Atlanta family weekend planner
Holiday events in Atlanta: lights, Santa and Christmas shows
Holiday events in Atlanta for 2026: 7 listings across 3 cities — light displays, Santa visits, tree lightings, Nutcracker shows, markets and New Year's Eve, from official calendars.
Atlanta's tree cover and trail network shape its family calendar: BeltLine-adjacent parks, library branches and county recreation centers do most of the weekday work. Summer heat pushes outings earlier in the day, and the distance between neighborhoods means one destination plus a nearby backup is usually the better plan.
What's on this weekend in Atlanta →
Light displays and lantern walks
- Garden Lights, Holiday Nights — Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta · Nov 14
Santa visits and tree lightings
- Season of Celebration Tree Lighting — Downtown Alpharetta, Alpharetta · Nov 21
- Tuck-ins with Santa at The Hotel at Avalon — The Hotel at Avalon & Alpharetta Conference Center, Alpharetta · Nov 21
Nutcracker and holiday shows
- The Georgia Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker — Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Marietta · Dec 17
Holiday markets, ice rinks and fairs
- Holiday Bazaar — Marietta Square Market, Marietta · Nov 21
- Piedmont Park Holiday Market — Piedmont Park Conservancy, Atlanta · Nov 28
- 7th Annual Holiday Market — Sessions Stand, Marietta · Dec 11 · Free
Holiday traditions in Atlanta
Quick questions
When do the holiday lights start in Atlanta?
The earliest listing on this page opens Nov 14: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.
What holiday events in Atlanta are free?
1 of the 7 listings here are free, including 7th Annual Holiday Market.
Where can we see Santa in Atlanta?
2 listings include a Santa visit, at Downtown Alpharetta, The Hotel at Avalon & Alpharetta Conference Center.