Here’s Where To See Holiday Lights In Atlanta
Published November 12, 2024
Last Updated December 11, 2024
Where are the best places to see holiday light displays in and around Atlanta? Here are several great choices.
Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens
Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens opens Nov. 15 and runs through Jan. 4, 2025. See the Tree of Traditions, a 40-foot Pixel pine, lighting up Callaway Christmas Village. Don’t miss the winter wonderland of twinkling lights, oversized ornaments and a forest of decorated trees. Climb aboard the Jolly Trolley for a journey along the 7-mile Fantasy In Lights drive-through experience, illuminated with 10 million twinkling lights and 17 Christmas scenes.
Where: 17617 US-27, Pine Mountain, Ga.
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, the annual lights extravaganza at Atlanta Botanical Garden, won The Great Christmas Light Fight 2023 on ABC TV. This year, there is an upgrade to the world’s largest curtain of synchronized light and sound, Nature’s Wonders. Also, you may expect new music and choreography with more vertical lights than ever. Look for several of the giant plant sculptures from Alice’s Wonderland Returns dramatically lit, including the Skyline Garden’s towering White Rabbit and nearby Chess Set as well as the Cheshire Cat perched on Alston Overlook. Other features back by popular demand include large illuminated metal sculptures of deer and birds by French artist Cedric Le Borgne. Two deer are grazing among the grasses, while six birds are perched among the hardwoods or taking flight
through the treetops. Nov. 16 — Jan. 12, 2025
Where: 3445 Piedmont Road NE
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia opens Nov. 23 and runs through Jan. 5, 2025 (select days). It’s the 10th anniversary of the holiday event. Celebrate the magic of the season with millions of lights, your favorite rides, scrumptious holiday treats and classic live entertainment.
Where: 275 Riverside Parkway SW, Austell, Ga.
IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival
New lanterns and experiences will be part of IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival, opening Nov. 14 and running through Jan. 19, 2025. Stroll through the zoo after dark to be inspired by nature-inspired lanterns. Each lantern is made and hand-painted by Chinese artisans, representing thousands of hours of work. Warm up with hot cocoa (signature holiday spirits available for ages 21 and up). Make merry with a marshmallow roast by the fire. Find photo ops sure to sparkle on your social.
Where: 800 Cherokee Ave. SE
Stone Mountain Christmas at Stone Mountain Park
During Stone Mountain Christmas, through Jan. 5, 2025, take the family for visits with Santa, see the Christmas Parade and the Enchanted Tree Lighting Ceremony with Aurora plus the Christmas Drone & Light Show and screenings of the film “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 4-D. Embark on the inaugural Magical Flight to the North Pole, a journey that whisks you away to Santa’s enchanting world.
The Magical Christmas Drone & Light Show features 250 drones lighting up the sky and creating holiday-themed aerial formations and displays. With video projected onto Stone Mountain this experience features immersive lighting, lasers, snow effects and nightly fireworks.
Join Aurora, Princess of Light, as she lights the way for Santa’s sleigh. Santa Claus himself will make a grand entrance with a fly-over marking his arrival at Stone Mountain Park. Get into the spirit with the Christmas Parade featuring floats, holiday characters and music.
Take in live shows and enjoy special meet and greet opportunities with some favorite North Pole friends including Santa, Santa’s Reindeer and more. Hear the true meaning of Christmas aboard the Sing-A-Long Christmas Train and sing along to your favorite classic Christmas tunes with the Crossroads Carolers.
Where: 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, Ga.
WildWoods: AGLOW at Fernbank Museum of Natural History
WildWoods: AGLOW is a multi-sensory nighttime experience that invites guests into a mesmerizing, exploratory outdoor walk, where they can connect with nature under the cover of darkness and discover the stories of connectivity, pollination and nocturnal activities. Visitors can wander the paths of WildWoods among towering, artistically illuminated sculptures, glowing projections and original musical compositions. Highlights include an interactive tulip poplar pod; projections of nocturnal wildlife and native plant species; larger-than-life incandescent mushrooms and more. New for season three, artistic sculptures have been placed alongside the boardwalk in WildWoods: AGLOW, including glowing dandelions, fluttering dragonflies, a swarm of bats, garden light towers and more. Experience WildWoods: AGLOW Nov. 8 through Feb. 23, 2025.
Where: 767 Clifton Road
Lights of Life
The annual Lights of Life holiday display at Life University opens Thanksgiving Day and runs through New Year’s Eve. In addition to the light show, there are pony rides, train rides, a petting zoo and concessions. Admission is $10 per car or truck.
Where: 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta
Margaritaville’s Lakeside Lights Spectacular
Margaritaville’s Lakeside Light Spectacular opens Nov. 27. Enjoy a lighting extravaganza and seasonal music ranging from traditional to high-tech to Margaritaville-themed. Stop by the Tipsy Elf for refreshments or the LandShark Bar for a meal or drinks or appetizers. License to Chill Snow Island opens Nov. 16 featuring snow hills for gliding down, ice skating and holiday activities.
Where: 7650 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Ga.
For more holiday things to do, check our calendar of events.
Journalist Carol Carter writes and edits for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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