Tourism & Events

The City, the Oconee Chamber of Commerce, the Oconee County Office of Tourism, the Oconee County Board of Education, and the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) sponsor many events aimed at not only bringing visitors into the city, but also ensuring they want to come back again and again. 

Fall Festival

The Chamber hosts the Fall Festival, which is an art, craft and food extravaganza, every October. This event is held on historic Rocket Field in front of OCAF. Last year the festival brought 240 vendors and over 24,000 visitors into our city.

Annual Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting

The city’s annual Christmas festivities are scheduled on the first Sunday in December. The Christmas Parade kicks off on Barnett Shoals Road just before the railroad tracks and continues onto Main Street and through downtown Watkinsville. The Christmas Market is held at the Christian Church parking lot off Main Street. After the Parade, the city holds the annual Tree Lighting ceremony at the Oconee County Courthouse. Click here for more information. 

Chili Cookoff

The 7th Annual Run for Responders 5k & Festival and 1st Annual Chili Cookoff will be October 1, 2023. To learn more visit  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wezhyiiehbdfhacffddg6/chili1.jpg?rlkey=z4qazs9yzm8alj53k69y3evnh&dl=0                    To register visit  https://www.dropbox.com/s/63xse87gi0lkqbg/Chili%20Cookoff%20Registration.pdf?dl=0 

We may be a small city, but we are a festive one. View our calendar to see our upcoming events!