First and foremost, Dahlonega's Gold Rush festival is the most terrifying time in a pledge’s semester if they rush in the Fall. They are constantly told that this will be “the deciding week” and endlessly reminded that the alumni are much harsher on their critiquing of the potential brothers to the fraternity that they not only love, but whose rules and ideals they still live by to this day. As a pledge, you know that you simply cannot slack off, relax, or lose your concentration, focus and drive to prove yourself. Not only that, but Gold Rush makes this glorious mountain town of Dahlonega so busy that it is hard to walk around, let alone find anyone, in the massive group of people. What most people do not tell the pledges, however, is that while this is the one of the most stressful times in their pledge, it is by far the most fun you will never want to have again.
Before I get too far into this, here is a little about Gold Rush from a reputable website:
“Gold Rush Days are always held the third full weekend in October. It is a time for thousands to come and see fall colors peaking and celebrate Dahlonega’s 1828 discovery of gold. Over 300 art and craft exhibitors and food vendors gather around the Public Square and Historic District in support of this annual event. It is estimated that a crowd of over 200,000 visit over the weekend to join in the fun and excitement! The Gold Rush Days Festival has been voted one of the Top 20 Events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. Join us in downtown Dahlonega on October 17-18, 2015 and you will see why! Although The Dahlonega Jaycees produce this festival each year, we can’t take all the credit for its continued success. Volunteers, Vendors, Performers and Contest Participants, Festival-Goers, Advocates, Gracious Downtown Merchants and Restaurant Folks, Officers and Emergency Service Providers, City and County Partners, Locals and Out-of-Towners…ALL OF YOU contribute to the success of this event each year. We hope you know how grateful we truly are for each of you and the incredible impact your role in this festival has on our community, not just for one weekend in October, but all throughout the year. On behalf of the Dahlonega Jaycees, we can say with much sincerity, THANK YOU…”
Now, as you can see, Dahlonega has a lot of pride in their history and continued historical impact, but back to the more important question: “How does a pledge enjoy themselves during Gold Rush, which has been known to make even the most resound men and women shake in anticipation?” And the answer is much simpler than anyone would think to imagine. Simply enjoy yourself and do whatever you're told to do. The answer is simply too simple to think of while you are pledging, but if you sit down and think about it, it truly is that simple.
JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT!!
