[Updated November 18, 2024] Celebrating Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains is truly magical, whether you’re visiting charming small towns like Dahlonega and Helen GA or exploring a burgeoning metropolis like Asheville.
But if you’re looking for depth and diversity of holiday attractions, it’s difficult to beat Christmas in Atlanta.
There’s such a vast array of things to do in Atlanta at Christmas time, you could easily do different Christmas activities every day from mid-November to New Year’s Eve and you still wouldn’t run out of options!
From festive Christmas tree lightings and Christmas light displays to shopping at the Atlanta Christmas market and watching Christmas parades, the extensive list of holiday events in Atlanta can be a little overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve assembled this list of our 20 favorite places to celebrate Christmas in Atlanta, in hopes of helping you find some fun things to do for Christmas that might become annual holiday traditions.
READ MORE: The Best North Georgia Christmas Events
CHRISTMAS IN ATLANTA GUIDE
(Arranged by category)
- Garden Nights, Holiday Lights at Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Holiday In The Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
- Holiday Lights of Hope at Hobgood Park
- Illuminights At The Zoo: Chinese Lantern Festival
- Lakeside Lights Spectacular at Lake Lanier Islands
- Lights of Life at Life University
- Light The Station at Atlantic Station
- Stone Mountain Christmas
- Snow Days at Children’s Museum of Atlanta
- Christmas at The Battery Atlanta
- Season On The Square at Colony Square
- Holidays at Georgia Aquarium
- Winter Wonderland at Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
- A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
- Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
- The Hip-Hop Nutcracker at the Fox Theater
- Invasion: Christmas Carol
- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer at Center For Puppetry Arts
- Atlanta Christkindl Market in the Buckhead Village District
- Callanwolde Winter House
- Georgia Festival of Trees at Georgia World Congress Center
- Victorian Holiday at Oakland Cemetery
- Marietta Square Winter Wonderland
- Holiday Happenings at Avalon
READ MORE: The 15 Best Christmas Towns in Georgia to Visit
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN ATLANTA
1. Garden Nights, Holiday Lights at Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta GA • (404) 876-5859
Nov. 16 – Jan. 12
If you’re looking for the best Christmas lights in Atlanta, the ever-popular Garden Lights, Holiday Lights is a great place to start.
For over a decade, the Atlanta Botanical Garden has been decorating and illuminating its 30-acre property with millions of low-energy-consuming LED lights.
The pathways of the garden will be lit up alongside the hardwoods and crepe myrtles. On top of the beautiful lights, the Garden also decorates a 27-foot-tall tree with mesmerizing patterns.
Some of the best Atlanta Christmas Lights at this event include the Ice Goddess, the Tunnel of Light, and the glowing Orchestral Orbs, which dance along with light and color to festive holiday music.
Ticket prices range from $40+, depending on the dates and ticket type you choose. If you want to see this amazing Christmas Lights display but don’t want to break the bank, check out Value Nights & Nightlight Tickets.
Save up to $20 per ticket by visiting on one of the 13 Value Nights throughout the season. Nightlight Tickets: Admission after 9:30 p.m. on non-peak nights starts at just $19.95 for adults. Note that they often sell out in advance, especially on weekends!
READ MORE: The Best Christmas Lights in Atlanta and North Georgia
2. Holiday In The Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
275 Riverside Parkway, Austell GA • (770) 739-3400
Nov 23 – Jan 5 (select dates)
Holiday In The Park brings a celebration of Christmas joy to the Six Flags Over Georgia theme park.
You can stroll through 10 different “Holiday Neighborhoods,” where you can millions of LED lights, themed Christmas decorations, and numerous festive Christmas trees that are sure to impress.
There will also be a dancing light show, and a fully decorated Riverview Carousel and Six Flags Railroad.
In addition to some of the most beautiful Christmas lights in Atlanta, Six Flags will also put on a Christmas show with live music and a dancing Christmas tree light show.
Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus are included in the admission price, and holiday treats are also available for purchase.
READ MORE: 25 Fun, Festive Places to Celebrate Christmas in Georgia
3. Holiday Lights of Hope
Hobgood Park, 6688 Bells Ferry Rd, Woodstock GA • (770) 695-7879
Nov 29 – Dec 30 (Closed Dec 24-25)
Another one of our favorite Christmas events in Georgia, this annual attraction in Woodstock GA was created by Holiday Lights of Georgia (which also owns Christmas light displays in Canton, Ellijay, and Rome).
Their walk-through display at Holiday Lights of Hope is HUGE, with 2 million+ LED lights, traditional and animated Christmas light displays, and a mile-long Christmas maze!
