Celebrate the magic of the holiday season in Sandy Springs, GA, where festive events abound for both locals and visitors alike. Explore the enchanting Christmas at Callanwolde, where the historic mansion is transformed into a holiday wonderland, or take a stroll through the breathtaking Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, featuring over a million LED lights. The holiday cheer continues at Stone Mountain Christmas, where dazzling light displays and festive attractions await beneath the iconic granite peak.
Whether you're exploring local historic sites, taking in magnificent light shows, or reveling in festive outdoor activities, Sandy Springs offers a vibrant and joyful holiday experience for everyone.
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The Top Christmas Events in Sandy Springs
See these and even more events listed below!Nearby Events
Christmas at Callanwolde (Atlanta)
What to Expect:
Historic mansion transformed into holiday showcase
Description:
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center transforms into a holiday spectacle each December. The 1920s mansion, once home to Coca-Cola heir Charles Howard Candler, opens its doors for an immersive experience. Visitors can explore elaborately decorated rooms, each telling a unique holiday story. The event honors the mansion's rich history while embracing modern design trends. You'll discover local artists' work seamlessly integrated into the decor. Callanwolde's annual celebration began in 1975, making it one of Atlanta's longest-running holiday traditions.
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Garden Lights, Holiday Nights (Atlanta)
What to Expect:
Botanical garden illuminated with over 1 million energy-efficient LED lights
Description:
Atlanta Botanical Garden glows with over a million LED lights during its annual Garden Lights, Holiday Nights event. This eco-friendly display transforms the 30-acre garden into a luminous landscape. Towering trees sparkle with colorful orbs, while illuminated sculptures create an otherworldly atmosphere. Visitors can stroll through the Orchestral Orbs, where lights dance in time with holiday tunes. The event began in 2011 and has since become a beloved Atlanta tradition. Garden Lights showcases the intersection of nature and technology, creating a sustainable celebration of the season.
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Stone Mountain Christmas (Stone Mountain)
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration at Georgia's largest granite outcropping
Description:
Stone Mountain Park erupts with holiday cheer during its annual Christmas celebration. The park's iconic granite monolith serves as a backdrop for dazzling light displays and festive attractions. Visitors can ride the Singalong Train, encircling the mountain while belting out holiday classics. The event pays homage to Georgia's natural wonders, blending outdoor adventure with seasonal joy. Stone Mountain's holiday tradition began in the 1960s and has evolved into a multi-week extravaganza. The park's Summit Skyride offers breathtaking views of the illuminated Atlanta skyline.
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Atlanta Christkindl Market (Atlanta)
What to Expect:
Authentic German-style Christmas market in the heart of Atlanta
Description:
Atlanta's Christkindl Market brings a slice of European holiday tradition to the South. This open-air market recreates the charm of German Christmas bazaars, complete with wooden stalls and twinkling lights. Visitors can sample authentic German delicacies like bratwurst and strudel. The market showcases handcrafted ornaments, toys, and gifts from local and international artisans. Atlanta's Christkindl Market began in 2017, inspired by the centuries-old tradition that originated in Nuremberg, Germany. The aroma of mulled wine wafts through the air, transporting you to a Bavarian winter wonderland.
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Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker (Atlanta)
What to Expect:
Innovative reimagining of the classic ballet with cutting-edge technology
Description:
Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker dazzles audiences with its innovative approach to the beloved holiday classic. This reimagined production incorporates state-of-the-art projections and larger-than-life puppetry to create a truly immersive experience. Visitors can marvel at the seamless blend of traditional ballet and modern technology. The Atlanta Ballet, founded in 1929, has performed The Nutcracker annually since 1959. You'll be transported to a world where toys come to life and snowflakes dance, all set to Tchaikovsky's timeless score performed by a live orchestra.
