Hundreds of white lights shining in a giant tree at night.

Holiday lights on Jekyll Island, Georgia

10 Top Holiday Light Displays in Georgia

Spend holiday nights under festive lights at these dazzling holiday light displays across Georgia.

Below are 10 of the biggest and brightest holiday light displays in Georgia. Pack up the car, turn on the holiday tunes, and hit the road for these spectacular sights! Find many more stunning displays across the state on the ExploreGeorgia.org calendar of events page.

A holiday train covered in lights at a train station.

Holiday train at Stone Mountain Park

1. Stone Mountain Christmas

Kids of all ages will have a jolly Christmas at Stone Mountain Park when it's dressed up for the holidays with millions of lights. Experience the world's largest Christmas light show, with holiday songs, videos, special effects and a fireworks finale! Ride the Sing-along Train, journey through the Musical Frosted Forest, see Angelina the Snow Angel, visit Santa and more. Meet Rudolph, Clarice and Bumble as they return to the park from the North Pole, and don't miss the Polar Express 4-D movie experience.

Nov. 11 - Jan. 2, 2024

Visit Stone Mountain Christmas

Large giraffe lanterns lit up inside a zoo.

Handmade Chinese lanterns light up Zoo Atlanta

2. Illuminights at Zoo Atlanta

Wildlife lights the night at the IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival. Experience Zoo Atlanta after dark and be inspired by animal lanterns – some more than 20 feet tall – depicting some of Earth’s most charismatic creatures. Each lantern is made and hand-painted by Chinese artisans, representing thousands of hours of work. 

Nov. 16, 2023 - Jan. 14, 2024

Visit Zoo Atlanta

A lighted star display at night.

Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights in Lookout Mountain, Georgia

3. Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City Gardens

Tour Rock City Garden's Enchanted Garden of Lights, aglow with holiday scenes encompassing more than 30 holiday scenes. Journey through the Arctic Kingdom Aurora Lights, reminiscent of the aurora borealis lights. Descend into a Magic Forest and walk through the center of a 43-foot tree. Shop for gifts in Downtown Yuletown, and treat yourself to sweets and hot drinks at the North Pole Lodge.

Nov. 17 - Jan. 6, 2024. Reserved timed entry tickets must be purchased online in advance.

Visit Enchanted Garden of Lights

A large lighted tree sits in a field of lights.

Field of Lights at Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia

4. Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens

Bundle up for a Jolly Trolley ride, or drive your own car through more than 8 million lights at Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens. Named one of the "Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights" by National Geographic Traveler, Callaway Resort & Gardens glistens with custom-built scenes. The Field of Lights scene is nearly two football fields long, featuring a Christmas tree more than 10 stories tall, making it the tallest Christmas tree in the South. Inside the Christmas Village, shop for gifts from Georgia crafters and specialty treats.

Nov. 17, 2023 - Jan. 1, 2024

Visit Fantasy in Lights

Aerial view of holiday lights at night in a city.

Atlanta Botanical Garden during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. Photo by @jerrito1

5. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Garden Lights, Holiday Nights adventure at the Atlanta Botanical Garden thrills all of your senses! Orchestral Orbs glow harmoniously with holiday tunes. A Tunnel of Light from the radiant Ice Goddess to the Glittering Galaxy embraces visitors in enchanting light. Named one of the top 10 holiday light shows in the country by USA Today, this monumental event in the heart of Midtown Atlanta is one you don't want to miss.

Nov. 18, 2023 - Jan. 14, 2024

Visit Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

Trees decorated with holiday lights.

Winter WonderLights at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, Georgia

6. Winter WonderLights in Athens

This walk-through light show at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens features illuminated displays along a half-mile path that is certain to delight and inspire. Wander through a Winter Wondercave, along Jingle Bell Lane and through a Cone Tree Forest while you enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, and shop for gifts in the holiday market. The half-mile trail takes 45-60 minutes to complete and is fully ADA-accessible.

Select nights Nov. 22 - Dec. 30, 2023

Then, in January, the garden will offer a special event for the new year, WonderLights Disco Nights. Disco Nights will allow visitors to experience the light show trail while grooving to disco hits. Ticket prices and entry times for Disco Nights will be the same as Winter WonderLights.

Jan. 4-7, 2024

Visit Winter Wonderlights

Holidays lights in the trees.

Holiday lights on Jekyll Island, Georgia. Photo by @goldenisles

7. Holly Jolly Jekyll on Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is home to more than a million lights during the Holly Jolly Jekyll season. The Great Tree alone has more than 45,000, which is more per square foot than the NYC Rockefeller Center Christmas tree! Purchase tickets online for the guided tram tours that take place on select nights. Trolley riders will enjoy festive holiday beverages, music, and a one-of-a-kind tour souvenir! 

Don't miss the light parade, holiday fireworks, and special drive-in movie presentations. Check the Jekyll Island events calendar for a full lineup of holiday fun!

Nov. 24, 2023 - Jan. 7, 2024

Visit Holly Jolly Jekyll

Holiday lights shine in a botanical garden.

December Nights Holiday Lights at Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah, Georgia

8. December Nights & Holiday Lights at Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens

Savannah's jewel of a Christmas dazzles with more than 1 million sparkling lights across the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens during December Nights & Holiday Lights. Located just 10 miles from downtown Savannah, these botanical gardens at a historic bamboo farm are a sight to behold in the daytime, too! Stroll through more than five acres and nearly a mile of magically lit trails and gardens. Purchase tickets in advance.

Select nights Nov. 24 - Dec. 23, 2023

Visit Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens

Holiday lights outside a historic resort in the background.

Light Up the Holidays at Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, Georgia. Photo by @HannahLozanoPhoto

9. Holiday Lights at Barnsley Resort

Visitors to Barnsley Resort (including those who are not staying overnight) are invited to view more than 1 million lights and festive décor in the historic 1800s manor house ruins, surrounding gardens and English-style village. Holiday Garden fees are complementary to overnight guests and children five and under. Fees apply for all other visitors, and tickets are subject to availability and can be purchased online. Take advantage of the resort's special offers, and plan a getaway to spend even more time under the lights.

Nov. 25, 2023 - Jan. 1, 2024

Visit Barnsley Resort

A tunnel of holiday lights with a road running through it.

Tunnel of Lights at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands

10. Margaritaville's Lakeside Lights Spectacular at Lanier Islands

Introduced in 2020, Margaritaville's Lakeside Lights Spectacular is a magical walk through a lighting extravaganza with festive seasonal music at Lanier Islands. Grab a drink and a sweet treat, and add to the experience with wintry fun at License to Chill Snow Island at Margaritaville. With one of the fastest snow rides in North America, ice skating, snow play area, fire pits, and s’mores, carnival rides and more, Snow Island is one of the best Southern snow attractions and fun for all ages.

Nov. 22-26, 2023; Dec. 1, 2023 - Jan. 3, 2024, then weekends only through Jan. 15, 2024

Visit Margaritaville at Lanier Islands

Add to your holiday fun with many more events and activities in Georgia! Plan your holiday adventures on ExploreGeorgia.org/events/holidays.

Published: November 2023
Written by: Lesli Peterson
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