Kids will love getting their pictures taken with Santa, while grown-ups can enjoy shopping at Santa Village, listening to Christmas carolers, and watching live music performances.
General admission tickets are $10, while all children ages 12 and under get in free. All ticket sales benefit the Anna Crawford Children’s Center.
READ MORE: 15 Fun, Festive Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Helen GA
4. Illuminights At The Zoo: Chinese Lantern Festival
800 Cherokee Avenue SE, Atlanta GA • (404) 624-9453
Nov. 14 – Jan. 19
This Chinese Lantern Festival at Zoo Atlanta features over 80 lanterns depicting some of the world’s cool and weird animals, and it has become one of the most unique Holiday activities in Atlanta.
Each lantern featured at IllumiNights At The Zoo is made and hand-painted by Chinese artists, who put in thousands of hours of work. Some of these ginormous lanterns reach up to 20 feet tall!
There will be warm beverages and food available for purchase, and you can also do some fun Holiday shopping in the Zoo’s gift shop.
Please be aware that the lanterns ARE the wildlife at IllumiNights! The majority of the real animals go indoors before dark. To see the living wildlife at the zoo, visit during the day.
READ MORE: Christmas Fun at Rock City Enchanted Garden of Lights
5. Margaritaville’s Lakeside Lights Spectacular at Lake Lanier Islands
7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford GA • (470) 323-3440
Nov 27 – 30, Dec 6 – Jan 6, 11,12, 18, 19
Lake Lanier Islands surrounds one of the biggest lakes in Georgia. For decades, their “Magical Nights of Lights” was considered one of the best drive-thru Christmas light displays in Atlanta.
Though the name and many other aspects of this Atlanta Christmas event have changed (including a massive 575-foot-long snow tubing slide), Lanier Islands remains one of the area’s most popular things to do for Christmas.
The lakeside light show amplifies the visual impact of the one-of-a-kind holiday light features, that range from traditional holiday displays to high tech images and Margaritaville themed scenes.
There will also be an assortment of mixed drinks, sweet treats, hot chocolate, and even s’mores available for roasting (for an additional charge).
READ MORE: Georgia Christmas Tree Farms Where You Can Cut Your Own Christmas Tree
6. Lights of Life at Life University
1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta GA • (800) 543-3202
Nov 28-Dec 31
Hosted annually at the Life University campus (a private chiropractic college in Marietta GA), Lights of Life is one of our family’s favorite December events in Atlanta.
We love it because it’s relatively close to our home in the northern suburbs (about 14 miles south), and it’s also one of the most budget-friendly drive-through Christmas light displays in Georgia (just $10 per car).
The event runs from Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Eve.
Their Christmas lights have grown considerably over the last 20 years. They now have more than a million LED lights and over 100 displays (including the tallest Santa/Sleigh light display in the Southeast) on a 1.5-mile route.
Visitors can also explore a walk-through section that includes concession stands selling food and drinks, a petting zoo, train rides, and photo ops with Santa Claus himself!
READ MORE: 10 Ways to Celebrate Old Fashioned Christmas in Dahlonega GA
7. Light The Station
1380 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta GA • (404) 410-4010
Nov. 23
The 2024 year’s theme at Light The Station is British Invasion.
Starting at 6:30pm, there will be amazing & unique parade floats from traditional holiday gingerbread to posh pink telephone booths to a mod fireplace.
Live entertainment includes, Royal guard stilt walkers, a shagadelic drum major, mirror ball ladies, elves, local dance groups and bands including Stayin Alive Crew, Marching Abominables and the AE Drumline.
All the parade fun concludes with Santa on the Atlantic Station Express and officially welcomes in the Christmas season with the lighting of the iconic 50’ Christmas Tree with Santa in Atlantic Green
READ MORE: 15 Festive Ways to Celebrate an Asheville NC Christmas
8. Stone Mountain Christmas
1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain GA • (800) 401-2407
Nov 9 – Jan 5 (Select Dates)
One of the most family-friendly seasonal activities in Atlanta, Stone Mountain Christmas returns with some awesome new elements.
As always, millions of lights will decorate the park, including the Musical Frosted Forest. There will be also nightly Christmas parades, visits with Santa, Christmas carolers, and two Polar Express-themed attractions.
There will also be all-new attractions, such as Santa’s Big Flight (during the nightly tree lighting ceremony) and the World’s Largest Christmas Light Show, a drone show with special effects and a huge fireworks finale.
