Community News & Events
From Easter Egg Hunts to Casino Nights, Apalachee Farms is a community that celebrates together year-round.
Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Corn Hole Tournament & Cookout
The first-ever Apalachee Farms Corn Hole Tournament & Cookout brought neighbors together for a wonderful summer afternoon of friendly competition, great food, and community spirit on July 18, 2026.
What a turnout! Thank you to everyone who made the first annual Corn Hole Tournament & Cookout a huge success. Stay tuned for details on next year's event.
Did you know Gwinnett County was essentially born in Dacula?
This year's fair on October 3-4 was another wonderful chapter in a tradition that stretches back to 1812, when Gwinnett County was still the Georgia frontier.
The Elisha Winn Fair, one of Gwinnett County's most unique annual events and a hidden gem for history lovers, took place this year at the historic Elisha Winn House, the birthplace of Gwinnett County government, where the county's first elections and court sessions were held in the early 1800s. Mark your calendar now for next October when the fair returns.
What You'll See
"Unlike a typical fall festival, this event feels like stepping back 200 years into Georgia's frontier days. The house itself was built around 1812, six years before Gwinnett County was formed, and served as the county's first government center."
Living at Apalachee Farms means historic events like the Elisha Winn Fair are right in your backyard.
Year-Round Community Traditions
Corn Hole Tournament & Cookout
The first-ever Apalachee Farms Corn Hole Tournament & Cookout. A fun summer afternoon of friendly competition, great food, and community fellowship for all residents.
Easter Egg Hunt
An annual tradition for families, the community Easter Egg Hunt brings kids and neighbors together for a morning of fun, prizes, and springtime celebration.
Community Yard Sale
Residents gather for a community-wide yard sale event, a great way to connect with neighbors and find hidden treasures.
Pool Season Kickoff
Memorial Day weekend marks the official opening of the pool complex, with splash parties, swim team tryouts, and summer camp registration.
Casino Night
A beloved community tradition, Casino Night brings adults together for an evening of games, socializing, and community fundraising.
Fall Festival
A seasonal celebration with activities for all ages, from hayrides and pumpkin decorating to live music and food vendors.
Holiday Light Contest
Residents deck their homes in holiday lights and compete for the best display, creating a magical atmosphere throughout the community.
Holiday Party
The community's annual holiday gathering, a festive evening of food, music, and celebration to close out the year.
Community-Wide Garage Sale
Community-Wide Garage Sale
Apalachee Farms hosts community-wide garage sale events that bring the entire neighborhood together. Residents set up at their homes and shoppers from across the area visit for a day of bargain hunting and neighborly connection.
Events like these are a hallmark of the tight-knit spirit that makes Apalachee Farms more than just a golf course community. It's a place where neighbors know each other and come together throughout the year.
Get Involved
Social Committee
Organizes community parties, casino nights, holiday events, and seasonal celebrations. Lisa Harris served as Co-Chair of this committee for 10 years.
Tennis Leagues
ALTA and USTA teams compete across multiple seasons, with social mixers and round-robin events throughout the year.
Swim Team
Youth competitive and recreational swim programs during the summer season, building teamwork and community pride.
Golf Groups
Informal golf groups and outings organized among residents, leveraging the Trophy Club membership and course access.
Book Club
A monthly gathering of readers who share recommendations and discussion in a relaxed, social setting.
Women's Club
Social and philanthropic activities for women in the community, including luncheons, outings, and charitable initiatives.
For the latest HOA updates, meeting schedules, and community announcements, residents can check the Apalachee Farms HOA portal or contact the community management office. Lisa Harris, as a former Social Committee Co-Chair with 10 years of community involvement, stays closely connected to all community happenings.
Community Programs & Activities
Verified updates on the community's signature programs, including swim team, golf leagues, and racquet sports, based on publicly available schedules and registration information.
Apalachee Aquatics Swim Team
Apalachee Aquatics, established in 1998, competes in the Gwinnett County Swim League (GCSL) North Central division and trains at the community pool complex at 1001 Dacula Road. The team welcomes swimmers 18 and under, from beginner to advanced, including non-residents.
