Last updated: November 11, 2024
Uncover the holiday wonders of North Atlanta with our detailed event guide. From North Atlanta regulars to first-time tourists, our guide highlights the season's best activities.
Kick off the season with the Georgia Festival of Trees, where beautifully decorated trees and festive displays create a warm atmosphere perfect for family outings. Featuring enchanting light displays and seasonal decorations, Holiday Lights offers a magical experience for all ages. And the joy-filled Stone Mountain Christmas is something you definitely don't want to miss, with its spectacular entertainment and holiday-themed attractions. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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North Atlanta Holiday Light Displays
Holiday Lights, Holiday Nights
- What to Expect
- Synchronized light and sound show with giant plant sculptures.
- Description
- The Atlanta Botanical Garden's Garden Lights, Holiday Nights features millions of LED lights, giant plant sculptures, and synchronized light and sound displays, including the iconic Orchestral Orbs and Nature's Wonders.
- Where
- Atlanta | More Info : Holiday Lights, Holiday Nights
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
- What to Expect
- Synchronized light and sound show with giant plant sculptures.
- Description
- Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden features millions of LED lights, synchronized to holiday music, with new music and choreography each year. The event includes giant plant sculptures, the Orchestral Orbs, and other festive displays.
- Where
- Atlanta | More Info : Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
Illuminights at Zoo Atlanta
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration in a zoo setting with interactive lantern displays.
- Description
- IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta features over 200 hand-crafted lanterns showcasing wildlife and natural wonders. The event includes warm beverages, marshmallow roasts, and a VR experience. It is a family-friendly event with select dining options available throughout the zoo.
- Where
- Atlanta | More Info : Illuminights at Zoo Atlanta
Fantasy in Lights - Callaway Resort & Gardens
- What to Expect
- Dazzling seven-mile drive-through light display with 17 Christmas scenes.
- Description
- Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens features 10 million twinkling lights and 17 dazzling Christmas scenes, including a 40-foot Pixel Pine Tree and a forest of perfectly decorated trees. The event offers a seven-mile drive-through experience and access to the Callaway Christmas Village, where you can enjoy shopping, dining, and character meet-and-greets.
- Where
- Pine Mountain | More Info : Fantasy in Lights - Callaway Resort & Gardens
Light the Station at Atlantic Station
- What to Expect
- Family-friendly holiday celebration with live music and special performances.
- Description
- Join us at Atlantic Station for Light the Station, a free event featuring a 50-foot tree lighting, live music, special performances, and characters. Enjoy a festive atmosphere with your whole family as we kick off the holiday season in the Heart of Atlanta.
- Where
- Atlanta | More Info : Light the Station at Atlantic Station
Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival at Glover Park
- What to Expect
- Santa's arrival and tree lighting ceremony with local choirs.
- Description
- Join the City of Marietta for their annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Glover Park. The event features local school and church choirs, Santa's arrival, and a tree lighting ceremony. Enjoy letter-writing stations and an Ugly Holiday Sweater Walking Parade.
- Where
- Marietta | More Info : Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival at Glover Park
North Atlanta Holiday Markets and Shopping
Holiday Spirit at Oakland Cemetery
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration featuring decorated mausoleums and family activities.
- Description
- Oakland Cemetery transforms into a holiday hub with decorated mausoleums, live music, wreath sales, and a holiday gift market. Families can enjoy photo opportunities with Santa, participate in family crafts, and explore select mausoleums on a guided tour.
- Where
- Atlanta | More Info : Holiday Spirit at Oakland Cemetery
North Atlanta Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Stone Mountain Christmas
- What to Expect
- Immersive holiday experience with live entertainment and dazzling lights.
- Description
- Stone Mountain Christmas features live shows, millions of twinkling lights, and festive activities like the Christmas Drone Show and visits with Santa.
- Where
- Stone Mountain | More Info : Stone Mountain Christmas
The Nutcracker - Atlanta Ballet
- What to Expect
- World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
- Description
- Atlanta Ballet's The Nutcracker is a reimagined, larger-than-life production set to the iconic Tchaikovsky score, featuring elaborate sets, costumes, and video projections. This holiday event transports audiences into a dream-like world of delights, guided by falling snowflakes, twirling flowers, and spinning stars.
- Where
- Atlanta | More Info : The Nutcracker - Atlanta Ballet
Cirque du Soleil at Atlantic Station
- What to Expect
- Daring acrobatics and technological spectacle.
- Description
- Cirque du Soleil ECHO at Atlantic Station features a spectacular performance combining poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics, and technology. The show explores the delicate balance between humans, animals, and the world we share, with a story about evolution and symbiotic unions that our future depends on. The audience is invited to participate in a universe of color, wonder, and infinite possibilities.
- Where
- Atlanta | More Info : Cirque du Soleil at Atlantic Station
A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
- What to Expect
- Stunning new set design and costumes.
- Description
- A timeless adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale, A Christmas Carol, featuring a stunning new set design and striking costumes, transporting audiences to the streets of London with beautiful live music and an all-star cast.
- Where
- Atlanta | More Info : A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration with festive lights and thrill rides.
- Description
- Six Flags Over Georgia transforms into a holiday destination with festive lights, themed decorations, and thrilling rides.
- Where
- Austell | More Info : Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
The Lighting of Avalon
- What to Expect
- Annual ice skating and tree lighting event with Santa Claus.
- Description
- The Lighting of Avalon is a holiday event featuring the annual opening of Avalon on Ice, a magnificent tree lighting, and an appearance by Jolly Old Saint Nick. Enjoy festive music and free activities for the whole family.
- Where
- Alpharetta | More Info : The Lighting of Avalon
North Atlanta Other Holiday Activities
Georgia Festival of Trees
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration with charity focus and unique activities.
- Description
- The Georgia Festival of Trees is a holiday event featuring fully-decorated Christmas trees, children's activities, live entertainment, and boutique gift shops. It supports local nonprofits fighting human trafficking and offers various volunteer opportunities.
- Where
- Atlanta | More Info : Georgia Festival of Trees
Santa on the Square at Downtown Newnan
- What to Expect
- Santa's arrival on a firetruck lights up the Courthouse Square.
- Description
- Santa on the Square at Downtown Newnan features Santa arriving on a firetruck, lighting the Christmas tree, and offering photo opportunities.
- Where
- Newnan | More Info : Santa on the Square at Downtown Newnan
Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting at Downtown Loganville
- What to Expect
- Community celebration with a festive parade and tree lighting.
- Description
- The Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting in Downtown Loganville features a festive parade with over 75 entries, followed by the lighting of the city's Christmas tree at the Town Green. Santa will join residents to help light the tree and pose for pictures.
- Where
- Loganville | More Info : Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting at Downtown Loganville