Christmas Activities around Athens, GA

Currently Being updated for 2020!

It’s the most wonderful time of year here in Athens, GA.  I’m working on this list of Christmas activities in Athens, Georgia and am also including ones nearby.  If you have any to add, please comment and let me know or send a message.  Thanks so much!

Christmas Activities Around Athens:

Multiple Days:

Athens on Ice Public Skating: Please visit their website for the most updated information regarding dates and health requirements

Stone Mountain Park Christmas: Each day of Stone Mountain Christmas, you can enjoy some of your favorite park attractions like Summit Skyride, Scenic Railroad, and more! Then, immerse yourself in holiday magic with evenings full of festive music, millions of dazzling lights, spectacular shows, and visits from some of your favorite holiday characters!

Six Flags Holiday in the Park: Six Flags Over Georgia is continuing its new holiday tradition as it extends its season with the addition of Six Flags Entertainment’s annual holiday festival — Holiday in the Park. More than one million LED lights and dozens of Christmas trees will create the perfect magical atmosphere this holiday season from November 21 through January 3 on select days.

Christmas On Dixie: Christmas light display located at the corner of Dixie Hwy. and Wilson Rd. in Madison, GA. It was started in 2013 by the Seabolt and McCurley families.

World of Illumination:  The world’s largest drive-through animated light show is bigger and better than ever, so buckle up – you’re in for the ride of your life.

Light the Night – Church of Nations:  Come see 130,000 Christmas Lights Dancing to your favorite Christmas songs!  Join us on December 4th, 11th, or 12th from 6:30pm to 9:30 pm for Light the Night- a musical light show and Christmas experience that’s fun and free for the whole family! Lights show will also run continuously from 6pm-10pm each night from November 27th to December 31st

Light Up Athens:  The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department announces a new holiday tradition for our community in the inaugural “Light Up Athens” in downtown this December.  This holiday program will LIGHT UP downtown Athens storefronts with lights and decorations. Event activities will take place Fridays and Saturdays in December from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Lights will be illuminated each night in December. Activities include:
Community Christmas Tree
Holiday Character Appearances, including the big man himself!
Official Santa’s Mailbox for children to drop of their wish lists
Holiday Music
S”elfie” Spots

December 6:

Drive Through Nativity: Experience the Christmas story without ever leaving your car! This is a free event open to the community, but you will need to reserve your time to drive through (15 min intervals) for traffic flow. Reserve your time at office@alpsroadpres.org.

Star Light, Star Bright Christmas Parade: Come early for the SANE Cookie Crawl that starts at 12PM. The SANE table at the Holiday Market has your cookie tin and map. Cookie tins are $25 cash or app. The Holiday Market will open at 1PM. Make sure you check out the handmade decorations and gift ideas. Don’t forget to stay for the tree lighting at 6PM.

December 12:

Royston Christmas Parade: Come shop our Christmas Market from 10AM – 4PM and then join us for a Parade of Lights beginning at 5PM! We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Christmas at Wire Park: In the first of what promises to be many events held at Wire Park, we’re excited to announce Christmas at Wire Park, a community concert that celebrates the holiday season, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. This family-friendly Christmas concert will feature the musical stylings of The Athens A-Train Band, a six-piece jazz ensemble that will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. to perform a collection of beloved holiday selections. Sponsored by our friends at BOE Classic Lending, Christmas at Wire Park is free and open to the public, and it will feature a collection of food trucks, as well as Java Joy, the popular coffee cart benefitting Extra Special People. Santa Claus will be on hand to visit with children and their families. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket and chairs to enjoy the holiday music, and a fire pit will be set up in the commons area to allow for families to roast s’mores.

December 13:

Outdoor Christmas Concert:  Join us for a Sons of Sailors Outdoor Christmas Concert on Green Acres Church’s parking lot and lawn on the Taco Bell side of the building on Dec. 13 from 4:30-6pm! Gates open at 3:45pm.  Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy this social distant, outdoor, safe Christmas concert with your family!  We are partnered with Downtown Ministries in Athens, GA who will serve hot chocolate during the event and receive all the proceeds from ticket sales and donations.  Tickets Required.

Lessons and Carols:  Redeemer Athens – We’re excited to announce that Lessons & Carols will be taking place this year on December 13th outside in our parking lot!  We ask that everyone bring camp chairs and lawn blankets to sit on and things to stay warm as we sing together under the stars. Before the music gets underway, the festivities will start at 4:00pm with an L&C Social Hour— fresh treats from a food truck and coffee, apple cider, and hot chocolate from 1000 Faces!  Music will get underway at 5:30pm and we will end by 6:30pm.

December 20:

Movies by Moonlight Drive in: The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department will host a free “Movies by Moonlight Drive in Movie” holiday double feature at Sandy Creek Park on Sunday, December 20.   The community is invited to celebrate the holiday season with these seasonal favorites on the large inflatable screen.  The family favorite “Elf” will be shown at 6:00 p.m.  Check in will begin at 5:00 p.m.  Cars must be in the park by 5:45 p.m. to ensure a safe and positive movie experience for all movie goers.  The second film is the holiday classic “Christmas Vacation.”  It will be shown at 8:30 p.m.  Those movie goers only attending the second film must arrive by 7:45 p.m.  One ticket per vehicle is required.  Patrons may register to attend one or both films.  Tickets are limited to 100 vehicles and are available online from Saturday, December 5 at 9:00 a.m. until Friday, December 19 at midnight, or until all tickets are reserved.  A direct link to the tickets will be posted on social media and the Leisure Services website. Tickets will not be available on the night of the event.