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Christmas lights at night in Atlanta
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Christmas lights · Atlanta, GA

Christmas lights in Atlanta

Atlanta's big three had all published their 2026 seasons by September: the botanical garden in Midtown, Stone Mountain's Christmas out east, and a drive-thru in Marietta. The garden sells out, so it's the one to book first.

6 displays · 0 free · 4 with 2026 dates announced

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Where to see them

Where to go: with kids, on a date, with friends

With kids

Short walks, Santa, rides and something to do besides looking.

For a date

Somewhere to walk slowly, a drink in hand, and look good in the photos.

With friends

Cheap by the carload, or a long evening with food and music.

Drive-thru shows

Paid per car, not per person, so a full car is the cheap way to do it. Weekends are the busy nights.

World of Illumination — illustrationIllustration
Drive-thru·Six Flags White Water, Marietta

World of Illumination

A 20–30 minute drive through animated light scenes set to rock-and-roll Christmas songs, with a new theme each year. One ticket per car, no concessions — bring snacks.

🧒 With kids🎉 With friends

What's there

  • Lights synced to music
  • New theme every year
  • Paid per car
  • Pets welcome in the car

What visitors sayGoogle 4.5 ★ · 3,686 reviews

Families like the music and singing lights and go every year for the new theme; the line moves steadily and pricing per car is appreciated. Some wished it were longer, and one first-timer found it simpler than the big Lake Lanier show.

A reliable, quick family show — best early in the season, when there's no line.

2026 season
Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Tue – Sun (closed Mondays), gates 6 pm, last entry 10 pm
Cost
From $39.99 per car
Where
250 Cobb Parkway N, Marietta, GA

Getting in and parking

  • At Six Flags White Water on Cobb Parkway in Marietta. Gates open at 6 pm and last entry is 10 pm.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Weeknights move faster than weekends.
  • No food on site — eat first or bring your own. Pets fine in the car. Open rain or shine.

Checked 2026-09-23 · worldofillumination.com

Official site
Lights of Life — illustrationIllustration
Drive-thru·Life University, Marietta

Lights of Life

A 1.5-mile drive around Life University's campus through more than a million lights, then a walk-around area with a petting zoo, pony and train rides, food and light-up toys — the most affordable light show in the Atlanta area.

🧒 With kids

What's there

  • Petting zoo
  • Train and pony rides
  • Food stands
  • Proceeds go to student scholarships

What visitors sayGoogle 4.0 ★ · 393 reviews

Toddlers love the petting zoo and lights, and families appreciate the low price. Critics say the lights themselves aren't especially creative, the food and cocoa are poor value, and on busy nights parking alone took an hour.

Good value with small children; manage expectations on the lights themselves.

2025 season
Nov 27 – Dec 31, 2025, every night
From about 5:30 pm until 9–10 pm
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.
Cost
$15 per car, $30 per bus; pay at the gate, cash or card (2025)
Where
1269 Barclay Circle SE, Marietta, GA 30060

Getting in and parking

  • Mostly a drive-thru, but there are parking areas along the route where you can get out, take photos and walk around.
  • Rides, the train and the petting zoo cost extra.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Much cheaper than the other drive-thrus on this page, and open rain or shine.

Checked 2026-09-23 · life.edu

Full 2026 guideOfficial site
Magical Nights of Lights — illustrationIllustration
Drive-thru·Lanier Islands, Buford

Magical Nights of Lights

A six-mile drive around Lake Lanier Islands past more than a million lights — the longest drive in the Atlanta area — with the resort's restaurants and snow island nearby.

🧒 With kids🎉 With friends

What's there

  • Six-mile drive
  • Over a million lights
  • Pets welcome in the car
  • Parking included

The big one around Atlanta — go before sunset or after 8:30 pm to avoid the worst traffic.

2026 season
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
5 – 10 pm nightly
Cost
Per vehicle, varies by date and size; shuttles (11–20 people) $100, buses $250 (2026). Parking included.
Where
Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, GA 30518

Getting in and parking

  • Lanier Islands is off I-985 in Buford, about an hour north of Atlanta. The tour starts at 5 pm each evening. Parking inside the resort is included.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • The worst traffic is from just after sunset until 8:30 pm — come early.
  • Allow at least two and a half hours. Pets can ride along in the car.

Checked 2026-09-23 · lanierislands.com

Official site
Glow — illustrationIllustration
Drive-thru·Coolray Field, Lawrenceville

Glow

A drive-thru of more than a million LEDs synced to music on your radio, at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville.