Normal Stone Mountain attractions will be open as well, including the Scenic Railroad (with sing-along caroling) and the Summit Skyride to the top of the North Georgia mountain.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Christmas Towns in North Carolina
FUN THINGS TO DO FOR CHRISTMAS IN ATLANTA
9. Celebrate Winter Holidays at Children’s Museum of Atlanta
275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr. NW, Atlanta GA • (404) 659-5437
Dec 2 – Dec 26 (Select Days)
Although Christmas is celebrated in most countries around the world, Celebrate Winter Holidays at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta reminds us that there are other important festivities that occur during Winter.
During the month of December, the museum will educate and excite visitors by celebrating the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Las Posadas (a festival held during Christmas in Mexico), Kwanzaa, and Christmas on their respective dates.
In the process of learning about these holidays, visitors will be able to hear music, learn dances, and make crafts honoring each cultural celebration.
Starting on Dec 3rd – Jan 2nd, the museum will also have Sockefeller Plaza, a sock-skating rink where children can experience the feeling of ice skating without the hassle of skates (and slippery ice). The Museum also has Hot Cocoa Mondays, and snowball fights
You can also visit on December 31st for one of the few kid-friendly Atlanta New Year’s Eve countdowns, called The Bubble Bash. There will be music, bubble making, Sockefeller Plaza, and the annual bubble-wrap-popping tradition!
READ MORE: The 20+ Best NC Christmas Events in Asheville, Bryson City & Beyond!
10. Christmas at The Battery Atlanta
800 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA • (404) 494-1150
Nov 22 – Dec 24
One of the newer Christmas events in GA, Christmas at The Battery finds the massive mixed-use development surrounding Truist Park (home to the Atlanta Braves) transformed into a holiday wonderland.
It all starts with the 8th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 30.
This popular Atlanta Christmas event begins at 5:30 PM with a live performances on the Georgia Power Pavilion Stage and will include appearances by Braves mascot, Blooper.
Jolly ol’ St. Nick will arrive in time to light The Battery Christmas tree at 8 PM, and there will be a screening of How The Grinch Stole Christmas on the massive screen immediately after.
Santa will be available for photo ops at the Battery’s Community Corner every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Christmas Eve. You can also drop off the kids’ letters at Santa’s Post Office!
READ MORE: Christmas Town USA: 10 Ways to Celebrate in McAdenville NC
11. Winter Squares & The Lighting at Colony Square
1197 Peachtree St NE Suite 780, Atlanta GA • (404) 785-5437
Dec 5, 10-13, 17-20
Start your holidays with the annual Lighting at Colony Square on Dec 5th from 6-8PM. Enjoy fun activities including festive drinks, photo opportunities, jolly entertainment, live music, and of course the tree lighting at 8 PM.
Beginning Monday, December 9th, Colony Square transforms into a winter gathering place for family and friends with their 12 Winter Squares each with a cozy fire pit + seating for all guests to enjoy.
Seating is first come, first served and there is no outside food or beverage permitted, but takeout from onsite restaurants are encouraged.
Winter Squares will also feature Holiday Movies On The Square: December 10th-13th + December 17th-20th at select times
Santa Snack Time: December 14th + December 17th at select times.
Winter Squares will not be available for complimentary use on select movie nights.
READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Smoky Mountains (NC & TN)
12. Holidays at Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta GA • (404) 581-4000
Nov 15th – Jan 2nd
One of the largest (10 million gallons) and most popular (around 3 million annual visitors) aquariums in the world, the Georgia Aquarium is one of the state’s most visited tourist attractions.
Their annual Christmas event, “Holidays at Georgia Aquarium,” transforms the venue with sparkling lights and special events for visitors of all ages.
The celebration typically starts in mid-November with the lighting of their 40-foot live Christmas tree, with Santa on hand to wish everyone a happy holiday season.
A special Christmas-themed dolphin show will start Nov 15th, and the ever-popular “Scuba Claus” will also be coming back this year.
There will also be live holiday musical all season long performed by members of the Georgia State University School of Music.
READ MORE: The 12 Best Places to See Christmas Lights in North Carolina
13. Winter Wonderland at Fernbank Museum of Natural History
767 Clifton Rd Atlanta, GA • (404) 929-6300
Nov 23 – Jan 12
One of the best family-friendly Atlanta Holiday events is back for its 14th year this Winter season.
Taking up two floors of the massive Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the 2024 holiday event will run from November 23rd to January 12th.
Winter Wonderland is a great opportunity to learn about different cultural traditions from several different countries around the world. Guests can view beautifully decorated trees and dazzling displays throughout the museum.
READ MORE: The 12 Best Places to See Christmas Lights in North Carolina
CHRISTMAS SHOWS IN ATLANTA
14. Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
1695 Marietta Boulevard, Atlanta GA • (404) 892-3303
Dec 7-26
Adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s 1816 short story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” this timeless ballet was created in 1892, with a score by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
The Atlanta Ballet has been performing The Nutcracker for decades, but the production they’ll be performing at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in 2024 is especially splendid.
