Tiger Vineard Reception

A reminder of Tiger Mountain Vineyards' special summer afternoon of music and wine this Sunday, Aug. 2 from 1:30 - 2:45pm. Sip a glass of chilled Viognier while the After Five String Quartet plays Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, under the old oak trees behind the winery. Hors d'oeuvres, cheeses and wine tastings in the tasting room afterwards. Reception open until 5 p.m. $5 --pay at the door.

13th Annual Dillard Bluegrass & BBQ Festival

Kick up the heat with the 13th Annual Dillard Bluegrass and BBQ Festival July 31-August 1: two days of top bluegrass performers and the Georgia state championship KCBS cookoff! www.dillardbbq.org

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides - Complimentary !!!

The Dillard House offers complimentary horse drawn carriage rides on Saturday afternoons through September.

Classes at the Globe Gallery

Join in the fun classes at Globe Gallery!

"Learn how to create beautiful HANDMADE PAPER from dried KUDZU leaves!
Taught by Jo Oh – Basketweaver of Kudzu and other natural materials
Class is this Friday, July 24th ~ 1:00 - 4:00 pm ~ $30. Just drop in!

Book Arts class For June 27th will have to be rescheduled to Thursday, June 30th , 6-8 pm. Taught by Peggy McBride / Fee is $20. Just come and have fun! (Ages 13 and older)

Registration is required for the following 2 workshops:

• Whimsical Clay Birds with Jean Stewart
  August 6 / Thursday / 10-1:00 / Fee: $ 45
• Paper Mache Trophy Trout Workshop with Deborah Weinhelt
  2-days: Monday, August 10 & Friday, August 14 / 10-2:00 / Total fee: $40

"Rabun Gap Ramble" on GPB!

"On this week's episode of Georgia Traveler, we're on a "Rabun Gap Ramble", exploring the Rabun Gap Loop in the northeast mountains. After an appropriate safety course, Phil is experiencing the outdoors on a motorcycle. The famed Dillard House is our getaway and David finds family fun at Lake Burton. Keely and the guys learn to ride the rapids on the Chattooga River and Phil discovers food with a view at Isabelle's on the Gorge in Tallulah Falls.

Georgia Traveler 204 - Rabun Gap Ramble airs Friday, July 24 at 9 PM, Saturday, July 25 at 7 PM and Wednesday, July 29 at 7:30 PM on GPB.

For more information, check out our website at:

http://www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler/"

Or visit http://www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler/204 to see segments online!!

Auditions for North Georgia Players

The North Georgia Community Players announce AUDITIONS for their upcoming play( DEC. 5,6,11,12,&13)
"NUNCRACKERS" (the Nunsense Christmas Musical) by Dan Grogin. This is a musical-comedy.

Auditions w/be held Fri. August 7 @ 7:00 and Sun. August 9 @ 3:00. at the Dillard Playhouse.
Needed: 5 women, 1 man, 4 children (8 to 14 yrs) All cast members must be able to sing and dance.

For information: please call: Bronwyn Randel, Show Director
@706-78204492

BOOKSIGNING THIS SATURDAY!!!

Saturday - July 25th - 12:00 noon - 2:00 PM - Local Lake Burton Author, Jenny L. Cote and her Scottish Terrior "Max" will have a reading and will be signing her new pre-teen Christian series. Book one, The Ark, the Reed and the Fire Cloud**, has proven to be a hit and her new book The Dreamer, the Schemer, and the Robe is much anticipated. If you want to reserve a copy of either or both, please let us know. 706-212-0014 or praterbooks@windstream.net.

Children's Heritage Day at Foxfire

Where can your child go to forge their own hook with a blacksmith, learn how to make their own handmade broom, use a drawknife and shaving horse to create a walking stick, twist twine into their own handmade rope, learn how to play with a Gee Haw Wimmydiddle, a Button-on-a-string, marbles, Kick the Can, Hide the Hankie, and make their own climbing bear toy? AT FOXFIRE!

The Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center is offering another Children's Heritage Day, for children ages 7-12, on Saturday, July 25 , from 9am-2pm - Rain or shine!
$30 per child; Snack and lunch are provided for children only. $5 discount for each additional sibling. Register by July 22.

Children will participate in hands-on activities and see demonstrations of daily living over a hundred years ago in Appalachia. Drop off and pickup is at the Foxfire Gift Shop up at the Foxfire Village located at 200 Foxfire Lane in Mountain City. Parents are welcome to stay and observe and assist at no extra cost. For further information, please call Michelle Bourlet 706-754-8734.

