Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, welcome to the 6th annual Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival in North Georgia — on Saturday, April 29, for spring 2023! Trout Fest is a neat family-friendly event in Fannin County that celebrates trout fishing and outdoor recreation in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Chattahoochee National Forest.
Participate in workshops, enjoy outdoor activities — including cycling, fly fishing, and axe throwing — groove to live music, eat Southern barbecue, drink ice-cold beer, sip local wine, and shop for handmade art pieces. Plus, as the official trout festival of Georgia, proceeds benefit conservation efforts in the North Georgia Mountains!
Trout Fest Tents | Outdoor Recreation Demos
Interested in learning about successful fly fishing in North Georgia for FREE? Want to be the best kayaker this side of the Mississippi? Ready to go for a hike on the Appalachian Trail? Take advantage of the instructional program tents found at Trout Fest 2023 in the Downtown Blue Ridge City Park.
Professional advice plus live demos from local recreational outfitters and guides can help steer your North Georgia outdoor adventures in the right — and safe — direction. You can also purchase outdoor gear in preparation.
Covered Topics
- Fly fishing guides for rainbow, brown, and brook trout
- Kayaking tips and tricks
- Hiking safety
- Rock climbing
- Mountain biking
- MORE to come!
Activity Zone | Fun for All Ages
Get moving in the Activity Zone at Trout Fest in Blue Ridge, GA! You’ll find plenty of activities for all ages, including kids and seniors. After all, North Georgia’s Trout Fest highlights the importance of spending time together in the great outdoors.
Learn to cast a fishing line, crosscut logs, and throw axes. Mine for gems with the kiddos, watch them climb high, and ride mountain bikes. And that’s just the start of a whole lot of outdoor fun together!
Outdoor Fun at Trout Fest
- Mountain bike course
- Climbing wall
- Trout fishing pond
- Axe throwing area
- Gem mining station
- Long-saw crosscutting zone
- And more!
Sound Stage | Performances by Local Artists
What makes an outdoor festival extra enjoyable in the North Georgia Mountains? Live music! Rock ‘n country music will be performed live on the Sound Stage by talented musicians and singers from the area between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at Trout Fest in Blue Ridge.
Concert Lineup
- The Kurt Thomas Band from Dahlonega
- Shannon York Band from Blue Ridge
Food Court & Beer Garden
Yum! Southern barbecue, snack tents, and food trucks will serve fantastic flavors at the Blue Ridge Trout Fest this year. There will also be a lovely beer garden with excellent craft beers from Grumpy Old Men Brewing, a local brewery in Blue Ridge.
For all the wine lovers out there, sip on vino from North Georgia wineries — including Sand Point Family Vineyards. Ciders will also be available to try. Trout Fest in North Georgia is the perfect opportunity to sample the best of Blue Ridge food, beer, and wine without traveling all over town.
Fine Outdoor Art
Peruse and shop art that captures the great outdoors of North Georgia at the Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival. Both local and traveling artists use resources from the Appalachian Mountains to craft their one-of-a-kind creations showcased and sold at the trout festival.
Considered one of the Top 5 Art Towns in Georgia, Blue Ridge is artsy for a reason! Find gorgeous and inspiring outdoor art to add to your home or bring back as a gift for a friend or family member. You can also buy event souvenirs and clothes at the festival.
Troutfest 2023 | The Details
Spread across the downtown city park in Blue Ridge, GA, Trout Fest is expecting nearly 3,500 in attendance this spring. After all, Fannin County is officially recognized as the Trout Capital of Georgia. Where better to host a trout festival than Blue Ridge?!
With a mission to conserve, protect, and restore cold-water fisheries, Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited Chapter 696 (BRMTU) works with the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce to host Trout Fest and is the primary bene-fish-iary (wink) of net proceeds. Fundraising efforts go towards local cleanups, outreach programs, and conservation projects in the Georgia mountains north of Atlanta.
Date & Time
April 29, 2023 — Saturday
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets
Adults & Teens 13+ = $8
Kids 12 & Under = FREE
Location
Blue Ridge City Park
Downtown Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Pets
Feel free to bring your leashed dogs — Trout Fest is pet friendly!
Sponsors, Vendors, and Volunteers
Sign up via the Trout Fest website.
Event Coordinator
Bob Borgwat
bborgwat@gmail.com
706.838.5259
BONUS: Trout Trot 5K
After enjoying the Blue Ridge Trout Festival, head a few miles up the road to participate in the Trout Trot 5K — running 3.1 miles through the sister mountain towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee. You’ll follow the gorgeous Toccoa River, cross the state border twice, and make your way across an original steel bridge in the area.
Part of the seasonal Riverwalk Run Series, this fun running event starts at 6:30 p.m. on April 29. Parking is free and near the finish line at McCaysville City Park. Water bottles will be handed out after your run. And you can shop, dine, and enjoy free entertainment at Riverwalk Shops and Tooneys — playing music all night long!
Riverside Cabin Rentals in Blue Ridge
Stay near the Blue Ridge Trout Fest with Georgia Cabins for YOU. Along with Blue Ridge cabins close to town, we have cabin rentals on the Toccoa River so you can enjoy the great outdoors and Georgia trout fishing before and after the trout festival!
Amenities include outdoor lounges, rec spaces with games, relaxing hot tubs, indoor spa baths, king suites, free Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, big screen TVs, firepits, and much more. Bringing your fur babies? Check out our wide range of pet-friendly cabins. Book online or call 1.800.580.5524 to plan your memorable North Georgia vacation today!
Experience the Blue Ridge Trout Festival and unwind in a creekside cabin in North Georgia this spring.
