Best holiday lights near me, where to see christmas lights for free

Atlantans love their holiday lights! Whether you’re looking for an immersive experience with an admission fee or just a leisurely drive through a really lit neighborhood, we’ve got the info you’re looking for.

If you landed here from a calendar event, you might have to scroll a bit (or use the search-within-page function) to find the holiday light show you’re looking for.

The first half of this post is a list of attractions that feature holiday light shows. Most involve an admission fee — but there are discounts available.
After that, we have a list of neighborhoods and private homes that put on brilliant displays, and these are FREE to enjoy.

A note about the displays at private homes: These are put on by regular people, who have neighbors to consider. PLEASE be considerate when visiting these homes. If a homeowner has requested NO PARKING, that means you may only enjoy the lights on a drive-by basis. 

We’ve only listed private home displays that have a Facebook page or website. Please click those links to check on hours and anything else the homeowner wants you to know before showing up.

Do you know of a light display that should be included in the list?
Please email editor@atlantaonthecheap.com. If you suggest a private home that you do not own, we’ll need to see a website or Facebook page so we know the homeowner wants the information shared.

Enjoy!

 Beneath the ticketed holiday light shows, you’ll find a listing of houses and neighborhoods that are LIT to the max.

Looking to enjoy holiday lights for FREE?

Just bundle up, bringing a thermos of cocoa, and take a stroll around:

• Atlantic Station (midtown)
• Peachtree St in midtown (near the Woodruff Arts Center, Colony Square, or the Fox Theatre)
• Woodruff Park (downtown Atlanta)
• The Marietta Square
• Avalon (in Alpharetta)
• Duluth Town Green
• Smyrna Village Green & Market Village
• The Ravinia campus in Dunwoody
• Brook Run Park in Dunwoody
• Peachtree Corners Town Green
• The neighborhoods and private homes listed below (scroll past the paid attractions)

Stroll through the Marietta Square to see the holiday lights at your leisure.

Midtown Atlanta is ablaze with festive lights. This is the area near Colony Square and the Fox Theatre.

Holiday lights at parks and attractions

FREE! North Point Community Church

4350 North Point Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30022
Dec. 20 – 26
6 to 10 p.m.

Drive by or pull over at North Point Community Church — and tune your radio to 90.5 to enjoy the music and lights together. The spectacular 40-foot Christmas tree will be on display through Dec. 26th.

FREE! Lawrenceville Lights

FUMCLV Campground
700 Braselton Hwy, Lawrenceville
Dec. 9 – 11
Dec. 16 – 18
6 to 8 p.m.

The First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville will host this FREE drive-through light show on six nights in December. Those dates are Thursday through Saturday on Dec. 9th to 11th and 16th to 18th.
Get the details

FREE! Ravinia Holiday Lights

Ravinia campus
One & Two Ravinia Drive
Nightly from 6 to 9 p.m.
FREE
Details here

The Ravinia corporate campus and gardens play host to a holiday light display and a FREE community event. Anyone can visit the commercial property to enjoy the lights and ornaments, through December 31st.

On Thursday, December 16th, Ravinia will pull out all the stops with a FREE event to celebrate the season. It will include live music, a photo booth with Santa, hot chocolate bar, kids’ game area with prizes, and a special keepsake ornament to commemorate the event. You must reserve a free ticket to attend.

FREE! Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park

Dunwoody, GA
Nightly from Dec. 1st to 27th
6 to 9 p.m.
FREE
Details here

The playground at Brook Run Park, in Dunwoody, becomes a magical wonderland this season. The spectacular display features 75,000 lights. A kickoff lighting event on Dec. 1st at from 5 to 8p.m. features cocoa, character appearances, and photo opps.

FREE! Celebration at the Station

Atlantic Station
Nightly from Nov. 20th to Jan. 2nd
6 to 10 p.m. (ends at 9 p.m. on Sundays/holidays)
Details here

View 250,000 lights within a walkable, 8-block area at Atlantic Station, PLUS a FREE nightly light show that happens on the top of each hour from 6 to 10 p.m. The holiday light show is set to a soundtrack provided by Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. It integrates the 50-foot Christmas tree, the lights surrounding the Atlantic Green, the Jumbotron video, and a simulated snow fall. Magical!

FREE! Sparkle Village in Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs City Green
1 Galambos Way
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Dec. 5th to Jan. 1
More info here

Sparkle Village is a month-long display of miniature lit homes. These six-foot-tall wooden houses are decorated by local businesses, schools, and nonprofits. The display is a great spot to take holiday photos.

On Dec. 5th, the Sparkle Sandy Springs kickoff event includes a parade, holiday concert, food trucks, tree lighting, menorah lighting, and gift market.

