It's that time of year; the time when friends, family, and members of the small town of Dawsonville, Georgia gather to welcome over 150,000 racing fans and auto enthusiasts. According to the 2012 United States Census, the town of Dawsonville, which covers just 1.9 square miles, holds 2,255 people. The 2012 Moonshine Festival was estimated at just close to 150,000 people. That's more than 5 times than how many citizens live in the whole county.

But one may ask, what makes 150,000 spectators visit our tiny town? Way back in 1967, a man named Fred Goswick, a former moonshiner, set up two tables in front of the historic courthouse. On the October weekend, Fred displayed an old moonshine jug, along with some home-grown vegetables, and thus, what's known as the Mountain Moonshine Festival was born. Until the late 80's, the festival was held during three weekends, but wasn't that large. One year, Gordon Pirkle, owner of the famous "Dawsonville Pool Room", invited four friends, each who owned a 1940 Ford Coupe. He allowed the show cars to park at the old courthouse where Fred Goswick's old display was. Not too long after the 'moonshine era' cars started to arrive, the name was changed to the 'Moonshine Festival' and attendance more than doubled, just because of the name.