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Holiday in the Park (Austell)
What to Expect:
Thrilling rides combined with holiday celebrations at Six Flags Over Georgia
Description:
Six Flags Over Georgia transforms into a winter playground during Holiday in the Park. This unique event combines heart-pounding roller coasters with holiday cheer. Visitors can experience their favorite thrill rides adorned with twinkling lights. The park features special holiday-themed shows and characters, creating a festive atmosphere amidst the adrenaline rush. Holiday in the Park began in 2014, extending the park's operating season into winter for the first time. The event culminates with a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, illuminating a towering evergreen visible throughout the park.
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Children's Christmas Parade (Atlanta)
What to Expect:
Largest children's Christmas parade in the Southeast
Description:
Atlanta's Children's Christmas Parade marches through the heart of Midtown, bringing holiday cheer to thousands of spectators. This lively procession features colorful floats, marching bands, and giant helium balloons. Visitors can catch a glimpse of Santa Claus as he makes his grand entrance. The parade benefits Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, continuing a tradition of giving that began with the event's inception in 1981. You'll hear the joyful sounds of children's laughter mingling with festive music as the parade passes by.
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the Center for Puppetry Arts (Atlanta)
What to Expect:
Faithful adaptation of the classic TV special using puppetry
Description:
The Center for Puppetry Arts brings Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to life through the art of puppetry. This production faithfully recreates the beloved 1964 stop-motion TV special using intricate puppets and sets. Visitors can participate in a puppet-making workshop after the show. The Center for Puppetry Arts, founded in 1978, is the largest organization in America dedicated to the art of puppetry. You'll be transported to the Island of Misfit Toys as skilled puppeteers breathe life into these iconic characters.
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the Center for Puppetry Arts
A Country Christmas at Pettit Creek Farms (Cartersville)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light display on a working farm with live reindeer
Description:
Pettit Creek Farms offers a rustic holiday experience with its Country Christmas celebration. This working farm transforms into a twinkling wonderland, featuring a mile-long drive-through light display. Visitors can meet live reindeer and feed them from their cars. The farm, which has been in operation since 1945, seamlessly blends agricultural traditions with holiday festivities. You'll encounter over a million lights illuminating farm scenes and holiday vignettes as you wind through the property.
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A Country Christmas at Pettit Creek Farms
Roswell's Annual Holiday Celebration (Roswell)
What to Expect:
Historic town square transformed into a Victorian-era Christmas village
Description:
Roswell's Annual Holiday Celebration transports visitors to a Victorian-era Christmas. The historic town square comes alive with period-costumed characters, horse-drawn carriage rides, and traditional carolers. Visitors can participate in old-fashioned holiday crafts and games. This event pays homage to Roswell's rich history, which dates back to the 1830s. The aroma of roasting chestnuts fills the air as you stroll through the charming streets, decorated to reflect the town's 19th-century roots.
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Roswell's Annual Holiday Celebration
Christmas at the Avenues (Peachtree City)
What to Expect:
Upscale outdoor shopping center transformed into a winter village
Description:
The Avenues East Cobb becomes a winter village during its Christmas celebration. This open-air shopping center dons its holiday best with twinkling lights and festive decor. Visitors can enjoy live performances by local choirs and musicians throughout the season. The event showcases the center's unique blend of high-end retail and community spirit. You'll discover pop-up holiday markets featuring local artisans nestled among the permanent shops, offering a diverse array of gift options.
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Santa at The Battery Atlanta (Atlanta)
What to Expect:
Santa's workshop in a modern sports and entertainment complex
Description:
The Battery Atlanta, home to Truist Park, welcomes Santa Claus to his custom-built workshop. This modern take on a classic tradition places Santa in the heart of a bustling sports and entertainment district. Visitors can snap photos with Santa against the backdrop of the Atlanta Braves' home field. The Battery, which opened in 2017, blends America's favorite pastime with holiday cheer. You'll find Santa's workshop adorned with baseball-themed decorations, creating a unique fusion of sports and holiday spirit.
