Rural Clermont is busiest during annual events
Clermont, an agricultural town just north of Gainesville, is probably busiest during annual festivals, like Clermont Days in September. Folks in town and those who live on surrounding farms and subdivisions gather outside the Clermont Chattahoochee Center for the fall event and enjoy food, games and entertainment. In between events, the busiest spot in Clermont might be the Post Office on Main Street. This slow pace of life and easy access to outdoor space are what attracts people to the area.
Where locals go for outdoor recreation near Clermont
Market Street Park, in the Clermont Residential Historic District, is popular for its playgrounds and homeschool meetups. The Clermont Chattahoochee Center is a community event space with a baseball diamond next door.
Clermont is also anywhere from 10 to 45 miles from Lake Lanier, depending on which section of the lake you want to visit. Don Carter State Park is on the edge of the lake, offering numerous trails, a swimming beach, a playground and a charming visitor center that hosts activities. Another access point is Lake Lanier Olympic Park, which has a beach, boat ramp, paddle launch and fishing pier. Laurel Park is also relatively close, offering another boat ramp, dog park, athletic fields and a playground with a splash pad. Lake Lanier Islands is another option, hosting a winter holiday event called Magical Nights of Lights, featuring colorful light displays, carnival rides, and a Christmas-themed village.
What home styles and prices look like in Clermont
Across Clermont, there's a mix of traditional suburban enclaves with ranch-style and New Traditional homes, and contemporary subdivisions that offer newer builds. "We have about four brand new subdivisions being built here," says Realtor and 35-year Hall County resident Sandra Cantrell with Alco Realty. "But it's never overly built here; we're still very much an agricultural community." To that point, the town offers farmhouses and cottages with acreage dotting its outskirts. Overall, prices range from the mid-$200,000s to the mid-$700,000s.
Local eateries and quiet shops round out Clermont
Clermont's town center is modest, consisting of a few municipal buildings, boutique shops and houses of worship. There are some locally owned restaurants nearby, like Three Heifers and a Hotplate, a small, quiet breakfast buffet; Texas Smokehouse, which offers barbecue and wings; and Mountain Fresh Creamery, which serves ice cream and sells local beef, milk, cheese and honey. "It's a neat little place to visit, and my oldest daughter worked there in high school," Cantrell says about the creamery. "It brings residents and tourists, so it's quite busy every day. Even in the dead of winter, people want their ice cream."
How local festivals and monthly gatherings shape Clermont
Clermont is known for offering several annual events. These events are important, according to Cantrell. "A lot of people who grew up here come back to show their children the town during these festivals, so it feels more like a homecoming," she says. These events include:
- Clermont Days, which has parades, live music, activities and fireworks each September
- Clermont Harvest Festival, which has a kids zone, live music, food trucks and pumpkin crafts
- Clermont Christmas Parade, which offers a tree lighting and festive holiday parade
Additional regular events include a seasonal farmers market, monthly Wine Strolls downtown, special vendors markets and a monthly Family Food Fest.
Clermont offers strong public schools and private options
Clermont kids are zoned to highly rated Hall County Schools. Students may attend Wauka Mountain Elementary School, North Hall Middle School and North Hall High School. Local private options include Chattahoochee Christian School.
Car-dependent living with access to Gainesville's amenities
The car-dependent community is on U.S. Route 129, connecting residents to Gainesville, 15 miles south. Gainesville is where most grocery stores, big-box stores, and medical services are located. "We'll also go to the Walmart in Cleveland, since Gainesville can get congested," Cantrell says. Gainesville is also home to the Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is about 90 miles away.
