Most events in downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia happen in the Downtown City Park beside the railroad or on East Main Street, which closes for parades. Below are the dated events we could source from their organizers or the Fannin County Chamber, then the yearly pattern for events whose next date hasn’t been posted. Checked October 17, 2026.
PawsFest (Humane Society of Blue Ridge)
Published by the organizerPet-friendly fall festival with a pet parade, costume contest, food trucks, local vendors and adoptable pets; proceeds go to the Humane Society of Blue Ridge.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Haunted Blue Ridge Ghost Tour
Published by the organizerGuided evening walk with local ghost stories; book through the operator.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Haunted Blue Ridge Ghost Tour
Published by the organizerGuided evening walk with local ghost stories; book through the operator.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Trick or Treat Train
Published by the organizerHalloween train ride with a roughly two-hour layover for trick-or-treating in vehicle-free downtown McCaysville and Copperhill; booking system showed it sold out on Oct 17.
Source: Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, checked Oct 17, 2026
Halloween Safe Zone Trick or Treat
Published by the organizerDowntown merchants hand out candy on a car-free East Main; costume contest at 5:30 p.m. with age groups and a dogs-and-cats pet category.
Source: brba.biz, checked Oct 17, 2026
Veterans Day Parade
Published by the organizerParade honoring veterans, followed by a formal ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park at noon.
Source: brba.biz, checked Oct 17, 2026
WhoDunIt? Mystery Art Fundraiser
Published by the organizerTicketed fundraiser where guests draw numbers to pick unsigned original artworks; proceeds support youth art programs and scholarships.
Source: brmaa.org, checked Oct 17, 2026
Annual Holiday Market at The Art Center
Published by the organizerHoliday sale of handmade work by member artists (the Chamber lists Nov 15-Dec 19; the Art Center's own schedule wins).
Source: brmaa.org, checked Oct 17, 2026
Blue Ridge Turkey Trot 5K
Published by the organizerThanksgiving-morning 5K run/walk through downtown Blue Ridge; registration opens 7:30 a.m.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Gingerbread Village (14th annual)
Published by the organizerCommunity gingerbread houses on display during Art Center hours with People's Choice voting until noon Dec 22.
Source: lightupblueridge.net, checked Oct 17, 2026
Blue Friday (Light Up Blue Ridge weekend)
Published by the organizerShop-small day with store discounts, food vendors on Depot Street and live entertainment.
Source: lightupblueridge.net, checked Oct 17, 2026
1-Hour Holiday Express
Published by the organizerOne-hour holiday train with music, 'The Night Before Christmas' and a chance to see Santa; most departures showed no seats left on Oct 17.
Source: Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, checked Oct 17, 2026
Light Up Blue Ridge parade: Main Street cleared of cars
Published by the organizerParking alert: all cars must be off East and West Main Street by 4 p.m. ahead of the 5:30 p.m. parade.
Source: lightupblueridge.net, checked Oct 17, 2026
Light Up Blue Ridge
Published by the organizerFree all-day holiday kickoff with street entertainment, Santa, food vendors, the 5:30 p.m. parade and the Great Tree lighting.
Source: lightupblueridge.net, checked Oct 17, 2026
Light Up Blue Ridge Christmas Parade
Published by the organizerLighted-float parade ending with Santa; cars must be off East and West Main by 4 p.m.
Source: lightupblueridge.net, checked Oct 17, 2026
Lighting of the Great Tree
Published by the organizerCaroling from about 6:30-6:45 p.m., then the Great Tree is lit as close to 7 p.m. as the parade allows; gingerbread winners announced.
Source: lightupblueridge.net, checked Oct 17, 2026
Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off and Craft Beer Festival
Published by the organizerWinter chili cook-off with People's Choice voting, ice sculptures and live ice carving, live music, face painting and a beer garden.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival
Published by the organizerGeorgia's official trout festival: fly-fishing instruction, outfitters, gear and art vendors, activity zone, food court and beer garden. Times and admission for 2027 not yet posted (2026: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., $10, 12 and under free).
Source: blueridgetroutfest.com, checked Oct 17, 2026
51st Spring Arts in the Park
Published by the organizerMemorial Day weekend juried arts and crafts festival with food booths and artist demonstrations; free shuttles from the Farmers Market and Middle School lots. 2027 admission not yet posted (2026: $5 adults, under 12 free).
Source: eventeny.com, checked Oct 17, 2026
This fall
- PawsFest, Saturday, October 17, 2026, noon to 4 p.m., at the downtown park beside the tracks. The Humane Society of Blue Ridge’s pet-friendly fall festival follows a pet parade through downtown at 11:30 a.m. Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free (Fannin County Chamber).
- Haunted Blue Ridge Ghost Tours walk downtown streets on Friday nights. The Chamber’s Halloween list still shows October 23 and 30, and the tour company says it runs on Friday nights only.
- Halloween Safe Zone, Saturday, October 31: candy from 5 p.m. and a costume contest at 5:30 on East Main between Church and Mountain streets, which closes to traffic. The contest has a pet category for dogs and cats only (Blue Ridge Business Association). City lots, Mountain Street and City Hall parking are free from 4 p.m.
- Trick or Treat Train, October 31, 5 to 9 p.m. The railway’s booking system showed no seats left on October 17.
