23 Magical Holiday Events in Georgia This Season [2023]

The state of Georgia gets a magical transformation during the holiday season. From light displays to festivals to train rides, these are the top holiday events in Georgia you won’t want to miss.

The Best Christmas Events in Georgia

Looking for a new holiday tradition in Georgia? Every city in the state is filled to the brim with holiday cheer and fun festive activities.

Check out my top picks for the best places holiday and Christmas events in Georgia, complete with details like prices, dates, and locations. I’ve organized this list into light displays, festivals, home tours, and train rides so you can easily find what you’re looking for.

Holiday Light Displays in Georgia

Experience drive-thru and walk-thru Christmas light displays in Georgia. These award-winning holiday light displays are soon to become your family’s favorite holiday tradition!

1. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta, Georgia

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of the best holiday light displays in Atlanta. The Garden is decked out in nearly 2 billion holiday lights. Highlights include the orchestral orbs dancing to holiday music, the wintery 25-foot-tall Ice Goddess, and a rainbow Tunnel of Lights.

Event Dates: November 18, 2023 through January 14, 2024 from 5 p.m. — 10 p.m.

Price: Value Nights cost $27.95 for adults and $24.95 for children age 3 to 12; Regular Nights cost $37.95 for adults and $34.95 for children; and Peak Nights cost $47.95 for adults and $44.95 for children. Check their pricing chart here for dates.

Location: 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

2. Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City Gardens

Lookout Mountain, Georgia

The award-winning light extravaganza Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City Gardens is celebrating its 29th year. This Georgia holiday light display is located just a quick drive away from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. The annual Christmas event features more than 30 holiday scenes from the Arctic Kingdom Aurora Lights to the Magic Forest to the Grand Corridor in Yule Town. You can also enjoy holiday shopping and visit with Santa. 

Event Dates: November 17, 2023 through January 6, 2024 from 4:30 p.m. — 9 p.m. on Mondays-Thursdays and until 10 p.m. on Fridays-Sundays

Price: Value Nights cost $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children ages 3 to 12; Regular Nights cost $27.95 for adults and $17.95 for children; and Peak Nights cost $31.95 for adults and $21.95 for children. Check their ticketing calendar here for dates.

Location: 1400 Patten Rd, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750

3. Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens

Pine Mountain, Georgia

Callaway Resort & Gardens’ annual Fantasy in Lights holiday light show has been named one of the Top 10 light displays in the world by National Geographic. The drive-through display is a 7-mile long experience filled with festive music and mesmerizing lights. You can step out of the car this season and enjoy walking through the Callaway Christmas Village with larger-than-life Christmas scenes, a forest of decorated trees, seasonal snacks, and character meet-and-greets.

Event Dates: November 11, 2023 through January 1, 2024

Price: Value Nights cost $24.95 per adult and $19.95 per child ages 3-11; Prime Nights cost $34.95 per adult and $29.95 per child; and Super Prime Nights cost $39.95 per adult and $34.95 per child. Check their pricing chart here for dates.

Location: 17800 US Hwy 27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822

4. Margaritaville’s Lakeside Lights Spectacular at Lanier Islands

Buford, Georgia

Walk through an extravagant light display with festive seasonal music at Margaritaville’s Lakeside Lights Spectacular. This one-of-a-kind lakeside light show features traditional holiday displays and Margaritaville-themed scenes. Check out my review of License to Chill Snow Island at Margaritaville here.

Event Dates: Select dates from November 22, 2023 through January 15, 2024. Opens at 5 p.m. Hours vary by night.

Price: $19.99 for ages 4+; $14.99 for active and retired military, and seniors 62+; and free for children 3 and under. Plus Lanier Island gate fee of $20.

Location: 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA 30518

5. Mountain Country Christmas in Lights at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds

Hiawassee, Georgia

Mountain Country Christmas in Lights at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds is a family-favorite holiday event. Enjoy this magical holiday light show immersed in Christmas music along the shores of Lake Chatuge in the North Georgia Mountains. The event also features arts and crafts vendors, holiday food, hot chocolate, and a visit from Santa.

Event Dates: Select dates from November 23, 2023 through December 23, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays-Fridays and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays.

Price: $7 per person, children under 12 are free.

Location: 1311 Music Hall Rd, Hiawassee, GA 30546

6. December Nights & Holiday Lights at Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens

Savannah, Georgia

Millions of sparkling lights are strung across all 5 acres of the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah during December Nights & Holiday Lights. Walk through this mile-long enchanted winter wonderland for a dazzling holiday display.

Event Dates: Select nights from November 24, 2023 through December 23, 2023 from 6 p.m. — 8 p.m.

Price: $15 per person

Location: 2 Canebrake Rd, Savannah, GA 31419

7. Holly Jolly Jekyll Light Tours

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Jekyll Island is home to more than half a million lights during the Holly Jolly Jekyll event. The Great Tree has more than 35,000 lights, which is more per square foot than the NYC Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Plus, the island has the Twelve Days of Christmas light displays that run from Great Dunes Beach Park to the Historic District. The Holly Jolly Jekyll Light Tour is one of the best ways to see the lights. This guided trolley tour takes you around the island with free festive beverages, holiday music, and access to the Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum gallery.