FREE! PRISM Winter Lights at Woodruff Park

Downtown Atlanta
FREE to visit
Nightly from dark to 11 p.m.
Dec. 4th thru Jan. 31, 2022
Get the details

The light exhibit features three light-based landmark sculptures installed on the park’s main lawn, as well as animated artwork (by local artists) projected on the park’s International Peace Fountain water wall. Park hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and you’re welcome to enjoy the public art by day or night. There’s an opening night event with live music and food, on Dec. 4th from 6 to 9 p.m.

A light show on the back wall of the Peace Fountain, at the north end of Woodruff Park.

NEW! Holiday Luminosity: a laser light show

LakePoint Sports Complex
261 Stars Way
Cartersville, GA 30121
Limited engagement — 4 shows on 2 days only
Nov. 26th & 27th
Tickets $12 to $18, under 2 is FREE

This is an indoor light show, using lasers set to holiday music. It’s a limited-run engagement, with only four shows happening over Thanksgiving Weekend. There’s also an upgraded ticket that lets kids play on inflatables and visit with Santa.

NEW! Holiday Road light show

The Horse Mansion at Bouckaert Farm
10045 Cedar Grove Road
Fairburn, GA 30213
Nov. 26th to Jan. 2nd
5 to 11 p.m.
Price: $25 to $30 depending on the day, all ages
Age 2 and under FREE

It’s Atlanta’s newest light show, and it’s in South Fulton County!
Holiday Road takes place in Fairburn, GA, bringing an immersive, walk-thru holiday light display to the southern end of the metro area. You’ll buy a ticket for a timed entry, to enjoy an enchanting walking trail filled with thousands of lights, and larger-than-life festive scenes.

The installations create a magical wonderland complete with the North Pole, an Elf Village, Gingerbread Lane, lighted tunnels, a musical Christmas tree forest, and more.

There are also food trucks on site, plus a holiday pop-up bar for the adults.
Open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
Get more info and buy tickets

NEW! Winterland at Illuminarium

Illuminarium Atlanta
550 Somerset Terrace NE 
Atlanta, GA 30306
Nov. 26th to Jan. 2nd
Tickets start at $30 kids / $35 Adults

This is a limited holiday run, replacing Illuminarium’s African Safari experience for the holiday season. It’s also one of the few indoor light shows around town.

If you haven’t been to Illuminarium yet, it’s an immersive experience that uses projection, sound, and haptics to involve all your senses. At Winterland, the scenes will change around you as you discover a luxurious winter palace, enchanted village, and snowy paradise. You’ll even experience the wonder of the Northern Lights. You can preview the experience on the Illuminarium Facebook page!

On select weekend nights, you can enjoy Winterland After Dark, a 21+ experience complete with a festive cocktail bar.
Get more info and buy tickets

NEW! IllumiNights Chinese Lantern Festival

Zoo Atlanta 
800 Cherokee Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
Nov. 22nd to Jan 16th
5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Prices start at $18/child and $21/adult and are higher on peak nights

Remember the Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival that took place at Centennial Olympic Park? It has not returned since the pandemic started, but there’s an all new holiday lantern experience in 2021, taking place at Zoo Atlanta.

Unsurprisingly, the larger-than-life-sized lanterns depict animals and the natural world — which was also the theme of the 2019 Centennial Park event. We haven’t seen the display at the Zoo yet, but we can tell you that this type of lantern is a breathtaking spectacular.

As an added bonus, the Zoo’s endangered species carousel will be open for rides during the festival. Concessions will also be available.
Get more info and buy tickets

We took this shot at Centennial Park in 2019 — so you can see how amazing the larger-than-life lanterns are.

ATL Holiday Lights at Atlantic Station

Midtown Atlanta
Nov. 11th to Jan. 2nd
Nightly, 5:30 to either 10 or 11 p.m.
Price varies by night
THURSDAYS are walk-thru nights with FREE kids admission
Get all the details

This is just the second year for this event. It’s a drive-thru light show on 6 days a week, with walk-thru nights on Thursdays. You’ll buy a timed ticket, and it takes about 25 minutes to drive through the route. The hours and pricing vary by night, and there are a few ways to save money, so please see our post with complete info about ATL Holiday Lights.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Midtown Atlanta
Nightly from Nov. 18th to Jan. 16th, 2021
5 to 11 p.m.
Prices per person vary by date
View complete price info, including discounts

This beloved display is hands-down Atlanta’s favorite, returning year after year to the Atlanta Botanical Garden in midtown. It’s an immersive, walk-through experience that includes a huge curtain of lights synchronized to music. We have a full post with all the details on Garden Lights, Holiday Nights — just click here.  You’ll find info on parking, Value Nights, coupon deals, and more.
NOTE that this year’s event has limited capacity and a timed ticket system in place.

