Fall in Northwest Georgia means the calendar fills up fast. Between the North Georgia Agricultural Fair in Dalton, the community and arts festivals downtown, and the school and neighborhood fall festivals happening across Whitfield, Murray, and Gordon counties, there is no shortage of family fun. A few simple habits keep a great weekend from turning into a sick week.
This guide covers staying healthy and safe in the middle of festival season. It is part of our guide to common childhood illnesses and offers general health information, not a substitute for care from your child’s provider.
Germs love a crowd
Festival season overlaps with cold, flu, and RSV season, and crowds make it easy for germs to spread. A little prevention goes a long way.
- Wash hands often, and keep hand sanitizer in your bag for when a sink is not close
- Remind kids to keep hands away from their eyes, nose, and mouth
- Bring your own water bottles, and skip sharing cups, straws, and food
- If your child is already sick, it is kinder to everyone to sit this one out
Dress for North Georgia's up-and-down fall weather
Autumn days here can start warm and turn cool by evening, especially at an outdoor fair that runs into the night. Layers are your friend. Send a jacket or sweatshirt even if the afternoon is warm, put kids in closed-toe shoes for all the walking, and do not forget that the midday sun still calls for sunscreen and water.
Food, treats, and allergies
Fair food and festival potlucks are part of the fun, but they can be tricky for children with food allergies. Read labels when you can, bring safe snacks from home, and carry any emergency medicine your child has been prescribed along with a reminder of how and when to use it. Many families also look for the Teal Pumpkin Project, a food allergy awareness effort that marks spots offering non-food treats so every child can join in.
Little ones in big crowds
- Have a plan if you get separated. Teach kids to find a staff member or police officer, and put a nametag with your phone number on younger children.
- Bring the stroller or carrier. Toddlers tire quickly, and a familiar seat keeps them safe and settled in a crowd.
- Protect little ears and plan for rest. Loud stages and long days wear children out, so build in quiet breaks and head home before the meltdown.
When to be seen at White's Pediatrics
If your child comes down with something after a busy weekend, you have options close to home. White’s Pediatrics offers same-day sick visits and welcomes walk-ins, with rapid testing for flu, strep, RSV, and COVID at all three clinic locations.
Open when your child actually gets sick, not just during the workday
Dalton daytime clinic: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Dalton Urgent Care: Monday to Friday, 5pm to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 12 noon
Spanish-speaking staff are available at every location, and all major insurances are accepted, including Georgia Medicaid and PeachCare.
To have your child seen in Dalton, Chatsworth, or Calhoun, call 706-876-2130 or visit whitespediatrics.com.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep my kids from getting sick at fairs and festivals?
Frequent handwashing, hand sanitizer, not sharing cups or food, and keeping hands away from the face all help. Since festival season overlaps with flu and RSV season, these small habits make a real difference.
What should I pack for a day at a festival?
Water bottles, hand sanitizer, layers for changing weather, sunscreen, safe snacks, and any medicine your child needs. For younger children, a stroller or carrier and a nametag with your phone number are smart additions.
What is the Teal Pumpkin Project?
It is a food allergy awareness effort that marks homes and booths offering non-food treats, such as stickers or glow sticks, so children with food allergies can take part safely.
My child has a food allergy. Any tips for festivals?
Read labels when you can, bring safe snacks from home, avoid foods with unknown ingredients, and carry any prescribed emergency medicine with a reminder of how to use it. Look for Teal Pumpkin Project spots for non-food treats.
What if my child gets sick after a festival?
White’s Pediatrics offers same-day visits and walk-ins at all three locations in Dalton, Chatsworth, and Calhoun, with evening and weekend coverage at the Dalton Urgent Care. Call 706-876-2130.
Enjoy the season, and let us handle the sniffles. White’s Pediatrics is here for your family in Dalton, Chatsworth, and Calhoun. Call 706-876-2130 or visit whitespediatrics.com.
For an overview of the illnesses families see most often, visit our guide to common childhood illnesses.