Event Dates: November 24, 2023 through January 7, 2024 on select dates

Price: $25 for adults, $12 for children ages 4-12

Location: 100 Stable Rd, Jekyll Island, GA 31527

8. Winter WonderLights at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

Winter WonderLights at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens is a walk-thru holiday light show. Illuminated displays cover a half-mile path feature scenes like the Garden of Delights, Candy Cane Lane, and Cone Tree Plaza.

Event Dates: Select nights from November 22, 2023 through January 7, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. — 9 p.m.

Price: $15 per person 4 years and older

Location: 2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605

Holiday Festivals in Georgia

Get into the holiday spirit with these top festivals in Georgia! Enjoy Christmas parades, tree lightings, carriage rides, and more at these top holiday events all across Georgia.

9. Stone Mountain Christmas

Stone Mountain, Georgia

Stone Mountain Park gets a make-over during the Christmas season with Stone Mountain Christmas. At this top Atlanta attraction, millions of Christmas lights cover the trees and buildings, festive music plays, you can meet-and-greet with Rudolph characters, and ride a holiday music singalong train.

Event Dates: November 11, 2023 through January 2, 2024. Times vary by day; check their attraction schedule here.

Price: $39.99 for adults; $34.99 for children ages 3-11

Location: 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

10. Holly Jolly Jekyll

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Jekyll Island is home to more than half a million lights during the Holly Jolly Jekyll event. In addition to seeing the amazing Christmas lights all around the island, the festive event also features activities like the Holly Jolly Jekyll Light Parade, Holiday High Tea, Breakfast with Santa, The North Pole Bake Shop, the Merry Artists Holiday Market, and Holiday Fireworks. There are festive holiday events all throughout December on this Georgia Golden Isle.

Event Dates: November 24, 2023 through January 7, 2024

Price: Prices vary by event

Location: Jekyll Island, GA 31527

11. Old Fashioned Christmas in Dahlonega

Dahlonega, Georgia

Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas marks a magical time of year for a Hallmark-inspired Christmas. The event kicks off with the Lighting of Downtown Dahlonega and Lighting of the Tree. Throughout the rest of the year, Dahlonega will hold favorite events like the Christmas Parade, visits with Santa various dates, carriage rides, music, wine tastings, extended shopping hours and more.

Event Dates: November 24, 2023 through December 31, 2023

Price: Prices vary by event

Location: 13 S Park St, Dahlonega, GA 30533

12. IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival

Atlanta, Georgia

IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival at Zoo Atlanta celebrates the Chinese New Year with a nighttime lantern wonderland. Explore the zoo after dark to see more than 80 animal lanterns, each made and hand-painted by Chinese artisans.

Event Dates: November 16, 2023 through January 14, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.

Price: Regular Nights cost $20.99 for adults, $17.99 for children 3-11 and seniors 65+; Peak Nights cost $24.99 for adults, $19.99 for children, and $21.99 for seniors.

Location: 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

13. 34th Annual Victorian Christmas

Thomasville, Georgia

Journey back to Thomasville’s Victorian past in Historic Downtown. The annual Victorian Christmas festival includes live performers, carolers, and musicians. You can shop and dine in Downtown Thomasville as you usher in the holiday season. There will be live reindeer, carriage rides, a Live Nativity, visits with Santa, marshmallow toasting, chestnut roasting, and Plein Air Artists.

Event Dates: December 14, 2023 and December 15, 2023 from 6 p.m. — 9 p.m.

Price: Free

Location: Downtown Thomasville, 144 E Jackson St, Thomasville, GA 31792

Holiday Home Tours in Georgia

See beautifully decorated homes all around Georgia during these holiday home tour events. You’ll get a glimpse inside private residences, governors’ mansions, and historic buildings on these incredible tours.

14. Christmas at the Old Governor’s Mansion in Milledgeville

Milledgeville, Georgia

Take a step back in time during Christmas at the Old Governor’s Mansion and learn about holiday traditions of yore. The Mansion is transformed with 19th-century Holiday décor and lit by candlelight, so that you can see what Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion looked like before the Civil War.

Event Dates: December 2, 2023 and December 16, 2023 at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m.

Price: $10 per person; $7 for seniors; $2 for students

Location: 120 S Clarke St, Milledgeville, GA 31061

15. Holiday Tours at Hills & Dales Estate

LaGrange, Georgia

Celebrate the season with Holiday Tours at Hills & Dales Estate. This 1916 Italian-style villa that was the home of the Callaway family is decorated inside and out for Christmas. There will be fresh plants and greenery, a grand vintage-style Christmas tree, real Fraser fir decorations, and the sounds of classic Christmas music.

Event Dates: December 5, 2023 through December 30, 2023 from 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.

Price: $30 for adults; $28 for seniors and military; $18 for students ages 8 through college with college ID; free for children 7 and under

Location: 1916 Hills and Dales Dr, LaGrange, GA 30240

16. Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour

Marietta, Georgia

The 35th annual Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour allows you a glimpse inside six private homes in the Kennesaw Avenue Local Historic District. Each home has been lovingly restored and decorated for the holiday season.

