One of the most eagerly-anticipated and well-attended events of the Bear on the Square weekend each year is the Live Country Auction, which takes place in the large Mainstage Tent at Bear Central in Hancock Park on Friday night, April 18, the opening night of the festival.
The items to be auctioned will be available for viewing at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 18, with music provided by Greybeard, a local band formerly known as Uncle Daddy. Then, at 6 p.m. that evening, the spirited bidding will get underway with professional auctioneer Sam Williamson in charge of proceedings.
One item of local historical interest which will be in this year's auction is an antique “tab runner” which came from the old Housley Bros. general merchandise store which was built in 1928 by brothers Will and Boyd Housley. Located on the south side of the Public Square, the space is now occupied by the Massachusetts Bay Trading Company and the Loft T-shirt shop.
Also included in this year's auction is a new guitar donated by Larrivée Guitars USA.
Each year, the auction features the work of area folk artist Billy Roper, along with the work of other talented local artists and juried artists taking part in Bear on the Square's Georgia Mountain Marketplace. This year, 20 of the Mountain Marketplace participants have donated items for the auction. There will also be bidding on gift baskets, services, dining offers, and other items from the local business community.
The 2008 Bear on the Square celebration, which will be the 12th annual, will be held in and around the Historic Public Square in Dahlonega from Friday through Sunday, April 18-20  
The annual Bear on the Square Mountain Festival auction, a major fund-raiser for the festival each year, is a highlight of Bear on the Square, which is a significant revenue-producing event for the Dahlonega community and local merchants. The auction is open to the public, and all donations are fully tax deductible, since Bear on the Square Mountain Festival Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit cultural arts organization. Bear on the Square celebrates traditional mountain music and art, thus helping keep  alive the heritage of the mountains. More detailed information about the 2008 festival, including schedules and information about featured performers and artists, is available at www.bearonthesquare.org .