Southeast Tourism Society has named the Villa Rica Gold Rush Festival one
of the STS Top 20 Events in the Southeast for September 2018.

This year’s Gold Rush Festival will take place September 8, 2018 in Downtown Villa Rica, Georgia. The
STS Top 20 Festival and Event Awards have highlighted programs around the Southeast since 1985.
Travel industry experts select 20 events per month, and STS publicizes them throughout the United
States. The complete list is published on two websites: Southeast Tourism Society and Travel Media
Press Room.

Villa Rica Gold Rush Festival 2018 will begin with the annual Gold Rush Parade at 10am. After the
parade, the festivities continue on Main Street featuring plenty of entertainment and over 40 food, craft
and merchandise vendors. Starting at 4:00pm at The MILL Amphitheatre, the stage heats up with four of
the best bands in the southeast, Double Wide, Ignition Atlanta, Gritz & Jelly Butter and The Velcro
Pygmies.

Started in 1978, the Villa Rica Gold Rush Festival celebrates the rich and sometimes forgotten history of
the first gold rush in Georgia. Villa Rica’s gold rush started in 1826 and predates the more well-known
gold rush in Dahlonega, Georgia.

“The Southeast is home to unique and memorable events throughout the year. In spotlighting the Top
20 festivals and events each month, STS is not only giving these events the recognition they deserve but
we’re also creating a quick reference guide to some of the best festivals in the Southeast,” said Bill
Hardman, president and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society. “These events are important to the
economic vitality of our communities and this is a way for us to acknowledge the time and resources
organizers have tirelessly spent to create memories for their attendees.”

Events considered for the STS Top 20 recognition must be at least three years old and have attendance
of at least 1,000. The online nomination link and submission deadlines are available at
SoutheastTourism.org or by calling 770-542-1523.

STS, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is a non-profit organization dedicated to
promoting tourism to and within 12 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.