Georgia’s 2026 Christmas season opens on November 7 with Stone Mountain Christmas, widens on November 13–14 when Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights, Callaway’s Fantasy In Lights and the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights all start, and peaks in the first weekend of December, when Senoia’s parade, the Marietta Pilgrimage home tour, Helen’s second market weekend and the SAM Shortline Candy Cane Express all fall on December 4–6. Most Christmas tree farms open earlier than people expect — Saturday, November 21, the weekend before Thanksgiving.
This page does two jobs. The first table tells you what exists, by category, with the date window and cost. The second tells you what to book first — the most useful thing anyone can be told in October is the order in which things sell out.
The detail — parking rates, dog rules, lap-child policies, refund lines — lives in the guides linked from each section. What this page will not do is invent a date: a meaningful share of Georgia’s holiday calendar was still unpublished in mid-September 2026, and one section below says exactly which parts.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When does the season start? | Nov 7, 2026 (Stone Mountain Christmas). Garden Lights opens Nov 14; most tree farms Nov 21. |
| Busiest weekend? | Dec 4–6, 2026 — Senoia’s parade, the Marietta Pilgrimage, Helen’s market and the Candy Cane Express all land on it. |
| Cheapest evening out? | The Atlanta Christkindl Market in Lawrenceville — free admission, free deck parking. |
| What sells out first? | Fixed-seat holiday trains. No Georgia railway publishes a ticket on-sale date, so assume they are already selling. |
| Cheapest verified train fare? | The Santa Special in Kingsland — $24.50 adult, $12.50 child 3–12, under 2 free in a lap. |
| Can you ice skate outdoors yet? | Not as of mid-September. No metro Atlanta outdoor rink has published 2026–27 dates. The three indoor rinks are open year-round. |
| What is still unannounced? | Blue Ridge, Madison, Rome and Dalton’s town events; every outdoor rink’s dates; and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway’s fares. |
What is on this Christmas in Georgia?
| Category | Headline options | 2026–27 date window | Cost | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lights displays | Garden Lights; Stone Mountain Christmas; Fantasy In Lights; Magical Nights of Lights; Rock City; Lights of Life | Nov 7 – Jan 10, depending on venue | $15 a car at Life University to $49 an adult at Rock City; Garden Lights Night Light from $19.95 | Midtown, Stone Mountain, Pine Mountain, Lake Lanier, Lookout Mountain, Marietta |
| Christmas markets | Atlanta Christkindl Market (Lawrenceville and Senoia); Helen’s Christmas Market; Indie Craft Winter; Savannah Christmas Market | Nov 19 – Dec 24 (Savannah runs to Jan 3) | Free at Christkindl, Helen and Savannah; Indie Craft ticketed | Lawrenceville, Senoia, Helen, Midtown, Savannah |
| Train rides | Blue Ridge Holiday Express; SAM Shortline Candy Cane Express and Cordele Holiday Train; The Santa Special; Azalea Sprinter; Stone Mountain sing-along | Nov 7 – Dec 24, mostly single weekends | $12.50 child at Kingsland to $121.99 Chairman’s class on SAM Shortline | Blue Ridge, Cordele, Kingsland, Nashville GA, Stone Mountain |
| Tree farms | Bottoms, Yule Forest, Minter’s, Moss Family, Coker, Homestead, Berry’s and more | Most open Sat Nov 21; Coker and Homestead Nov 27 | $10 per foot at Bottoms; most farms publish no price | Cumming, Stockbridge, Fayetteville, Adairsville, Marietta, Hampton |
| Ice rinks | Center Ice Arena, Atlanta Ice House, Atlanta IceForum (indoor); Avalon on Ice, Skate the Station, Park Tavern, Frosty’s (outdoor) | Indoor year-round; outdoor 2026–27 dates not announced | $13–$18 a skater; rental $5–$7 indoors, included at Avalon | Marietta, Duluth, Alpharetta, Midtown, Lake Lanier |
| Festive towns | Helen, Dahlonega, Senoia, Marietta, Thomasville, Savannah, plus Blue Ridge, Madison, Rome and Dalton | Nov 19 – Jan 7; six towns confirmed, four unannounced | Most events free; Marietta home tour $40 advance | Statewide, 25 minutes to 4 hours from Atlanta |
What should you book first, and in what order?
