Photo: BullDawg2021, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dahlonega’s Old-Fashioned Christmas is a month-long celebration around one of the prettiest courthouse squares in Georgia. The historic square lights up the day after Thanksgiving, horse-drawn carriages clip-clop around it in the evenings, shops stay open late, and Santa rides in the parade in mid-December. Here are the 2026 dates and how to plan a Christmas visit to Dahlonega. We checked the schedule against the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Convention and Visitors Bureau on October 22, 2026.
- Lighting of the SquareFriday, November 27, 2026; tree lighting at 6 p.m. in front of the Visitors Center
- Christmas ParadeSaturday, December 12, 2026, in the historic district
- SeasonThe day after Thanksgiving through the first week of January
- From AtlantaAbout 65 miles, 1 hour 25 minutes without traffic
Dahlonega Christmas 2026: Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Lighting of the Square; the tree lighting ceremony is at 6 p.m. in front of the Visitors Center. Carriage rides begin that evening. |
| From Nov. 27 | Santa’s mailbox opens at the Visitors Center, where kids can drop off letters to the North Pole. |
| Evenings in December | Extended shop hours, caroling, wine sampling and live holiday theater around the square. |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Dahlonega Christmas Parade through the historic district, with Santa. |
| First week of January | The square’s lights come down. |
The full event-by-event schedule, including parade time and route, is posted by the organizers at dahlonegachristmas.com. Check it the week you go.
What to Do at Christmas in Dahlonega
The historic squareLit up all season
Gold MuseumIn the 1836 courthouse
Wine countryTasting rooms on and off the square
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: BullDawg2021, CC BY-SA 4.0; HowardSF at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0; Thomson M, CC BY 3.0.
Walk the square at night
The real draw. The square is outlined in white lights, the shops stay open late on many December evenings, and the whole thing feels like a holiday movie. In fact, Dahlonega was the setting for the Hallmark movie Christmas in Homestead.
Take a carriage ride
Horse-drawn carriages circle the square in the evenings starting on Black Friday. Expect a wait on busy weekend nights.
Catch the parade
Saturday, December 12. Santa rides in the Dahlonega Christmas Parade through the historic district.
Visit the Gold Museum
Inside the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse in the middle of the square, telling the story of America’s first major gold rush in 1829.
For the light displays across the region, see Christmas lights in the NE Georgia Mountains, and for a choose-and-cut tree, Christmas tree farms in Georgia.
Wine and Dining
Dahlonega is Georgia’s wine country, and December is a cozy time to visit the tasting rooms, several of which are within a few minutes’ walk of the square. Our Dahlonega wine trail lays out a one-day route, and North Georgia wineries covers every area. Restaurants around the square fill up on parade day and December Saturday nights, so reserve ahead or eat early.
Where to Stay
Stay downtown to walk to the square after dark, or rent a cabin in the hills a short drive out. See cabins in the Georgia mountains, or stay in a cottage or the lodge at Amicalola Falls State Park, about 30 minutes west; see Georgia state park cabins.
Tips for Christmas in Dahlonega
Weeknights are easier
The lights and many shops are open all season. Parade day and December Saturdays bring the biggest crowds.
Park once
Downtown parking fills on busy evenings. Arrive before dark, park once and walk.
Dress warmly
December nights in the mountains are often near freezing, and carriage rides are open-air.
New Year’s too
The lights stay up past New Year’s Eve. See New Year’s Eve in Atlanta and Georgia for ideas.
Plan the rest of the trip with things to do in Dahlonega, or pair it with Christmas in Helen, about 40 to 45 minutes away. Compare the two towns in Helen vs. Dahlonega.
Common Questions
When does Dahlonega light up for Christmas?
The Lighting of the Square is on the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 27, 2026. The tree lighting ceremony is at 6 p.m. in front of the Visitors Center.
When is the Dahlonega Christmas parade?
Saturday, December 12, 2026, in the historic district. Check dahlonegachristmas.com for the time and route.
How long are the Christmas lights up in Dahlonega?
From the day after Thanksgiving through the first week of January.
Was a Hallmark movie filmed in Dahlonega?
Yes. Dahlonega was the setting for the Hallmark movie Christmas in Homestead.
Sources we checked
Dates were checked against the official visitors bureau on October 22, 2026. Event times can change, so confirm before you go:
- Dahlonega-Lumpkin County CVB: Dahlonega Christmas: Lighting of the Square, tree lighting time, carriage rides, parade date, Santa’s mailbox
- Dahlonega-Lumpkin County CVB: Holidays: season length and the Hallmark movie
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.