Helen, Georgia packs a lot into a single day trip or a full weekend. Explore this Bavarian-style village tucked into the North Georgia mountains, with outdoor adventure, seasonal festivals, and local stops around every corner. Whether you’re just passing through or planning a longer stay, here’s a local guide to putting together a great day in town.
Everything You Need for a Great Day in Helen, GA
Anchor Your Day with Axe Throwing at AxeBilly
Start or end your day with something a little different: axe throwing at AxeBilly, Helen’s only axe-throwing facility. Located at 8160 South Main Street, AxeBilly gives you seven dedicated throwing lanes and a staff trained to walk first-timers through everything, so no experience is required to get started.
Sessions run 30 minutes (from $18) or a full hour (from $25), and groups of all sizes are welcome. We recommend no more than five throwers per lane; larger groups are placed in multiple side-by-side lanes so every group still gets private use of its own lane. Throwers must be 12 or older.
Beyond the axe lanes, we also have cornhole and darts! Plus we have room for the group to hang out between rounds, a solid stop whether you’re carving out a full afternoon or just want an hour of something memorable during your visit.
Outdoor Adventures: Tubing, Hiking & the Chattahoochee River
Helen’s setting in the North Georgia mountains means outdoor adventure is never far away.
- Tubing: The Chattahoochee River runs right through downtown Helen, and local outfitters run tubing trips down the river during the warm-weather season, generally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. It’s a relaxed way to spend a summer afternoon and see the town from the water.
- Hiking: A short drive from town, Anna Ruby Falls has an easy, paved trail under a mile long that leads to a pair of twin waterfalls. A good option for most fitness levels, including families with strollers. For something longer, nearby Unicoi State Park has roughly a dozen miles of trails across about 1,050 acres, ranging from an easy loop around Unicoi Lake to longer, more strenuous routes that connect toward Anna Ruby Falls.
Fall in Helen: Oktoberfest & North Georgia Leaf-Peeping Season
Fall is one of the busiest and most fun times to visit.
Helen’s Oktoberfest considers itself as the longest-running Oktoberfest celebration in the United States, and in 2026 it runs from September 10 through November 1 at the Helen Festhalle: Thursday through Sunday during September, then daily throughout October. Expect a kickoff parade, rotating live German-style bands, and the ceremonial keg tapping that opens the season.
It also overlaps with prime leaf-peeping season in the North Georgia mountains, so the drive into town is part of the scenery.
Winter Activities in Helen, GA: Christmas Markets & Holiday Lights
Helen leans into the winter holidays just as hard as it does Oktoberfest. The town’s annual Christmas Market brings handmade gifts, decorations, and seasonal food to the Marktplatz and Unicoi Hill Park; in 2026, it runs November 28–29 and December 5–6. Downtown Helen is also decorated for the season, giving the town’s Bavarian-style architecture an extra festive layer through the winter months.
If You're Only Here for the Day
Pair one outdoor stop ,a float down the river in summer, or a walk to Anna Ruby Falls any time of year with an hour at AxeBilly. It’s an easy way to balance time outside with a laid-back indoor activity that works rain or shine, and gives a group something fun to do together no matter the season.
Ready to Book Your Axe Throwing Session?
However you spend the rest of your day in Helen, save room for AxeBilly. Book a 30-minute or 1-hour session online, or walk in when you’re ready.