Capacity sets the order, not popularity. A train has fixed seats on fixed departures; a lights walk sells thousands of timed slots a night; a tree farm sells the field.
| Order | What | When it runs | Why it goes first | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAM Shortline Candy Cane Express | Dec 4–5, 2026 | Fixed seats on a single weekend, and it is the only Georgia holiday train publishing full fares | $31.99 child to $121.99 Chairman’s, plus 8% tax |
| 2 | Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Holiday Express | Nov 28 – Dec 24 (the railway’s own pages disagree) | Fixed seats in the most-visited mountain town in Georgia; no on-sale date and no fares published outside its booking system | Not published |
| 3 | Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour | Dec 4–6, 2026 | Ticketed, capped, and $5 cheaper if you buy before the event | $40 advance, $45 at event, $125 patron |
| 4 | Lodging in Helen and Thomasville | Parade night Dec 12; Victorian Christmas Dec 10–11 | Small towns, one-night events, and a 6 p.m. parade makes a day trip brutal | Varies; events themselves are free |
| 5 | Garden Lights, Holiday Nights | Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027 | Timed entry; members get early access before public sale opens, and December weekend slots go first | Date-based; Night Light from $19.95 after 9:30 p.m., $20 parking |
| 6 | The Santa Special, Kingsland | Nov 27 – Dec 24, 2026 | Cheapest verified fare in the state, so it fills — but a four-week run gives you slack | $24.50 adult, $12.50 child 3–12 |
| 7 | Avalon on Ice | “Opening: Holidays 2026” — no date published | Prices and a reservation requirement are posted but the opening date is not; watch for it in late October | $18, $14 age 12 and under, skates included |
| 8 | A Christmas tree | Most farms open Sat Nov 21 | Nothing to book — but opening weekend is when the fields are full and the queues are short | $10 per foot at Bottoms; most farms publish no price |
Which lights display is worth the drive?
It depends on whether you want to walk or stay in the car. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights is the best walk-through in the metro area: Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027, timed entry, strollers welcome but wagons are not, $20 on-site parking, no dogs. For drive-throughs, Lake Lanier’s Magical Nights of Lights and Callaway’s Fantasy In Lights are the big two, and Life University’s Lights of Life in Marietta is the cheap one at $15 a car at the gate. Our Georgia Christmas lights guide compares all six on format, drive time, dates and price — which, at Callaway and Lanier Islands, is published less fully than you would hope.
Where are the real Christmas markets?
The two biggest are free: the Atlanta Christkindl Market’s Lawrenceville site (Nov 20 – Dec 24, free admission, free deck parking) and its Senoia site (from Black Friday, Nov 27). One caveat carried through from our reporting — neither Christkindl page prints a year, though the day-and-date pairings match the 2026 calendar. Helen’s Christmas Market is free too, on Nov 28–29 and Dec 5–6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The full metro picture is in our Christmas markets in Atlanta guide, including the rain-proof Indie Craft Winter Experience on Dec 5–6.
Which holiday train should you pick?
Match the ride length to your child’s patience. Blue Ridge and Cordele run roughly an hour; the Candy Cane Express to Plains and back is five and a half. Kingsland’s Santa Special and the Azalea Sprinter both publish free lap riding for under-2s; Blue Ridge publishes no infant policy, and no fares either.
Our holiday train rides in Georgia guide compares five railways on fare, ticket class, lap-child rules and refund policy — the last matters, because these trains run in bad weather.
When do tree farms and ice rinks open?
Tree farms open earlier than almost anyone expects: Bottoms, Minter’s, Moss Family, Yule Forest and 7 G’s all open Saturday, November 21, 2026. Coker and Homestead wait for Nov 27. Only Bottoms publishes a price ($10 per foot) or a dog policy (leashed dogs welcome). See our Georgia Christmas tree farms guide for all twelve.
Ice is the opposite story. Not one metro outdoor rink had published 2026–27 dates when we checked — Avalon says only “Opening: Holidays 2026,” Atlantic Station and Park Tavern list nothing, and Lanier Islands says only that winter activities reopen in fall 2026. The three indoor rinks run year-round with current prices, which is why our ice skating in Atlanta guide leads with them.
Which towns actually do Christmas well?
Six have confirmed 2026 dates. Helen does it at the largest scale — market Nov 28–29 and Dec 5–6, Lighting of the Village Nov 27, parade Dec 12. Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas runs Nov 27 to Jan 7, 2027, opening with the Lighting of the Square at 6 p.m. Senoia’s Light Up Senoia parade is Dec 5 at 6:30 p.m., 50 minutes out. Marietta is closest at about 25 minutes. Thomasville’s Victorian Christmas (Dec 10–11, 6–9 p.m.) is the best single spectacle but a four-hour drive, so treat it as an overnight. Savannah’s Plant Riverside market runs daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Nov 19.
