Five Christmas light displays in and around Atlanta have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 4 walk-throughs. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5:30 p.m. at Lights of Life. They’re spread over four areas, with the most in Atlanta.
Last checked · How we choose
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Atlanta Botanical Garden · 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
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Checked Oct 26 on the official page
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Stone Mountain Park · 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
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Little-kid take: Stays in the car: the easiest pick with a baby or a toddler who may fall asleep. PJs on, car seat buckled, no stroller needed.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemChecked Oct 30 on the official page
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. Stone Mountain Christmas opens first, on Nov 7. Stone Mountain Christmas, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights and IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta run into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 5:30 p.m. in Atlanta (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
5:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Sunset (about 5:30pm) to about 9–10pm
6 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Christmas parade 6pm; tree lighting 6:30pm; drone show after
9 p.m. start · plan about an hour
6-9pm
9:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5:30–9:30pm (last entry 8pm)
11 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Evenings until midnight (last entry 11pm)
Pick: Lights of Life
Picks: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta, Stone Mountain Christmas, Bulloch Hall Christmas Tree Lighting
Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.
PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.
| Display | Price | Little kids | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Lights, Holiday Nights | Dated tickets; 2 and under don’t need one | See the venue | Walk-through |
| IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta | $20.99–$24.99 ages 12+; $17.99–$19.99 ages 3–11; 2 and under free | 2 and under free | Walk-through |
| Stone Mountain Christmas | Price on the ticket page | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Lights of Life | $15 per car, paid at the entrance | See the venue | Drive-thru |
| Bulloch Hall Christmas Tree Lighting | See event page | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 21 Santa outings in and around Atlanta: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Atlanta →
None of the light shows with 2026 dates that we found are free. The lowest prices are listed in “2026 prices at a glance”.
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Lights of Life ($15 per car, paid at the entrance); IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta ($20.99–$24.99 ages 12+; $17.99–$19.99 ages 3–11; 2 and under free). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.
With a baby or a sleepy toddler, a drive-thru is easiest: they stay buckled in and warm. One of the 5 displays can be driven: Lights of Life. Walk-throughs (four here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Lights of Life at 5:30 p.m., Stone Mountain Christmas at 6 p.m. and Bulloch Hall Christmas Tree Lighting at 9 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Little ones get in free at IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta (2 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Atlanta · Atlanta city guide · Visiting Atlanta
One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in Atlanta that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.
Every year
Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted. Every year in Atlanta
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Things to do with kids in Atlanta in November · Things to do with kids in Atlanta in December
Christmas trains
Christmas train rides near Atlanta: Holiday lights trains, Polar Express rides and more. 6 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.
More holiday outings
The Nutcracker with kids in Atlanta: 5 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances. Christmas markets in Atlanta: 6 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.
Stone Mountain Christmas