World of Illumination – 2 new drive-thru shows

Marietta, GA and Hampton, GA
Nov. 12th to Jan.2nd
Nightly from 6 to 10 p.m.
Open holidays
$45 per car weeknights
$55 per car weekends
Upgrades available
Get all the details

These two new whimsical storybook experiences takes place at two local venues in 2021, and each show is completely different.

Rockin’ Christmas is the theme at Six Flags White Water.
It features a DJ Santa, with his sidekick, the Little Drummer Boy, spinning tunes for disco-dancing candy canes. A 500-foot long illuminated tunnel serves as Santa’s magic portal.

Arctic Adventure is the theme at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
It is a polar-themed extravaganza hosted by a 32-foot tall snowman named Sunny and a host of whimsical winter characters. A simulated snowfall adds to the immersive nature of the event.

Holiday Lights at Veterans Park

Canton, GA
Nightly from Nov. 21st to Dec. 31st
6 to 9 p.m.
$20 per car — or $50 for a season pass
Visit the Facebook page

Enjoy a two-mile drive through lighted tunnels, past animated displays, and featuring over two million lights. Open on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Veterans Park is located  at 7345 Cumming Highway, in Canton.

Holiday Lights of Hope at Hobgood Park

Woodstock, GA
Dec. 2nd to 23rd, 2021
Sunday thru Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 6 to 10 p.m.
$10 per person
Kids 14 and under FREE
Visit the website

This huge walk-through Christmas light display is in its 10th year — with more than 2,000,000 lights, concessions, vendors, and more.
The kids can visit with Santa Claus — bring your phone or camera for do-it-yourself photos.

Pay the $10 admission fee in person with cash or card — or buy in advance online.
This is one of the cheapest light shows in town, especially since kids are FREE.

Hobgood Park is located at 6688 Bells Ferry Rd in Woodstock.
You can check the Facebook page for weather updates and cancellations.
View the 2018 highights:

Lakeside Lights Spectacular at Lanier Islands

(Replaces the drive-thru attraction formerly known as Magical Nights of Lights)

Buford, GA
Nightly from Nov. 20th — Feb. 21st
Opens at 5 p.m. nightly; closing time varies by date
Price is $10 per child and $15 per adult
More info

The drive-thru display at Lanier Islands has been replaced with this walk-thru event. It’s an immersive one-mile walk along the shores of the Margaritaville resort. You can walk at your own pace, stopping for photos or seasonal treats like hot cocoa along the way. You’ll find illuminated tunnels, a three-story wall of lights, and other high-tech displays. Everything is set to music.

Lanier Islands

Lights of Life at Life University

Marietta, GA
Nov. 25th — Dec. 31st
6 to 9 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday
6 to 10 p.m. on Friday & Saturday
$10 per vehicle
All the details here

Hands down, the most affordable drive-though display in metro Atlanta!
It’s just a 1.5 mile drive around the Life University campus in Marietta, just off Cobb Parkway. It features more than one million lights, arranged to create charming scenes — and a few extras, for a fun family outing.

Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens

Pine Mountain, GA
Nov. 19th — Jan. 3rd
6 to 11 p.m.
Prices vary widely depending on date
View complete price info, plus available discounts

Fantasy in Lights features over five miles of lights in custom-designed scenes with animation and music. It was named one of National Geographic’s Top 10 Holiday Light Displays in the world. You can drive through in your own car, or ride on an open-air Jolly Trolley. The tour takes about an hour. Callaway Gardens is located an hour south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, so it’s a trek. We have a complete post with all the details, tips, and Value Night discount info — you can see it here.

Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia

Austell, GA
Nov. 2oth — Jan. 2nd
Hours vary by date; lights come on at dark
Prices vary by day, starting at $25 for adult admission
Visit the Six Flags website

View more than one million LED lights AND ride some of the park’s popular attractions. This experience goes far beyond just enjoying holiday lights. There is a stained glass nativity scene, holiday shows, exhibits, and so much more that it’s overwhelming. Advance purchase tickets are cheaper than buying at the gate.

There is nothing cheap about Holiday in the Park in 2021. A parking pass is $25 on top of admission, and ticket fees are very high. Your best bet might be a season pass. Six Flags Over Georgia is located west of Atlanta, in Austell.

