Explore the festive delights of Atlanta with our holiday event guide. Whether you're rediscovering Atlanta or experiencing it for the first time, this guide unlocks the city's holiday potential.
Popular among locals and visitors alike, the Georgia Festival of Trees showcases beautifully decorated trees and offers a magical holiday experience. With enchanting artistry and seasonal cheer, it's a great way to embrace the spirit of the season. Another highlight is A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre, delivering a timeless tale through captivating performances. And definitely don't forget The Nutcracker: Atlanta Ballet, an exquisite production that brings Tchaikovsky's cherished music to life. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Atlanta
- Georgia Festival of Trees
- The Nutcracker: Atlanta Ballet
- A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
- Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
- Stone Mountain Christmas (Stone Mountain)
- World of Illumination: Enchanted Safari (Marietta)
- Fantasy in Lights (Pine Mountain)
- Holiday on the Town (Brookhaven)
- Light the Station at Atlantic Station
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Puppet Show
See these and even more events listed below!
Atlanta Holiday Light Displays
Stone Mountain Christmas
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday experience with live shows and millions of twinkling lights.
Description:
Stone Mountain Christmas features a variety of festive activities, including live shows, millions of twinkling lights, and special experiences like the Christmas Drone Show and Santa's Big Flight. Enjoy park attractions like the Summit Skyride and Scenic Railroad, and immerse yourself in holiday magic with festive music and spectacular shows.
Where: Stone Mountain | More Info: Stone Mountain Christmas
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and sound show with giant plant sculptures.
Description:
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights is a spectacular holiday light display featuring millions of LED lights and displays, including the world's largest curtain of synchronized light and sound, "Nature's Wonders." The event showcases giant plant sculptures from "Alice's Wonderland Returns" dramatically lit, along with other popular exhibits like the Ice Goddess and Tunnel of Light.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
Fantasy in Lights
What to Expect:
10 million twinkling lights and 17 Christmas scenes.
Description:
Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens features a seven-mile drive-through experience illuminated with 10 million twinkling lights and 17 Christmas scenes, including a 40-foot Pixel Pine Tree in the Callaway Christmas Village.
Where: Pine Mountain | More Info: Fantasy in Lights
World of Illumination: Enchanted Safari
What to Expect:
Immersive drive-through holiday light and sound experience with themed sections.
Description:
World of Illumination: Enchanted Safari is a drive-through holiday light and sound experience featuring over one million colorful lights and hundreds of animated displays. Guests embark on a family-friendly adventure through various themed sections, including flying with reindeer, outrunning a T-Rex, and reaching Santa’s Bazaar. The event is hosted by Toukie Toucan and offers a unique audio-visual experience with contemporary and timeless holiday music.
Where: Marietta | More Info: World of Illumination: Enchanted Safari
Holiday on the Town
What to Expect:
Dramatic arrival of Santa via helicopter.
Description:
Join Brookhaven for a fun-filled holiday event at Blackburn Park featuring holiday-themed activities, food, music, giveaways, and a dramatic arrival of Santa via helicopter. Enjoy the lighting of the City's 40-foot Christmas tree and the Hanukah Menorah, along with a petting zoo, train rides, and local music groups caroling.
Where: Brookhaven | More Info: Holiday on the Town
Light the Station at Atlantic Station
What to Expect:
Live music and special performances accompany the tree lighting.
Description:
Light the Station at Atlantic Station features a 50-foot tree lighting, live music, special performances, and characters, making it a fun event for the whole family to kick off the holiday season.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Light the Station at Atlantic Station
Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights
What to Expect:
10 million twinkling lights and 17 illuminated Christmas scenes.
Description:
Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights features 10 million twinkling lights and 17 illuminated Christmas scenes, including a 40-foot Pixel Pine Tree, across 2,500 acres of beautifully decorated landscapes.
Where: Pine Mountain | More Info: Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights
Atlanta Holiday Shows and Entertainment
A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
What to Expect:
Brilliantly reimagined set design and striking new costumes.
Description:
A Christmas Carol at the Alliance Theatre features a stunning new adaptation with a reimagined set design and striking costumes, transporting audiences to the streets of London to revisit the timeless redemption story of Ebenezer Scrooge, told with beautiful live music and an all-star cast.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
The Nutcracker: Atlanta Ballet
What to Expect:
Larger-than-life sets and bold costumes enhanced by striking video projections.
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 celebration transports audiences into a world of falling snowflakes, twirling flowers, and spinning stars.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: The Nutcracker: Atlanta Ballet
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Puppet Show
What to Expect:
Faithful adaptation of the classic stop-motion animated special.
Description:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a faithful adaptation of the 1964 stop-motion animated special, featuring Rudolph and Hermey on a heartwarming adventure of acceptance and self-discovery.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Puppet Show
Polar Express and Holiday Train Rides
What to Expect:
Interactive storytelling with Santa Claus and hot chocolate.
