Visitors
Located on the shores of Lake Sidney Lanier and at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Gainesville, Georgia is the tourism and economic center of Northeast Georgia. Gainesville sits halfway between the Appalachian Mountains and the urban city center of Atlanta. Also known as a City of Excellence, Gainesville is home to more than 42,000 people.
Gainesville's Nicknames
Gainesville has earned many nicknames over the years because of its people and valuable location. The most notable nicknames are are "Queen City of the Mountains" and "Poultry Capital of the World". The most recent and honorable designation came following the 1996 Olympics. An NBC broadcaster covering the rowing/kayaking event referred to Gainesville as the "Hospitality Capital of the World".
Calendar of Events
We love to connect our community and share events around Gainesville. If you'd like to add your event to the City of Gainesville's Calendar of Events, please fill out the Calendar of Events form and submit. Thank you for making Gainesville a great community in which to live, work and play!
What Makes Gainesville Unique
In Gainesville, you can:
- Experience a Hong Kong Dragonboat Festival
- Fly a plane at a hands-on children's museum
- Learn to row and paddle where Olympians train
- Play a round of golf by the lake at the Chattahoochee Golf Course
- Relax with an evening of intimate jazz
- Relive the past of an African-American pioneer in education
- Riverside Military Academy - where leadership comes to life
- See where southern fried chicken was invented
- Splash around in an outdoor fun zone
- Stroll tree-lined streets, charming cafes and modern boutiques
- Taste chicken 47 different ways at Georgia's official chicken cook-off
- Touch a real tornado
- Walk through the solar system
- Watch theater doors open into new worlds, new people and new ideas
Photo Gallery
Check out our photo gallery of various things to do in Gainesville.