Wild Georgia Events

Don Carter State Park


Friday, September 12, 2025

Moths of Georgia Campfire Program
Friday, Sep 12, 2025 6 PM to 7 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Ever wondered if there were more moth species than butterflies, or what moths eat? Come find out at the Moths of Georgia Campfire Program! Listen to a campfire story and play educational games with our naturalist. For overnight guests in the pavilion in the RV campgrounds. $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, September 13, 2025

Become a Campfire Chef: Peach Cobbler
Saturday, Sep 13, 2025 6 PM to 7 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
This campfire cooking program is peachy keen and ripe for fun! This is part of our 2025 campfire cooking series. You will get a personalized sticker and new cooking skills for each program you come to! Pre-registration is required, you can call ahead or register in the visitor center. $5 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Sunday, September 14, 2025

Girl Scouts Love State Parks Day Hike
Sunday, Sep 14, 2025 10 AM to 11 AM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Meet our naturalist on the Huckleberry trail for a lesson on hiking safety and prescribed fires! Registration required. $3 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Girl Scouts Love State Parks: Leave No Trace
Sunday, Sep 14, 2025 1 PM to 2 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Meet our naturalist at the picnic benches across from picnic shelter 1 for a lesson in Leave No Trace, followed by a bark/leaf rubbing craft! $3 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Friday, September 26, 2025

Moths of Georgia Campfire Program
Friday, Sep 26, 2025 6 PM to 7 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Ever wondered if there were more moth species than butterflies, or what moths eat? Come find out at the Moths of Georgia Campfire Program! Listen to a campfire story and play educational games with our naturalist. For overnight guests in the pavilion in the RV campgrounds. $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, September 27, 2025

Your State Parks Day- Lakeside Cleanup
Saturday, Sep 27, 2025 9 AM to 11 AM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Come out and help us clean up the lakeside at the boat ramp by volunteering for Your State Parks Day! We are planning a Kids Fishing Rodeo in the spring of 2026 and need to clean up an area for this new event! Tasks will include trimming trees, moving cut limbs and picking up trash. Meet staff at the boat ramp. $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Friday, October 3, 2025

Become a Campfire Chef: Elote!
Friday, Oct 3, 2025 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Pop in for this a-maize-ing campfire cooking program! Learn how to make elote, also known as Mexican street corn. This is part of our 2025 campfire cooking series. You will get a personalized sticker and new cooking skills for each program you come to! Please call ahead to register. $5 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Haunts of Hall County
Friday, Oct 3, 2025 7 PM to 8 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Recommended for people ages 17+. If you dare, join us at Picnic Shelter #3 to learn about Hall County's ghosts, local legends, and history from a Gainesville native. Registration required. $3 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, October 4, 2025

Fun Fall Storytime
Saturday, Oct 4, 2025 11 AM to 12 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Your pre-k/younger elementary schooler will have an unbe-leaf-ably good time at this fall-themed story time! Listen to a story, sing a silly song, and do a craft all outside of the visitor center! $2 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Stick Horse Rodeo
Saturday, Oct 4, 2025 5 PM to 7 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Calling all Cowboys and Cowgirls! Bring your own stick horse for some down home old timey fun! $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Friday, October 17, 2025

Become a Campfire Chef: Hot Dogs!
Friday, Oct 17, 2025 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Join our rangers in making this classic camping meal! This is part of our 2025 campfire cooking series. You will get a personalized sticker and new cooking skills for each program you come to! Please call ahead to register. $5 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, October 18, 2025

Fun Fall Storytime
Saturday, Oct 18, 2025 11 AM to 12 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Your pre-k/younger elementary schooler will have an unbe-leaf-ably good time at this fall-themed story time! Listen to a story, sing a silly song, and do a craft all outside of the visitor center! $2 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Haunts of Hall County
Saturday, Oct 18, 2025 7 PM to 8 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Recommended for people ages 17+. If you dare, join us at Picnic Shelter #3 to learn about Hall County's ghosts, local legends, and history from a Gainesville native. Registration required. $3 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Friday, October 24, 2025

Movie Night at the Park: Double Feature!
Friday, Oct 24, 2025 6 PM to 9 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Join us outside the visitor center for a night filled with fall, family films. Snacks will be available inside starting at 6 pm, and the first movie (animated, G-rated) will begin at 6:30 pm. The second movie (live action, PG-rated) will begin at 7:30 pm. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Call the visitor center for more information! $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, October 25, 2025

Trunk or Treat
Saturday, Oct 25, 2025 5 PM to 7 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
A family friendly event for ghosts and ghouls of all ages. Enjoy this Halloween themed event and receive candy from local organizations and Don Carter park rangers. Please park at the beach, a hayride will take you to the candy! Costumes encouraged. $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, November 8, 2025

Touch-A-Truck Day
Saturday, Nov 8, 2025 11 AM to 1 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Touch, see, and talk about all kinds of trucks and other big equipment at our day-use boat ramp! A Georgia State Park Pass is required to attend and can be bought for $5.00 at the park office or kiosk. We hope to see you there! $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Friday, November 14, 2025

Become a Campfire Chef: Nachos!
Friday, Nov 14, 2025 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
This is nacho average cooking program! This is part of our 2025 campfire cooking series. You will get a personalized sticker and new cooking skills for each program you come to! Please call ahead to register. $5 plus $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, November 22, 2025

Movie Night at the Park!
Saturday, Nov 22, 2025 6 PM to 8 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Join us for an animated, G-rated movie! Meet outside the visitor center, with snacks inside, starting at 6 pm, and the movie starts at 6:30 pm. Bring your own chairs/blankets. This event will happen rain or shine, as we are under a roof. Call the park for more information! $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Friday, November 28, 2025

Game Night With a Ranger!
Friday, Nov 28, 2025 5 PM to 6:30 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Take some time to get to know park staff and your fellow campers by playing games together! With a wide array of card and board games for all ages, there is something for everyone. For overnight guests in the pavilion in the RV campground. $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, November 29, 2025

S'mores With Santa
Saturday, Nov 29, 2025 1 PM to 3 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Come see Santa and share a sweet treat with him around the campfire! We'll also have crafts set up for those waiting for their special turn with the big man in red. Stick around after for a stop motion Christmas classic starting at 3:30! $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Movie at the Park!
Saturday, Nov 29, 2025 3:30 PM to 4:40 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Join us at the group shelter for a family-friendly, stop-motion Christmas classic to bring in the holiday season! Bring your own chairs and blankets. Call the visitor center for more information! $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, December 20, 2025

Movie Night at the Park: Double Feature!
Saturday, Dec 20, 2025 5 PM to 10 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Join us for a night of winter movie magic at the group shelter. Doors open at 5 pm with the first movie (animated, holiday-themed, PG-rated) starting at 5:30 pm. The second movie (live-action, winter-themed, PG-rated) will begin at 7:30 pm. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Call the visitor center for more information! $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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Saturday, January 3, 2026

Movie Night at the Park!
Saturday, Jan 3, 2026 5 PM to 7 PM
Don Carter State Park - Gainesville, GA
Join us at the group shelter to watch an animated, PG-rated movie to end Winter Break! Doors open at 5 pm, and the movie will begin at 5:30 pm. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Call the visitor center for more information! $5 parking. 678-450-7726.
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