Best Christmas Lights in Metro Atlanta

Metro Atlanta goes all in for the holidays, with everything from a mountain-sized light show at Stone Mountain Park to walk-through gardens strung with millions of bulbs. Most of these are ticketed, seasonal events, so confirm current dates and hours on the official site linked for each one before you go.

Stone Mountain Christmas

What it is: Park-wide holiday show with a nightly parade, a drone and light show, and more than two million lights

2026 dates: Weekends and holidays, November 7, 2026 through January 3, 2027. The Christmas parade starts at 6 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). Attraction hours vary by day, so check the park’s schedule before you go.

Stone Mountain Park turns its whole property into a holiday event most nights from early November through early January, typically running a nightly parade at 6 p.m. followed by an Enchanted Tree Lighting and, later in the evening, a drone and light show over the mountain. Kids can visit Santa's office and ride the Summit Skyride, reworked for the season as a trip to the North Pole. Access is included with a daily attractions ticket or park membership. Check the Stone Mountain Park website for this season's exact dates and ticket prices.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden

What it is: Walk-through light displays across the Garden's Skyline Garden and Flower Walk

2026 dates: November 14, 2026 through January 10, 2027, with timed tickets (members-only preview November 12).

The Atlanta Botanical Garden's Garden Lights, Holiday Nights show fills its Midtown grounds with glowing orbs, light tunnels, and choreographed displays synced to music, typically running from late November through early-to-mid January. The Garden's Gainesville location runs a smaller sister event, Gainesville Glows, with luminaria-lined paths and a lighted fairy forest. Both are ticketed and popular on weekends, so see the Atlanta Botanical Garden site for current dates and to book ahead.

IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta

What it is: Lantern-lit animal sculptures throughout Zoo Atlanta

2026 dates: Select nights from November 2026 through January 2027. Zoo Atlanta had not announced opening night or the ticket on-sale date when we checked on October 1, 2026; see the IllumiNights page for updates.

IllumiNights transforms Zoo Atlanta into an evening lantern festival, with illuminated wildlife sculptures and holiday displays set throughout the grounds, typically running from mid-November through mid-January on select nights. It is a good option if you want something a little less crowded than the biggest drive-through shows, and it works for younger kids who might not make it through a longer light trail elsewhere.

More Atlanta-Area Holiday Lights

Fernbank Museum of Natural History runs WildWoods: AGLOW on select nights each winter, a multi-sensory outdoor walk with large illuminated sculptures and projections. And just north of the city, Lake Lanier Islands Resort's Magical Nights of Lights is one of the biggest drive-through shows in the Southeast; since it sits on the edge of the NE Georgia Mountains region, see our Magical Nights of Lights page for the full write-up.

Book ahead for weekends: The biggest Atlanta displays sell out specific evenings, especially in December, so buy tickets a few days out if you can.

Combine a walk-through and a drive-through: Pairing a garden or zoo walk-through with a drive-through show like Stone Mountain's parade gives you two very different kinds of holiday atmosphere in one trip.

Looking for more of the season? See our statewide Georgia Christmas lights guide or the full Georgia Festivals & Events page.

What is the biggest Christmas light display in Metro Atlanta?
Stone Mountain Christmas is the largest, with more than two million lights across the park plus a nightly parade and a drone and light show over the mountain.

Is Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden good for young kids?
Yes, it is a walk-through display at a relaxed pace, though strollers can be tight in some of the narrower light tunnels on busy nights.

Are there free Christmas lights to see in Atlanta?
The biggest shows (Stone Mountain, the Botanical Garden, Zoo Atlanta) are ticketed, but many Atlanta neighborhoods and suburbs put up elaborate home displays that cost nothing to drive past; check local Facebook groups for addresses each December.