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.
The first half of this post is a list of professionally done holiday light displays, and some of them are pricey (OF COURSE, we tell you all the discounts available!)
After that, we have a list of neighborhoods and private homes that put on amazing displays.
Looking to enjoy holiday lights for FREE?
Consider a stroll around:
- Atlantic Station (midtown)
- Peachtree Street in midtown (near the Woodruff Arts Center)
- Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta
- The Marietta Square
- Avalon (in Alpharetta)
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, we’ll need to see a website or Facebook page so we know the homeowner wants the information shared.
Enjoy!
Professional light displays
PRISM Winter Lights at Woodruff Park
FREE to visit
Nightly from dark to 11 p.m.
Through February, 2020
Get the details
The light exhibit features imaginative, light-based installations that are installed to enhance existing park features, like the International Peace Fountain and the gazebo. Highly recommended!
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Nightly from Nov. 16th — Jan. 11th
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.
Holiday Lights at Veterans Park
Nightly from Nov. 21st to Dec. 31st
6 to 9 p.m.
$20 per car
Visit the Facebook page
The Veterans Park website touts this as a 2-mile drive through lighted tunnels, past animated displays, and featuring over a million lights. Veterans Park is located at 7345 Cumming Highway, in Canton.
Holiday Lights of Hope at Hobgood Park
Dec. 5th to Dec. 23rd
open nightly at 6 p.m., weather permitting
no price info yet
Visit the website
A huge walk-through Christmas light display with more than 2,000,000 lights, concessions, vendors, Santa, and more. Hobgood Park is located at 6688 Bells Ferry Rd in Woodstock.
View the 2018 highights:
Magical Nights of Lights at Lanier Islands
Nightly from Nov. 16th — Jan. 5th
5 to 10 p.m.
Price is regularly $45 per vehicle
View complete price info, plus multiple discounts
This 7-mile tour of magical lights is famous for its vignettes that depict the 12 Days of Christmas. It’s located in Buford, GA, at the Lanier Islands resort. We have a full post with all the details — including a half dozen ways to save on admission. There are not only coupons, but opportunities like Teacher Tuesdays and food/clothing drive nights (make a donation and get a discount).
Lanier Islands
Lights of Life at Life University in Marietta
Nov. 28th — Dec. 31st
6 to 9 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday
6 to 10 p.m. on Friday & Saturday
Regularly $10 per vehicle
View complete price info, including bargain nights
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. Check out our post with all the details!
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.
Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens
Nov. 15th — Jan. 4th
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, Groupon deal, and Value Night discount info — you can see it here.
Callaway Gardens
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags
Nov. 24th — Jan. 5th
Hours vary by date; lights come on at dark
Prices vary, but you can expect to pay $45 to $70 for adult admission
Visit the website’s ticket page
View more than one million LED lights AND ride 40 of the park’s popular attractions. This experience goes far beyond just enjoying holiday lights. There is a nightly tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m., a stained glass nativity scene, holiday shows, exhibits, and so much more that it’s overwhelming. It is a true winter wonderland. Advance purchase tickets are cheaper than buying at the gate. Six Flags Over Georgia is located west of Atlanta, in Austell. Visit the Holiday in the Park website.
Stone Mountain Christmas
Nov. 16th — Jan. 5th
lights come on at dark; fireworks finale at 10:45 p.m.
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!
Christmas Light Extravaganza at Warbington Farms
Nov. 22nd — Dec. 29th on select dates only
5:30 to 9 p.m.
Adults $10; children $8
Visit the Facebook event page for dates and hours
Warbington Farms transforms into an illuminated wonderland, with a synchronized light show, illuminated barnyard, walk-through light displays, and a hayride to the Field of Lights. Warbington Farms is located in Cumming, north of Atlanta. Visit the Warbington Farms website.
A Country Christmas at Pettit Creek Farm
Nov. 28th — Dec. 30th
Sun thru Thurs 6 to 9 p.m.
Fri-Sat 6 to 10 p.m.
Hayride is $10 and the drive-through is $2o per car
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.
Light displays in neighborhoods and private homes
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.
Rascher’s Magical Light Show
new addition!
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. 1st
Nightly, 6 to 11 p.m.
Park across the street at the church and walk over — or 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!
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.
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 near Autumn Park (3500 block), and several displays at the other end of Raymond, near Brook Park (3100-3200 block)
Read a news story about Light Up Addison
Duluth’s Christmas House
2929 Mockingbird Circle, Duluth, GA 30096
Visit the Facebook page
Through Dec. 27th
DRIVE BY only. No parking is allowed on the street.
A Whole Lot of Christmas
1833 Smokerise Summit, Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Through Dec. 31st
Visit the Facebook page
Themed areas include Snowflake Lane, Toyland, Disney, and more
Santa will make an appearance on Dec. 3rd at 6:30 p.m.
Christmas on Amberwood
371 Amberwood Drive, Lawrenceville, GA
Santa makes an appearance on Dec. 6th at 6:30
Visit the Facebook page
Hrockin Hranicky Christmas Lights
Through Jan. 1st
For synchronized music, tune your car radio to 107.7FM
Donations of pet food/supplies collected at the Snoopy doghouse display, on behalf of Angels Among Us rescue.
Pierce Lights
370 Oak Terrace, Alpharetta, GA 30009
Through Jan. 5th
Nightly, 6 to 11 p.m.
An amazing automated light show, programmed to music. The whole show has 19 songs and lasts 30 minutes.
Donations accepted for First Foster Care program at First Baptist Church of Alpharetta.
Visit the website
Vinyard Christmas
3690 Vinyard Way, Lawrenceville, GA 30044
Nightly, 6-9 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday, and 6-10 p.m. on Friday & Saturday
Through January 1st
13,000 lights are synced to music. Tune your radio to 91.7 FM to listen.
Visit the Facebook page