Source: Apalachee Aquatics SwimTopia
Trophy Club of Apalachee Golf Course
The Trophy Club of Apalachee, designed by Steve Melnyk, is a semi-private 18-hole championship course winding through the Apalachee Farms community. The course earned recognition in 2025 as a Best of Gwinnett winner in Golf Courses, Sports Instruction Facilities, Sports Leagues, and Camps & Clinics, and received a 2024 Best of Gwinnett Ones to Watch award.
The Trophy Club of Apalachee Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course winding through the community, is independently owned and operated. Residents enjoy convenient access and a Players Club membership option with low rates, plus a full-size grass driving range.
Source: Spark Golf Leagues · Trophy Club of Apalachee · Club Championship History
Tennis & Pickleball Programs
Apalachee Farms features 7 tennis courts (approximately 7-8 with the full complex) with a full-time tennis professional and 6 dedicated, lighted outdoor pickleball courts. Active ALTA and USTA leagues run throughout the year with organized play, tournaments, and social events.
Contact R&G Tennis at (770) 315-0879 for current session dates, or the Apalachee Farms Tennis Center for league schedules and registration.
Dacula-Area News & Developments
Living at Apalachee Farms means staying connected to a growing, evolving community. Here are verified developments and openings in the Dacula area that affect daily life and property values.
Apalachee Aquatics Wraps 2026 Season
The Apalachee Aquatics swim team completed its 2026 summer season, with the GCSL County Championships held July 10-12 at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. The team competed under returning head coach Sarah-Grace Thompson, a former LSU swimmer, alongside assistant coaches Abigail Dibling and Mary Loomis. The Gwinnett County Swim League championship saw Flowers Crossing secure a record fifth consecutive title. Apalachee Aquatics looks forward to building on the season's momentum in 2027.
Source: Apalachee Aquatics SwimTopia · GCSL
Dacula City Core Project
The City of Dacula is developing a new municipal complex, outdoor amphitheater, greenspace, and public parking at 2506 Sanjo Street. Awarded to Bowen & Watson Construction in 2025, this project represents a significant investment in Dacula's downtown area and will create new gathering spaces, entertainment venues, and community amenities just minutes from Apalachee Farms.
Stanley Road at Winder Highway Improvement
Gwinnett County is reconstructing and realigning Stanley Road at the Winder Highway interchange, adding a westbound left-turn lane and eastbound right-turn lane. The $5.1 million project by ER Snell Contractor, Inc. is part of broader transportation improvements along the GA-316 corridor that directly benefits Apalachee Farms residents' daily commutes.
Source: City of Dacula: Transportation Projects · AccessWDUN
GA 316 Freeway Conversion Moves Forward
GDOT's "Transforming State Route 316" program, which will eventually turn the corridor into a freeway by removing at-grade crossings, entered its 2026 construction phase. The SR 316 at SR 8/US 29 (Winder Highway) project, roughly 1.3 miles with an estimated $82.9 million budget, is now under construction, and SR 316 at Kilcrease Road is underway in Barrow County.
New interchanges are also planned at Hi-Hope Road and Fence Road with frontage roads on both sides of 316. For Apalachee Farms residents, these improvements promise faster, safer access to Athens, Atlanta, and the 316 employment corridor as construction completes in stages.
Source: GDOT: Transforming SR 316 · SR 316 at Winder Hwy Project
New Dining & Retail Options Near Apalachee Farms
Chipotle, Dacula
Dacula · Opened December 3, 2025
Chipotle opened its Dacula location in December 2025, adding a fast-casual favorite for families heading into town.
Chick-fil-A Braselton
Braselton Highway (SR 53) corridor · Opened January 8, 2026
A new Chick-fil-A opened along the Braselton Highway corridor in January 2026 with an opening-day "Cows Eat Free" celebration, expanding options on the commute north of Dacula.
Hokkaido Ramen House & ToYaMa
Braselton Highway, Dacula · New in 2026
Two new Asian dining options, Hokkaido Ramen House (3465 Braselton Hwy) and ToYaMa (3515 Braselton Hwy), recently appeared along the corridor serving the Dacula and Hamilton Mill area.
Chick-fil-A South Dacula
881 Harbins Road, Dacula · Opened May 2025
A new Chick-fil-A location in South Dacula, creating approximately 150 jobs and adding a popular dining option just minutes from the community.
