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Georgia Winter and Holidays Guide: Top Picks for 2026-27

By It's Georgia Admin·Updated November 13, 2026·6 min read

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Short answer

Georgia’s winter season is already under way. Stone Mountain Christmas has been open on select dates since Nov 7, and Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights and Callaway’s Fantasy In Lights opened Nov 13.

Garden Lights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden opens Nov 14, the Savannah Christmas Market opens Nov 19, Helen lights its village on Nov 27 and Savannah’s lighted boat parade sails on Nov 28. Atlanta’s plan for New Year’s Eve 2026 and the 2027 First Day Hikes list are not announced yet.

Last updated: November 13, 2026. Dates checked against official sources on November 13, 2026.

From Atlanta’s light shows to Savannah’s river parade and the mountain town of Helen, here are our top Georgia picks for this winter. Each one links to the organizer’s own page and to our full guide with parking and tips. This page is the short list; the deep guides are where the detail lives.

Pick	Status	Dates	Where
Enchanted Garden of Lights	On now	Nov 13 to Dec 31, 2026 (closed Dec 24)	Rock City, Lookout Mountain
Fantasy In Lights	On now	Nov 13, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027	Callaway Resort and Gardens, Pine Mountain
Stone Mountain Christmas	On now, select dates	Weekends and holidays, Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027	Stone Mountain Park
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights	Coming up	Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027	Atlanta Botanical Garden, Midtown Atlanta
Savannah Christmas Market	Coming up	Nov 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027	Plant Riverside District, Savannah
Lighting of the Village	Coming up	Nov 27, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m.	Helen
Savannah Lighted Boat Parade	Coming up	Nov 28, 2026, 7 to 9 p.m.	Savannah River
Atlanta New Year’s Eve	2026 dates not announced yet	Dec 31, 2026 plan not announced	Atlanta
First Day Hikes	2027 list not announced yet	Jan 1, 2027	Georgia State Parks statewide

Status as of November 13, 2026. “On now” means the season has started and has not ended; “Coming up” means it has not started yet.

Holiday Lights

Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City

StatusOn now (opened Nov 13, 2026).
WhenNov 13 to Dec 31, 2026. Closed Dec 24. Rock City posts hours of 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with last entry 45 minutes before close. Santa visits nightly through Dec 23.
WhereRock City Gardens, Lookout Mountain, GA.
CostAdults $35 to $52; children 3 to 12 $25 to $42. The price depends on the date and entry time, and tickets are sold online only.

Rock City’s trails and rock formations lit up for the season, with views over the valley at dusk. Official page: Rock City, Enchanted Garden of Lights. Our comparison: Georgia Christmas lights, compared.

Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Resort and Gardens

StatusOn now (season opened Nov 13, 2026).
WhenNov 13, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, in the evenings. Nightly hours are not on the event page.
WhereCallaway Resort and Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA.
CostPrices are not listed on the event page. You pick a drive-through, trolley tour, bike-through night or Pink Jeep tour when you book.

A long drive-through light show in the gardens, with a trolley ride for anyone who would rather not drive. Official page: Callaway Resort and Gardens, Fantasy In Lights. Our guide: Callaway Resort and Gardens.

Stone Mountain Christmas

StatusOn now, on select dates (weekends and holidays).
WhenWeekends and holidays, Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. The Christmas parade starts at 6 p.m., Santa’s Big Flight at 6:30 p.m. and the Drone and Light Show at 8:20 p.m. (7:20 p.m. on Christmas Eve, 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve). Wind or bad weather can delay or cancel the drone show and Santa’s flight.
WhereStone Mountain Park, Stone Mountain, GA.
CostTickets are sold on the park’s ticket site; the event page shows no price. Park parking is extra.

A weekend Christmas village with a parade and a drone and light show over the park. The park’s open days are select dates only, so check its day-by-day calendar before you drive out. Official page: Stone Mountain Park, Stone Mountain Christmas. Our guide: Stone Mountain Christmas 2026.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

StatusComing up (opens Saturday, Nov 14, 2026).
WhenNov 14, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. Entry is by timed ticket; evening hours are not on the event page.
WhereAtlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Midtown Atlanta.
CostThe event page does not list ticket prices. Garden members save $5 on every Garden Lights ticket.

