Page 20 - Fall 2025 Guide to Georgia

58th Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival & Car Show
Dawsonville, GA is buzzing, lively and THE place to be every year on the fourth weekend
in October. K.A.R.E. for Kids, Inc. will host the 58th Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival
& Car Show on October 24th-26th, 2025 at the
City Municipal Complex area. Over 100,000 vis-
itors come where you can see, touch, and feel the
history of stock car racing at a safe family event.
There is something for everyone at the festival
from race cars, moonshine hauling display cars,
arts and craft vendors, children’s activities, live
entertainment, show cars, swap meet, and some of
the most delicious smelling and tasting food you
can find in Georgia. The Mountain Moonshine
Festival and Car Show is one of the longest running festivals in the U.S. and portrays the history
of how moonshine shaped the lives of many during the depression and prohibition eras. First was
moonshine making, then trippers hauling the product, then soon after, Dawson County became
the birthplace of stock car racing…and all of this resulted in the formation of NASCAR.
The weekend starts on Friday morning, October 24th, with a Moonshine Run, or “rolling
car show”, leaving town at 10am and travelling through North Georgia. This year’s destination
will be an amazing car barn, owned by Wayne and Carolyn Hollis, where attendees will enjoy
lunch and fellowship. Back in Dawsonville on Friday, the car show is getting started, people
are coming into town, and many familiar faces in the racing world might be seen wondering
around. This festival is somewhat of a reunion for many racers.
On Saturday morning, October 25th, after over 300 vendors are set up, the parade of race
cars comes through town to introduce our Grand Marshal, Peytan Porter, at the opening cere-
mony. Peytan is a rising singer/songwriter country music star who grew up in Dawsonville and
is returning to the Mountain Moonshine Festival stage for the first time since making the move
to Nashville. She will be performing a free concert from 4-6pm on Saturday.
Three new inductees into the National Moonshiners Hall of Fame will be presented at the
opening ceremonies as well. All of the activities begin – more show cars arriving, swap meet, live
entertainment, bounce houses and activities –and all continue until Sunday, October 26th, at 5pm.
The event is FREE. Parking is $10 and $20, and shuttles will be running from K.A.R.E.
parking lots to make entering and leaving easier. Scooter rentals are also avail-
able all weekend. Don’t miss this year’s official Mountain Moonshine Festival
t-shirt and other souveniers!
For more information, please visit our website at www.kareforkids.org. All
proceeds directly help children in need in Dawson County. K.A.R.E. for Kids,
Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and we appreciate your continued support!

September American Festival. 1807 Hwy 425. Pre-
sented by Butts County Historical
6-7 - DALLAS – Paulding Meadows Society. 770-775-5350.
Arts & Crafts Festival. 472 Paulding 13 - AMERICUS – Americus Grape
Meadows Dr. 770-445-6016. Stomp Festival. Wolf Creek Dr. 229-942-
6-7 - INDIAN SPRINGS – Native 0091.
58TH ANNUAL DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA
MOUNT
MOUNTAIN MOONSHINE FESTIVALAIN MOONSHINE FESTIVAL
October 24-26, 2025
October 24-26, 2025
Grand Marshal
Enjoy vendors, arts & crafts, food, Peytan
live music, kids games, silent auction, Porter
and more all weekend long! FESTIVAL PUBLIC PARKING $10-$20
SCOOTER RENTALS AVAILABLE
www.kareforkids.org scooterrentalsinc.com/reservations
20 GUIDE TO GEORGIA / September/October 2025