11 months ago 33 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.
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. Photo credit: H. Brucker
FUMCLV Campground
700 Braselton Hwy, Lawrenceville
Dec. 7 – 9, 2023
Dec. 14 – 16, 2023
6 to 8:30 p.m.
The First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville will host this FREE drive-through light show on six nights in December.
Get the details
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.
Dunwoody, GA
Nightly from Dec. 1st to 31st in 2023
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 85,000 lights. A kickoff lighting event on Dec. 1st features free cocoa, plus some special surprises.
Sandy Springs City Green
1 Galambos Way
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Nov. 24, 2023 to Jan. 1, 2024
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. Nearby trees and buildings are also illuminated. The display is a great spot to take holiday photos.
On Dec. 3rd, the Sparkle Sandy Springs kickoff event includes a parade, holiday concert, food trucks, tree lighting, menorah lighting, and gift market.
Zoo Atlanta
800 Cherokee Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
Nov. 17, 2023 to Jan. 14, 2024
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 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.
Nov. 24th to Dec. 30th, 2023
Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m.
Price varies by night
Get all the details
There are designated walking nights and driving nights at this event, so please click thru the link above for details. PLUS, you can go on a Value Night to save $10 on admission. Price is always per car, even on walking nights, so you can come with a group of friends and split the cost. Ameris Bank Amphiteatre is located in Alpharetta.
Nov. 17, 2023 to Jan. 7, 2024
Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m.
$40 per car
Get the details
This is a new drive-thru event at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. There is also a Christmas Village on site on select nights, with rides and activities for kids (included in the price of admission). Up to eight passengers in a car are allowed at the $40 price.
Nov. 24th to Dec. 30th in 2023
Nightly, 6 to 9 (to 10 on weekends)
Online prices from $17 to 27 per car
Get the details
You definitely want to buy online and in advance for this event — because prices at the gate are $15 higher!
There’s also a Groupon deal with a flat ticket price of $23.
The event takes place at Dixie Speedway, located in Woodstock, GA.
Midtown Atlanta
Nightly from Nov. 12, 2023 to Jan. 14, 2024
5 to 10 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.
Nov. 16 to Dec. 31, 2023
Nightly from 6 to 10 p.m.
Starting at $40 per car, higher on weekends
Get all the details
Taking place at Six Flags White Water, in the parking lot. Animated lights synched to music.
Canton, GA
Nightly from Nov. 18th to Dec. 31st in 2023
6 to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. on Friday & Saturday)
$20 per car — or $50 for a season pass
More info here
Super affordable for families! 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.
Woodstock, GA
Nov. 24th to Dec. 31st, 2023
Sunday thru Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 6 to 10 p.m.
$10 per person
Kids 11 and under FREE
More info
This huge walk-through Christmas light display is in its 12th 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.
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.
(Replaces the drive-thru attraction formerly known as Magical Nights of Lights)
Buford, GA
Nov. 19, 2023 to Jan. 15, 2024
Opens at 5 p.m. nightly; closing time varies by date
Price is $20 per person; kids 3 and under are FREE
More info
This is a walk-through event. It’s an immersive one-mile stroll 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
Marietta, GA
Open Thanksgiving thru New Year’s Eve
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.
Pine Mountain, GA
Nov. 18, 2023 to Jan. 1, 2024
6 to 11 p.m.
Prices vary widely depending on date
View complete price info, plus available discounts
Fantasy in Lights features over 7 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.
Austell, GA
select dates from Thanksgiving to New Year’s
Hours vary by date; lights come on at dark
Prices vary by day, starting at $40 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. 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, GA
Nov. 12, 2022 to Jan. 1, 2023
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.
For a limited time, you can SAVE $15 with a Groupon deal.
Cartersville, GA
Thanksgiving thru 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.
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.
Ashebrooke Subdivision
Entrance near 5020 Luke Dr
Cumming, GA 30040
The Ashebrooke subdivision in Cumming prides itself on its holiday spirit. There are often up to 300 homes all lit up, and the lights are spectacular. You can drive through the neighborhood just about any night in December after 6 p.m. to enjoy the show.
BUT, on Sunday, December 17, 2023, starting at 6 p.m., there is a one-night event that is not to be missed. In addition to the usual holiday displays, neighbors will put out hundreds of luminarias. Cars will line up to drive-through the neighborhood in a pre-set route about 7 miles long. 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
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.
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
1510 Ben King Road
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Through Jan. 1, 2023
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 2022:
Monday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. — Yule Slide Trombone Choir
Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. — Yule Slide Trombone Choir
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 a larger-than-life lion king!
224 Oliver Overlook
Dallas, GA 30132
6 to 11 p.m.
This family emailed Atlanta on the Cheap to ask to be included on our list! This is a fully animated residential Christmas light display in Paulding County. There are thousands of lights that move to Christmas music.
We suggest that you check the Felix family’s Facebook page for updates, before you head out. They post about weather cancellations, technical difficulties, and any changes to the hours the lights are on. You’ll also find pictures there.
5120 Wild Ginger Cove
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
Thanksgiving thru New Year’s Day
5:30 to 10 p.m.
This home features thousands of lights, synced to Christmas songs, in a 30-minute loop.
More info
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.
5268 Seamus Way
Powder Springs, GA 30127
Nov. 25th thru Jan. 10, 2023
6 p.m. to midnight, nightly
The audio is live here, OR you can choose to listen in your car at 102.1FM. Please park in the cul-de-sac or on the street, and don’t block anyone’s driveway. You’re asked to stay off the grass, and only walk on the street or driveway.
Visit the Facebook page for weather updates — they’ve had a few rainout nights.
3917 Hadley Farm Dr.
Marietta, GA 30066
6 to 9 p.m. on weeknights, till 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays
Dec. 1 to 25, 2022
Tune to 100.1 FM.
More info
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.
Visit the website
370 Oak Terrace
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Through Jan. 1, 2023
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 check for weather updates on the Facebook page.
770 Fox Hollow Parkway
Marietta, GA 30009
Through Dec. 26th in 2022
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!
You can also get weather updates on the Facebook page. There have been a few rain-outs in December of 2022.
371 Amberwood Drive
Lawrenceville, GA
Visit the Facebook page
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.
The post The best places to see holiday lights in metro Atlanta — including many FREE spectacular displays! appeared first on Atlanta on the Cheap.