Atlanta’s big garden light show. Tickets are timed, so book a slot ahead, especially for December weekends. Official page: Atlanta Botanical Garden, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. Our guide: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights 2026 to 2027.

Markets, Parades and Town Lightings

Savannah Christmas Market

StatusComing up (opens Thursday, Nov 19, 2026).
WhenNov 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Some vendors may close on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
WherePlant Riverside District, on the Savannah riverfront.
CostFree entry.

A riverfront holiday market with free live holiday music, and the best free pick on this list. Official page: Plant Riverside District, Savannah Christmas Market. Our guide: Savannah Christmas Market 2026.

Lighting of the Village in Helen

StatusComing up.
WhenFriday, Nov 27, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m.
WhereDowntown Helen, GA.
CostNo cost is listed by the organizer.

Helen’s Alpine village switches on its holiday lights the day after Thanksgiving. Official page: Helen, Annual Lighting of the Village. Our guide: Christmas in Helen.

Savannah Lighted Boat Parade

StatusComing up.
WhenSaturday, Nov 28, 2026, 7 to 9 p.m. The boats parade twice between Eastern Wharf and the Talmadge Bridge.
WhereThe Savannah River. Watch from Eastern Wharf, Plant Riverside District, Rousakis Riverfront Plaza or River Street.
CostNo cost is listed by the organizer.

Lit boats parade along the river on Thanksgiving weekend, led by the Georgia Queen riverboat. Official page: Savannah’s Waterfront, Savannah Lighted Boat Parade. Our guide: Savannah Lighted Boat Parade 2026.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

Atlanta New Year’s Eve (No Peach Drop)

Status2026 dates not announced yet.
WhenDec 31, 2026. The City of Atlanta has not announced its 2026 plan.
WhereAtlanta.
CostNot announced.

The Peach Drop no longer runs. For Dec 31, 2025, the city replaced it with a drone countdown at 11:45 p.m. and midnight fireworks seen from more than 20 spots around town, some free and some ticketed (CBS News Atlanta report, Dec 31, 2025). Watch the City of Atlanta site for the 2026 plan. For family countdowns, Helen and the Possum Drop, see our New Year’s Eve in Georgia guide.

First Day Hikes at Georgia State Parks

Status2027 hike list not announced yet.
WhenNew Year’s Day, Jan 1, 2027. The official page still shows the 2026 hikes.
WhereState parks and historic sites around Georgia.
CostNo hike fee was listed for 2026, and hikers got a free sticker. Georgia state parks charge a daily parking pass.

Ranger-led New Year’s Day hikes, from short kid-friendly walks to longer climbs. Official page: Georgia State Parks, First Day Hikes. To pick a trail any day of the winter, see our best hikes in Georgia.

Ice Skating

For rinks, prices and season dates, see our ice skating in Atlanta guide.

More Holiday Guides

FAQ

Which Georgia Holiday Light Shows Are Open Now?

As of November 13, 2026: Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights and Callaway’s Fantasy In Lights (both opened Nov 13), and Stone Mountain Christmas on its select dates. Garden Lights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden opens Nov 14.

Is There a Peach Drop in Atlanta in 2026?

No Peach Drop has been announced. The city replaced it for Dec 31, 2025 with a drone countdown and midnight fireworks, and it has not announced its plan for Dec 31, 2026.

Is the Savannah Christmas Market Free?

Yes. Plant Riverside District says the market is free to visitors. It runs Nov 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

When Will the 2027 First Day Hikes Be Posted?

Georgia State Parks had not posted the Jan 1, 2027 list when we checked on November 13, 2026; its page still shows the 2026 hikes. We will add the list here once it is out.

How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on November 13, 2026. 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

Checked on November 13, 2026 against each organizer’s own page. We re-check these dates every week through the season and mark each pick “Past” once it ends.

About It's Georgia Admin

Site administrator account for itsgeorgia.com. Guides are published by the It's Georgia Editorial Team.

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Cite this page: It's Georgia, “Georgia Winter and Holidays Guide: Top Picks for 2026-27”, itsgeorgia.com/events/winter-in-georgia/ (updated 2026-11-13). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.