Don’t miss the new peacock painting on the barn at the Prater’s Mill Country Fair on October 10 and 11 near Dalton, GA.

The Prater’s Mill Country Fair is an outdoor festival of creative artists and craftsmen, talented musicians and good cooks. The site also offers a chance for visitors to marvel at the mechanical genius of the mill, cotton gin and farm equipment, some invented in the Dalton area. “ Seeds of Gen-ius” , the peacock painting, is a tribute to the creative genius of the mothers of the textile industry centered in Dalton.,” said artist Jane Galay.

Also new this year is a special exhibit of “Family Stories-Belonging in a Community”.

The Prater’s Mill Country Fair focuses on mountain music, Southern foods, living history exhibits and the handmade crafts and original art of 200 talented artists and artisans. Crafts demonstrations include blacksmithing, weaving, quilting, rug hooking, wood carving and hand tufting, a cottage industry that evolved into the tufted carpet industry centered in Dalton.

At the fair, visitors take self-guided tours including the operating grist mill, the country store, Shugart Cotton Gin and the Goodner-Smith Farm Collection housed in the Westbrook Barn. Across the road from the mill is the 1898 Prater’s Store where members of the Church of God of the Union Assembly serve authentic Southern meals of cornbread, pinto beans, turnip greens and sweet potato cobbler. Elsewhere throughout the festival area are other specialties, such as gumbo, apple dump-lings and beef jerky.

Everyone enjoys canoeing on the Coahulla Creek, a leisurely walk down the nature trail and pony rides for the children. Educational exhibits include working antique engines, antique cars and “Peacock Alley,” a clothesline display of chenille bedspreads. Snakes Of Georgia is a wildlife ex-hibit. Continuous entertainment on stage features Appalachian clogging, square dancers, country bands and gospel singers. Wandering musicians create a musicfest throughout the festival area. The music this year is dedicated to the late Rich Street, a singer, songwriter and historian.

The Prater’s Mill Country Fair is sponsored by the Prater’s Mill Foundation, a nonprofit organiza-tion of volunteers dedicated to historic preservation and education. Thirty-seven civic clubs, churches and schools also participate in the community event.

Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5.00, children 12 and under free. Visitors are urged to dress casually and wear comfortable shoes. Parking is free.

Prater’s Mill is located at 5845 Prater’s Mill Road/Ga. Hwy 2, Dalton , Ga. 30721., 30 miles south of Chattanooga, Tenn. Interstate travelers should take I-75 to the Tunnel Hill-Varnell Exit #341; drive north 4.5 miles to the intersection with Hwy 2 at Varnell; turn right and continue 2.6 miles to the mill, a total distance of 7 miles from I-75. GPS coordinates are: N34 53.720 W84 55.197

For more information, call 706-694-MILL (6455) or e-mail info@ PratersMill.org. Visit our web site at PratersMill.org.

IF YOU GO

What: The Prater’s Mill Country Fair

When: Saturday, October 10, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday Oct. 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Prater’s Mill is located at 5845 GA Hwy. 2, Dalton, GA 30721

From I-75 Tunnel Hill-Varnell Exit #341; drive north on Hwy. 201

4.5 miles, turn right on Hwy. 2, drive 2.6 miles to Prater’s Mill.

GPS coordinates are: N34 53.720 W84 55.197

Admission: $5.00 age 13 and up

Phone: 706-694-6455

Web Site: www.PratersMill.org