🧒 With kids🎉 With friends

What's there

  • Lights synced to music
  • Clear signage and radio station
  • Season pass available

What visitors sayGoogle 4.4 ★ · 619 reviews

Most loved the bright, perfectly synced lights and found it a fun family outing even in bad weather. The complaint is length — about ten minutes of driving — for over $50 a car at peak.

Pretty but short. Go on a weekday price, not in the Dec 12–25 peak.

2025 season
Nov 14, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
6 – 10 pm, seven days a week
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.
Cost
From $39.99 per car on weekdays; peak prices Dec 12–25; season pass $149.99 (2025)
Where
2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Getting in and parking

  • Vehicles up to 12 ft high and 20 ft long; no buses, limos or RVs.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Weekday tickets save over 20%.
  • Pets can stay in your car for the drive; they aren't allowed in the festival area.
  • The Jolly Trolley isn't wheelchair-accessible.

Checked 2026-09-23 · glowlightshow.com

Official site

Walk-through: gardens, zoo, parks

Mostly ticketed per person, and on foot. Check the hours before you set out.

The Garden LightsPhoto: TimothyJ · CC BY 2.0
The Garden LightsThe Garden Lights

Photos: TimothyJ · CC BY 2.0

Garden·Atlanta Botanical Garden, Midtown

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

The Atlanta Botanical Garden lit from end to end, with twinkling tunnels, glowing sculptures, areas choreographed to music, a model train and hot chocolate on the way round — right in Midtown next to Piedmont Park.

✨ Date night🧒 With kids

What's there

  • Light tunnels and sculptures
  • Areas synced to music
  • Hot chocolate and s'mores
  • Model train

What visitors sayGoogle 4.7 ★ · 23,280 reviews

Regulars say it gets better every year; visitors praise the displays synced to music and call it a great spot for a date or with kids. The warning: holiday weekends are crowded and the parking logistics can be painful.

Atlanta's best Christmas night out. Book a weekday ticket early — it sells out.

2026 season
Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Until midnight, last entry 11 pm
Cost
Varies by night (value, peak, premium); late-night tickets after 9:30 pm from $19.95. Under-2s free.
Where
1345 Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30309

Getting in and parking

  • The garden deck is $20 per car, card only, with 6 ft 8 in clearance — big vans may not fit. It's shared with Piedmont Park and fills.
  • Colony Square is the fallback, about a 20-minute walk.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • The garden says it sells out often. Buy ahead.

Checked 2026-09-23 · atlantabg.org

Official site
Stone Mountain Christmas — illustrationIllustration
Park·Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain Christmas

The big park east of Atlanta dressed for Christmas: two million lights, a nightly parade, Santa's Big Flight, a drone and light show, the Scenic Railroad and snow-themed family attractions.

🧒 With kids

What's there

  • Christmas parade
  • Santa's Big Flight
  • Drone and light show
  • Scenic Railroad

What visitors sayGoogle 4.6 ★ · 43,467 reviews

Stone Mountain is one of Georgia's favorite family parks; visitors who've seen its evening shows rate the lasers, drones and fireworks highly.

A full evening for families with young kids — arrive early for the 6 pm parade.

2026 season
Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027, weekends and holidays
Cost
Ticket prices vary by date; park parking is charged separately.
Where
1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Getting in and parking

  • Take US-78 East to Exit 8. Every car pays a park entry fee — $20 a day or $40 a year — on top of the event ticket.
  • There are no shuttles from the parking lots.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • The drone and light show needs an attractions ticket or annual membership.

Checked 2026-09-23 · stonemountainpark.com

Full 2026 guideOfficial site

Before you go

Why some dates say 2025

Most displays announce the season in October or November. Until they do, we show last year's dates and say so, rather than guess this year's. Every card shows the day we last checked it and where the facts came from.

Santa services in the USChristmas markets in Atlanta

Christmas lights in other cities

Questions

Which Christmas lights in Atlanta are free?
None of the Atlanta displays listed here are free — all of them sell tickets. Check each card for prices and go on a weeknight to avoid the longest lines.
When do the Atlanta light displays open this year?
So far Garden Lights, Holiday Nights (Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027) and Stone Mountain Christmas (Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027, weekends and holidays) and World of Illumination (Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027) and Magical Nights of Lights (Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027) have announced their 2026 dates. The rest publish in October and November; until then this page shows last year's dates, marked as such.