Come for the natural beauty; stay for the arts, music and theater!

The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association is working to make Blue Ridge one of the Top 100 Arts Towns in America, and the Blue Ridge area is also attracting some major musical talent and entertainment to the mountains. New restaurants and eateries, including the Whistlestop Grille, Christy Lee's Courtyard Grill and Blue Orleans Bistro, offer live entertainment on the weekends. The Blue Ridge Community Theater has a new theater and a full calendar of productions for 2012, including a live music schedule. Here's a sampling of arts and entertainment in Georgia's Blue Ridge.

The Art Center
With over 600 artist members, the Art Center Galleries on West Main has become one of the largest art galleries in the North Georgia mountains. The ambience of the beautifully renovated historic Fannin County Courthouse provides a historic canvas on which to showcase the talent of our mountain artists. The Art Center features two Arts in the Park festivals each year, Memorial Day and the second weekend in October. The Center has two national exhibits. July brings the annual Quilt Exhibit and August a 3D exhibit called Off the Wall. For a complete schedule of events, see the website.www.blueridgearts.net

Blue Ridge Community Theater
Our beautiful new playhouse is located at 2591 East First St., across from The Swan Drive-in. The theater group has a full calendar of drama, comedy and musical productions, children's theater and concerts. New for 2012 is the series, Live Music is Better, bringing top musical entertainment all year. For ticket information, call 632-9223 or visit www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com.

Pickin' in Horseshoe Bend Park
Casual jam sessions for acoustic musicians are held under the trees and pavilions along the Toccoa River at Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park every Thursday evening from 6:00 til dusk, beginning the week of Memorial Day through the end of September. Bring a picnic supper, a lawn chair and your own instrument and join the fun.

Swan Drive-In
One of four drive-in theaters in Georgia still in operation, the Swan Drive-in offers first run movies on weekends beginning Memorial Day. Old Highway 76 in Blue Ridge. For more information, call 888-469-1955 or visit www.swan-drive-in.com.

Nearby Attractions
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee
The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds plays host to several popular annual events including the Georgia Mountain Fair, the Georgia Mountain Roots & Music Festival, the Superstar Concert Series, the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival and Georgia’s Official State Fiddler’s Convention. Also featuring regular big name country music and bluegrass bands. www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, N.C.
Concerts most Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. featuring folk, bluegrass and old time Mountain music with the Appalachian fiddle, banjo, hammered dulcimer. Community Country and Square dances feature live music and are held bi-monthly from 8 - 11 p.m. Call 800-FOLK-SCH for more information.

Holly Theatre, Dahlonega
Dahlonega's community theatre produces a season of plays in a nostalgic atmosphere. Call (706) 864-3759 for season and ticket information.

Young Harris College, Young Harris
The college offers concerts, art exhibits and theatre throughout the year. In addition, the Rollins Planetarium has a calendar of special seasonal events. Call (706) 379-3111 for more information.