Description:
The Polar Express Train Ride at the North Carolina Transportation Museum offers a holiday journey inspired by the classic movie. Families enjoy a trip to the North Pole with hot chocolate, cookies, and a reading of Chris Van Allsburg's "The Polar Express." Upon arrival, passengers watch Santa present the first gift of Christmas and receive their own sleigh bell. The event includes holiday entertainment and activities suitable for all ages.
Where: Various | More Info: Polar Express and Holiday Train Rides
Twas the Night Before... by Cirque du Soleil
What to Expect:
Breathtaking acrobatics and lovable characters inspired by the classic poem.
Description:
Twas the Night Before... by Cirque du Soleil is an exhilarating spin on the beloved Christmas classic, featuring thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters, and a soundtrack of holiday classics reimagined by Cirque du Soleil. The show follows Isabella, a young girl who rediscovers the true spirit of the holidays through captivating performances and heartwarming moments.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Twas the Night Before... by Cirque du Soleil
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage
What to Expect:
Broadway-style production with immersive sets and traditional Christmas music.
Description:
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage brings the timeless Peanuts holiday special to life with a Broadway-style production featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang. The show includes all-new immersive sets, lighting, choreography, and colorful costumes, celebrating the true meaning of Christmas with traditional Christmas songs and carols.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage
Atlanta Other Holiday Activities
Georgia Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Auction of fully-decorated Christmas trees to raise funds for charity.
Description:
The Georgia Festival of Trees is a holiday event featuring a forest of fully-decorated Christmas trees, children's activities, live entertainment, boutique gift shops, sugar cookie decorating, and a Christmas Gingerbread competition. Proceeds benefit organizations fighting human trafficking and supporting survivors.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Georgia Festival of Trees
Menorah Lighting Ceremony at The Point
What to Expect:
Traditional Menorah lighting ceremony.
Description:
Join Ponce City Market and Chabad Intown for a traditional Menorah lighting ceremony to celebrate the Festival of Lights. This event brings together the community to observe the significance of Hanukkah through a meaningful and symbolic ritual.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Menorah Lighting Ceremony at The Point
Atlanta Jingle Bell Jog
What to Expect:
Participants receive a Santa Suit costume and Jingle Bells.
Description:
The Atlanta Jingle Bell Jog is an annual running event celebrating the festive winter holidays with Jingle Bells, Santa, Mistletoe, Reindeer, and Elves. Participants receive a Santa Suit costume and Jingle Bells to attach to their shoes. The event features a 5K run and a fun walk, concluding with a holiday-themed medal for all finishers.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Atlanta Jingle Bell Jog
Ugly Sweater Block Party Marietta Square
What to Expect:
Unique holiday celebration with outrageous sweaters and festive fun.
Description:
Join us for the Ugly Sweater Block Party in Marietta Square, where you can showcase your most outrageous and colorful holiday sweaters. Enjoy free admission to 10 bars and restaurants, complimentary shots, drink and food specials, entertainment, and party beads. Participating establishments include Hamps Harrys, Glover Park Brewery, Siete Tacos Tequila, and more.
Where: Marietta | More Info: Ugly Sweater Block Party Marietta Square
Pop-In For Family Fun: Holiday Crafts
What to Expect:
Hands-on holiday crafts for families.
Description:
The Marietta History Center's Pop-In for Family Fun: Holiday Crafts offers a variety of activities where families can engage in festive crafts and creative projects, fostering a sense of community and holiday spirit.
Where: Marietta | More Info: Pop-In For Family Fun: Holiday Crafts
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Decatur (6 miles)
- East Point (6 miles)
- Candler-McAfee (7 miles)
- Brookhaven (8 miles)
- North Atlanta (9 miles)
- Chamblee (11 miles)
- Smyrna (12 miles)
- Sandy Springs (12 miles)
- Mableton (12 miles)
- Tucker (12 miles)
- Dunwoody (14 miles)
- Union City (14 miles)
- Redan (15 miles)
- Stonecrest (15 miles)
- Stockbridge (17 miles)
- Marietta (17 miles)
- Peachtree Corners (18 miles)
- Roswell (19 miles)
- South Fulton (20 miles)
- Douglasville (21 miles)
- Johns Creek (22 miles)
- Duluth (22 miles)
- Kennesaw (23 miles)
- Alpharetta (23 miles)
- McDonough (25 miles)
- Woodstock (25 miles)
- Milton (27 miles)
- Lawrenceville (27 miles)
- Peachtree City (27 miles)
- Acworth (28 miles)
- Sugar Hill (32 miles)
- Canton (34 miles)
- Newnan (35 miles)
- Griffin (35 miles)
- Cartersville (37 miles)
- Carrollton (41 miles)