Experience Prater's Mill Country Fair in 2.5 Minutes

October 14 & 15, 2023
October 11 & 12, 2024
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About the Fair
We encourage you to Become a Member or Volunteer to help during the fair.
Plan Your Visit
Getting there
Prater’s Mill is located at 5845 Highway 2, (Dalton, GA 30721) 10 miles Northeast of Dalton and about 30 miles south of Chattanooga, TN. Note: some Navagation systems still use 500 Prater’s Mill Road, Dalton GA 30721
I-75 exit 341 (Tunnel Hill – Varnell). Take Highway 201 North 4.5 miles, then turn right on Georgia Highway 2 (at the Dollar General) and continue 2.6 miles to Prater’s Mill. For Prater’s Mill Country Fair – follow the signs.
As you approach the site on GA-2, look for red & white “FREE PARKING “ directional signs. This will include arrows to Handicap Parking. Varnell Police Department has graciously volunteered their theme to handle traffic control on the highway supporting their community. They will direct you into the closest available parking – no need to stop and ask. Display handicap permit to be directed there (if it is different).
We have turned hayfields into parking lots, so drive the pickup not he sports car.
Admission & PREP
Adult admission: $10.00 cash /person /day; children 12 and under, any military ID, parking & shuttle service, all FREE.
Please note that there is no online ticket purchase option this year. CASH ONLY. All tickets must be purchased upon entry. ATM located outside gate.
BE PREPARED:
Large wheeled wagons, carts or strollers will roll over gravel. Small wheels don’t roll. Casual Dress, Comfy Shoes & Mask – Strongly Urged!

On the Grounds
Accessibility
& Shuttle
♿️ PERMIT HOLDER?: Handicap parking in the Main Lot in the section next to the Blue Bus Stop where lift equipped buses shuttle from flat ground to flat ground. Display permit or say ‘handicap tag’ on the road & in the lot and follow the handicap signage.
Free shuttle buses run constantly from the fair to designated stops in each lot. Each stop has its own color. Remember the color to get back to the same stop. Buses cannot drop off or pick up outside of these designated stops for safety and logistics reasons.

Pets Allowed
PETS ADMITTED FREE Pets should be on leash & on good behavior, crowd, child and pet friendly. Owners must clean up after & control pets. Georgia DOT will ONLY allow service animals on the shuttle busses. To keep our historic park pet friendly, ALL owners must take full responsibility for their pet and it’s actions. Letting us know if your fellow owners are not adhering to policy by alerting a Volunteer (booth #025).
Complimentary clean up bags available at each ticket booth. On the first sign that your pet may be having issues with the crowd, small children, or other pets, please take steps to resolve and remove pet from situation and if needed removed from the grounds. Otherwise both you and your pet will be escorted out immediately.
PET POLICY
• DOT regulations prohibit pets on shuttle buses.
• All pets must be on a leash and under control at all times.
• Pet should be acclimated to kids, crowds and pets.
• Property damage is the responsibility of owner.
• Service animals only on shuttle.
• Pet owners must clean up after their pets.
• Clean up bag(s) must be visible and with your dog.
• Young children should not walk pets.
• No pets allowed in restrooms or Port-o-lets
• Do not leave your pets unattended at any time.

Free Parking
All Parking at Prater’s Mill is free. The Prater’s Mill Traffic Control will direct you off the road and into the closest available lot where the Boy Scouts will take over and get you into the closest available space. The reverse will happen to get you back out and on your way. We’ve be doing this for 4 decades, Trust that we know what we are doing. If everyone follows the signs and directors no-one will NOT get blocked in and the process will move quickly. We often park vehicles nose to tail BUT we leave driveways on each end to pull or back out. Please do not stop the vehicle to ask questions in line. Why not? – the reason you had to wait to park is because the people in front of you did. Follow signs & directions. Ask questions once parked
Our parking lots are hayfields, so this is not a trip to the mall. Where you want to go may look just fine, however, it could be too soft, deep mud, a ditch, sink hole, two foot rock, or who knows what that’s not visible. Follow the signs and directions for best results.
RVs and buses park up on the hill. DO NOT ENTER the regular car lots with anything longer that 22 foot.