Holiday Sweets in Dahlonega, Thanksgiving to Christmas 2026

Every date on this page comes from the organizer’s own 2026 listing, checked Oct 19, 2026. The Visitors Bureau says Dahlonega’s Christmas season runs from the day after Thanksgiving through the first week of January, starting with the Lighting of the Square. Below are the dates in order, then where the sweets fit: pie on Thanksgiving, fudge and chocolate to give or ship, and cakes and pies to order ahead.

The 2026 dates, in order

Thanksgiving at The Smith House, Nov 26

The Smith House, serving family-style meals since 1922, lists a traditional Thanksgiving menu on its Thanksgiving page for Thursday, November 26, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last seating). The menu includes Pumpkin & Pecan Pie plus homemade yeast rolls and cornbread muffins. It takes no reservations: first come, first served.

Lighting of the Square, Nov 27

The Christmas in Dahlonega organizer lists the Lighting of the Square on November 27, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Visitors Center, with carolers, hot cocoa and a visit from Santa. The downtown authority calls the lighting a Merchant Open House, with extended shopping hours in many downtown shops afterward; its page is older and does not restate 2026 times. The Visitors Bureau’s Christmas page still shows a 6 p.m. tree lighting written for the 2025 season, so go by the organizer’s 2026 schedule. From November 27, 2026, children can drop letters to Santa in a special mailbox at the Visitors Center.

Christmas Market in Hancock Park, Dec 5 to Dec 13

The Women’s Club’s annual fundraiser is listed from 10 a.m. on December 5 to 5 p.m. on December 13, 2026, with homemade sweets, gifts and holiday decor. The organizer does not name individual vendors. It gives the location as Hancock Park, Hawkins St; the city gives the park’s address as 54 North Park Street, at North Park and Warwick streets.

Parade, Kid’s Day and the movie

The Christmas parade of community floats runs Saturday, December 12, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. Kid’s Day in Hancock Park on December 19 is for children in kindergarten through 5th grade, with a parent or guardian staying with each child. The Holly Theatre shows The Santa Clause free on Monday, December 21.

December evenings on the Square

The Visitors Bureau says downtown has extended merchant hours every evening of December, with wine sampling and carriage rides. That is a general statement. None of the bakeries, fudge shops, chocolatier or ice cream counters in this guide publishes December or holiday hours online (checked Oct 19, 2026). Their regular hours, as listed on their own sites, run to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays at Kilwins, The Dahlonega Fudge Factory, Paul Thomas Chocolates, Connie’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop and Dahlonega General Store. Call before a late visit, and see bakery hours for the full table. The Gold Museum in the middle of the Square is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Fudge and chocolate to give or ship

The Dahlonega Fudge Factory ships its chocolate products only between November 1 and February 28 (dates it calls tentative), because of heat during shipping; in the store, chocolates are sold all year. Mail orders have a one-pound minimum. Its own site names seasonal fudge flavors including Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Peppermint Crunch, and caramel-dipped apples in fall and winter made with apples from Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge.

The Dahlonega Fudge Factory ships its chocolate products only between November 1 and February 28 (tentative dates), though chocolates are sold in the store year-round. (Fudge Factory, checked Oct 19, 2026)

Kilwins Dahlonega asks anyone ordering gift baskets, party favors or corporate gifts to contact the store directly and as early as possible. Paul Thomas Chocolates, on Public Square North, lists items such as Almond Butter Crunch toffee, Black Cherry Truffles and Blood Orange Caramels on its own site; it does not publish holiday hours. For all three side by side, see fudge, chocolate and candy.

Ordering holiday cakes and pies

No place in this guide publishes a holiday order deadline, so order early and ask. What the makers do publish:

• Picnic Cafe and Dessertery sells whole pies, including pecan, pumpkin, apple and key lime, and whole cakes, with 48 hours’ notice for any catering order.
• The Smith House lists a to-go dessert case of pies and cheesecakes, including Pecan Pie and Boston Cream Pie, on its to-go menu; family meals need at least two hours’ notice by phone.
• Sherry’s Sweets-n-Eats sets the balance due two weeks before non-wedding events, and Nonni’s Bakery says it replies to inquiries within 48 hours with availability.

• Bakery

  Picnic Cafe & Dessertery

  Family-recipe cafe on the square, started in 2001 as The Dahlonega Dessertery, serving breakfast and lunch plus homemade muffins, scones, pastries, whole cakes and whole pies.

  • On its own menu: Vegan Muffin · Large Baked Goods Platter · Whole Cake · Whole Pie · Quiche Plate
  • Its own menu marks: gluten-free · vegan options
  • Mon–Sun 7 am–6:30 pm (as published)
  • 30 Public Square South, Dahlonega, GA 30533
  • (706) 864-1095

  Source: thepicniccafe.wixsite.com, checked Oct 19, 2026

• Pies and desserts

  The Smith House

  Family-style Southern restaurant (serving since 1922) whose own menus list a to-go dessert case of pies and cheesecakes, strawberry shortcake with family-style meals, and cinnamon rolls on Friday evenings.

  • On its own menu: Pecan Pie · Boston Cream Pie · Cinnamon Churro Cheesecake · Strawberry Shortcake · Cinnamon Rolls
  • Tue–Thu 11 am–3 pm · Fri–Sat 11 am–7:30 pm · Sun 11 am–7 pm (as published)
  • 84 South Chestatee St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
  • (706) 725-8148

  Source: smithhouse.com, checked Oct 19, 2026

• Fudge

  The Dahlonega Fudge Factory

  Second-generation candy shop at the corner of North Park and Main, open since 1982, making hand-dipped chocolates, Southern confections and more than 15 varieties of cream and butter fudge, plus caramel-dipped apples in fall and winter.

  • On its own menu: Dahlonega Nuggets · Pecan Pralines · Peanut Butter Cups · Cloud 9 Pretzels · Divinity
  • Mon–Thu 11 am–8 pm · Fri–Sat 11 am–9 pm · Sun 11 am–8 pm (as published)
  • 8 N Park St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
  • (706) 864-3988

  Source: dahlonegafudgefactory.com, checked Oct 19, 2026

• Fudge

  Kilwins Dahlonega

  Franchise chocolate, fudge and ice cream shop just off the square that makes Mackinac Island Fudge in the store on marble tables, dips caramel apples in made-in-store caramel and scoops Original Recipe Ice Cream in fresh waffle cones.

  • On its own menu: Mackinac Island Fudge · Caramel Apples · TUTTLE™ Nut Caramels · New Orleans Praline Pecan · Sorbetto
  • Its own menu marks: dairy-free options
  • Mon–Thu 12 pm–8 pm · Fri–Sat 12 pm–9 pm · Sun 12 pm–8 pm (as published)
  • 40 Public Square S, Dahlonega, GA 30533
  • (706) 203-3100

  Source: kilwins.com, checked Oct 19, 2026

For every maker and how each takes orders, see custom cakes and home bakers. A day-by-day version of this season is in our 2026 holiday sweets calendar.

Parking on busy December days

The parade organizer says to plan parking early. The UNG deck off South Chestatee Street is open to the public all day on Saturdays and Sundays and after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, which suits December evenings. See parking and getting here.