Our Christmas towns in Georgia guide compares eleven towns on drive time, cost and whether each is a two-hour stop or a full weekend — and is explicit about the six that have announced nothing.
What has not been announced for the 2026 season?
Quite a lot, and that is normal — most Georgia operators post holiday calendars in mid-to-late October. Still unpublished in mid-September 2026: Light Up Blue Ridge; Madison’s Holiday Tour of Homes; the Marietta Square tree lighting; the Rome Christmas Parade; Dalton’s downtown tree lighting and parade; every metro Atlanta outdoor ice rink’s dates; Life University’s Lights of Life dates; Avalon on Ice’s opening date; the Azalea Sprinter’s Santa Train dates; and the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s holiday ride-on train dates.
Two conflicts are worth knowing about too. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway’s own pages disagree on the Holiday Express date range (Nov 28 – Dec 24 on one, Nov 27 – Dec 23 on another), and Lanier Islands publishes two different windows for Magical Nights of Lights. Where our guides could not resolve a conflict from official sources, they report both figures rather than picking one.
What should you do in your situation?
| If you… | Do this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Only have one evening | Senoia on Dec 5 — Christkindl market, then the 6:30 p.m. parade | Fifty minutes out, free to attend, and you are home by 8 |
| Have a toddler | Duluth’s Deck the Hall on Dec 5, 2–7 p.m., or Garden Lights early | Flat ground, a daytime start, and Garden Lights explicitly welcomes strollers |
| Are on a tight budget | Christkindl Market Lawrenceville, or Life University’s Lights of Life | Free gate and free decks at one; $15 for a whole carload at the other |
| Are booking late | Stone Mountain Christmas, not a train | Theme-park capacity absorbs latecomers; fixed-seat excursions do not |
| Are bringing the dog | Walk a town square instead | Garden Lights bans pets, every railway publishing a policy is service-animals-only, and only Bottoms tree farm welcomes dogs |
| It rains | Indie Craft Winter Experience on Dec 5–6, or Dalton’s Snow Queen Ballet | Both are fully indoor and ticketed, and run regardless of weather |
| Want one big weekend | Dec 4–6 in Marietta and Senoia, or Savannah any time from Nov 19 | The first December weekend concentrates more confirmed events than any other |
What comes before and after the holidays?
Before: the autumn run of orchards, patches and festivals, mapped month by month in our fall in Georgia guide, with deep guides on apple picking in North Georgia, pumpkin patches near Atlanta, North Georgia fall foliage and Halloween events in Atlanta for kids. After: the state’s next big seasonal draw is the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival, whose next edition runs March 19–28, 2027.
FAQ
When does Christmas season start in Georgia in 2026?
November 7, when Stone Mountain Christmas opens. Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights and Callaway’s Fantasy In Lights follow on Nov 13, Garden Lights opens Nov 14, and the Savannah Christmas Market starts Nov 19. Most Georgia Christmas tree farms open Saturday, Nov 21 — the weekend before Thanksgiving, not the day after.
What is the best Christmas town in Georgia?
Helen for scale and decoration, Thomasville for a single evening’s spectacle, and Savannah if you have a whole weekend. Helen’s market runs Nov 28–29 and Dec 5–6 with free entry; Thomasville’s Victorian Christmas is Dec 10–11, 6–9 p.m.; Savannah’s Plant Riverside market runs daily from Nov 19 to Jan 3, 2027.
Which is better with kids, Garden Lights or Stone Mountain Christmas?
Garden Lights for a short, stroller-friendly evening — a 1.5 to 2-hour walking loop with timed entry and strollers explicitly welcome. Stone Mountain Christmas for a full day, because the Attractions Ticket also covers the Scenic Railroad sing-along and daytime rides. Stone Mountain costs more once you add $25 parking.
How early should I book a Georgia Christmas train ride?
As soon as you decide. No Georgia holiday railway publishes a ticket on-sale date, so assume seats are already selling. The tightest is the SAM Shortline Candy Cane Express, which runs on Dec 4–5 only. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway’s Holiday Express runs several weeks but sells fixed seats through its booking system with no fares posted publicly.
Are there free Christmas events in Georgia?
Yes, several of the best. The Atlanta Christkindl Market is free at both Lawrenceville and Senoia, with free deck parking in Lawrenceville. Helen’s Christmas Market (Nov 28–29, Dec 5–6), Lighting of the Village (Nov 27, 5–7 p.m.) and Christmas parade (Dec 12, 6 p.m.) are all free, as is Dahlonega’s Lighting of the Square on Nov 27 and Savannah’s Plant Riverside tree lighting the same evening. Senoia’s Light Up Senoia parade is free to watch, and Savannah’s Plant Riverside market lists no entry fee.