Everbowl, Hamilton Mill
2740 Braselton Highway, Suite A1, Dacula · Opened February 2026
A health-focused superfood bowl restaurant in the Hamilton Mill retail area, offering acai bowls, smoothies, and grain bowls, a convenient option for health-conscious residents.
Also in the pipeline near Dacula: Onelife Fitness (a roughly 62,000 sq ft gym planned at 1221 Dacula Road), Wingstop at the Publix-anchored center at 952 Harbins Road, and a Fifth Third Bank at 861 Harbins Road.
Sources: What Now Atlanta · Chick-fil-A Press Release · Onelife Fitness Plans · Wingstop Plans
Lineage: 300-Unit Mixed-Use Development at 801 Harbins Road
Thompson Thrift announced Lineage, a 300-unit mixed-use community spanning nearly 15 acres at 801 Harbins Road in Dacula, less than three miles from the 2,000-acre Rowen knowledge community. The project marks Thompson Thrift's 100th multifamily community nationwide.
Lineage will feature four-story buildings with one- to three-bedroom rental units, over 9,500 square feet of street-level retail along Harbins Road, and resort-style amenities including a heated pool, pickleball court, fitness center, golf simulator, social lounges, coworking spaces, and a pet spa. The first residents are expected in April 2028. This significant investment in Dacula's Harbins Road corridor underscores the area's continued growth and appeal, adding new retail and housing options just minutes from Apalachee Farms.
Source: Urbanize Atlanta
UCB Picks Rowen for a $2 Billion Manufacturing Facility
In the biggest economic development news for the area in years, Gwinnett County and UCB announced on March 24, 2026 that the global biopharma company will build a $2 billion biologics manufacturing facility at Rowen, the 2,000-acre knowledge community straddling GA 316 near Dacula. The 460,000-square-foot plant, UCB's first U.S. biologics facility, is the largest capital investment in Gwinnett County history and makes UCB Rowen's first tenant.
The project is expected to drive new jobs, housing demand, and investment across the 316 corridor for years, all of which reinforces Apalachee Farms' position as one of the region's most connected golf course communities. The 10,000-square-foot Rowen Convergence Center, the community's public "front door," was slated to break ground in mid-2026.
Source: Gwinnett County News Release · Rowen
Drowning Creek Road Improvements
Drowning Creek Road has been awarded a 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for milling, repaving, and sidewalk improvements. This infrastructure investment enhances connectivity in the Dacula area and benefits Apalachee Farms residents who use this route for daily travel.
The Galloping Galette: French Creperie in Downtown Dacula
The Galloping Galette, a French crepe restaurant, opened a dinner-focused location in downtown Dacula at 2491 Second Avenue. The restaurant serves savory galettes and sweet crepes Wednesday through Saturday from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, adding a unique dining option to the growing Dacula restaurant scene just minutes from Apalachee Farms.
Source: Business Debut
Dacula Disc Golf Course Upgrades
Disc golf improvements at a Dacula park, including new baskets, holes, signage, tee pads, and landscaping, are expected to be completed by summer 2026. These enhancements add to the growing recreational options available to Apalachee Farms residents and the broader Dacula community.
GCPS Redistricting & New Middle School
Gwinnett County Public Schools has announced a redistricting plan that will impact parts of the Dacula, Archer, and Grayson clusters for the 2026-2027 school year. A new middle school, Dr. Mary Kay Murphy Middle School, opened in August 2026 at 2945 Indian Shoals Road near the Dacula area. The school, named for retired GCPS Board of Education member Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, is located within the Archer Cluster with a planned capacity of approximately 1,100 students. Road safety improvements, including a roundabout at Bold Springs Road and Indian Shoals Road, were approved as part of the project.
Families living in Apalachee Farms should verify their specific school zones with GCPS, as boundary changes may affect elementary and middle school assignments. While Murphy Middle School falls within the Archer Cluster, the redistricting may include shifts in feeder patterns for parts of the area. Dacula High School is not expected to be directly impacted by these changes.
Source: GCPS Redistricting Plan · AJC Coverage
October & November 2026: What's Happening
Verified events and recurring programs around Apalachee Farms, Dacula, and the Trophy Club of Apalachee Golf Course through the rest of 2026. Past events are marked as completed. Entries marked "to be confirmed" are scheduled by the organizing body and announced closer to the date.