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Holiday Artist Market (Decatur)
What to Expect:
Curated selection of local and regional artists' work for holiday gifting
Description:
The Holiday Artist Market showcases the vibrant arts scene of Atlanta and the surrounding region. This curated event brings together talented local and regional artists, offering unique handcrafted gifts. Visitors can meet the artists and learn about their creative processes. The market highlights Atlanta's thriving arts community, which has been growing since the city's cultural renaissance in the 1970s. You'll discover one-of-a-kind pieces ranging from jewelry and ceramics to paintings and textiles, perfect for thoughtful holiday gifting.
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Fantasy In Lights (Pine Mountain)
What to Expect:
8 million lights illuminating a 2,500-acre resort
Description:
Callaway Resort & Gardens' Fantasy in Lights transforms 2,500 acres into a dazzling holiday spectacle. This expansive light display features over 8 million lights creating elaborate scenes and vignettes. Visitors can ride the Jolly Trolley through illuminated forests and over sparkling lakes. Fantasy in Lights began in 1992 and has since been named one of National Geographic's Top 10 Light Displays in the world. You'll encounter towering nutcrackers, leaping reindeer, and other larger-than-life illuminated figures throughout the resort.
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Atlanta Santa Speedo Run (Atlanta)
What to Expect:
Charity run featuring participants in Speedos and Santa hats
Description:
The Atlanta Santa Speedo Run dashes through the streets of Virginia-Highland, bringing holiday cheer and raising money for local charities. This unconventional event features hundreds of participants clad in Speedos, Santa hats, and not much else. Spectators can cheer on the brave runners as they sprint through the chilly December air. The run began in 2009, inspired by similar events in Boston and Chicago. You'll witness a sea of red-and-white-clad runners spreading holiday spirit and raising awareness for important causes.
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Alpharetta Christmas Tree Lighting (Alpharetta)
What to Expect:
Small-town charm meets high-tech tree lighting ceremony
Description:
Alpharetta's Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony blends small-town charm with modern technology. The event centers around the illumination of a 50-foot tree in the heart of downtown. Visitors can enjoy live performances by local choirs and dance troupes leading up to the main event. Alpharetta, once a small farming community, has embraced its tech-forward future while maintaining its historic roots. You'll witness the tree come to life with a synchronized light show set to holiday music, creating a dazzling display visible throughout the town center.
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Alpharetta Christmas Tree Lighting
Synchronized Christmas Light Show (Marietta)
What to Expect:
Residential light display synchronized to music broadcast on FM radio
Description:
A local Sandy Springs neighborhood comes alive with a Synchronized Christmas Light Show. This elaborate residential display features thousands of lights pulsing and dancing in time with holiday music. Visitors can tune their car radios to a designated FM station to experience the full audio-visual spectacle. The show represents a growing trend of high-tech home light displays that began in the early 2000s. You'll marvel at the intricate choreography of lights, creating a mesmerizing holiday experience from the comfort of your vehicle.
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Synchronized Christmas Light Show
Christmas Crafts for Kids at Art Station (Stone Mountain)
What to Expect:
Hands-on holiday craft workshops in a historic train depot
Description:
ART Station hosts Christmas Crafts for Kids in its unique setting - a converted 1913 trolley station. This series of workshops offers children the opportunity to create holiday-themed art projects. Participants can learn techniques like ornament painting, card making, and gingerbread house decorating. ART Station has been a cornerstone of Stone Mountain's arts community since 1986. You'll find the historic charm of the trolley depot enhanced by the creative energy of budding young artists as they craft holiday masterpieces.
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Christmas Crafts for Kids at Art Station
Light Up Dunwoody (Dunwoody)
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration in a historic village
Description:
Light Up Dunwoody illuminates the historic Cheek-Spruill Farmhouse, kicking off the holiday season in this charming community. The event centers around the lighting of a grand Christmas tree on the farmhouse lawn. Visitors can enjoy live performances, food trucks, and activities for all ages. The Cheek-Spruill Farmhouse, built in 1906, serves as a tangible link to Dunwoody's agricultural past. You'll experience the warmth of community spirit as neighbors gather to celebrate the season in this picturesque setting.