Experience the Prater’s Mill Country Fair!
October 11 & 12, 2025
Experience Prater’s Mill Country Fair in 2.5 Minutes
PLEASE NOTE: depicted exhibitors and activities may no longer be participating in the event. Canoe rides are no longer offered.
About the Fair
The Prater’s Mill Country Fair, begun by volunteers in 1971 to raise funds to restore the dilapidated 1855 grist mill and surrounding buildings, has grown into a legendary celebration of Appalachian traditions. This is an invitation-only show where nearly 200 talented artists and craftsmen t must hand-make their items out of only natural materials. We boast the best Southern food this side of Heaven, most prepared by local groups.
Prater’s Mill Historic Site is now owned by the people of Whitfield County but continues to be operated and maintained by the Prater’s Mill Foundation. As a non-profit volunteer group, the foundation relies heavily on the revenue from the annual Country Fair. This is our primary fundraising event. All donations and proceeds from the fair go back into site maintenance and day to day operations. The mission of the foundation is to protect, preserve and present the heritage of the Prater’s Mill Site for future generations. For more information call 706-694-MILL.
The Prater’s Mill Country Fair is sponsored by the Prater’s Mill Foundation, a non-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to historic preservation and education. Nearly 40 civic clubs, churches and schools also participate in the community event.
We encourage you to Become a Member or Volunteer to help during the fair.
Plan Your Visit
At the fair, visitors take self-guided tours of Prater’s Mill viewing operating grist and Meadows mills and Shugart Cotton Gin. The 1898 Prater’s Store, Dr. Lacewell’s Office and Westbrook Barn which houses the Goodness-Smith Farm Collection, are also open and located across the road from the Mill. On the ‘Store-Side’ visitors experience the inside of an old country store and can taste authentic Southern meals of chicken & dumplings, collard greens & cornbread cooked on a wood stove, view displays of antique tractors, cars, plows and more.
In many minds, the highlight of the Fair is the food. Hailed as he best southern cooking this side of heaven, regional favorites are served at various points on the festival grounds. These include delicacies such as John’s Family pit-cooked barbecue, Frenchies fried pies, selections of sweats including Coahutta Creamery’s fresh-churned ice cream..
Live entertainment on the main stage under the Saylors Pavilion features Appalachian-style clogging exhibitions, country bands, and gospel singers.
In addition to live entertainment, the fair boasts several activities such as “Little Texas” kid’s train ride and Petting Zoo adored by children and adults alike. Pony rides and face painting are always at the top of kids’ to-do list. The whole family can experience a short hike down the Prater’s Mill Greenway which connects to the Norma Gordon Nature Trail then to the Eagle Trail.
Once upon a time Prater’s Mill and Dalton Rock shared an owner, so most of our exhibit space is gravel. High heels and small, thin wheeled strollers will find the terrain difficult at best. Casual dress, comfortable shoes and wagons are the best way to go.
FOOD& DRINKS: for a more interesting, higher quality show, we do not duplicate food items. However, all food exhibitors may prepare Breakfast, Brewed Tea, Regular Coffee, Lemonade, Limeade and offer bottles of Dasani® water, Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Sprite®, Dr, Pepper® and 4 flavors of Powerade®. These 20 oz. screw-top, recyclable, plastic bottles sell at $2.00 each.
FIREARMS observe the laws and ordinances of Whitfield County and the Sate of Georgia pertaining to public events. Alcohol is not permitted.
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Exhibit Map
Updated 10/05/25
A Map of all vendors and exhibits.
Admission & Tickets
Adult Admission is $10 cash only. Military ID and Children 12 and under are free. An ATM is located outside the gate. Bring the whole family to Prater’s Mill in Dalton, Georgia. What a great way to spend a day in the country!
BE PREPARED:
Large wheeled wagons, carts or strollers will roll over gravel. Small wheels don’t roll. Casual Dress, Comfy Shoes & Mask – Strongly Urged!
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Directions
Prater’s Mill Historic Site is located at, 5845, highway 2, Dalton Georgia, 30720. Parking is available on both Mill and Store sides. For your safety, do not park on the roadside and use the creek side walkway and bridge underpass to walk from side to side.
Step by step DIRECTIONS from I-75
From I-75, take the Tunnel Hill / Varnell exit, #341 onto GA Highway 201, north. In 4.5 miles, at the Dollar General Store, turn right onto GA Highway 2. Continue for 2.6 miles to the Mill complex
Step by step DIRECTIONS 411
From GA Highway 411 go west on GA Highway 286. After 6.7 miles, turn right onto Dawnville – Beaverdale Road. In 3.2 miles, turn left onto Good Hope Road. After 2.4 miles, turn right onto Lake Francis Road. Continue for 1 mile, then turn left on GA Highway 2.
GPS:: Lat. 34.89.525 Lon. -84.92.011
Signup to Volunteer
it is more than just a mill
2025 Volunteer Slots Now Open
You can meet new friends, have fun and sustain the history of your community. You can help by donating not only money, but preferably your time. We need volunteers to help in our office, help us maintain the grounds and especially to help do the many jobs to produce the Country Fair. Choose days, tasks, time slots to your liking.
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.
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Parking
All Parking at Prater’s Mill is free. The Prater’s Mill Traffic Control will direct you off the road and into our parking lots where the Boy Scouts will take over and get you in a space. The Boy Scouts will help navigate the lots and direct you back out to go home.
You may have many questions, please do not hesitate to ask. We are parking you in the closest available lot in the closest space. Stopping the process only causes exponential delays and traffic jams.
We often park vehicles nose to tail but we leave driveways so everyone can either pull or back out to leave with-out obstruction. You may not understand what we are doing but understand that we have over 50 years experience parking this event.
Our parking lots are hay fields, so this is not a trip to the mall, nor an occasion to take out the sportswear. You may think somewhere is a good spot, however, it may be mud, a sink hole or worse. We have roped off driveways and bus stops to give the field some structure.
Free shuttle buses run constantly from the fair grounds to designated stops in each parking lot. Each bus stop has its own color. Remember the color to get back to the same stop. For safety reasons, Buses cannot drop off or pick up outside of these designated areas .
Handicapped? Display permit for faster, accurate direction to our Reserved handicap parking. Use the adjacent Blue bus stop, where wheel chair lift shuttles will deliver you to the fair grounds.
RVs and buses park in a special lot up on the hill.
Newsletter Signup
We periodically send out news/events letters. We don’t bombard your email monthly not even 10 times a year. And then only on the area(s) of interest you have selected.
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).
Complementary 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.
Making It Happen – Behind the Scenes
PLEASE NOTE: depicted exhibitors and activities may no longer be participating in the event. Canoe rides are no longer offered.
