Dear Antique Professionals and Sponsors,

I am writing to invite you to participate in a new festival in Dahlonega, Georgia, only 60 miles North of Atlanta. We are introducing our Annual “Heritage Days Celebration” in which Dahlonega will be celebrating our 175th Birthday this year. Heritage Days of Dahlonega will be held the third weekend in September, 18-20th, 2009.

Our festival is going to be in conjunction with festivities arranged by the City, County, Chamber of Commerce, the State of Georgia, and historians familiar with the history of Dahlonega. We consider this an honor to be able to offer a new festival for antique lovers, and share the celebration with so many entities. As a result, we feel as this is going to be a wonderful kick-off for our new annual event.

We would like to invite you to join us by submitting your application and booth fee of $50 by June 30, 2009. We will notify you by July 15 if your application has been accepted. Because of the depth of this celebration, we are limiting booths to quality, authentic antiques, preferably from the period between 1800-1900. An emphasis should be placed on 1800-1900, and nothing newer than the 1940s will be considered appropriate for your actual booth. This will be a juried entry festival.

Initial activities planned for this event are inspired by events that actually took place in Dahlonega in the 1830-1880’s. Dahlonega, Georgia is the site of the first major American Gold Rush, and has a very rich history. One chapter of our story is that women weren’t allowed in the Courtroom until 1889. For over 50 years, the judge would travel by carriage into Dahlonega for “Court Week.” Prisoners were held at the Olde Jail, which has been preserved as a Historical Marker and is open to the public for tours. During Court Week, they would be brought to the Courthouse in the middle of the town Square. Merchants, farmers, families, interested parties and more would come to town for Court Week, and there would be festivities planned throughout the Square for the women and people waiting for their time in Court. The atmosphere was festive and communal, with friends and family traveling from all over North Georgia to come for Court Week.

The Dahlonega Gold Museum will be participating with special events as well. In 1849, Dr. Matthew Stephenson stood on the portico upstairs at the Courthouse that is still standing today. The Gold Rush in California had begun, and miners from Dahlonega were leaving this community and heading out West to continue their search for gold. Dr. Stephenson begged the miners to stay here, stating that there was still “millions in it!” while pointing towards Crown Mountain and the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Prospecting had become difficult in Dahlonega, after a 50 year stretch of people building their lives here on dreams of striking it rich. Contrary to what many Westerner’s may think, Mark Twain was inspired by the speech given in Dahlonega, Georgia when he wrote “there’s gold in them thar hills!” in his book, “Guilded Age.” This event will be re-enacted as part of the events of the weekend.

In addition, we will be using all of our resources on a local, state and National level to promote this event. Dahlonega is currently celebrating our new status as one of Main Street City. Our commercial District is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, and we most recently have acquired the status of a Preserve America City. We are also a National Tree City, designated by the Arbor Day Foundation. Dahlonega is home to North Georgia College and State University, and classes will be in full session, so we will be working with the university to make sure students and faculty are participating as well. We’re working diligently to have as many participants and visitors as possible this weekend, so our sponsors and participants will receive great exposure. With all of these designations, as well as Dahlonega’s festival rich annual schedule, we’re sure this event will be well received by the entire Southeastern United States.

As a result of the magnitude of this celebration, we are asking that the merchants, townspeople, antique dealers, volunteers and other participants dress in period clothing from the 1800s. We have several seamstresses and historians who will be happy to assist you in planning for this, and we encourage you to have fun with a little research and come dressed for our new “Dahlonega Heritage Days Celebration!”

Keep checking back we will be updating this page as more information becomes available.