Eager for holiday festivities in Gainesville? Check out our guide for all the festive fun! For those who know Gainesville's rhythm and those just learning its beat, this guide orchestrates holiday harmony.
Popular Events: Kick off the season with a magical experience at Stone Mountain Christmas, where twinkling lights and festive music create a winter wonderland. In addition, Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia offers exhilarating rides alongside dazzling light displays and seasonal entertainment. And the Georgia Festival of Trees is something you definitely don't want to miss, showcasing stunning holiday trees decorated by local artists. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Gainesville
- Stone Mountain Christmas at Stone Mountain Park (Stone Mountain)
- Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia (Austell)
- Georgia Festival of Trees (Atlanta)
- Christmas on Green Street
- Magic of Lights: Dixie Speedway (Woodstock)
- Glow Light Show & Festival in Lawrenceville (Lawrenceville)
- Winter Lantern Festival at Lawrenceville (Lawrenceville)
- Lights of the South at Grovetown (Grovetown)
- The Lighting of Avalon at Avalon (Alpharetta)
- City of Alpharetta Tree Lighting at Town Green Stage (Alpharetta)
See these and even more events listed below!
Gainesville Holiday Light Displays
Stone Mountain Christmas at Stone Mountain Park
What to Expect:
Dazzling light displays and live holiday entertainment.
Description:
Stone Mountain Christmas at Stone Mountain Park features a variety of festive activities, including live shows, millions of twinkling lights, and special events like the Christmas Drone Show and Santa's Big Flight.
Where: Stone Mountain | More Info: Stone Mountain Christmas at Stone Mountain Park
City of Alpharetta Tree Lighting at Town Green Stage
What to Expect:
Live music and snow flurries with Santa Claus.
Description:
Join the City of Alpharetta for a 50-foot tree lighting in Downtown Alpharetta on November 23. Enjoy live music, snow flurries, and vignettes from Metropolitan Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Mr. Santa Claus will also be in attendance.
Where: Alpharetta | More Info: City of Alpharetta Tree Lighting at Town Green Stage
The Lighting of Avalon at Avalon
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday celebration with ice skating and tree lighting.
Description:
The Lighting of Avalon at Avalon features festive music, free activities for the whole family, and a magnificent tree lighting. The event includes the annual opening of Avalon on Ice and an appearance from Jolly Old Saint Nick.
Where: Alpharetta | More Info: The Lighting of Avalon at Avalon
Christmas Tree Lighting at Snellville Towne Green
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday celebration with lighted parade and festive activities.
Description:
Join us for the 43rd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Lighted Christmas Parade in Snellville, GA. The parade starts at Wisteria Plaza and ends at the Towne Green, featuring lighted floats, tractors, and trucks. Activities include cookie decorating, roasted s’mores, and ornament decorating. Santa will be present to greet children with well wishes and plush animals.
Where: Snellville | More Info: Christmas Tree Lighting at Snellville Towne Green
Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival at Glover Park
What to Expect:
Ugly Sweater Walking Parade with Santa.
Description:
Join the City of Marietta for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival at Glover Park. The event features local school and church choirs, an Ugly Holiday Sweater Walking Parade, Santa letter writing stations, and the tree lighting ceremony.
Where: Marietta | More Info: Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival at Glover Park
Glow Light Show & Festival in Lawrenceville
What to Expect:
Immersive drive-through light show with synchronized music.
Description:
The Glow Light Show & Festival in Lawrenceville offers a budget-friendly winter experience with a drive-through light show featuring over 1 million LED lights synchronized to holiday classics. The event also includes a holiday festival with food vendors, amusement rides, and photo opportunities.
Where: Lawrenceville | More Info: Glow Light Show & Festival in Lawrenceville
Magic of Lights: Dixie Speedway
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light display with augmented reality features.
Description:
At Dixie Speedway, Magic of Lights transforms the venue into a vibrant drive-through holiday light display featuring dozens of displays, festive favorites, and digital animation. The event includes classic holiday scenes like Winter Wonderland and the 12 Days of Christmas, along with illuminated displays like the 32-foot-tall animated Mattel’s Waving Christmas Barbie and life-sized dinosaurs celebrating the season. Over two million sparkling lights create a memorable holiday experience for the whole family.
Where: Woodstock | More Info: Magic of Lights: Dixie Speedway
Lights of the South at Grovetown
What to Expect:
Themed areas and a hayride through over a million holiday lights.
