(Photo) The Holly Theater Stage.

Piece 1: Dahlonega. Each year, as the holiday season approaches, Dahlonega GA transforms into a living Christmas card. The town’s historic square, adorned with twinkling lights and beautifully decorated trees, has become an oft used filming location for the Christmas-themed movies produced by the Hallmark and Lifetime television networks.

One of the more popular spots on the square year-round is the Dahlonega General Store, which has carefully preserved its historical interior atmosphere. Visitors will find an assortment of clothing items, hats, regional foods, nostalgic candies, books on area history and culture, vintage advertising signs, and other interesting souvenirs.

We were in Dahlonega in early December, and so we had to check out the town’s traditional Christmas Market, hosted by the local women’s club and featuring artisan vendors selling a variety of unique gifts, foods items, jewelry, pottery, woven textiles, and holiday decor. The market is largely based at the Community House at 111 North Park Street, but some vendors set up in nearby Hancock Park, about a block away from the town square.

Another holiday staple of Dahlonega is its Festival of Trees, also located in Hancock Park. Each year, community groups and businesses sponsor decorated Christmas trees and visitors can use an app on their phone to vote for their favorite.

Finally, no holiday season visit to Dahlonega is complete without attending a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at The Holly Theater, located at 69 West Main Street, just a short walk from the town square.

Originally designed in the late 1940’s as a movie house, the Holly is an architectural nod to the Art Deco style, and now hosts a full schedule of theatrical shows and concerts. Inside, the theater retains much of its original charm; classic auditorium-style seating, a proscenium stage framed by intricate detailing, ornamental plasterwork, and decorative molding. Over the years, the theater has incorporating some modern amenities and enhanced its acoustical systems to improve the patron experience.

The performance of “A Christmas Carol” that we saw was a slight twist on the classic story. In this version, Evelyn Scrooge, an elderly miser, is visited by the ghost of her husband (and former business partner) Ebenezer Scrooge, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. We enjoyed the show, and the complimentary hot chocolate at intermission.

BabyLand General Hospital

Piece 2: BabyLand General Hospital. BabyLand General Hospital, located in Cleveland GA (about 20 miles east of Dahlonega), is an iconic site that celebrates the whimsical origins and enduring legacy of Cabbage Patch Kids.

In the late 1970s, a young art student named Xavier Roberts developed an interest in quilting and sculpture. Influenced by the Appalachian crafting tradition of doll-making, he began creating soft-sculpture dolls. In a savvy marketing twist, Roberts’ dolls were “adopted” rather than purchased, and came with specially-picked names and birth certificates.

The name “Cabbage Patch Kids” comes from the official legend, which describes a hybrid animal that can fly (known as a BunnyBee) that leads Xavier to a cabbage patch where he finds “kids” who ask him to help them find homes.

The first BabyLand General Hospital was established in 1979 in an old clinic building in Cleveland GA. Cabbage Patch Kids were “born” there and subsequently purchased (or adopted) by customers through a celebratory process. In 2007, the hospital moved to a large, Southern-style mansion in Cleveland, allowing for more visitors and an expanded experience.

The sprawling, plantation-style exterior of BabyLand exudes a welcoming charm. Upon entering the building (admission is free), visitors first encounter a small but well-appointed museum that traces the history of the Cabbage Patch Doll from its inception to modern day. In this same area is a nurses desk, which provides information about the hospital layout and upcoming Cabbage Patch Kid births. A corridor leads past nurseries featuring newly born dolls (ready for adoption) and into the main retail store.

Centrally located in the retail store space is “Mother Cabbage,” a magical tree under which the Cabbage Patch Kids are born in an interactive experience visitors can witness and participate in by selecting a name for the new doll.

There are two kinds of dolls available for purchase at BabyLand, the more affordable “mass market” style with a plastic face, and the completely hand-sewn collectible quality dolls that cost several hundred dollars.

If you’re traveling near Cleveland GA, BabyLand is certainly a fun and interesting experience. We really enjoyed it!

The Bodensee German Restaurant

Piece 3: Helen. About 10 miles northeast of BabyLand Hospital is the town of Helen GA, which transforms into a festive wonderland each holiday season.

Originally established as a logging town, Helen underwent a transformative makeover in the late 1960s to become a vibrant, Bavarian-inspired village. The decision to convert this small community into an Alpine replica was a strategic move to rejuvenate the local economy, and it has since become one of Georgia’s most popular tourist destinations.

Visitors will notice that Helen features a distinctive German theme in most of its architecture; characterized by steep roofs, timber framing, and large windows.

The town’s Annual Christmas Market is inspired by traditional German Christkindlmarkts. Helen’s cobblestoned town square is filled with beautiful illuminated holiday trees and decorations, vender stalls showcasing handmade crafts, and food artisans selling a variety of sweet and savory drinks and eatables.

There are several dining establishments in Helen offering traditional German fare such as bratwurst, schnitzel, and sauerkraut. We had seen good reviews about the Bodensee Restaurant (located at 64 Munich Strasse) and it did not disappoint. We split a House Platter that included a bratwurst, a garlic wurst, a smoked pork chop, a serving of sauerkraut, and a serving of potato salad. We added a side of spatzle (German noodles) and a side of red cabbage. While we ate, our dining room was entertained by two musicians dressed in lederhosen, one playing an accordion and the other playing a tuba. The Bodensee was a delightful culinary and cultural experience.

After our dinner, we walked around the town square and soaked up the holiday atmosphere. We didn’t have any desert at The Bodensee, and we were craving something sweet. Following our noses, we found Granny’s Famous Funnel Cake House and ordered one of her deep fried confections sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Yum!

On our walk back to the hotel, we decided to take a side street that runs parallel to Main called Edelweiss Strasse. It goes past a city park that had a very impressive display of holiday lights. A real feast for the eyes!

Before we left Helen and headed home, we decided to indulge in quick game of putt-putt at Bavarian Mountain Mini Golf, conveniently located at 8065 South Main Street. The place has two challenging courses, some attractive water features, and a great view of the town. A fun way to conclude this adventure.

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