The Georgia Apple Festival holds four days this month: October 10–11 and 17–18, at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds. October has 31. The vineyards around town have dated events across the rest of it, and many of the best are on weeknights.
That changes how a local can plan the month. Discover Ellijay's guide to the area's vineyards calls Saturday the fullest version of each stop, "and the biggest crowds, especially on a good fall weekend." This year the calendars give you plenty of other options.
The Week Before the Festival Starts
The first full week of October holds more of the wine calendar than any other, and nearly all of it comes before the first festival Saturday.
| Day | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Oct. 8, 8 a.m. | Fainting Goat Vineyards, Jasper | Harvest at the Goat. Guests hand-pick Cabernet Sauvignon. Free, reservation required |
| Thursday, Oct. 8, 5–8 p.m. | Grapes & Ladders, 2317 GA-382 | Open Mic |
| Friday, Oct. 9, 6:30–9:30 p.m. | Chateau Meichtry, Talking Rock | Street Choir: A Van Morrison Experience |
| Saturday, Oct. 10, 12–5 p.m. | Cartecay Vineyards, 5704 Clear Creek Road | Grape stomping during the Annual Fall Festival |
| Sunday, Oct. 11, 3–5:30 p.m. | Grapes & Ladders | Songwriters Against Hunger |
The Fainting Goat harvest is the most unusual item on the list. It starts at 8 on a Thursday morning, and you spend it in the rows picking Cabernet Sauvignon, not at a tasting bar. The ticket is free but has to be reserved. The vineyard sits at 201 Vineyard Way in Jasper.
The Chateau Meichtry show on Friday night fits the same pattern. The winery is at 1862 Orchard Lane in Talking Rock, about seven miles from East Ellijay.
Thursday Is the Steadiest Night on the Calendar
After the first week, the weeknight schedule settles into a routine. Grapes & Ladders runs Open Mic from 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday this month: October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, with four of those still ahead. Engelheim Vineyards, at 120 Lakeview Road, advertises Thursday-night Bingo from 6 to 8 p.m., though its events page doesn't list specific October dates.
Grapes & Ladders fits a group that doesn't agree on wine. Discover Ellijay describes the list as running "from bone dry to properly sweet," and the property is pet-friendly and kid-friendly. Apart from the Songwriters Against Hunger afternoon on October 11, its weekend music sets run from 2 to 5 p.m. Billy Wilkie plays October 10, Eric Henderson October 17, Tommy Davis October 18, Jorge Valenzuela October 24 and Adrian Stover October 31.
Henry Evans Road on a Weekend Afternoon
When a weekend does work, the road layout makes it easy. Ott Vineyards & Winery is at 230 Henry Evans Road and Buckley Vineyards is at 708 Henry Evans Road, so one afternoon can cover both without crossing town.
Buckley has the fullest posted lineup of any vineyard in the area. It runs live music and food trucks every Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., and the October acts are listed by name:
- October 10: Connor Priest
- October 11: Dave Dale
- October 17: Surrender Hill
- October 18: Rowdy Yates
- October 24: Nero Simon & MaryAnn
- October 25: Joy Hice
- October 31: Brandon Lee Bagley, plus the Annual Hallo-Wine Party
The calendar keeps going into November, with Kristin Tinsley on November 1 and Brett Cantrell closing the month on November 29. Buckley sits on the historic Henry Evans homestead along Turkey Creek. Kevin and Gay Buckley pour more than 20 wines, including The Frank Cabernet Sauvignon and Connie Apple Wine, and the property also has a creekside cabin for overnight stays.
Ott's events page says "No events at the moment," so check with the winery directly before building a day around a particular night there. Michael and Lee Ott grow more than eight acres of grapes, including Seyval Blanc, Traminette and Cabernet Franc, on a property of 20-plus acres with a 180-degree mountain view.
Cartecay Vineyards' Annual Fall Festival runs every October weekend at 5704 Clear Creek Road, with live music, tastings, arts and crafts vendors, and grape stomping from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 12:30 to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Sunday's later start gives anyone coming from church or a slow morning an easy window.
Why "Grown on the Property" Means Something in Georgia
October is harvest month, and that makes it a good time to ask how much of what's poured actually comes from the hillside you're sitting on. Georgia law sets a lower bar than many people assume. Under the state code, a farm winery must make at least 40% of its annual production from agricultural produce grown in Georgia. The same section lets qualified farm wineries operate tasting rooms at the winery and at up to five other in-state locations, with state authorization.
With a floor that low, estate claims carry real meaning. At Cartecay Vineyards, every wine is grown, produced and bottled on-site, and the tasting room is a refurbished 1890s barn. Engelheim and Chateau Meichtry both describe their wines as made from estate-grown grapes.
Engelheim also holds the most recent major title in the area. Libation Magazine's 2025 Georgia Wine Invitational named it Georgia Winery of the Year. The 2026 judging is scheduled for November 3–5, so the 2025 title is still the current one through the rest of October.
Some tasting rooms aren't attached to a vineyard at all, which is how the multiple-location rule plays out on the ground. Downtown, Cartecay Wine & Craft at 19 South Main Street pours Cartecay wines alongside other Georgia wines and craft beer. Mountain Treasures on North Main Street offers Currahee Vineyards tastings, according to the Gilmer County Chamber. Either one works for a glass after dinner on the square without a drive into the hills.
Halloween Week Gets Its Own Calendar
The last stretch of October has a second run of events, spread across Friday and Saturday nights:
- Roo Mountain Vineyards' Haunted Barrel Room runs on October Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The October 16 session is already marked sold out, so book any later date early. Roo is about five minutes from town and has two tasting rooms, a fine-dining restaurant and rooftop fare.
- Fainting Goat's Spooky Cocktails is on Friday, October 23, at 5:30 p.m.
- Chateau Meichtry's vineyard and winery tours run at 12:30 p.m. on weekends, including October 24. Discover Ellijay lists the tour at $45 per person and private tours for groups of six or more at $75 per person.
- Fainting Goat's Halloween Candy & Wine Pairing is on Friday, October 30, at 5:30 p.m.
- Halloween on Saturday, October 31, brings Buckley's Annual Hallo-Wine Party and Adrian Stover at Grapes & Ladders from 2 to 5 p.m.
Engelheim also advertises a Trunk or Treat but hasn't posted a date for it. If you're planning around a passport, the Gilmer County Chamber's Ellijay Sips Trail page still says "Stay tuned for the 2026 mobile pass," so confirm with the Chamber before counting on one.
Put the dates side by side and the Apple Festival covers October 10–11 and 17–18. Before, between and after those weekends, the wine calendar runs from an 8 a.m. Cabernet harvest on October 8 to Buckley's Hallo-Wine Party on October 31.
Part of what we love about calling Ellijay home is how much happens down these back roads in a single month. If you have questions about life in Gilmer County, or you've been thinking about land out near the vineyards on Henry Evans Road or Clear Creek Road, Kara Conrey and the Conrey Family Team would be glad to talk it through over a glass. Contact Us anytime.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
