Atlanta Holiday Guide
holiday guide: 2025
atlanta holiday classics
- Botanical Garden Lights and more!
- Lake Lanier Lights Spectacular
- The Graves House Christmas Lights – 2464 Fontaine Circle in Decatur
- Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker
- A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theater
- Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer at The Center for Puppetry Arts
- Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
- Stone Mountain Christmas at Snow Mountain Park
- Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights
holiday markets
- Spruill Arts Holiday Art Fair –
- November 14 @ 6:00 pm – December 23 @ 6:00 pm
- The Atlanta Christkindl Market is open daily through Sunday. The market brings German holiday traditions including culinary delights and handcrafted treasures. (Now in Lawrenceville.)
- Midtown Holiday Artisan Market | Midtown Atlanta
- Holiday Artists Market + FREE Pics with Santa at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market Saturdays 8:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Cathedral of St. Philip (Buckhead) Learn more here
- Deck the Hall, Duluth Holiday Market December 6, 2:00 PM – 7:00 Visit Duluth
- Virginia Highland Winterfest Holiday Market December 13, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Details here
- Atlantic Station hosts Creator’s Market – Every weekend
Trees & menorahs
- Menorah Lighting at Ponce City Market: Celebrate Hanukkah with music and refreshments – Dec 21st – Details
- Annual Winter Fest and Tree Lighting in Summerhill – Dec 13th
- Annual Menorah Lighting at Marietta Square – Join Marietta and Congregation Ner Tamid at this ceremony. Dec. 20 – Marietta
- Chanukah Menorah Lighting (Alpharetta)
- Nightly Tree Shows at Colony Square: Hourly light shows with festive music. Details
- Miracle on Peachtree Tree lighting – Sat Dec 6th, includes Santa and his elves and more!
- Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa on Marietta Square. Details
- Avondale Estates Tree Lighting – Dec 8th
- Christmas Tree Lighting at Epicurean Atlanta | Midtown Atlanta
- Menorah Lighting – The Forum Peachtree Corners
- Chabad Intown | Decatur Square Menorah Lighting
Festivals & events:
- Avondale Holiday Tour of Homes and Holiday Market – Dec 14th
- Ugly Sweater Party at The Office Bar | Midtown Atlanta
- Midtown Jingle & Mingle: Holiday Event | Midtown Atlanta
- Holiday Movies On The Square Event | Colony Square – Atlanta, GA
- During Holidays at Georgia Aquarium you’ll find a completely transformed atrium with festive music, winter-inspired projections and a 40-foot live tree. There will be photos with Santa, daily lighting of the tree and holiday-themed dolphin presentations. All the swimmers at the aquarium cannot wait to sea you. Festivities continue through Jan. 2, 2025
- Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta during our Holiday Bricktacular,
- Festive Flicks at The Forum – The Forum Peachtree Corners
- Atlantic Station – “Skate the Station”: Outdoor ice rink open Nov 14, 2025 – Jan 19, 2026. It’s described as metro Atlanta’s largest outdoor holiday rink. Atlantic Station+2Secret Atlanta+2
- Park Tavern – “The Rink at Park Tavern”: Ice-skating on a heated rink with holiday vibes, open Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 16, 2026. Park Tavern+2Nadine Sells Atlanta+2
- Ponce City Market – “Skate the Sky / Holidays on the Roof”: Rooftop ice skating + holiday-season fun; ice-skating & festive decor available winter 2025–2026. Rough Draft Atlanta+2THE ROOF at Ponce City Market+2
- High Street Skate on the Green (Dunwoody/Perimeter area): New outdoor rink running Nov 23, 2025 – Jan 19, 2026 — includes skate rentals, family-friendly. Discover Atlanta+2Adventures in Atlanta+2
- Avalon on Ice (in Alpharetta — ~metro-Atlanta area): Rockefeller-style seasonal rink from Nov 23, 2025 – Jan 19, 2026. Good for a festive outing a bit outside central Atlanta. Experience Avalon+1
Santa sightings
- Lenox Square – Santa Photo Experience (Nov 15–Dec 24, 2025): Traditional mall Santa with photo packages and shorter-line weekday sessions.
