As the leaves begin to change colors in the Northeast Georgia mountains, Dahlonega will get into the spirit by dressing up in its finest 24-karat gold regalia.

The annual Gold Rush Days festival, set for Saturday and Sunday, combines the culture of an Appalachian fall festival with the town's legacy of gold mining that dates back to 1828.

The festival will gather more than 300 art and craft exhibitors on the town's square and historic district. A crowd of some 200,000 visitors is expected to join the celebration.

Events will include a parade, children's activities, a fashion show, gold panning contest, wheelbarrow race, King and Queen Coronation, hog calling, buck dancing contest, gospel singing, wrist wrestling and other live entertainment. In addition, vendors will provide a sampling of local food and beverages.

Gold Rush Days has been voted one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Dahlonega's downtown area includes 60 historic commercial buildings, the centerpiece being the 174-year-old Lumpkin County Courthouse that now serves as the Gold Museum. The museum annually attracts 45,000 to 75,000 visitors a year who can view historic artifacts, including a gold coin collection, and watch a film about the history of the local mining community.

For more information, contact 706-864-3513 or visit the city's website.