Explore the best 2025 holiday events in Atlanta—light shows, markets, concerts, and more in this essential guide to Atlanta’s winter season.
Atlanta doesn’t quietly ease into the holidays—it bursts into them with theatrical flair, Southern warmth, and a deep well of cultural magic.
In 2025, holiday events in Atlanta are shaping up to be some of the most dynamic in the Southeast, blending immersive light displays, beloved traditions, arts-driven programming, and big-ticket attractions designed to thrill locals and visitors alike.
Whether you’re craving heritage-filled celebrations, family-friendly outings, luxurious seasonal experiences, or the kind of Instagram-worthy installations that only the ATL can serve, this guide to 2025 holiday events in Atlanta highlights the can’t-miss festivities that will define your December.
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden
A cornerstone of 2025 holiday events in Atlanta, the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s legendary winter light show returns with dazzling new installations. Expect glowing forests, oversized illuminated blossoms, and an expanded “Glittering Grove” featuring synchronized soundscapes and motion-reactive sculptures.
“We want the garden to feel alive in a new way every season,” says installation designer Renée Marshall. “This year, guests will feel like they’re stepping into a living painting.”
Location: 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA
Website: https://atlantabg.org/
Contact: (404) 876-5859
Tickets sell fast—buy early and go on weeknights for lighter crowds.
Stone Mountain Christmas
Stone Mountain Park delivers a full-scale holiday theme park experience each year, but 2025’s edition is rumored to be its most spectacular yet. Expect a festive train ride, nightly fireworks, holiday laser shows, live performances, and the iconic Snow Angel finale—complete with faux snow drifting over the park’s village.
Location: 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA
Website: https://www.stonemountainpark.com/
Contact: (800) 401-2407
Families consider it a must-do; adults love it more than they expect.
Atlantic Station Holiday Lights & Skate the Station
Atlantic Station transforms its central plaza into a glowing winter village, complete with a towering tree, synchronized light shows, artisan markets, and Skate the Station, Atlanta’s beloved open-air ice rink. The 2025 update includes themed skate nights, local musician showcases, and expanded shopping hours.
Location: Atlantic Station, 1380 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA
Website: https://atlanticstation.com/
Contact: info@atlanticstation.com
The rink’s city skyline moments are unmatched.
Callaway Resort & Gardens: Fantasy in Lights
Ranked among the nation’s top holiday light displays, Callaway Gardens’ Fantasy in Lights brings seven miles of glowing scenes to life. The 2025 season debuts new LED storybook vignettes and an enhanced walk-through forest trail. Visitors can also enjoy the Christmas Village, complete with shopping, dining, and Santa meet-and-greets.
“Fantasy in Lights is Southern holiday nostalgia at its finest,” says longtime guest Ebony Clark.
Location: 17800 US Hwy 27, Pine Mountain, GA
Website: https://www.callawaygardens.com/
Contact: (855) 923-7299
Worth the drive—and worth the hype.
The Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre
Atlanta Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker has become a gold-standard holiday tradition. In 2025, the company brings updated choreography, a refreshed visual design, and new digital projection elements that elevate the fairy-tale world to cinematic heights.
Location: Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA
Website: https://www.atlantaballet.com/
Contact: (404) 873-5811
A quintessential night out in the ATL.
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia transforms into a glittering theme park paradise with millions of lights, specialty shows, festive food stalls, and thrilling rides. The 2025 expansion includes new character parades and additional holiday zones designed by top entertainment creatives.
Location: 275 Riverside Pkwy, Austell, GA
Website: https://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia
Contact: (770) 739-3400
Go for the lights, stay for the roller coasters.
Atlanta Christkindl Market
Inspired by European holiday markets, the Atlanta Christkindl Market at Buckhead Village returns with handcrafted gifts, German delicacies, mulled wine, and a rotating lineup of performances. The 2025 event expands to include cultural workshops and artisan demos from international vendors.
Location: Buckhead Village, 290 East Paces Ferry Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA
Website: https://christkindlmarket.org/
Contact: info@christkindlmarket.org
Perfect for shopping, strolling, and snacking.
Santa’s Fantastical Pop-Up Experience
A technicolor holiday attraction blending art, projection mapping, performance, and family-friendly fun, Santa’s Fantastical returns with new Insta-ready installations in 2025. Expect dreamlike photo zones, animated tunnels, snowfall moments, and themed character encounters.
Location: Varies – typically in Sandy Springs area
Website: https://www.santasfantastical.com/
Contact: info@santasfantastical.com
Bring your camera—you’ll use it constantly.
Lanier Islands: License to Chill Snow Island
For a full winter adventure, Lanier Islands’ massive License to Chill Snow Island offers real snow tubing hills, ice skating, carnival rides, s’mores pits, and lakeside holiday lights. The 2025 season debuts an expanded snow-play area and a reimagined evening light show.
Location: 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA
Website: https://www.lanierislands.com/
Contact: (770) 945-8787
It’s a rare Georgia spot where snow is guaranteed.
Why 2025 Holiday Events in Atlanta Will Define the Season
Atlanta’s holiday season succeeds because it blends tradition and reinvention. The 2025 holiday events in Atlanta reflect a city that honors cultural roots while embracing new creative energy. From world-class performances to neighborhood festivals, botanical garden transformations, artisan markets, and massive light installations, Atlanta offers a holiday season as diverse and vibrant as its people.
The magic isn’t just visual—it’s emotional. These celebrations bring together families, artists, performers, small businesses, and visitors from around the world. Atlanta’s December calendar proves that holiday spirit doesn’t need snow; it thrives on connection, culture, and creativity.
Why You Must Experience 2025 Holiday Events in Atlanta
Atlanta is ready to deliver a holiday season you’ll talk about long after January hits. Whether you’re planning a staycation or traveling south for winter fun, the 2025 holiday events in Atlanta promise unforgettable nights filled with lights, performances, food, and community. Make your list early—this is the year Atlanta becomes your new holiday tradition.
Explore the best 2025 holiday events in Atlanta—light shows, markets, concerts, and more in this essential guide to Atlanta’s winter season.
