Saturday is the first day of autumn, and Cornelia is celebrating the new season in a big way. The city is hosting its annual Big Red Apple Festival from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. downtown.
The event features typical festival fare with craft and food vendors and live entertainment. The Habersham Key Club and Kiwanis will host the 35th annual Big Red Apple Festival Car Show.
In addition, there are inflatables for the kids to enjoy, cornhole, axe throwing, a mechanical bull, and a special appearance from the Ice Queen. Elsa of Arendelle is taking photos with themed backdrops, signing autographs, and performing live!
“It’s fun for the whole family, so bring everyone, including the pets,” encourages Cornelia Main Street Manager Noah Hamil.
Street closings
Each year, the Cornelia Big Red Apple Festival attracts thousands to the downtown district. The area is closed to traffic during the event.
On Friday, Sept. 22, Cornelia issued a notice alerting residents again to the street closings and cautioning that vehicles left in these designated areas will be towed:
- Clarkesville Street will close on Friday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m.
- Irvin Street, Hodges Street, Larkin Street, Front Street, and the parking lots at Appletree Alley and the historic Depot will close on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 12:01 a.m.
Festival parking
“Please be advised that all on-street parking will be considered handicapped parking on Saturday, and all others will be issued citations,” says Hamil.
Public parking lots are open to the general public on Wells, Foreacre, Larkin, and South Main streets. Festival parking is also allowed at North Main Credit Union, the Cornelia Library, the grassy lot on Stovall Street, and the Georgia Department of Labor on Hodges Street.