Gwinnett County Fair Returns Nearby
The Gwinnett County Fair wrapped up its run September 19-27 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville, a short drive from Dacula. Rides, exhibits, food vendors, and family entertainment drew Apalachee Farms families for a favorite late-summer outing before the school year fully settled in.
Source: Explore Gwinnett
Elisha Winn Fair, Since 1812
The 2026 Elisha Winn Fair is in the books. This year's October 3-4 edition at the historic Elisha Winn House featured War of 1812 reenactments, pioneer crafts, music, and vendors, all at the site where Gwinnett County government was born. The fair returns every October, so mark next year's calendar early.
Featured above in this issue of Community News.
Dacula's "Not Dracula Day" October Celebration
Dacula leans into its playful pronunciation (Duh-CUE-luh) with the 2nd Annual "Not Dracula Day," a month-long October celebration organized by the City of Dacula. Confirmed 2026 events include Storytime with Mayor King at the Dacula Branch Library on Thursday, October 1, and the Not Dracula Day Blood Drive on Saturday, October 3 from 10 AM to 3 PM at City Hall (442 Harbins Road).
Note: the standalone Dacula Fall Festival at 2555 Second Avenue did not confirm a 2026 date, so the city's official fall celebration is the Not Dracula Day series. Check the city calendar for the full month of events.
Trunk-or-Treat Season Around Dacula
Trunk or Treat at 2570 Harbins Road, Dacula
Saturday, October 17 at 5:00 PM. A family-friendly candy stop minutes from Apalachee Farms.
GDU Trunk or Treat at Dacula High School
Saturday, October 24 at 6:30 PM, hosted on the Dacula High campus for neighborhood families.
Dacula UMC Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat
Sunday, October 25 at 4:00 PM at 2655 Fence Road, combining carnival games with trunk-or-treating.
Source: Dacula event listings
16th Annual Charity Cup Golf Tournament at Hamilton Mill
The 16th Annual Charity Cup Golf Tournament tees off Monday, October 26 (8:00 AM to 3:00 PM) at Hamilton Mill Golf Club, 1995 Hamilton Mill Golf Club Drive, Dacula. This ministry fundraiser is the closest big golf outing to Apalachee Farms this fall, a great way for golfers in the community to support a local cause while enjoying a private championship course a few miles down the road.
Source: Eventbrite listing
Gobbler 5K, 10K & Half Marathon in Dacula
Kick off the holiday season with the Gobbler 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon on Saturday, November 7 in Dacula (5K starts 8:00 AM). A themed finisher medal for every runner makes this a fun pre-Thanksgiving tradition for active Apalachee Farms families. Registration is open on RunSignup.
Source: RunSignup registration
North Georgia Golf Academy at Trophy Club of Apalachee
The North Georgia Golf Academy runs Tour Clinics at the Trophy Club of Apalachee on Mondays and Wednesdays, plus junior Little Slammers programs for young golfers learning the game. Call the pro shop at (678) 271-3389 for the current schedule and registration details.
Source: North Georgia Golf Academy · Trophy Club of Apalachee
R&G Tennis at Apalachee Farms
R&G Tennis, the community's long-running tennis academy with more than 20 years in Gwinnett County, offers quickstart and group programs for all ages and levels at the Apalachee Farms courts, along with seasonal kids camps. Call (770) 315-0879 for current fall session dates.
Source: R&G Tennis
Apalachee Farms HOA Announcements
Dated HOA meeting notices, social events, and community announcements are posted on the residents-only portal at apalacheefarmshoa.com, with the HOA office reachable at (470) 545-0580. Fall meetings and holiday plans are typically announced there first, so residents should check the portal for the official calendar.
Source: Apalachee Farms HOA
Food Hall at Homestead
A food hall is in the works in Dacula with several restaurant concepts and regular public events planned. It's another sign of the area's growing dining scene near Apalachee Farms; watch for an official opening announcement from the developers.
Source: Explore Gwinnett: What's New
Explore More of Apalachee Farms
Experience the Community Firsthand
There's no better way to understand Apalachee Farms than to visit. Let Lisa Harris arrange a private tour of the community and available homes.