With choreography by Yuri Possokhov, beautiful costumes, amazing sets, and innovative projections created by Tony award-winning designers, this show runs from December 7 to 26th.
This is one of the most popular December events in Atlanta, and tickets are on sale now. Check the Atlanta Ballet website for more information on show times and ticket prices.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Celebrate Christmas in NC
15. A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta GA • (404) 733-4600
Nov 9-Dec 24
Although Charles Dickens wrote numerous classics (including Oliver Twist and Great Expectations), his 1842 novella A Christmas Carol has emerged as his most timeless masterpiece.
The enduring story about the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge’s spiritual awakening on Christmas Eve has been remade into more than 40 films and countless stage adaptations.
From November 9th through December 24th, the Alliance Theatre will be bringing back its new production for the fourth year, with stunning costumes, innovative puppetry, and a totally reimagined set design.
Check the Alliance Theatre website for a full list of showtimes and ticket info.
READ MORE: The Best Boone NC Christmas Tree Farms
16. Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta GA • (404) 733-4900
Dec 12-15
The late, great Robert Shaw (who passed away in 1999) was a titan in the classical music scene. He was the first conductor ever awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship and won 14 Grammys.
In the state of Georgia, he’s best known for his 21-year stint as music director and conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He also founded the ASO Chorus in 1970 and created the “Christmas With the ASO” concept.
With some 400+ singers (featuring voices of the Morehouse Glee Club and the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir) and musicians working together, Shaw’s 4-part musical take on the story of Christmas still remains a popular way to celebrate Christmas in Atlanta, Georgia.
READ MORE: 20 Awesome Things to Do for Winter in North Carolina
17. The Hip-Hop Nutcracker at The Fox Theater
660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta GA • (855) 285-8499
Dec 26
With a uniquely urban take on the ultimate Christmas ballet, The Hip-Hop Nutcracker brings a contemporary twist to the beloved Tchaikovsky classic.
The show will still follow the story of Clara, her beloved nutcracker, and their tense battle with the evil Mouse King. But here the story is set in contemporary New York City, with the addition of digital graffiti and visual graphics.
Directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber, the unique production will be performed by a dozen dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of the founding fathers of hip-hop music.
Their only 2024 Atlanta performance will be at the Fox Theater on December 26th, and tickets are available now, with prices starting at $42.50.
READ MORE: 15 Fun Things to Do in Asheville NC in Winter
18. Invasion: Christmas Carol
Dad’s Garage Theatre, 569 Ezzard St SE, Atlanta GA • (404) 523-3141
Nov 29-Dec 30
Improv comedy is one of our favorite forms of live entertainment, and Invasion: Christmas Carol is arguably one of the best Christmas shows in Atlanta.
Directed by Maged Roushdi, the improv legends at Dad’s Garage offer an irreverent twist on Charles Dickens’ timeless Christmas classic.
The cast rehearses a faithful version of the cautionary tale about Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by 3 ghosts on Christmas Eve. But every night they’re joined by a surprise “invader,” forcing the cast to improvise while staying in character.
Adding these unexpected elements (which are kept secret from both the cast and the audience) inevitably leads to laughter. Last year’s run included “invasions” by incongruous characters such as Ted Lasso, Thanos, and Ursula the Sea Witch.
No matter which wacky weirdos wind up wreaking havoc and hilarity, we guarantee you’ll never see A Christmas Carol in quite the same way again.
READ MORE: The Best Places for Snow Skiing in North Carolina
19. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer at Center For Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring St NW at 18th, Atlanta GA • (404) 873-3089
All Saturdays in November
The annual Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer production at the Center for Puppetry Arts is one of our favorite Atlanta Christmas traditions.
It’s a festive and faithful adaptation of the Rankin/Bass Christmas stop-motion animated classic, which was originally released in 1964.
The timeless tale and colorful characters like Sam the Snowman, Yukon Cornelius, and the Abominable Snow Monster truly come to life via puppetry, with all the classic songs you love.
Running on Saturdays in November, this fun and funny Christmas show will charm audiences old and young alike with its infectious music and message of self-acceptance.
Stick around afterward to make your own Santa String Puppet in their Create-A-Puppet Workshop!