- Phipps Plaza – Santa at Phipps (Nov–Dec 2025, reservation required): Atlanta’s most in-demand Santa; known for a calm, quiet, personalized experience—usually fully booked early.
- Stone Mountain Christmas (Select dates Nov 8–Dec 24, 2025): Santa meets kids in his “North Pole Office,” plus Christmas parade, snowfall, and light show.
- Atlanta Botanical Garden – Botanical Santa (Saturdays Nov 29–Dec 20, 2025): Outdoor, garden-themed Santa visits with photo ops surrounded by lights and holiday displays.
- Rhodes Hall – Santa at the Castle (Weekends Nov 22–Dec 14, 2025): Victorian-castle setting with private 10-minute Santa sessions and professional photos.
- North Point Mall – Santa Is Coming to North Point (Daily through Nov 25–Dec 24, 2025): Walk-up or reservation-based photos; quieter than Lenox/Phipps.
- Avalon in Alpharetta – Santa at Avalon (Mid-Nov–Dec 24, 2025): Santa welcomes families in a cozy cottage; also features “Breakfast with Santa” dates.
- The Battery Atlanta – Santa at the Battery (Weekends Dec 2025): Santa visits combined with holiday market, tree lighting activities, and photo opportunities.
- Ponce City Market – The North Pole at PCM (Select dates Dec 2025): Santa visits in a festive loft, plus optional “Breakfast With Santa” and rooftop holiday events.
- Atlantic Station – Winter Wonderland Santa Visits (Select dates Dec 2025): Outdoor Santa with holiday village, lights, and ice skating.
- Callaway Gardens – Fantasy in Lights (Nov 14–Jan 4, 2026): Santa meets guests at the Christmas Village; huge light display worth the drive.
- Zoo Atlanta – Holiday Pictures With Santa (Select early-Dec dates 2025): Animal-themed Santa photos with paid admission; usually one weekend only.
- Children’s Museum of Atlanta – Santa Days (Mid-Dec 2025): Short storytelling + photos with Santa, geared toward younger children.
- Fernbank Museum – Holly Jolly Day with Santa (One Saturday in Dec 2025): One-day event with Santa, holiday crafts, and seasonal exhibits.
Holiday pop ups and bars
- Westside Sleigh Ride at Westside Motor Lounge — Nov 28–Dec 31, 2025; indoor-outdoor set-up with festive lights, firepits, seasonal drinks, and nightly events (silent discos, funky Santa, etc.). Discover Atlanta+1
- The Blind Elf — Opens Nov 7, 2025; holiday-themed speakeasy pop-up located behind Chido & Padre’s, with festive cocktails, bites, and a full holiday-decor experience. Discover Atlanta+2The Blind Elf Holiday Pop Up Bar+2
- Holiday Hideaway at Drawbar — Starting Nov 13, 2025; cozy, seasonal vibe inside the Bellyard Hotel, with holiday-themed drinks. Discover Atlanta+1
- Tinsel Tavern at Live! at the Battery — Pop-up running roughly Nov 28–Dec 28, 2025; festive décor, holiday cocktails, and themed December nights (e.g. karaoke, ugly sweater parties). The Infatuation+1
- Miracle on 10th Street at Park Tavern — 2025 holiday season (through winter) — a “winter-wonderland” pop-up with themed cocktails, cozy fireside ambiance, and holiday decor at Midtown’s Park Tavern. Park Tavern
- The Present Lounge at The Select — Through end of 2025: seasonal décor, holiday-themed cocktails, and indoor-outdoor seating; arrives early in the season. Sarah B Travelin+1
- HOBNOB Halcyon Ski Chalet Pop-Up — A ski-chalet themed holiday pop-up a little outside ATL (in Alpharetta), featuring winter-style cocktails and festive vibes. Secret Atlanta+1
- Holidays on The Roof at Ponce City Market — Rooftop holiday pop-up with festive cocktails, igloos, ice-skating, and rooftop views; runs through early January 2026. AJC+1
- The Americano Hot Chocolate Bar — A cozy winter pop-up serving specialty hot chocolates (boozy & non-alcoholic) and espresso martinis; open through Jan 31, 2026. FOX 5 Atlanta+1
Classic Holiday Bar at The Third Door — Holiday-themed bar in Marietta Square (just outside Atlanta), debuting Nov 28, 2025, with a new festive cocktail menu and seasonal ambiance. roughdraftatlanta.com
Holiday lights
- Grant Park Candlelit Tour of Homes: Candlelit tour of Atlanta’s finest decorated homes. Details – Dec 14 and 15th
- Grant Park Candlelit Tour of Homes: Candlelit tour of Atlanta’s finest decorated homes. Details
- Lights of Life at Life University (Marietta)
- Botanical Garden Lights
- IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival opens to the public at Zoo Atlanta in November 2023.
