
One of Chattooga County’s longest-running fall traditions will return next month when Summerville hosts the 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Arts & Crafts Festival.

One of Chattooga County’s longest-running fall traditions will return next month when Summerville hosts the 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Arts & Crafts Festival.

Another longtime Northwest Georgia fall tradition gets underway this week as the Northwest Georgia Regional Fair opens Friday in Gordon County.

With the Chattooga County Agricultural Fair wrapping up this past weekend, residents won’t have to wait long for the next round of community activities. September is shaping up to be a busy month in Chattooga County, with festivals, outdoor activities, art, agriculture, emergency preparedness and school events scheduled throughout the month.

A new community voter registration and education event is coming to Summerville next month, with organizers hoping to help residents prepare for upcoming elections.

Members of the Chattooga High School Class of 1968 are making plans to get together next month for their annual class reunion.
The gathering will be held Saturday, September 19, at The Red Lobster on Shorter Avenue in Rome.
Class members will have a dining room reserved beginning at 2 PM and continuing until 6 PM.
Organizers say they hope all classmates and their spouses will attend and are also extending an invitation to members of other classes who would like to join them.
The reunion will be casual, providing classmates an opportunity to visit, catch up and share memories.
Anyone with questions or who may be hesitant about attending is encouraged to contact Vicki McCorsley at 770-313-5207.

The Town of Lyerly is now accepting vendor applications for Lyerly’s Down Home Day, scheduled for Saturday, September 26.
The community event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., providing an opportunity for local vendors to showcase their products while residents come together to shop local and support the community.
Vendor spaces are available for $15 per spot.
Those interested in becoming a vendor can contact organizers by commenting on the official Lyerly, Georgia post or sending a private message directly to the Lyerly, Georgia page. Vendors may also contact Sally Kerce through Facebook or call Lyerly Town Hall at 706-895-2611.
Organizers are cautioning prospective vendors not to send money to anyone through Facebook when applying for a space.
Down Home Day is designed to celebrate the Lyerly community while giving local vendors, makers and small businesses an opportunity to connect with residents.
The message behind this year’s event is simple: Live local. Shop local. Support local.

Motorcycles, Christmas spirit and community support will come together this fall for the 2026 Al Millard Memorial Stocking Full of Love Walker County Toy Run.
The annual event is scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, with riders gathering at Ridgeland High School, 2478 Happy Valley Road in Rossville. Kickstands are scheduled to go up at 2 p.m.
The toy run benefits the Al Millard Memorial Stocking Full of Love of Walker County, helping provide Christmas gifts for children in the community.
Organizers are asking participants and supporters to bring a new, unwrapped toy or make a cash donation. All motorcycles and riding clubs are welcome to participate.
The event provides an opportunity for riders, clubs and community members to come together while helping make Christmas brighter for local children. Those who do not ride are also encouraged to support the effort through donations or by helping spread the word.
Organizers are hoping for a strong turnout in 2026 and are encouraging motorcycle clubs and riders from across Northwest Georgia and surrounding areas to take part.
A rain date of Sunday, November 15, 2026, has been scheduled in case weather prevents the event from being held November 1.

The 2026 Chattooga County Fair Demonstration Kitchen, sponsored by Chattooga County Farm Bureau, will offer a full lineup of hands-on demonstrations covering crafts, cooking, gardening and homemade household products.

James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park will offer visitors two opportunities to explore the natural world on Saturday, August 22, with a Plant ID Hike during the morning and a Creatures of the Night program that evening.
The Plant ID Hike begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. The ranger-led program gives participants an opportunity to explore some of the plant life found at the park while learning more about identifying native plants and the role they play in the surrounding ecosystem.
Later Saturday, visitors can return for Creatures of the Night at 8:30 p.m. The nighttime program offers a chance to experience the park after dark and learn more about the animals and other creatures that become active after the sun goes down.
Both programs are part of Sloppy Floyd State Park’s August lineup of outdoor activities.
Those interested in participating are asked to call the James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park office at 706-857-0826 to register or for additional information.
James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park is located near Summerville in Chattooga County.

The official poster for Finster Fest 2026 has been unveiled as preparations continue for the annual celebration of art and the legacy of Howard Finster at Paradise Garden in Summerville.