READ MORE: The 11 Best Places for Snow Tubing in North Carolina
OTHER ATLANTA CHRISTMAS EVENTS
20. Atlanta Christkindl Market in The Buckhead Village District
Buckhead Village District & Galleria on the Park
Buckhead: Nov 22-Dec 24 / Galleria: Nov 29-Dec 22 (closed Thanksgiving)
The Atlanta Christkindl Market now has two locations Buckhead Village District (East Paces Ferry Rd & Peachtree Rd) and Galleria on the Park (100 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339).
You can enjoy authentic German food and beverages, get your photos taken with Santa, and browse the traditional European-style market for unique items to check off your holiday gift list.
Details about the 50+ vendors and other elements will be released soon, so check their website for more details.
READ MORE: The 10 Most Festive Christmas Towns in Virginia to Visit
21. Callanwolde Winter House
980 Briarcliff Road NE Atlanta, GA • (404) 872-5338
Nov 30 – Dec 1, Dec 5 – 7, 12-15
Widely regarded as one of the most upscale places to see Christmas lights in Atlanta GA, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center’s Winter House welcomes guests to get creative during this artsy experience.
Formerly known as “Christmas at Callanwolde,” the event finds their 27,000-square foot mansion’s halls decked with thousands of glittering Christmas lights, evergreen wreaths and trees, and stylish Xmas decor.
2024 Winter House activities include holiday workshops, history tours, and live musical performances.
Santa Claus will also be making weekend appearances at Callanwolde for family photos.
READ MORE: 10 Great Places to Celebrate Christmas in Virginia
22. Georgia Festival of Trees
Gas South Convention Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy Duluth GA • (678) 783-4455
Nov 23 – Dec 1, 2024 (CLOSED Nov 27-28 for Thanksgiving)
The GA Festival of Trees is a volunteer-driven event that features a forest of holiday trees, local vendors, seasonal shopping, and entertainment, all for a good cause.
Proceeds from the event and holiday tree sales will benefit Street Grace and Atlanta Redemption Ink, local non-profit organizations that support survivors of human trafficking and work towards ending human trafficking altogether.
The festival will feature a Christmas Gingerbread Competition, kids’ activities, and photos with Santa. Penny the Pink Pig is making her debut at this year’s festival!
Tickets to the 2024 Festival of Trees start at $18.95 for children ages 3-12 (includes Reindeer Games Activities) and $13.95 for seniors ages 62 and up, and $18.95 for adults.
READ MORE: The Best Ski Resorts in the Virginia Mountains to Visit
23. Victorian Holiday at Oakland Cemetery
248 Oakland Avenue Southeast, Atlanta GA • (404) 688-2107
Dec 7-8
Returning in 2024, this unique Christmas celebration is one of the most interesting things to do in Atlanta for Christmas.
Historic Oakland Cemetery is known for its eclectic mixture of art and architectural styles, including Egyptian, Exotic Revival, Gothic, Greek Revival, Neo-classical, and Victorian.
The cemetery itself is filled with some of the city’s most famous people, including 3,000 Civil War soldiers, author Margaret Mitchell, golf legend Bobby Jones, and Mayors Ivan Allen Jr. and Maynard Jackson.
Their seasonal open house is free, with fun activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family. There are mini tours of the cemetery, plus shopping for homemade holiday goods at the Victorian Holiday Artist Market.
This one-of-a-kind Atlanta Christmas event will take place Dec 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
READ MORE: The 5 Best Places for Snow Tubing in Virginia
24. Marietta Square Winter Wonderland
1 Depot Street, Marietta GA
Dec 5-31st
The Marietta Square in Winter is full of fun things to do, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Don’t miss the City of Marietta’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting with Santa’s arrival at the Square on Dec 5th.
The Square will be filled with colorful Christmas lights, joyous holiday music, and visits with Santa at his workshop.
There will be numerous activities for the kids, like writing letters to Santa and exploring a magical forest, plus myriad shopping opportunities and restaurants for adults to enjoy.
Pictures with Santa at the Marietta Museum of History begin on December 6th. They will also offer “Santa’s Magical Moments” staring on Dec 9th, where your family can have a private half-hour with Santa and his elves!
READ MORE: The 10 Best Weekend Getaways in Georgia
25. Holiday Happenings at Avalon
400 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta GA
Nov 24-Dec 24
The Avalon shopping center is getting in on the Atlanta Christmas action with an array of fun-filled holiday events the whole family can enjoy.
The season starts with the Lighting of Avalon on November 24. That’s when they’ll open the ice skating rink and offer holiday entertainment and activities. The highlight of the event will be a magical visit from Santa Claus!
Photos with Santa start the next day at the North Pole-inspired cottage in Palmer Plaza. To secure your spot, you’ll want to schedule your 10-minute photo session appointment here. -by Samantha Dickens; lead image by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