Please mail your payment to reserve your space to the Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center
P.O. Box 541
Mtn City, GA 30562.
Call 706-746-5828 to obtain a registration form.

This Weekend in Rabun

It’s not too late to get your tickets for the hilarious comedy about Texas' third smallest town "Greater Tuna” presented by the North Georgia Community Players. The show runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 pm, and there’s a Sunday matinee at 3 pm.

Begin your Saturday at the Simply Homegrown Market in historic downtown Clayton, in front of Butler’s II on North Main Street, 9 am. – 2 pm. For this week’s market listing,

The Hambidge Summer Festival, Music, BBQ and Raku is this Saturday from 10-4. Begin your experience with glazing and firing your own pot. While you wait, have fun, enjoy some BBQ and experience other art! Music, wine tasting, silent auction and raffle, native plant sale, opening of the 5th Annual Georgia Pottery Show, and demonstrating artists throughout the day.

Crawl all over downtown Clayton to taste fabulous food, wine, and listen to great music! Join the fun at the first annual Clayton Crawl Saturday evening from 6 – 9 pm. Sample fabulous food from local restaurants set up at the Rock House and at Veterans Park. Taste local wines from Tiger Mountain and Persimmon Creek Vineyards along with featured wines from around the world on the wine lists of participating restaurants. Enjoy live music by jazz saxophonist David Fry in Rock House Park and Brian Sanders playing down by Butler’s II. Follow Rabun on Twitter for regular updates throughout the event!

There will also be live music at Prater’s Main Street Books from 6 – 8 pm, with William Prater on keyboard, and an artful gathering on the porch at the Globe Gallery. Well known artist, Jean Wilkes, will be onsite at Reeves Furniture painting some of her beautiful accessories and textiles. You don't want to miss it!

The 6th Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival at Glen Ella Springs & Meeting Place begins at 11:00 am Sunday and ends at 6:00 pm, with Twilight Supper in the pavilion. Along with creative tomato concoctions, enjoy music, fine arts and crafts! www.glenella.com

It’s Junior Ranger Week at Tallulah Gorge State Park, for ages 10-13. www.gastateparks.org/info/tallulah.

The Dillard House offers complimentary horse drawn carriage rides on Saturday afternoons through September. Check online for ongoing classes held at the Center on Warwoman and also at the Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts.

PLANNING AHEAD

“Greater Tuna” continues performances next weekend on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon.

Next Saturday, July 25, is filled with a variety of activities for all ages:

o Foxfire Children’s Heritage Day provides an opportunity for children ages 7-12 to participate in hands-on activities and make projects. www.foxfire.org
o Local Lake Burton author, Jenny L. Cote, and her Scottish Terrier Max, will be signing her new pre-teen Christian series at Prater’s Main Street Books from noon – 2 pm.
o The North Georgia Arts Guild hosts the 2009 Art at the Lake Show & Sale at the Lake Rabun Pavilion from 10-6, www.northgeorgiaartsguild.com
o Chef Virginia Willis will prepare a multi-course Southern spread featuring seasonal specialties from her book, Bon Appetit Y’all, at Persimmon Creek Vineyards, www.persimmoncreekwine.com
o Meet artists Salley Robbe, Millie Speeg, and Bev Rambo at the new Greenleaf Gallery location in Highlands from 4 – 6 pm.
o Kiwanis Club is sponsoring a Sock Hop at the Old Clayton Inn at 7 pm.

Finish out the month and kick off August with the 13th Annual Dillard Bluegrass and BBQ Festival July 31 – August 1, with two days of top bluegrass performers, plus the Georgia state championship KCBS cook-off, and beautiful crafts.

A calendar of upcoming August events is attached. Be sure to follow my Traveler blogs for details on these and other happenings. Become a fan of our Facebook page, and follow Rabun on Twitter for the latest!

Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival this Sunday

The 6th Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival at Glen Ella Springs & Meeting Place begins at 11:00 am Sunday and ends at 6:00 pm, with Twilight Supper in the pavilion. Along with creative tomato concoctions, enjoy music, fine arts and crafts! www.glenella.com

IT’S BERRY PICKING TIME!

Pick your own blackberries at Tiger Mountain Orchards sunrise to sunset, seven days a week!
Blackberries - $1.50/pint
Raspberries - $2.00/pint (available in about two weeks)
Call 706-782-3290 for additional information.