- Trek over land, sea and air to hear the jingle of the jungle at Enchanted Safari produced by World of Illumination at Six Flags White Water in Marietta.
- Lake Lanier Lights Spectacular
- At the Winterfest Tour of Lights, you will get a map of homes with the most extravagant decorations. Some homes will be offering treats and beverages, and a few will even be showing off their backyards for participants.
- Light Up Brookhaven: Tree lighting, Santa’s helicopter arrival, and food trucks. Details
- The city of Dunwoody has you covered with this event at Brook Run Park. It’s apres-ski-centric with Adirondack chairs, a faux snow factory, a huge snow globe and more. The display comprises 85,000 lights that will glow throughout the park until Dec. 31. dunwoodyga.gov
- The Graves House Christmas Lights – 2464 Fontaine Circle in Decatur
- SMOOT FAMILY CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW –3699 Autumn View Dr NW, Acworth, GA 30101; Nov 23rd – Jan 1st
- HROCKIN HRANICKY CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW 3848 Rivers Run Trace NW, Acworth, GA 30101
- The Largest Residential Christmas Light Display in Georgia. Over 1.2 Million Lights. – 1510 Ben King Road NW – Kennesaw, GA 30144
- Best Neighborhood Lights Around Atlanta
Holiday shows
- A Christmas Carol — Performed at Alliance Theatre from Nov 15–Dec 24, 2025. Alliance Theatre+1
- The Nutcracker – Atlanta Ballet version at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Dec 6–27, 2025. Atlanta Ballet+2Cobb Energy Centre+2
- Roswell Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker — At Byers Theatre (Sandy Springs), Nov 28–Dec 7, 2025. Sandy Springs PAC+1
- North Atlanta Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker — At Gas South Theater, Nov 14–16, 2025. Gas South District
- Christmas Canteen at Aurora Theatre — A festive musical/variety show, Nov 28–Dec 21, 2025. Aurora Theatre+1
- Madeline’s Christmas — Family-friendly holiday musical at Horizon Theatre, with multiple showings in December 2025. Horizon Theatre+1
- A Magical Cirque Christmas — A holiday-themed circus / variety show at Fox Theatre, Nov 23, 2025. Fox Theatre
- NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet — At Fox Theatre, Dec 23–24, 2025. Discover Atlanta+1
- Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra — Seasonal concerts around December 2025 (holiday-themed classical & choral performances). Rough Draft Atlanta+1
- Deck the Halls – Family Concert by Atlanta Symphony Orchestra — A family-oriented holiday concert in early December 2025. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra+1
- Christmas with Trisha Yearwood & ASO — Holiday concert event in December 2025 with the symphony and special guest. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra+1
- The Georgia Ballet: The Nutcracker — At Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Dec 20–23, 2025. Atlanta Theater+1
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