Event Dates: December 1, 2023 from 5 p.m. — 8 p.m. and December 2-3, 2023 from 9 a.m. — 4 p.m.

Price: $25 per person when purchased in advance online, $30 per person the day of the tour

Location: 4 Depot St NE, Marietta, GA 30060

17. St. Marys Christmas Tour of Homes

St. Marys, Georgia

St. Marys Christmas Tour of Homes features five beautifully decorated private homes, historic churches, and at least one historic bed and breakfast or historic hotel in downtown St. Marys. The tour is self-guided, and there will be a refreshment station at the historic St Marys United Methodist Chapel.

Event Date: December 9, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. — 9 p.m.

Price: $20 in advance, $25 the day of the tour

Location: 400 Osborne St, St Marys, GA 31558

Holiday Train Rides in Georgia

Take the family on a unique holiday train ride. These fun, family-friendly train rides make for a great holiday tradition!

18. Stone Mountain Park Singalong Train

Stone Mountain, Georgia

During Stone Mountain Christmas, you can ride on the Singalong Train. Sing along to famous Christmas songs on this 5 mile journey around the base of Stone Mountain. The open-air train cars are decorated with lights and you can even spot some decorations set up around the mountain along the way.

Event Dates: November 11, 2023 through January 2, 2024. Times vary by day; check their attraction schedule here.

Price: The Singalong Train is included in the park’s Stone Mountain Christmas admission of $39.99 for adults; $34.99 for children ages 3-11

Location: 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

19. Holiday Express on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Blue Ridge, Georgia

Enjoy a 1-hour train ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Holiday Express. On the ride you’ll listen to holiday music, hear the story “The Night Before Christmas,” and dine on delicious hot chocolate or other snacks available for sale inside the concession car.

Event Dates: November 24, 2023 through December 24, 2023

Price: $52.99 for adults, $40.99 for children ages 2-12

Location: 241 Depot St, Blue Ridge, GA 30513

20. Holiday Pavillion on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Blue Ridge, Georgia

Enjoy a special 4-hour train ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway with this special Holiday Pavillion Tour with a State Line Layover. On this 4-hour round-trip ride, you’ll listen to holiday music, hear the story “The Night Before Christmas,” and dine on delicious hot chocolate or other snacks available for sale inside the concession car. This tour also makes a 2-hour layover.

Event Date: December 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2023

Price: $68.99 for adults, $49.99 for children ages 2-12

Location: 241 Depot St, Blue Ridge, GA 30513

21. The Santa Special on the Georgia Coastal Railway

St. Marys, Georgia

Go on an interactive, family-friendly adventure to help save Christmas during The Santa Special on the Georgia Coastal Railway. Help Mason and Molly, our two heroes, save Christmas from being ruined by pesky mice. Santa will be making special appearances as well as some special guests like the Snow Queen and King, elves, Snow people, mail stewards, and more.

Event Dates: select dates from November 24, 2023 through December 23, 2023

Price: Prices range depending on which seating option you choose. Check their pricing table here for more.

Location: 1000 Osborne St, St Marys, GA 31558

22. Holiday Train Rides on SAM Shortline

Cordele, Georgia

Hop on a 1-hour Holiday Train Ride on the SAM Shortline. During the ride, you’ll enjoy holiday music along with hot chocolates and cookies

Event Dates: December 9, 2023; December 15, 2023; and December 16, 2023; trips depart at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8 p.m. on Friday and at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8 p.m. on Saturdays

Price: $25 for Coach Adult; $15 for Coach Child ages 2-12; and $35 for Deluxe all ages

Location: 105 9th Ave E, Cordele, GA 31015

23. Winter Wonderland Train at the Pine Mountain Gold Museum

The Winter Wonderland Train at the Pine Mountain Gold Museum takes you 10 miles through a forest full of thousands of lights. You’ll meet Santa and friends, enjoy lights and holiday music, and be able to purchase gifts and food.

Event Dates: select dates from December 1, 2023 through December 30, 2022 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Price: $13 per person for all 2+

Location: 1881 Stockmar Rd, Villa Rica, GA 30180

Christmas Things to Do in Georgia Map

Ready to spend the holidays in Georgia? Use the map below to find Georgia holiday events near you!

I hope you found this guide to Christmas events and festivals in Georgia helpful! Happy holidays!

Read next: How to Spend Christmas in Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia Christmas Events FAQ

More Georgia Christmas Activities

Find more things to do in Georgia for Christmas by reading these posts:

• Where to Go Outdoor Ice Skating in Atlanta
• Winter in Atlanta: Magical Things to Do
• 14 Incredible Christmas Lights in Georgia
• 10 Incredible Winter Destinations in Georgia

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• Find cheap accommodation: Use my tips for finding cheap accommodation for travel every time.
• Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Pack for your vacation: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need by checking out my packing list resources.
• Finish Your Christmas Shopping: Still looking for the perfect gift for your travel-lover? Check out my comprehensive Gifts for Travelers gift guide.

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Cheers!

Paige

What are your favorite holiday events in Georgia? Let me know in the comments!