Stone Mountain Christmas

Stone Mountain, GA
Nov. 13th — Jan. 2nd
Hours & prices vary widely
View complete price info and available discounts

Stone Mountain Park is hosting a true holiday extravaganza. The Christmas Village is open before dark, but the magic starts after sunset with a parade every night at 6 p.m. Santa makes his flight on a zip line, and Angelina the Snow Angel makes it snow — to the delight of the crowd.

This experience goes far beyond just enjoying the holiday lights. Note that the light displays are concentrated in the Christmas Village, which requires an All-Attractions Pass for entry. The rest of the park is not lit up or decorated. See our post for complete details — and watch our video, below!

A Country Christmas at Pettit Creek Farm

Cartersville, GA
Nov. 25th — Dec. 30th
Sun thru Thurs 6 to 9 p.m.
Fri-Sat 6 to 10 p.m.
CLOSED Mondays
Open Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Prices:
The ride-thru light display is $10 per person for the hayride, or $30 per car (1-8 people)
Vans are $35 for 9 to 15 people
Buses are $45 for 16 to 22 people, and $3 for each additional person.

Take a drive or hayride through more than a mile of Christmas lights that illustrate children’s stories. Patio heaters and campfires will be available to help you warm up, but please bring a blanket for the hayride!

On weekends there’s also a live nativity with barnyard animals and opportunities to visit and take pictures with Santa.  Petit Creek Farm is located in Cartersville, at 337 Cassville Rd. Please check hours and details on the website before you head out! You can also buy a fresh cut Christmas tree while you’re there.
Want to visit with Santa? He’ll be there Thursday through Sunday, from 6 to 9 p.m., beginning Saturday, Dec. 5th.

Where to see holiday lights in neighborhoods 

We’re still adding to this one, so check back!
And if you have an amazing display you’d like us to add, please email editor@atlantaonthecheap.com

We shot this in front of a house near Autumn Park, in Doraville.

A note about the displays at private homes: These are put on by regular people, who have neighbors to consider. PLEASE be considerate when visiting these homes. If a homeowner has requested NO PARKING, that means you may only enjoy the lights on a drive-by basis. 

We’ve only listed private home displays that have a Facebook page or website. Please click those links to check on hours and anything else the homeowner wants you to know before showing up!

Some of these homeowners have synchronized their lights to music, which you can hear by tuning your car radio to a specific radio frequency.

Some are collecting money or canned goods for a charity, so please consider contributing.

Remember, some homeowners may keep the lights OFF during heavy rain or bad weather.

Avondale Estates Tour of Lights

The annual tour of homes has become the Avondale Estates Christmas Tour of Lights for 2021. 
The tour is planned for Sunday, December 12 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The tour is FREE to enjoy and will feature 10 to 12 homes with “over-the-top” decorations, as well as the Avondale Business District, and the plazas around town.  

The city is encouraging everyone to decorate outside with lots, and to add Santa somewhere in the décor, so children can play “Where’s Santa?” as they ride in the car.

Can’t make it on tour night?
The home addresses and pictures are online, so you can visit at your leisure.
More info here

Ashebrooke Night of Lights

Ashebrooke Subdivision
Entrance near 5020 Luke Dr
Cumming, GA 30040

The Ashebrooke subdivision in Cumming features over 300 participating homes, and the lights are spectacular. You can drive through the neighborhood just about any night in December after 7 p.m. to enjoy the show.

BUT, on Sunday, December 19, 2021, starting at 6 p.m., there is a one-night event that is not to be missed.
Cars will line up to drive-through the neighborhood in a pre-set route, and there will also be a live nativity, hot cocoa stand, baked goodies, and visits with Santa. 

The subdivision is located near the intersection of Kelly Mill Road and Bethelview Road in Cumming. For the Night of Lights event, all traffic must enter at Luke Drive.
Visit the website for complete details OR go to the Facebook event page

Decorate Decatur

The city of Decatur hosts a decorating contest each year — and there’s nothing like the competitive spirit when it comes to spectacular light displays!
Neighbors have created a Decorate Decatur Facebook group where they share their locations and pictures of their decorated houses and yards. You have to join the group in order to browse the posts there and make notes of which streets you’d like to stroll or drive down.
REMEMBER to be courteous of the neighbors and to observe all parking regulations.

