from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $5, parking is $5, and children under 5 get in free. No pets or firearms are allowed.

Hiawassee wraps up its fall run Saturday with the final day of the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, capped by Tanya Tucker in concert at 7 p.m. Tickets run $55 to $75 and include festival admission.

The weather will feel like late fall. A cold front moves through Friday evening with showers and gusty winds, giving way to a mostly sunny Saturday with highs around 60. Saturday night turns clear and cold, with lows in the low to mid-30s and frost likely at higher elevations — residents should cover tender plants before dark. Sunday stays sunny and cool, with highs in the mid-60s.