12 Georgia Towns With Unforgettable Main Streets
The majestic state of Georgia is known for some great attributes, like the Georgia Aquarium, Savannah’s Historic District, and Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Yet the Peach State, situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Alabama, is also home to some phenomenal small towns. Some of these small towns have stunning downtowns that will leave you breathless. From the mountainous town of Blue Ridge, with its Fire & Ice Chili Cook-Off, to coastal St. Marys and its awesome Seafood Festival, the state of Georgia has many exceptional main streets that are worth visiting over and over. Discover a dozen of the most unforgettable main streets in Georgia.
Blue Ridge
Along with the Fire & Ice Chili Cook-Off, which takes place every February with tasty chili, fantastic ice sculptures, and amazing local music, downtown Blue Ridge and Main Street are home to several great restaurants. Harvest on Main, one of the best in town, has a delicious vegetarian black bean chili in case you missed the chili cook-off in February.
Arts in the Park, held less than a mile from Main Street, is also a great find. This festival occurs twice a year in May and October and features a variety of exceptional arts and crafts vendors, along with a plethora of delicious cuisine options. If you are interested in fine art, several exceptional art galleries are located downtown, including Fishbone Studio, situated just off Main on 1st Street.
Bainbridge
Picturesque Bainbridge, 40 miles north of Tallahassee, Florida, is famous for River Town Days, with pony rides, ax throwing, and even a local BBQ competition. Held on the Flint River, this festival is an easy stroll from downtown Bainbridge. Scare on the Square is another great event held in downtown Bainbridge. This phenomenal event has everything from Halloween decorations to creepy costumes.
Second Saturday is another exciting event that adds to the notable popularity of downtown Bainbridge. This memorable event displays the importance of supporting downtown businesses. The second Saturday includes a stupendous Downtown Sidewalk Sale in March. If you are searching for an unforgettable gift for that special someone in your life, perhaps this is the place to look.
Dahlonega
Home of the Dahlonega Gold Museum, which happens to be the centerpiece of downtown, as well as the Historic Holly Theatre, the picturesque town of Dahlonega is a history lover's dream. Holly Theatre has been around since the early 20th century, and Dahlonega Gold Museum, located inside the 1836 Old Lumpkin County Courthouse, draws in people from as far away as California.
Gold Rush Days is another exciting downtown Dahlonega event. Every autumn, it celebrates the 1828 discovery of gold with over a hundred arts and crafts and food vendors surrounding Public Square. Bear on the Square Mountain Festival occurs in Public Square as well, with storytelling, a marketplace for artists to display their wares, and even a stage set up for musicians.
Moultrie
Downtown Moultrie consists of many streets and avenues, yet Main Street is one of the most prominent. Several festivals occur around Main Street every year, including the Spring Fling & Backyard BBQ Festival. This event occurs on the third weekend of April and features more than 200 arts and crafts and food vendors, a pancake breakfast, and a barbeque competition that draws hundreds to downtown Moultrie.
There are also a variety of awesome restaurant choices when dining in downtown Moultrie. Blue Sky Grill, located on 1st Street, has a delectable vegetarian fare. Music Under the Magnolia Downtown Jamboree is another phenomenal event. It includes a Downtown Sidewalk Sale and an excellent Chili Cook-Off.
Madison
From the Madison, Morgan County Welcome Center, offering a self-guided walking tour, to Rogers House Museum and Rose Cottage, which is at least a century older than the 1905 Morgan County Courthouse, downtown Madison is history in the making. There are also a variety of other buildings around downtown that predate the beginning of the 20th century, including the 1811 Heritage Hall and 1839 Bonar Hall.
Downtown Madison is also known for several annual festivals. Madison Fest occurs every April and celebrates spring through almost a hundred different arts and crafts, food vendors, and a variety of fun activities. The Chili Cook-Off & Fall Festival, also in downtown Madison, takes place in the fall with a Championship Chili Cook-Off in Town Park.
St. Marys
Two awesome annual festivals occur in downtown St. Marys. The Independence Day Festival held every 4th of July, features everything from a phenomenal parade to fireworks at Waterfront Park over the St. Marys River. St. Marys Seafood Festival, occurring every October, serves up delicious seafood through various food vendors and even has music performed by some of the best artists in the area.
Located between Osborne and Dilworth streets, downtown St. Marys' restaurants and inns are well worth the trip. Seagles Restaurant, situated on Osborne, is one of the best places to dine, serving delicious crab-stuffed shrimp. Spencer House Inn, also located on Osborne, offers cozy, comfy rooms and a great continental breakfast the next morning.
