Great music and tasty food are normal ingredients when it comes to fall festivals, but perhaps only one festival combines music and food with protecting trees in North Georgia.
The fifth annual HemlockFest, held the first full weekend of November, is geared toward increasing public awareness to help save the Eastern and Carolina hemlock trees. The funds that are raised go toward public awareness of the hemlock problem to promote action.
North Georgia’s hemlocks are in danger of extinction because of a spreading infestation of the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive insect from Asia with no local natural predator. The loss of hemlocks would hurt wildlife, water and air quality, and the local economy, experts say.
Sunday afternoon, a group of hemlock experts met on stage to talk about different aspects of the importance of hemlocks in our environment.
“They talk about what is being accomplished so that people really get a snapshot about what is going on,” said Forest Hilyer, the HemlockFest coordinator.
After the session, the experts made themselves available to answer questions about the hemlock situation.
The festival, which included numerous arts and crafts vendors, nature walks, yoga, a nature village for children and canoe rides, drew more visitors this year.
“We have had a significant increase of people from last year,” Hilyer said. “This is the first year we actually were worried about not having enough places to park.”
HemlockFest did have an advantage with beautiful weather over the weekend.
“We may be the first festival in Lumpkin County that didn’t get rained on this year,” Hilyer said with a laugh. “I don’t think we could have possibly asked for better weather. It is unbelievable.”
The pleasant weather also drew more than 100 people camping out at HemlockFest.
“This year we had a bunch of kids, and we had quite a few of them camping here,” Hilyer said.
There were 110 volunteers, many of whom were college students, who assisted with everything from parking to keeping things clean and helping campers get adjusted.
Murrayville resident Marci Rheinschild, who is a spinner, weaver and knitter, was making and selling some of her creations at HemlockFest for the first time after learning about the festival from friends. Rheinschild, who was busy spinning wool Sunday morning, also works with hot glass and makes buttons and beads to put on her woven materials.
Rheinschild’s two daughters, Caroline, 12, and Caitlyn, 14, have been spinning since they were only 7 years old.
“The trick was getting them to sit still,” Rheinschild said.
Rheinschild’s whole family was willing to help out at HemlockFest, including her husband, Randy, who Rheinschild said was “part of her support team.”
Rheinschild said that her family may even camp out at the festival next year.
“It is just a wonderful environment,” Rheinschild said.
The fifth annual HemlockFest, held the first full weekend of November, is geared toward increasing public awareness to help save the Eastern and Carolina hemlock trees. The funds that are raised go toward public awareness of the hemlock problem to promote action.
North Georgia’s hemlocks are in danger of extinction because of a spreading infestation of the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive insect from Asia with no local natural predator. The loss of hemlocks would hurt wildlife, water and air quality, and the local economy, experts say.
Sunday afternoon, a group of hemlock experts met on stage to talk about different aspects of the importance of hemlocks in our environment.
“They talk about what is being accomplished so that people really get a snapshot about what is going on,” said Forest Hilyer, the HemlockFest coordinator.
After the session, the experts made themselves available to answer questions about the hemlock situation.
The festival, which included numerous arts and crafts vendors, nature walks, yoga, a nature village for children and canoe rides, drew more visitors this year.
“We have had a significant increase of people from last year,” Hilyer said. “This is the first year we actually were worried about not having enough places to park.”
HemlockFest did have an advantage with beautiful weather over the weekend.
“We may be the first festival in Lumpkin County that didn’t get rained on this year,” Hilyer said with a laugh. “I don’t think we could have possibly asked for better weather. It is unbelievable.”
The pleasant weather also drew more than 100 people camping out at HemlockFest.
“This year we had a bunch of kids, and we had quite a few of them camping here,” Hilyer said.
There were 110 volunteers, many of whom were college students, who assisted with everything from parking to keeping things clean and helping campers get adjusted.
Murrayville resident Marci Rheinschild, who is a spinner, weaver and knitter, was making and selling some of her creations at HemlockFest for the first time after learning about the festival from friends. Rheinschild, who was busy spinning wool Sunday morning, also works with hot glass and makes buttons and beads to put on her woven materials.
Rheinschild’s two daughters, Caroline, 12, and Caitlyn, 14, have been spinning since they were only 7 years old.
“The trick was getting them to sit still,” Rheinschild said.
Rheinschild’s whole family was willing to help out at HemlockFest, including her husband, Randy, who Rheinschild said was “part of her support team.”
Rheinschild said that her family may even camp out at the festival next year.
“It is just a wonderful environment,” Rheinschild said.