Best Christmas Lights on the Georgia Coast

A Georgia coast Christmas looks different from a mountain one: fewer drive-through light tunnels, more historic squares, lighted boat parades, and a barrier-island light display that can be walked or toured by trolley. Salt air and palm trees strung with lights make this region's holiday season worth a trip on its own.

Holly Jolly Jekyll

What it is: Over half a million lights across Jekyll Island's Historic District, plus fireworks and Santa visits

Holly Jolly Jekyll typically runs from late November through the first week of January, lighting up Jekyll Island's Historic District with more than half a million lights. The season usually includes free fireworks on select December nights, a scavenger hunt, a small carnival, and lighted trolley or walking tours of the district. Check Golden Isles' event calendar for this season's exact fireworks dates.

St. Simons Island Tour of Christmas Lights

What it is: A guided trolley tour past St. Simons Island's best home and neighborhood light displays

Lighthouse Trolleys runs an annual Tour of Christmas Lights on St. Simons Island in the two weeks before Christmas, driving past the island's most decorated homes and neighborhoods with narration along the way. It is a low-key way to see the island's holiday displays without hunting down addresses yourself, and it works well paired with a stop at the St. Simons Lighthouse.

Savannah's Boat Parade of Lights and Christmas Market

What it is: A lighted boat parade on the Savannah River, plus a riverfront Christmas market

Savannah's Boat Parade of Lights sends a procession of decorated, illuminated boats down the Savannah River each year in late November, viewable for free from River Street and the Savannah waterfront. The Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District runs alongside the season with vendor stalls and holiday shopping, and several of the city's historic house museums, including the Andrew Low House, offer candlelit evening holiday tours with 1860s-style decorations.

Brunswick and the Golden Isles

The Brunswick Christmas Parade runs through downtown Brunswick each December, and the wider Golden Isles area (St. Simons, Jekyll Island, and Brunswick together) publishes a combined holiday events calendar each year covering tree lightings, parades, and light displays across the three communities.

Watch for fireworks nights: Jekyll Island's Holly Jolly fireworks only run on select December dates, so check the calendar before you plan around them.

Pair it with a lighthouse stop: St. Simons, Tybee, and Sapelo Island's lighthouses all sit close to this region's holiday events; see our Georgia Lighthouses guide for details.

Planning a longer coastal trip? See our 3-Day Georgia Coast Itinerary or Savannah weekend itinerary.

What is the biggest Christmas light display on the Georgia coast?
Holly Jolly Jekyll is the largest single display, with more than half a million lights across Jekyll Island's Historic District.

Is Savannah's Boat Parade of Lights free to watch?
Yes, it can be watched for free from River Street and other points along the Savannah waterfront.

Do I need a car to see St. Simons Island's Christmas lights?
No, the Tour of Christmas Lights trolley handles the driving; you can also walk or drive the island's neighborhoods on your own if you prefer a self-guided visit.