Spring Awakening Descends On Dahlonega As Thousands Are Expected To Visit The 16th-Annual Bear On The Square Mountain Festival

On April 20-22, 2012, the hills of the north Georgia mountains will come alive with the sound of music as Dahlonega hosts the 16^th-annual Bear on the Square Mountain Festival. A weekend full of music, folk dancers, a live auction, a juried artists’ market, and a Teddy Bear Picnic make this spring event a favorite every year. More than fifty thousand people are expected to gather in Dahlonega, located just one hour north of Atlanta, to see a variety of local and national musicians, performers and artists for concerts, workshops, auctions, and shopping in the historic Public Square and the adjacent Hancock Park. 

Pre-festival events will begin Friday, April 20, 2012 when bluegrass musicians take to the streets for an afternoon jam session in the historic Public Square. Visitors are encouraged to bring their instruments and join the fun. Master Class Workshops, three-hour long music workshops with top bluegrass and old time musicians and instructors, will take place that afternoon as well. The live country auction, which will feature works by area folk artist Billy Roper, along with works by other local and juried artists, will occur Friday night beginning at 7 p.m.  Visitors will be able to place bids for the silent auction from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, the MainStage tent in Hancock Park will be the place to be. BlueBilly Grit will be the first performer on Saturday at 11 a.m., followed by Buzzard Mountain Boys and Barefoot Creek, John Lilly, Gold Rush with Neel Pender, John Grimm and Beverly Smith, The Georgia Crackers, and Whitepath. There will be a full day of performances on Sunday, so visitors are encouraged to stay the weekend. The Gospel Jam, led by Glenda Pender, will begin at 11 a.m., and will be followed by performances from Georgia Pick and Bow Recital, the Rosin Sisters with Whit Connah and George Norman, Curtis Jones with Insonnia, Curley Maple and the Packway Handle Band. Tickets to the main stage events will be free for everyone.

The Bear on the Square Artist Marketplace, held Saturday and Sunday, will once again be made up of a remarkable collection of one-of-a-kind, handmade art and crafts. Held around the Historic Public Square in Dahlonega, it will continue its tradition of presenting art from an impressive group of top quality artists. For the third year in a row, the John C. Campbell Folk School will be the Marketplace sponsor and will bring its ensemble of traditional craft demonstrators and dance teams to the square.  Shoppers will be able to browse and purchase one-of-a-kind, handmade items from nearly 30 of the mountain region’s best artists.  There will also be family-friendly activities that include the play “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” at the Holly Theater on Saturday and Sunday, and a Teddy Bear Picnic. These events will be free as well. The Bear on the Square Food Court will be located downtown as well, and will feature a variety of food options including barbeque, shaved ice, tacos and sweet treats.

For additional information on the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, including a full listing of times and performances, please visit http://www.bearonthesquare.org.