If you go
› What: Lavender Festival› Where: Red Oak Lavender Farm, 2882 Red Oak Flats Road, Dahlonega, Ga.› When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 10› Admission: Free for festival; parking $5 per car, cash only› For more information: 706-974-8230
Just one day a year owners of Red Oak Lavender Farm allow visitors to pick their own lavender bouquets, and it's this Saturday, June 10, when Lavender Festival is held at the Dahlonega, Ga., farm.
Purple reigns at this event where products made with lavender, such as soaps and ice cream, are sold along with lavender plants.
Visitors may pick a bundle of 25 lavender stems for $5 (while supplies last), or craft a lavender halo or lavender wand, also $5.
There will be the usual festival sights and sounds - food vendors, artists, beekeepers and music by the Faires Musicians - from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, this is the only festival where free walking tours of lavender fields are also held throughout the day. The tours are divided by three topics.
A lavender information tour will be held at 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.; meet at the back field by the gazebo
A beekeeping information tour starts at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.; meet near the hives.
The third tour will be led by candle maker Steve Young at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; meet at the tent in front of the shop.
Anyone planning to day-trip to Dahlonega is advised that pets are not allowed at the farm.
Also, if the lavender fields become too crowded (2,000 people turned out last year), the owners reserve the right to close the fields until the number of people is reduced.
Red Oak Lavender Farm is the first and only lavender farm open to the public in North Georgia. The farm grows an estimated 2,000 lavender plants in 20 varieties.