Ellijay
Downtown Ellijay is a place of true wonder and hope. From shopping with friends at stores like Misty Hollow Antiques, with an eclectic collection of vendors, to eating out with the family at Back Porch Bistro, which serves an assortment of delicacies, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes, downtown Ellijay is the place to visit.
Downtown Ellijay is also home to the Tabor House Museum, which honors the American Civil War through a 200-plus-book library and a variety of rooms dedicated in the style of the late 19th century. There is also a great wine-tasting room in downtown Ellijay. The Cartecay Wine and Draft, located right on the square, allows for a sampling of Cartecay wines, as well as other wines and craft beers from the area.
Americus
Situated just over 60 miles from Columbus, picturesque Americus possesses a unique downtown. From Rylander Theater, with phenomenal performances, to several fine-dining restaurants and eclectic bed and breakfast inns, including the Station, with its delectable shrimp dishes, and the American Garden Inn, downtown Americus is an unforgettable slice of heaven.
Downtown Americus is also known for its annual First Friday Chili Crawl. This great festival includes a Chili Crawl trophy and numerous other engaging activities. Multicultural May is another event that draws people from all over the country. Along with celebrating a variety of cultures, this festival encourages local store owners to participate by utilizing different cultural themes within their stores.
Covington
Downtown Covington, only 35 miles east of downtown Atlanta, is home to a plethora of awesome attributes that urge people to visit every year. From Independence in the Park, which occurs every 4th of July with music, fireworks, and a collection of awesome activities, to Covington’s Lights at Legion Park, which features phenomenal Christmas trees, the town of Covington celebrates holidays in style.
Other great attributes of downtown Covington include restaurants and shops that are worth visiting over and over. Mystic Grill, a southern restaurant on Clark Street, Amici on the Square, and Antiques & Stuff, on Elm Street, offer unique dining and shopping. The Twelve Oaks, an Antebellum mansion on Monticello Street, has the best bed-and-breakfast comfort in town.
Barnesville
The tiny yet picturesque town of Barnesville, situated in the center of the state, is home to a phenomenal downtown. Founded in 1826 by Gideon Barnes, who owned a local tavern, Barnesville is famous for Buggy Days, which celebrates over a week of awesome activities. From the Miss Buggy Days Beauty Pageant to the Arts, Crafts, and Food Bazaar, this autumn festival attracts hundreds of people from all over the country.
Downtown Barnesville is also known for its walking tour, which stops at various locations, including Victorian homes dating back to the 1800s, like the one on the corner of Thomaston Street and Rose Avenue. Some other events that occur downtown and encourage visitors to return include the BBQ & Blues: Food and Music Festival in May, which has its own barbecue competition.
Washington
About an hour west of Augusta and two hours east of Atlanta, the small town of Washington has an unforgettable downtown. With festivals like the “I’d Rather Be in Tignall” Fall Festival, it is no wonder Washington is considered one of the prettiest towns in Georgia.
Downtown Washington also possesses a plethora of historic landmarks, like the Old Inn Site, which was erected in 1953, the Toombs House, built in 1797, and the Washington Historical Museum, a great place to visit no matter what age you are. And, if you get hungry, the Pig & Bull Grill, located on Robert Toombs Avenue, has a delicious Philly Cheesesteak.
Tifton
The quaint town of Tifton, located in the southern part of the state, is just under 90 miles north of Tallahassee, Florida. Perhaps known best for several awesome festivals and events, like Rhythm & Ribs BBQ in March, Arts in Black in May, and Rock the Block in June, Tifton has a downtown area that is unique when compared to any other town in Georgia.
Along with several awesome shops like 3rd & Main Antiques, Tifton is home to the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, which is phenomenal in its own way. Formerly known as Agrirama, this excellent venue is a living museum showcasing 19th-century living that is truly unforgettable.
From downtown Blue Ridge and its Fire & Ice Chili Cook-off to downtown Tifton and its Rhythm & Ribs Festival, the magnificent state of Georgia has a plethora of awesome downtowns that are memorable, to say the least. Whether you enjoy dining in an elegant restaurant, relaxing in the sunshine at a downtown park and feeling the tranquil ambiance of life, or attending a festival that celebrates the town's origin, the downtowns of these twelve towns allow you to connect with truly unforgettable experiences in the United States.