When do Georgia Christmas tree farms open in 2026?
Most open Saturday, November 21, 2026, including Bottoms in Cumming, Minter’s in Fayetteville, Moss Family in Adairsville, Yule Forest in Stockbridge and 7 G’s in Nicholson. Coker in Marietta and Homestead in Hampton open Friday, Nov 27. Barn Hill’s site still reads “closed for the 2025 season,” so call before driving to Dahlonega.
Can you ice skate outdoors in Atlanta at Christmas?
Usually yes, but no metro outdoor rink had published 2026–27 dates as of mid-September 2026. Avalon on Ice lists prices ($18, $14 for ages 12 and under, skates included) but only “Opening: Holidays 2026” for a date. Atlantic Station and Park Tavern list nothing. Re-check in late October and early November.
What does a Christmas lights display cost in Georgia?
From $15 to about $49. Life University’s Lights of Life in Marietta is $15 per car at the gate. Rock City’s walk-through runs $31–$49 for adults and $21–$39 for children 3–12 on dynamic pricing. Garden Lights uses date-based pricing with a $19.95 Night Light ticket after 9:30 p.m. Callaway and Lanier Islands publish no standard car price.
Can we bring the dog to Georgia Christmas events?
Mostly no. The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s no-pets policy applies to Garden Lights, every railway that publishes a policy allows service animals only, and most tree farms publish nothing — Bottoms in Cumming is the only one that explicitly welcomes leashed dogs. Public town squares and streets, including Helen’s, are the reliable option.
What is the cheapest Christmas day out in Georgia with kids?
The Atlanta Christkindl Market in Lawrenceville — free admission and free deck parking, so you spend only on food. Outside the metro, Helen’s Christmas Market is free with only parking and food to pay for, and Life University’s Lights of Life is $15 for an entire carload with no advance ticket needed.
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Atlanta Botanical Garden — Garden Lights, Holiday Nights 2026–27 dates, pricing tiers and parking
- Stone Mountain Park — Stone Mountain Christmas dates and attractions
- Stone Mountain Park — parking pass pricing
- Rock City — Enchanted Garden of Lights 2026 dates and dynamic pricing
- Callaway Resort & Gardens — Fantasy In Lights 2026–27 dates
- Lanier Islands — Magical Nights of Lights dates and per-vehicle pricing
- Life University — Lights of Life pricing ($15 per car; 2026 dates not posted)
- Atlanta Christkindl Market — Lawrenceville dates, hours and free parking
- Atlanta Christkindl Market — Senoia dates and address
- Helen Area Chamber — Helen’s Christmas Market 2026 dates and hours
- Visit Helen — Annual Christmas Parade, Dec 12, 2026
- Indie Craft Winter Experience — Dec 5–6, 2026 dates, venue and parking
- City of Duluth — Deck the Hall, Dec 5, 2026
- Plant Riverside District — Savannah Christmas Market dates and daily hours
- SAM Shortline — Candy Cane Express dates, ticket classes and fares
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway — Holiday Express dates (fares routed to external booking)
- Georgia Coastal Railway — The Santa Special fares, dates and lap-rider rule
- Azalea Sprinter — Santa Train fares (dates not published by the railway)
- Georgia Christmas Tree Association — farm directory, opening dates and hours
- Bottoms Christmas Tree Farm — 2026 dates, $10 per foot pricing and pet policy
- Awesome Alpharetta — Avalon on Ice pricing and hours (opening date not published)
- Center Ice Arena — public session prices and rental costs
- Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour — Dec 4–6, 2026 dates and ticket prices
- Senoia — Light Up Senoia parade, Dec 5, 2026
- Thomasville — Victorian Christmas, Dec 10–11, 2026
- It’s Georgia — Christmas markets in Atlanta 2026: what’s confirmed and what isn’t
- It’s Georgia — Holiday train rides in Georgia: dates, fares and age rules
- It’s Georgia — Georgia Christmas tree farms: cut-your-own guide
- It’s Georgia — Ice skating in Atlanta: every rink, price and season date
- It’s Georgia — Christmas towns in Georgia: 11 towns compared
- It’s Georgia — Christmas in Helen, GA: dates, market, parade and parking
- It’s Georgia — Georgia Christmas lights displays compared
- It’s Georgia — Fall in Georgia: what to do, month by month
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
