Gainesville, Georgia

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.  Vibrant and lively, the City of Gainesville hosts many community events each year. This summer, the downtown Gainesville square is home to monthly concerts on the first Friday of each month. Lake Lanier Olympic Park hosts a food truck night on the second Friday of each month. And, back for 2021, Blue Sky Concerts entertain downtown patrons during lunch each Wednesday on the green of the square. Look for these summer event series that happen monthly, plus plenty of other special events and festivals.

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".