Best Christmas Lights & Holiday Displays in Atlanta (2026)
Garden walks, drive-through shows and free town squares, plus the light displays worth a road trip from Atlanta.
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Atlanta's best Christmas lights are spread across a big metro, so pick one main event and build the night around it. Garden Lights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is the big night out, Lights of Life is the best deal for a full car, and Marietta Square is the easy free pick when you'd rather pair the lights with dinner.
This guide covers 25 displays across the city, the suburbs and a few road trips. A free stop close to your main show works well. Two big shows on opposite sides of town usually doesn't.
Every Atlanta Christmas Light Display at a Glance
| Display | Area | 2026–27 dates | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Lights, Holiday Nights | Midtown | Nov 14–Jan 10, nightly | Late entry from $19.95 |
| IllumiNights at the Zoo | Grant Park | Nov 21–Jan 17, select nights | Adults $20.99–$24.99, kids $17.99–$19.99 |
| Stone Mountain Christmas | Stone Mountain | Nov 7–Jan 3, weekends and holidays | Attractions ticket, $25 parking |
| Holiday in the Park | Austell | Nov 21–Jan 3, select dates | From $35 plus fees |
| The Light Park | Lawrenceville | Nov 13–Jan 3, closed Nov 16–19, Nov 30, Dec 1 | Online per-person tickets, free parking |
| Atlantic Station | Midtown | Lights from Nov 5, tree lit Nov 21 | Free |
| The Battery Atlanta | Cumberland | Tree lit Nov 28 | Free, event-day parking rates |
| Avalon | Alpharetta | Tree lit Nov 22 | Free |
| Marietta Square and Maple Avenue | Marietta | Tree lit Dec 3 | Free |
| Depot Park Holly Days | Kennesaw | Tree lit Dec 2 | Free |
| Lights at Legion | Covington | Dec 5–Jan 3 | Free |
| Hillcrest Sparkle Village | Sandy Springs | Nov 21–Jan 4 | Free |
| Brook Run Park Holiday Lights | Dunwoody | Dec 1–31 | Free |
| Lights of Joy | Kennesaw | Nov 29–Dec 29 | $5–$10 per person, 12 and under free |
| Lights of Life | Marietta | Nov 26–Dec 31 | $15 per car |
| World of Illumination: Rockin' Christmas | Marietta | Nov 13–Jan 3, Tuesday-Sunday | From $39.99 per car |
| Magical Nights of Lights | Buford | Nov 20–Jan 3 | Per vehicle, varies by date |
| Holiday Lights of Canton | Canton | Nov 21–Dec 31 | $20 per car plus fees |
| Holiday Lights of Woodstock | Woodstock | Nov 20–Dec 31, closed Dec 24–25 | $25 per car |
| A Country Christmas at Pettit Creek Farms | Cartersville | Thanksgiving–Dec 30, Tuesday-Sunday | Cars $25–$30, hayride $10 per person |
| Gainesville Glows | Gainesville | Nov 19–Jan 3, select nights | Late entry from $14.95 |
| Fantasy in Lights | Pine Mountain | Nov 13–Jan 3 | Per person, varies by date |
| Winter WonderLights | Athens | Nov 19–Dec 30, select nights | $15–$18 plus fees |
| Old Fashioned Christmas | Dahlonega | Square lit Nov 27 | Free |
| Enchanted Garden of Lights | Lookout Mountain | Nov 13–Dec 31, closed Dec 24 | Adults $35–$52, kids $25–$42 |
Best Christmas Lights in Atlanta and the Suburbs
These are the ones you walk. The first five are ticketed nights out, and the rest are free town centers and parks, plus one big residential display. Atlanta's free stops pair well with dinner or a drink, and our Atlanta Christmas bars guide covers the best places to go next. Several of these double as Santa stops and skating nights, so see our guide to seeing Santa in Atlanta and our holiday ice skating rinks before you pick a date. For an easy pairing, try Marietta Square with Lights of Life once the tree is lit on Dec 3, or Depot Park with Lights of Joy in Kennesaw.
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
Garden Lights is Atlanta's big Christmas night out. The whole garden becomes the show, with glowing plants, towering installations and music-and-light sequences. This season brings back the mosaiculture dragon and adds new choreography for Nature's Wonders, and it deserves the whole evening. Details: Atlanta Botanical Garden, Midtown. Nightly until midnight, last entry 11 p.m. Night Light tickets after 9:30 p.m. start at $19.95, plus a $5 order fee. General admission isn't sold the day of your visit. Parking is $15, card only. Allow 90 minutes to 2 hours.