Smyrna’s Bright Nights project

The city of Smyrna has created a website and interactive map to help you locate the most brilliantly decorated homes near you! You can see the public Christmas tree at the Village Green, and lights at Market Village retail district. Also, enjoy four holiday-themed selfie stations where you can make some memories.
All the details here

Christmas in Castille

4220 Tivoli Way
Alpharetta, GA 30004
Thursday, Dec. 16th thru Saturday, Dec. 18th only in 2021
6  to 9 p.m.

This is a gated community, so when the gates close for the night, show is over. Tune your radio to 89.9 FM for a synchronized, animated show featuring over 50,000 lights. There’s also a live feed on Facebook. Note that the dates are very limited this year, according to the website.
Visit the 2021 website or go to the Facebook page

Rascher’s Magical Light Show

6960 Hunters Knoll
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Nightly, sunset to 9 p.m.

The Raschers wrote to us and told us about their amazing holiday display. They have 48 channels of lights synchronized to music. Tune in to 88.3 on your car radio to listen in. The house is located on a dead end street, and the family says you are welcome to park and watch the show. View on YouTube.

Lights of Joy

1510 Ben King Road
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Through Jan. 2, 2022
Nightly, 6 to 11 p.m.

Park across the street at the church and walk over to step inside the inner circle of lights. Or just drive by.
This is the home that was featured on the reality TV show The Great Christmas Light Fight. The owners say it is the largest residential light display in the state. The photos on the homeowner’s website and Facebook page are just amazing, so check out the photos.

Live music accompanies the show on these dates in 2021:
♦ Friday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. — Kennesaw State Musicians
♦ Saturday, Dec.18 at 7 p.m. — Yule Slide Trombone Choir
♦ Saturday, Dec.19 at 7 p.m. — Yule Slide Trombone Choir

Light up Addison

2600-2700 block of Addison Drive
Doraville, GA 30340

Neighbors have coordinated an effort to light up as many houses as possible on this street.
It’s 0kay to park and walk — just be considerate. This is truly a magical stroll down a block where house after house has an enchanting light display.
NOTE: While you’re there, take a drive down nearby Raymond Drive as well — there is a well decorated house on the corner of Lambeth Circle, and several displays at the other end of Raymond, near Brook Park (3100-3200 block)
Read a news story about Light Up Addison

Just one of the many decorated houses that participate in Light Up Addison — with athe larger-than-life lion king!

Duluth’s Christmas House

2929 Mockingbird Circle
Duluth, GA 30096
Thanksgiving night through Dec. 29th
6  to 10 p.m.

This is a DRIVE-BY display only. No parking is allowed on the street, and you cannot walk thru the yard.
The homeowners also host a food drive for a local food pantry — so please consider bringing a non-perishable food item for the donation box at the base of the driveway.
Visit the Facebook page

A Whole Lot of Christmas

1833 Smokerise Summit
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Through Dec. 31st
6 to 10 p.m.
Visit the Facebook page

Themed areas include Snowflake Lane (the driveway), a Snowman village, Toyland, a Disney section, Christmas Tree Forest, Santa and his reindeer on the roof, and more. Also, there’s a visit from Santa on Saturday, December 4th from 6:30 – 8:30!

Hrockin Hranicky Christmas Lights

370 Oak Terrace
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Through Jan. 5th, 2022
Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m.

An amazing automated light show,with 50,000 lights programmed to music. The whole show has 19 songs and lasts 30 minutes.  Just pull into the cul-de-sac — there are designated parking spots — and tune your radio t0 89.7 FM to listen in. This display is located just one-half mile from downtown Alpharetta, off Academy Street.
Visit the website and the Facebook page.

Lane Family Christmas Light Show

770 Fox Hollow Parkway
Marietta, GA 30009
Through Dec. 17th in 2021
Nightly, 6 to 9 p.m. (till 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays)

Check out the Facebook page for pictures and video. Don’t forget to tune into to 107.7FM when viewing the lights!

Christmas on Amberwood

371 Amberwood Drive
Lawrenceville, GA
Visit the Facebook page

You may also be interested in:

• Day-by-day list of free & cheap holiday events
• Best places to see holiday lights this year
• Holiday markets around metro Atlanta
• The 10 best Christmas tree farms near Atlanta
• Free photos with Santa for pets and people
• Where to get Christmas dinner to go

Canceled for 2020:

Chinese Lantern Festival at Centennial Olympic Park

Nov. 22nd — Jan. 5th
6 to 10 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday
6 to 11 p.m. on Friday & Saturday
Regular price $13 to $17
View complete price info, including discounts

While this is technically not a Christmas or holiday display, the display is completely enchanting! You’ll find 25 large glowing lanterns that represent both sea and land animals. Some are interactive — you can walk into the belly of a whale or stroll across sand dollar stepping stones that change color. While you’re at Centennial Park, you can also visit the Skyview Ferris wheel or the Christkindl Market. We have a complete post with details on the 2019 Chinese Lantern Festival and you can see it here.

The Chinese Lantern Festival, at Centennial Park, with the Skyview Ferris wheel in the background.