Oktoberfest (mid-September to early November) is the busiest and most festive time — the streets fill with people in lederhosen, the beer flows, and the oompah bands play. Book accommodation well in advance for Oktoberfest weekends. The rest of autumn (October, early November) is also peak foliage season, when the surrounding Appalachian hardwood forest turns red, orange, and gold — one of the best fall colour displays in the South.
Summer is hot and humid, with tubing on the Chattahoochee the main activity. Spring is quieter and pleasant for hiking. Winter is very quiet by Helen standards, though some Christmas market events bring weekend crowds.