HELEN, Ga. — What could be more enchanting than an old fashioned Christmas in an authentic Bavarian village? For folks on a limited budget, however, a European vacation is little more than a pipe dream.

CHRISTMAS IN HELEN But for those of us lucky enough to live in north Georgia, the “feel” of an Alpine Christmas in no farther away than the picturesque little town of Helen, nestled high in the Blue Ridge mountains where the townspeople are ready to welcome visitors with a warm Christmas spirit.

The fun begins in the weekend of Dec. 2-3 with the eighth annual Christkindlmarkt, a German tradition that combines food, music and entertainment with markets of imported and local Christmas specialties in a holiday atmosphere. The fun continues the weekend of Dec. 9-10.

The annual Christmas parade on Dec. 9 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. is sure to spread the Holiday cheer as Santa, his helpers and other costumed characters parade down the streets of Helen in one of the most anticipated events of the Holiday season.

You may also want to switch gears with a visit to the historic Hardman Farm in Helen to see what a very Victorian Christmas is like. This beautiful old home is dressed in period holiday décor to celebrate the season.

A visit to Georgia’s Alpine Village is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com