Last updated: October 2026
Hot cocoa season is officially here. Whether you want to drive through miles of lights, sip glühwein at a German Christmas market, or squeeze in one last corn maze before the decorations go up, North Atlanta has you covered. We’ve rounded up the best holiday events and light shows around Lake Lanier, Forsyth County, Gwinnett, North Fulton, and the North Georgia mountains for 2026.
Bookmark this one. You’ll want it in December.
Fall Send-Off: Last Call for Corn Mazes
🌽 Buford Corn Maze, Buford
📅 Select days through Sunday, November 22
📍 Buford Corn Maze Info
The latest-closing maze on our list, which makes it a perfect Thanksgiving-week outing. You’ll find a giant corn maze, unlimited hayrides, and a corn box the kids will refuse to leave.
🎃 Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, Dawsonville
📅 Select days through Sunday, November 8
📍 Uncle Shuck’s Info
One of the best-known mazes in the country, with miles of trails, a corn cannon, wagon rides, and goats who take their tower walk very seriously. Go early in November before it closes for the season.
Holiday Light Shows
✨ Magical Nights of Lights at Lanier Islands, Buford
📅 Nightly, November 20 through January 3, 5:00 to 10:00 PM
📍 Lanier Islands Info
The lake’s signature holiday tradition. Load up the car, turn up the Christmas music, and cruise through miles of lights and animated displays, priced per vehicle. The route ends at the resort’s Holiday Headquarters, with Santa appearances on select nights. Plan on at least a couple of hours on busy nights.
🏮 Gainesville Glows: Lanterns & Lights, Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville
📅 Select nights, November 19 through January 3
📍 Atlanta Botanical Garden Info
The Gainesville Garden’s woodland light show debuted last year and is a quieter, walkable alternative to the big-city light shows. Expect glowing lanterns, a light tunnel, uplit trees, and s’mores pits. Book tickets ahead, especially on weekends.
European-Style Christmas Markets
🥨 Atlanta Christkindl Market, Lawrenceville
📅 November 20 through December 24, Wednesday through Sunday most weeks, with extra days Thanksgiving week
📍 Christkindl Market Info
This is the closest you’ll get to Germany without a passport. The Atlanta Christkindl Market moved to the Lawrenceville Lawn last year, and it opens a week earlier this season. You’ll find wooden chalets, bratwurst, chimney cakes, and the famous Käthe Wohlfahrt ornament shop straight from Bavaria. Free parking and shuttles make it easy.
🍷 Christkindlmarket Roswell at Bulloch Hall, Roswell
📅 November 20 through December 23 (check website for daily hours)
📍 Roswell Christkindlmarket Info
Roswell’s German market sets up on the front lawn of historic Bulloch Hall, just off the town square. Admission is free, and you can expect a biergarten with mulled wine, a kids’ holiday train, and Santa on weekends. Plan on a short walk from parking, or use the weekend shuttle.
Tree Lightings & Hometown Holiday Kickoffs
🎄 Cumming City Center Winter Market & Tree Lighting, Cumming
📅 Saturday, November 21, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
📍 City of Cumming Info
This one is close to home. Shop local vendors at the Winter Market, grab photos with Santa, and stick around for the lighting of the City Center’s tree. The City of Cumming Christmas Parade follows on Saturday, December 12 at 5:00 PM, running from Forsyth Central High School down Tribble Gap/Castleberry Road to the Cumming Fairgrounds.
⛸️ The Lighting of Avalon, Alpharetta
📅 Sunday, November 22, tree lighting at 7:00 PM
📍 Avalon Info
One of the biggest tree lightings in metro Atlanta. Santa counts down to the lighting of Avalon’s 40-foot tree, and Avalon on Ice opens for the season the same day. The event is free, but parking fills fast, so carpool or rideshare.
🎅 Old Fashioned Christmas in Dahlonega
📅 Lights nightly November 27 through January 7; Christmas Parade Saturday, December 12, 12:00 to 1:00 PM
📍 Dahlonega Christmas Info | Event Schedule & Parking
If your holidays need a little Hallmark movie energy, head up GA-400. Dahlonega’s historic square and Christmas tree light up at 6:00 PM on Friday, November 27, with live music starting at 4:00. Santa visits the square from November 27 through December 29, horse-drawn carriage rides run on select evenings, and the Dahlonega Arts Alliance Christmas Art Market is Saturday, November 28. The Christmas Market in Hancock Park opens Saturday, December 5, and Kid’s Day is Saturday, December 19.
The parade starts at the historic Holly Theater, heads east on Main Street to Old Courthouse Hill, and loops back so every float passes through the square twice. Expect community floats, marching groups, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Parking tip: the UNG parking deck off South Chestatee Street and Choice Avenue is open to the public after 5:30 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends.
Happy holidays from all of us!
