SUCHES – The Indian Summer Festival will return to the Valley Above the Clouds this Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4, continuing a tradition that began in 1977.
For nearly five decades, Indian Summer has brought food, crafts, entertainment and community together in Suches while helping support the students at Woody Gap School, where the festival is held every year.
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Woody Gap is a K-12 public school nestled nicely in the North Georgia mountains, with a claim to fame as the smallest public school in Georgia. The event is organized annually by the Woody Gap Sports Club.
“We always call ourselves the biggest little festival in the world,” said Larry Wood, the president of the Woody Gap Sports Club who has been with the festival since the very beginning.
The festival will feature local artisans and vendors, food booths and a Kids Zone, giving visitors a variety of activities throughout the weekend.
Festival food will include staples such as barbecue, boiled peanuts and ice cream, while vendors will offer handmade jewelry, homemade soap and other locally made goods.
Many vendors have returned year after year, while additional vendors will join the festival in 2026 with new products and handmade creations. A teachers’ booth will also return, featuring brand new grills this year for barbecue.
One of the newer additions to the festival is the Kids Zone, which debuted in 2025 and quickly became a popular part of the event. Wood explained that it was a great success last year as its first year, so they wanted to bring it back in some capacity.
The Kids Zone will return with new activities, while keeping one of its popular attractions – a kid-safe electronic bull. A single fee will cover most Kids Zone activities, with bull riding available for an additional cost.
While the festival offers a great weekend of food and family entertainment, its purpose extends beyond the event itself.
Woody Gap School was established in 1936 with funding from Union County and the Works Progress Administration to serve the families of Suches. As the school and its students have grown and changed over the years, funds raised through the Indian Summer Festival have helped provide resources and opportunities for students.
Proceeds have been used to purchase sports equipment, uniforms, trophies, computers, electronic equipment, learning devices and other items for the school.
The Woody Gap Sports Club also uses proceeds to provide scholarships to graduating seniors when funding allows.
Wood said the impact of those scholarships can be seen in the accomplishments of recent graduates. Of the five seniors who graduated last year, four went on to attend a university, and each received a scholarship with assistance from the Sports Club.
For Wood, the festival carries personal significance as well. His three daughters attended Woody Gap School, and both Wood and his wife also attended the school. That connection has made his work with the Sports Club and festival more than simply an annual fundraiser.
Wood said he is proud and honored to help organize the event and hopes to personally see the festival reach its 50th year.
The festival has also become a community effort, with volunteers continuing to support the event even after their official roles with the school have ended. Wood said each person involved has an important role in making the festival possible.
“We’re very proud of what we do,” Wood said. “It’s very hard work, but I’ve got a great crew. Without them, there’s no way I could do it.”
The Indian Summer Festival will take place outside the school at 2331 State Highway 60 in Suches from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can enjoy food, local vendors, family activities and the Kids Zone while supporting programs and opportunities for Woody Gap students.