- Veterans Day Parade, Saturday, November 7, 10 a.m., from Church Street and East Main Street to Veterans Memorial Park, with a ceremony there at noon (BRBA).
- WhoDunIt?, the Art Center’s mystery-art fundraiser, November 14, 6 to 9 p.m., at 420 West Main Street. Every ticket holder takes home an original artwork (The Art Center).
- Annual Holiday Market at the Art Center, November 20 to December 20 (Art Center 2026 schedule).
- Blue Ridge Turkey Trot 5K, Thanksgiving morning, November 26: registration at 7:30 a.m. and the race at 8, starting at the corner of East Main Street and Church Street. Admission is listed at $30 (Chamber).
- Light Up Blue Ridge is the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 27 and 28, 2026. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and all cars must be off East and West Main by 4 p.m. (Light Up Blue Ridge).
Early 2027, already dated
- Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off and Craft Beer Festival, February 13, 2027, noon to 5 p.m., on the 790 block of East Main Street and in the downtown City Park. Admission is free, and chili tasting cards are listed at $15 (Chamber). The organizer, the Blue Ridge Business Association, still showed the 2026 edition on its own page on October 17.
- Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival, April 24, 2027, rain or shine (Blue Ridge Trout Fest). In 2026 it ran 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the downtown City Park, with $10 admission, kids 12 and under free and leashed dogs welcome.
- The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association’s 51st Spring Arts in the Park, May 29 and 30, 2027 (Memorial Day weekend), starting at 10 a.m. (festival listing). In 2026, admission was $5 per adult and free for children under 12.
Every year, next date not yet posted
These have already happened in 2026. The usual timing is how the organizer or the Chamber’s annual events list describes each one, not a promise of next year’s date.
| Event | Usual timing | Last held | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Patrick’s Day Parade | The Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day (Chamber) | March 14, 2026, 11 a.m.; next date not yet posted | Blue Ridge Business Association |
| Blue Ridge Adventure Race (8 and 24 hours) | First weekend in May (Chamber) | May 2 and 3, 2026, from the Downtown Pavilion, 900 E. Main Street; next date not yet posted | Listed by the Chamber |
| Old Timers’ Parade | Every Fourth of July | July 4, 2026, 10 a.m., from Blue Ridge City Park; 2027 page not yet posted | BRBA |
| Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival | Third weekend in September (Chamber) | September 19, 2026, in the Downtown City Park; next date not yet posted | Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ |
| Fall Arts in the Park | Second weekend in October (the Chamber says the second Sunday) | October 11, 2026; next date not yet posted | Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association |
On July 4, 2026, the Blue Ridge Freedom 5K also ran through downtown from 7:30 to 9 a.m., and the Old Timers’ Parade had a quieter Sensory Sensitive Block around 980 East Main Street. The July 4 fireworks are at Lake Blue Ridge near the dam, not downtown; the Lake Blue Ridge Civic Association set them off at 9:30 p.m. in 2026 (Chamber).
Parking on event days
Festivals change downtown parking. The City’s parking sheet (captured May 2024, not yet confirmed as current) lists $20 a day in both City lots on festival and event days. Arts in the Park runs free parking and shuttles from the Farmers Market at 787 Summit Street and Blue Ridge Middle School. In 2026, Blues & BBQ charged $5 to park at the Farmers Market, with a free shuttle. Lots and walking minutes are on parking, and organizer-by-organizer details on festival-day parking.
Fitting an event into the day
The day planner times a walk around posted hours, and a train day from downtown covers the ride if you’re pairing a festival with the train. Bringing a dog to PawsFest or Trout Fest? See dog-friendly downtown.
Questions people ask
When is Light Up Blue Ridge 2026?
Light Up Blue Ridge is the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving: Blue Friday is November 27 and the main day is Saturday, November 28, 2026, with the parade at 5:30 p.m. All cars must be off East and West Main Street by 4 p.m. on parade day.
Source: Light Up Blue Ridge, checked Oct 17, 2026
When is Arts in the Park in Blue Ridge?
The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association holds it in the Downtown City Park each spring and fall. The next is the 51st Spring Arts in the Park on May 29 and 30, 2027; the fall festival, usually the second weekend in October, was held October 11, 2026, and its 2027 date is not yet posted.
Source: The Art Center (BRMAA), checked Oct 17, 2026
What is happening downtown for Halloween 2026?
The Halloween Safe Zone is Saturday, October 31, 2026, with candy from 5 p.m. and a costume contest at 5:30 on East Main Street between Church and Mountain streets, which closes to traffic. Haunted Blue Ridge Ghost Tours walk downtown on Friday nights.
Source: BRBA, checked Oct 17, 2026
When is the Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival?
The Chamber lists it as the third weekend in September. The 15th festival was Saturday, September 19, 2026, in the Downtown City Park, and the 2027 date had not been posted when we checked on October 17, 2026.
Source: Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ, checked Oct 17, 2026
When is Fire & Ice in Blue Ridge in 2027?
The Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off and Craft Beer Festival is February 13, 2027, from noon to 5 p.m., on the 790 block of East Main Street and in the downtown City Park. Admission is free, and chili tasting cards are listed at $15.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