IllumiNights at the Zoo
800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315, USA
IllumiNights swaps Santas and snowmen for hand-painted wildlife lanterns along a mile-long route through Zoo Atlanta. Kids get something new to spot at every turn, and the scale makes it a good night for adults too. It's a lantern festival, not an animal visit: the real animals head indoors before dark. Details: Zoo Atlanta, Grant Park. 5:30–9:30 p.m., last entry 8 p.m. Daytime zoo tickets don't cover it. Cherokee Avenue parking is $6. The route is wheelchair-friendly. Allow about an hour.
Stone Mountain Christmas
1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083, USA
Stone Mountain is the family pick when you want the night to keep going. The lights are one part of a full Christmas production, with a parade, Santa flying in for the tree lighting and a drone show with a fireworks finale. Details: Stone Mountain Park. Parade 6 p.m., tree lighting 6:30 p.m., drone show 8:20 p.m. An attractions ticket is required, and online parking is $25. The Scenic Railroad is closed for maintenance, so confirm it's running before you plan on it. Allow an afternoon and evening.
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
275 Riverside Pkwy, Austell, GA 30168, USA
Holiday in the Park is back after skipping 2025, and it's the pick for older kids and teens who want rides with their Christmas lights. The park's new holiday lands include Merry Magnolia Lane and Santa's Toy Town, with live shows like Tinker's Toy Factory and a tree lighting every night at 6 p.m. Details: Austell. Lights, shows and rides are included with park admission, from $35 plus tax and fees. Parking isn't included with the basic ticket. Allow several hours.
The Light Park at Gwinnett Field
2500 Buford Dr, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, USA
The Light Park is new to the ballpark this year, and you walk it. Eight themed areas, including an Enchanted Forest and Candy Land, come with games, food and a holiday market, so it's a good fit for kids who want things to do between the lights. Details: Lawrenceville. Closed Nov 16–19, Nov 30 and Dec 1. Open 6–9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 6–10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, later around the holidays. Tickets are online only, the event is cashless and parking is free. Allow 60–90 minutes.
Atlantic Station
1380 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30363, USA
Atlantic Station is the easy in-town pick when you want Christmas scenery without a ticket. There are two stops: the new lights at Ellipse Park and the main tree on Atlantic Green. Plan on dinner, a walk and a few photos, and you'll have a good night without much planning. Details: Midtown. Ellipse Park is at 17th and Village streets. Santa's parade is Nov 21 at 6 p.m., followed by the Atlantic Green tree lighting at 7 p.m. Free to walk; skating and Santa photos cost extra. Allow 30–60 minutes, longer with dinner.
The Battery Atlanta
800 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30339, USA
The Battery works best as a social night. Meet friends for dinner, walk the decorated plaza and make the tree your photo stop, with no timed ticket to work around. The tree lighting is the night to bring kids, with crafts beforehand and an outdoor movie on the Plaza Green afterward. Details: Cumberland. Tree lighting celebration Nov 28, 5–8 p.m., free. Event-day parking rates apply that night. Allow 30–60 minutes, or a full evening with dinner.
Avalon
2200 Avalon Blvd, Alpharetta, GA 30009, USA
Avalon is the polished suburban pick, built around a good meal and a little shopping. The 40-foot tree gives the boulevard its centerpiece, and the restaurants around it make a quick visit easy to stretch into a full night. Go opening day for the countdown, or pick a later December evening for a quieter walk. Details: Alpharetta. The Lighting of Avalon is Nov 22, 2–7:30 p.m., with the tree lit at 7 p.m. The decks are free but fill quickly on event day, so carpool if you can. Skating at Avalon on Ice costs extra. Allow 30–60 minutes plus dinner.
Marietta Square and Maple Avenue
99 S Park Square NE, Marietta, GA 30060, USA
Marietta is the best free alternative to a big ticketed show. Glover Park's tree and the decorated square give you a real town-center Christmas, with plenty of places for dinner or a warm drink. For a short detour, Maple Avenue and nearby streets are known for glowing spheres hung in the trees. Those are residents' displays, so keep to public streets and leave driveways clear. Details: Glover Park, Marietta. Tree lighting celebration Dec 3, 4–8 p.m., with Santa around 5:15 p.m. and the tree lit at 6 p.m. Free. Allow an evening for the square and a short detour.
