Snakes of Georgia program joins festival

A program on snakes will be introduced Saturday at this year's Mistletoe State Park Fall Festival.

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The Snakes of Georgia program, presented by Terry and Cheryl Manis of Tennga, Ga., will begin at 4 p.m., said event organizer Brenda Bettross, a naturalist at the park.

"They will have both venomous and nonvenomous snakes during their program," she said. "The program will have an educational focus on the importance of snakes of Georgia."

Bettross said the snake program will be followed up by a "good old-fashioned fall festival." The band TDC will provide music, with a pumpkin scavenger hunt for children starting at 5:30 p.m.

"Children will go in search of farmers, scarecrows and pumpkins in this fun scavenger hunt," she said. "They will be rewarded with a treat from each character."

There also will be an apple-bobbing contest, but it will involve an apple hanging from a tree, not one floating in a bucket.

Guests will be invited to roast marshmallows, play old-fashioned lawn games and make corn husk dolls. After sunset, "Storyteller Susan" will delight guests with stories of the season. A night hike, focusing on wildlife that comes out at the park after dark, will also be held.

"Friends of Mistletoe State Park will be running hayrides throughout the evening," added Bettross.

Tickets for the hayride must be purchased in advance at a cost of $2 per person. The hayrides will run every 15 minutes and will travel through a community of scarecrow displays.

Cost of the fall fest is a $5 per vehicle program fee, plus a $5 parking pass. The program fee covers all activities except the hayrides.

A concession stand will be available.

For information, call the park office at (706) 541-0321.