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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

Where to see them

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.

Drive-thru·Six Flags White Water, Marietta

World of Illumination

A 20–30 minute drive-thru of animated lights synced to rock-and-roll Christmas music.

2026 season
Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
6 – 10 pm nightly
Cost
From $39.99 per car
Where
250 Cobb Parkway N, Marietta, GA

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
Drive-thru·Life University, Marietta

Lights of Life

A 1.5-mile drive around the university campus through more than a million lights and lit tunnels. Proceeds go to student scholarships.

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

Official site
Drive-thru·Lanier Islands, Buford

Magical Nights of Lights

A six-mile drive past more than a million lights on the lake islands, about 45 minutes north of Atlanta.

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

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
Drive-thru·Coolray Field, Lawrenceville

Glow

A drive-thru of over a million LEDs synced to music at the ballpark.

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

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.

Garden·Atlanta Botanical Garden, Midtown

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

The whole botanical garden lit for the season, next to Piedmont Park.

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
Park·Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain Christmas

Over two million lights, a Christmas parade at 6 pm, Santa's Big Flight at 6:30 and a drone and light show at 8:20.

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

On the map

Checked 2026-09-23 · stonemountainpark.com

Official 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 US

Christmas lights in other cities

Questions

Which Christmas lights in Atlanta are free?
. None of them sell tickets, but some charge for parking and the busiest neighborhoods have long lines, so check each card and go on a weeknight.
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.