Depot Park Holly Days
2828 Cherokee St NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
Depot Park has enough going on to count as a real outing. More than 100,000 lights, a walk-through light tunnel, towering toy soldiers and gift towers give kids plenty to find. Any December evening works for a simple visit, and the special nights add a choir, a parade and a drone show. Details: Downtown Kennesaw. Free. Tree lighting Dec 2 (choir 6 p.m., tree 7 p.m.). The city's first nighttime light-up parade is Dec 5 at 6 p.m. Glimmer & Glee is Dec 13, with a concert at 6 p.m. and a drone show at 7:30 p.m. Allow 30–60 minutes.
Lights at Legion
3173 Mill St NE, Covington, GA 30014, USA
Lights at Legion is a gentle, small-town kind of night. Decorated community trees fill the field, and the charm is wandering between them at your own pace. Don't expect synchronized music, and do expect a nice, low-key stop for families east of the city. Details: Legion Field, Covington. Trees are lit nightly Dec 5–Jan 3. Opening night starts at 6 p.m. Dec 5 with the Mistletoe Market. Free. Allow 30–60 minutes.
Hillcrest Sparkle Village at City Springs
1 Galambos Wy, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, USA
This one's made for younger kids. The decorated miniature houses on City Green are small enough to study up close, and the lights around them make an easy backdrop for a family evening. It's short, so pair it with dinner nearby or come for the Sparkle parade. Details: City Green, Sandy Springs. Nov 21–Jan 4. Free. Sparkle Sandy Springs is Dec 6, with the parade stepping off at 6 p.m. and the tree and menorah lighting the same night. Allow 30–45 minutes.
Brook Run Park Holiday Lights
4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338, USA
Brook Run is Dunwoody's free walk-through, with this year's theme, Chasing Aurora, built around an Aurora Forest, a Frozen Mountain and a Mega Tree running a 10-minute light show to music. It's a good pick when you want a festive park walk with kids and no tickets to buy. Details: Dunwoody. Dec 1–31. Free. Allow 30–45 minutes.
Lights of Joy
1510 Ben King Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
Lights of Joy is the residential display worth planning around. Illuminated trees, music and a glowing tunnel fill the property, and most of the fun is walking the inner area on foot. Details: Kennesaw. Every night, 6–10 p.m. Required admission is $5 per person, or $10 on peak December dates; kids 12 and under are free. Park at Futures Church across the street, where a $5 donation is suggested. Pay on arrival; cash is fastest. No pets. Allow 45–60 minutes.
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Tickets and details: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, IllumiNights at the Zoo, Stone Mountain Christmas, Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia, The Light Park at Gwinnett Field, Atlantic Station, The Battery Atlanta, Avalon, Marietta Square and Maple Avenue, Depot Park Holly Days, Lights at Legion, Hillcrest Sparkle Village at City Springs, Brook Run Park Holiday Lights, Lights of Joy
Drive-Through Christmas Lights
A good drive-through is the easiest way to get a full car out the door, and these all charge by the vehicle. Expect a queue on weekends and the week before Christmas.
Lights of Life
1269 Barclay Cir, Marietta, GA 30060, USA
Lights of Life is the best deal in metro Atlanta for a full car. Life University's campus has been putting this on for decades, with more than a million lights, traditional scenes and illuminated tunnels. Go early on a weeknight, and save the dinner reservation for another night, since the queue is hard to time. Details: Marietta. Paid at the entrance by cash or card. Lights run from about 5:30 p.m. until 9 or 10 p.m. Carnival rides, train rides, the petting zoo and concessions cost extra.
World of Illumination: Rockin' Christmas
250 Cobb Pkwy N, Marietta, GA 30062, USA
This is the loud one. Rockin' Christmas is a mile of music-themed displays with lights pulsing to a radio soundtrack, so it's a better pick for a car that wants a show than one that wants a quiet cruise. There's no food on site, so bring your own snacks. Details: Six Flags White Water, Marietta. Tuesday-Sunday, 6–10 p.m. Tickets are online only, and prices vary by date. Pets are fine if they stay in the car. The route takes 20–30 minutes, plus the queue.
Magical Nights of Lights
7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA 30518, USA
Lanier Islands is the classic Atlanta drive, with miles of animated scenes along the resort roads. It's easy to stretch into a full outing with Snow Island's tubing and skating, which are ticketed separately. Details: Lanier Islands Resort, Buford. Nightly, 5–10 p.m., with traffic peaking until about 8:30 p.m. Priced per vehicle by date and size; resort parking is included. On Give Back Nights, Nov 20–30, five cans of food at the gate earns $10 vouchers. Plan on 2.5 hours.