Description:
Lights of the South in Grovetown, GA, features a spectacular Christmas light display with themed areas and a hayride through over a million holiday lights.
Where: Grovetown | More Info: Lights of the South at Grovetown
Winter Lantern Festival at Lawrenceville
What to Expect:
Handcrafted Chinese lanterns and interactive light installations.
Description:
The Winter Lantern Festival at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville features over 1,000 handcrafted Chinese lanterns, interactive light swings, and luminous light tunnels, showcasing traditional craftsmanship and modern LED lights.
Where: Lawrenceville | More Info: Winter Lantern Festival at Lawrenceville
Gainesville Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas on Green Street
What to Expect:
Historic home open houses and musical performances on front porches.
Description:
Christmas on Green Street is an annual holiday celebration featuring a parade of antique cars, holiday floats, marching bands, and community groups. The event includes activities and performances at historic homes, musical groups on front porches, strolling magicians, face painters, balloon artists, storytellers, jugglers, Santa Claus, miniature train rides, and food trucks. The night concludes with the traditional Lighting of the Rotary Tree.
Where: Gainesville | More Info: Christmas on Green Street
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with festive lights and themed decorations.
Description:
Six Flags Over Georgia transforms into a winter wonderland with festive holiday lights, themed decorations, and thrilling rides.
Where: Austell | More Info: Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
Tree Lighting at The Plaza at Battery Atlanta
What to Expect:
Live music and Santa's arrival to light the tree.
Description:
The Tree Lighting at The Plaza at Battery Atlanta features live music, guest appearances, and a movie screening following the lighting of the Christmas tree.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Tree Lighting at The Plaza at Battery Atlanta
Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting at Downtown Loganville
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with live music and festive activities.
Description:
The Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting at Downtown Loganville features over 75 entries from local businesses and civic groups, culminating in Santa's arrival and the lighting of the Christmas tree on the Town Green.
Where: Loganville | More Info: Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting at Downtown Loganville
Gainesville Other Holiday Activities
Jingle Mingle at Historic Downtown Gainesville Square
What to Expect:
Quirky holiday celebration with live music and festive activities.
Description:
Join us at Historic Downtown Gainesville Square for Jingle Mingle, a fun and family-friendly holiday event featuring live music, carriage rides, kiddie train rides, Santa's arrival on a fire engine, and the grand lighting of the 25-foot metal chicken sculpture. Enjoy open houses in downtown businesses, S’more Stations, and festive activities for all ages.
Where: Gainesville | More Info: Jingle Mingle at Historic Downtown Gainesville Square
Georgia Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Dazzling Christmas tree auction and live entertainment.
Description:
The Georgia Festival of Trees features a forest of fully-decorated Christmas trees, children's activities, live entertainment, boutique gift shops, sugar cookie decorating, and a Christmas Gingerbread competition.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Georgia Festival of Trees
Santa on the Square at Downtown Newnan
What to Expect:
Santa's arrival on a firetruck to light the Courthouse Square Christmas tree.
Description:
Santa on the Square at Downtown Newnan features Santa arriving on a firetruck to light the Courthouse Square Christmas tree, accompanied by shopping and dining opportunities.
Where: Newnan | More Info: Santa on the Square at Downtown Newnan
Holiday Spirit at Oakland Cemetery
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with decorated mausoleums and family activities.
Description:
Join Oakland Cemetery for a unique seasonal open house featuring holiday activities for the whole family. Enjoy decorated mausoleums, live holiday music, a wreath sale, and a holiday gift market. Bring your family and pets for photos with Santa and participate in family crafts.
Where: Atlanta | More Info: Holiday Spirit at Oakland Cemetery
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Sugar Hill (18 miles)
- Lawrenceville (25 miles)
- Duluth (27 miles)
- Johns Creek (28 miles)
- Milton (30 miles)
- Alpharetta (31 miles)
- Peachtree Corners (32 miles)
- Athens (35 miles)
- Roswell (36 miles)
- Dunwoody (38 miles)
- Tucker (38 miles)
- Canton (38 miles)
- Chamblee (39 miles)
- Sandy Springs (41 miles)
- North Atlanta (42 miles)
- Woodstock (42 miles)
- Redan (42 miles)
- Brookhaven (42 miles)
- Stonecrest (44 miles)