CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — Clarkesville’s past and present will come together on Saturday, October 4, as the city hosts its annual Fall Festival alongside the 3rd annual Clarkesville History Harvest at the Historic Mauldin House and Gardens.
The Fall Festival will fill downtown with art and craft vendors on the square, food trucks along Jefferson Street, live music, children’s activities, and shopping at local boutiques and restaurants. Meanwhile, just steps away, the History Harvest will invite residents to take part in a unique effort to preserve the community’s stories for future generations.
Preserving stories through History Harvest
First introduced during Clarkesville’s Bicentennial celebration in 2023, the History Harvest was inspired by a University of Nebraska project that paired students and communities to preserve local history. The Friends of the Mauldin House, City of Clarkesville, and Old Clarkesville Cemetery have carried that idea forward.
The event invites residents to bring photographs, heirlooms, and family stories to share. Volunteers and historians will help record and preserve these items, building a living archive of Clarkesville’s people and places. Professional videographers will also be on site to document personal memories.
Everyone who shares a story, photo, or artifact will be entered into a drawing to win a framed print of the Big Holly Cabin painted by local artist Frankie Walters. All collected materials will be digitized and added to the City of Clarkesville’s website, creating free history resources for students, teachers, and the public.
Tours, talks, and demonstrations
The Mauldin House property will host a full day of historical activities. Visitors can tour the circa-1880 Mauldin House, the 1900s hat shop, and the pioneer-era Big Holly Cabin. The Old Clarkesville Cemetery will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with guided tours, while Grace Calvary Episcopal Church offers visiting hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Local authors and artists will also be on hand, including Kathleen Kollock, Frankie Walters, Nancy Jane Lawalin, Laurel Camp, Shawna Jones, Jim Betz, Ed Nichols, Michelle Alisa Fritch, and Julie Riggs. Demonstrations will feature everything from painting to pottery and Native American–inspired art. The U.S. Forest Service will make an appearance with Smokey Bear, and kids can enjoy scavenger hunts, crafts with The Art-Full Barn, and hands-on fun in the gardens.
Live music and speakers
Music and storytelling are central to the day. At the Mauldin House stage, the schedule includes:
- 10:15 a.m. – Jake Hicks (music)
- 10:50 a.m. – Jim Betz (speaker) and start of Clarkesville History/Nostalgia Walking Tour
- 11:10 a.m. – The Hicks Sisters with Mike Johnson (music)
- 12:00 p.m. – Dick Cinquina (speaker) on the history of the Tallulah Falls Railroad
- 12:50 p.m. – Jim Betz (speaker) and 1:00 p.m. walking tour
- 1:15 p.m. – The Elderberries with Michael Daves (music)
On the downtown square’s main stage, live music continues:
- 12:00 p.m. – Bryant Tench
- 1:30 p.m. – Mat Fried
- 3:00 p.m. – Rosanna Chester
Throughout the day, hayrides, artisan demos, book signings, food vendors, cupcake walks (hourly in the cakewalk tent), and family activities will round out the festivities.
Honoring Clarkesville’s legacy
Last year’s bicentennial History Harvest drew strong crowds, with residents lining up to share photos, letters, and keepsakes. That same spirit continues this year, with organizers hoping even more families will join in to preserve the stories that shaped Clarkesville.
“We believe our community’s history is a tapestry woven from the stories of its residents,” said Mayor Barrie Aycock at the 2023 celebration. That vision carries into 2025, as Clarkesville marks another year of celebrating its heritage while embracing the future.
The Fall Festival & History Harvest runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Clarkesville and at the Historic Mauldin House and Gardens, 458 Jefferson St. Admission is free, and all are welcome.