Holiday Lights of Canton
7345 Cumming Hwy, Canton, GA 30115, USA
Canton's two-mile drive through Veterans Park has animated scenes and light tunnels, and it's the right call if you're already in the northern suburbs. It's not worth a cross-metro trip, but for an easy evening close to home it's good value for a family or a group sharing a car. Details: Veterans Park, Canton. Nov 21–Dec 31; Dec 24–25 aren't on the schedule. 6–9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 6–10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $20 per car, plus fees at checkout.
Holiday Lights of Woodstock
150 Dixie Dr, Woodstock, GA 30189, USA
Woodstock gives you two nights in one: a drive through the displays, then time on foot at Santa's Village. That's useful for kids who need to get out of the car and run around. This year it's at Dixie Speedway. Details: Dixie Speedway, Woodstock. Closed Dec 24–25. 6–9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 6–10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Admission includes Santa's Village; food is extra.
A Country Christmas at Pettit Creek Farms
337 Cassville Rd, Cartersville, GA 30120, USA
Pettit Creek is the rustic pick, with a drive or a hayride through the lights and a farm visit after. It's a good one for kids who'd enjoy the animals as much as the Christmas display. Details: Cartersville. Closed Mondays. 6–9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, 6–10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Cars $25–$30, vans $30–$35, hayrides $10 per person. All sales are final. The walking area is grass and gravel.
Tickets and details: Lights of Life, World of Illumination: Rockin' Christmas, Magical Nights of Lights, Holiday Lights of Canton, Holiday Lights of Woodstock, A Country Christmas at Pettit Creek Farms
Worth the Trip: Christmas Lights Beyond Atlanta
These five are destinations, so make one the whole outing. Pick one per trip, and build in the drive before you buy a timed ticket.
Gainesville Glows: Lanterns & Lights
1911 Sweetbay Dr, Gainesville, GA 30501, USA
The Atlanta Botanical Garden's Gainesville campus runs its own show, separate from Garden Lights, with lanterns, oversized flowers, a light tunnel and a dancing-light amphitheater. A new model train display and interactive candy canes join this year. Go if you live up north, or if you've done Midtown and want a different garden night. Details: Gainesville. Entry slots from 5 p.m. Night Light tickets after 8 p.m. start at $14.95 for adults, plus a $5 order fee. Parking is $5, card only. Tickets are specific to this campus. Allow 1–1.5 hours.
Fantasy in Lights
17800 US-27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822, USA
Fantasy in Lights is the big Georgia road trip: 10 million lights across 18 scenes on a seven-mile route through Callaway Resort & Gardens. Take your own car for warmth and flexibility, or the trolley tour if you'd rather everyone watch the show. The Christmas Village gives you a place to wander before or after, and it's a natural overnight. Details: Pine Mountain. Tickets are per person, not per car, and include same-day Gardens admission. Use the Robin Lake Beach entrance, not the lodging entrance. Allow several hours on site.
Winter WonderLights
2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605, USA
Winter WonderLights is the manageable garden trail, a half-mile loop through scenes like the Wondercave and Northern Lights. It's fully accessible and easy on younger legs, and it pairs nicely with a day in Athens. Details: State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens. Timed tickets are $15, or $18 on peak nights, plus fees. Free parking is at Turner Soccer Complex, 2330 S. Milledge Ave., with shuttles from 5:25 p.m. Allow about an hour, plus the shuttle.
Old Fashioned Christmas in Dahlonega
Historic Public Square, Dahlonega, GA 30533, USA
Dahlonega is for people who'd rather spend the evening in a decorated town than on a ticketed route. The historic square, shop windows and white lights do the work, so arrive before dark, browse, and stay for dinner. Details: Historic Public Square, Dahlonega. The Lighting of the Square is Nov 27. Free to stroll. Santa is on the square from Nov 27 through Dec 20 on select dates. Allow a half day or an overnight.
Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City
1400 Patten Rd, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750, USA
Rock City is the farthest pick here, and it belongs on a Chattanooga trip. The rock formations, bridges and storybook scenes give the lights a setting no city display can match, and the terrain is part of the adventure. That also makes it a poor fit for anyone who needs an accessible route. Details: Lookout Mountain. Closed Dec 24. Timed tickets are online only. The full trail isn't stroller- or wheelchair-accessible. Plan a long day trip or an overnight.
Tickets and details: Gainesville Glows: Lanterns & Lights, Fantasy in Lights, Winter WonderLights, Old Fashioned Christmas in Dahlonega, Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City
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