"This year we're honoring the 1838 Trail of Tears and the Rattling Gourd family who lived near here. They left their log home to travel by foot on the infamous journey west," said James Jennings, the flint knapper at the fair. "When the Cherokee were here Fish Trap Shoals was their name for the place on the Coahulla Creek where Prater's Mill is now located."

The Prater's Mill Country Fair focuses on mountain music, Southern foods, living history exhibits and the handmade crafts and original art of 185 talented artists and artisans. Crafts demonstrations included blacksmithing, weaving, quilting, rug hooking, wood carving and hand tufting, a cottage industry that evolved into the tufted carpet industry centered in Dalton, GA.

At the fair, visitors take self-guided tours of the operating grist mill, the country store, Shugart Cotton Gin and the Westbrook Barn complete with farm animals.

Across the road from the mill is the 1898 Prater's Store where the Dawnville Community Club serves authentic southern meals of cornbread, pinto beans, turnip greens and sweet potato cobbler. Elsewhere throughout the festival area are other specialties, such as pit-cooked barbecue, apple cider and churned ice cream.

During the fair, families enjoy canoeing on the Coahulla Creek, a leisurely walk down the nature trail and pony rides for the children. Educational exhibits include an authentic Civil War encampment and field hospital, working antique engines, antique cars and "Peacock Alley", a clothesline display of handtufted bedspreads. Continuous entertainment on stage features square dancers, country bands and gospel singers. Wandering musicians, jugglers, dulcimer players and storytellers perform throughout the festival area.

Begun in 1971, the Prater's Mill Country Fair is sponsored by the Prater's Mill foundation, a non-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to historic preservation and education. Thirty-three civic clubs, churches and schools also participate in the community event.

The hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. Admission is $4.00, children 12 and under free. Visitors are urged to dress casually and wear comfortable shoes. Parking is free.

Prater's Mill is located on GA HWY 2 ten miles northeast of Dalton and about 30 miles south of Chattanooga, TN. Interstate travelers should take I-75 to the Tunnel Hill-Varnell Exit # 128; drive north 4.5 miles to the intersection with GA Hwy. 2 at Varnell; turn right and continue 2.6 miles to the mill, a total distance of 7 miles from I-75.

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