Pick your own blackberries at Hillside Orchard Farms
The cost is $2.00/pound. Store hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. (706) 782-0858

Pick your own blackberries at Hillside Orchard Farms
The cost is $2.00/pound. Store hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Schedule of Events for Hambidge Summer Festival Saturday, July 18

U-Do-Raku
10am - 4pm, Hambidge Campus

Begin your experience with glazing and firing your pot. After glazing, it takes about 45 minutes to fire your pot. While you wait, have fun, enjoy some BBQ and experience the other art!

BBQ
begins 11:30am in the Dining Pavilion

Music: Weave Shed Porch
10am - Noon: The Old Hippie Band
Noon - 2pm: Hank Belew & Carmel Ridge
2pm - 4pm: Mountain Hoodoo

5th Annual Georgia Pottery Show
Located in the historic Weave Shed (enter at back door), this show and sale features over 30 of the best potters in Georgia. Two woodturners are also represented.

Wine Tasting
11:30am - 2pm
Persimmon Creek Vineyards
Tiger Mountain Vineyards

Raffle Drawing
3:30pm, Weave Shed Porch
Silent Auction ends 3:30pm

Native Plant Sale
10am - 4pm, across from Weave Shed Back Door


Demonstrating Artists
11am - throughout the day
Drawing - Angus Galloway & Paul Rodecker
Cyanotype - Lynn Marshall Linnemeier
Iron Forging - Corrina Sephora Mensoff
Kudzu Weaving - Junco Sato Pollack
Traditional Weaving - Tommye M. Scanlin
Printmaking - Stephanie Smith
Painting - James Taylor
Large Art Installation - Jennifer Van Winkle

Concessions: Buy Tickets To Purchase!
Drinks, Hotdogs, Shaved Ice, Popcorn, Pretzels

"Winter Wine Highway" event

Plan ahead for the first annual "Winter Wine Highway" event, sponsored by the Winegrowers Association of Georgia. Friday 12:30pm - 5:00pm; Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm; Sunday 12:30am -5:00pm

Travel the Georgia Wine Highway this holiday season and enjoy unique open-house format events with wine and food pairings, music, barrel tastings, discounts, drawings and other special attractions provided by member wineries and Affiliate Members of the Winegrowers Association of Georgia. (813) 503-0550 www.georgiawine.com

Pick your own blackberries!

Hillside Orchard Farms is now picking blackberries. The cost is $2.00/pound, u-pick. Store hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Foxfire Children's Heritage Day July 25

Chilren can demonstrations of daily living over a hundred years ago in Appalachia including blacksmithing, woodworking, weaving, and more. Children will participate in hands-on activities, make projects to take home, participate in old-timey games and activities, and make a toy typical of the time period to keep.

Register early as space is limited to 12 children, ages 7-12. The fee is $30 per child, which includes a snack and lunch. Foxfire offers a $5 discount for each additional sibling. Drop off and pickup is at the Foxfire Gift Shop at 200 Foxfire Lane in Mountain City.

Parents are welcome to stay and observe and assist at no extra cost. Please mail your payment to reserve your space to the Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center P.O. Box 541 Mtn City, GA 30562. Call 706-746-5828 for more information and to obtain a registration form. will also participate in old-timey games and activities and make a toy typical of the time period to keep.

Register early as space is limited to 12 children per date: the fee is $30 per child, which includes a snack and lunch. Foxfire offers a $5 discount for each additional sibling. Drop off and pickup is at the Foxfire Gift Shop at 200 Foxfire Lane in Mountain City.

Parents are welcome to stay and observe and assist at no extra cost. Please mail your payment to reserve your space to the Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center P.O. Box 541 Mtn City, GA 30562. Call 706-746-5828 for more information and to obtain a registration form.

Artists Reception at new Greenleaf Highlands Gallery

Greenleaf Gallery is having an Artists Reception (Wine and Cheese) at the new Highlands Gallery on Saturday, July 25th from 4-6pm. Meet Artists Salley Robbe, Millie Speeg, and Bev Rambo.
177 Main Street (Wrights Square), Highlands. Telephone Highlands Gallery 828/526-9333 / Clayton Gallery 706/782-5916. Please call ahead to RSVP.

Sky Valley on the Fourth!!

FRIDAY JULY 3RD

Poa Park BBQ Dinner 6-8 pm, Tickets - $17 Adults & $12 Children 10 and Under. Tickets must be purchased in advance, at City Hall, the Lodge, & the Timeshare Office.
Call Tom Payne 828-526-9585 or Lynda Brett 706-746-5676
BYOB, chairs, blankets, etc.
Fireworks begin at 9!!

SATURDAY JULY 4TH

POA Park, 10:30 am – Rubber Duck Race
Meet at Lodge for the Parade at 11:30 am
Cookout to follow at POA Park