holiday guide: 2025

atlanta holiday classics

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