By Katie Leslie

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With summer days coming to a close and school just around the corner, families looking for a last-minute day trip may consider a quick jaunt to North Georgia for a historic summer fair.

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JLB Photography , JLB Photography Visitors at The Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee watch a craftsman named Stanley milling timber.

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The Georgia Mountain Fair is in full swing in Hiawassee, located in Towns County some two hours drive from Atlanta. Now in its 60th year, the fair is an annual tradition of the Towns County Lions Club and among Georgia's most celebrated mountain festivals. Last year alone it attracted tens of thousands of visitors, which features a cloggers convention, talent show, youth variety show and bluegrass, country and gospel music.

But those are just a few of the numbers. We talked to the fair organizers for more:

• 11 days of the festival, which began Wednesday and runs through July 31
• 44,000 people attended last year's summer fest
• 11 professional musical acts will perform during the fair, including Roy Clark, Brenda Lee, The Bellamy Brothers and Gene Watson
• 2,900 seats in the fair's Anderson Music Hall
• 3,000 pounds of smoked trout will be sold, along with 6,000 pounds of barbecue
• 35 animals will be part of the Rockin' A Ranch Petting Zoo, featuring donkeys, mules, cattle, ostrich, alpacas, llamas, buffalo and more

If you go

The Georgia Mountain Fair. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. $9. Parking $2. Children younger than 10 free. No pets. 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee. 706-896-4191, http://georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/

Source: Georgia Mountain Fair