Fri, Nov 2 2018 - 14th Annual HemlockFest! Saving our beloved endangered Trees + Adventure, Live Music & optional Camping (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham Participants: Charlie Cottingham, Tim W, Greg Walling, Robin Walling, Amanda M., Becky, JE, Dave R, Nice Nancy, Elvin Hilyer

We AOCers were proud to be among the hundreds of participants at the 14th annual production of this wonderful outdoor festival.  All weekend there's an amazing lineup of live music acts and activity options...guided nature hikes, free canoeing on the lovely lake, free "on-rope" tree climbing, delicious food & beverage options and much more.  The crisp blue-sky fall weather all day on Saturday and Sunday made for a perfect atmosphere as the brilliant fall colors popped out on the hillsides surrounding the lake.
  As usual many of our AOC participants pitched in with various volunteer tasks at HemlockFest.  A big high five also to Elvin, Nancy & Forest Hilyer and other hardworking friends from the Dahlonega area for making this amazing event happen each year!  Thousands of dollars in proceeds each year from the festival go toward the fight to save our endangered Eastern Hemlock trees.  Some of the festival funding will help support American Chestnut tree research and reintroduction.  Millions of giant Chestnuts once thrived in eastern America and sadly were devastated in the early 1900s by a fungal "blight" that like the Hemlock "adelgid" insect was accidentally imported from Asia.  - Submitted by Charlie, Sunday Nov 4th