Prater's Mill Country Fair

EVENT DATE:  Second Full Weekend in October
DALTON, GA—Prater’s Mill Country Fair is held at the old water-powered mill near Dalton, Georgia, which still grinds corn and wheat the old-fashioned way.  The fairs are always on the second full weekend in October. Begun by volunteers in 1971 to raise funds to restore the 1855 mill and surrounding buildings, the rural festival offers fine art, handmade crafts, and Southern folklore. The event is a featured  destination in the National Geographic MapGuide to Appalachia. The Prater’s Mill Country Fair focuses on mountain music, Southern foods, living history exhibits and the handmade crafts and original art of 200 talented artists and artisans.  Crafts demonstrations include blacksmithing, weaving, quilting, rug hooking, wood carving and hand tufting, a cottage industry that evolved into the tufted carpet industry centered in Dalton. At the fair, visitors take self-guided tours including the operating grist mill, the country store, Shugart Cotton Gin and Westbrook Barn, complete with farm animals and a petting zoo.  Across the road from the mill is the 1898 Prater’s Store. In a cabin near the store, Dalton Pike Church of God members serve authentic Southern meals of  chicken and dumplins, collard greens and cornbread cooked on a wood stove. Elsewhere throughout the festival area are other specialties, such as pit-cooked barbecue, apple cider and churned ice cream. During the fair, families enjoy canoeing on the Coahulla Creek, a leisurely walk down the nature trail and pony rides for the children.  Educational exhibits include an authentic Civil War encampment, working antique engines, antique cars and “Peacock Alley,” a clothesline display of handtufted bedspreads.  Continuous entertainment on stage features square dancers, country bands and gospel singers.  Wandering musicians, dulcimer players and storytellers perform through the festival area. The Prater’s Mill Country Fair is sponsored by the Prater’s Mill Foundation, a nonprofit organization of volunteers dedicated to historic preservation and education. Thirty-seven civic clubs, churches and schools also participate in the community event. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Admission is $5.00, children 12 and under free.  Visitors are urged to dress casually and wear comfortable shoes. Parking is free. Prater’s Mill is located on Georgia Hwy 2, ten miles northeast of Dalton, about 30 miles south of Chattanooga, TN.  Interstate travelers should take I-75 to the Tunnel Hill-Varnell Exit #341; drive north 4.5 miles to the intersection with Hwy 2 at Varnell; turn right and continue 2.6 miles to the mill, a total distance of 7 miles from I-75. GPS coordinates N34 53.720 W84 55.197. For more information, call 706-694-MILL (6455) or e-mail pratersmill@PratersMill.org.  Visit the web site at PratersMill.org. Thank you for stopping by Boyd Greene Fine Art to browse an old country fair some of my pottery friends will be attending.