# Christmas lights in Atlanta for little kids, 2026

> 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: 2026-10-30
- 5 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/christmas-lights/
- Santa (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/santa/index.md
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- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/llms.txt

## Drive-thru Christmas lights

- **Lights of Life** at Life University, 1269 Barclay Circle SE, Marietta, GA 30060. When: Nightly Nov 26 – Dec 31, 2026. Time: Sunset (about 5:30pm) to about 9–10pm. Price: $15 per car, paid at the entrance. Official page: https://www.life.edu/about/lights-of-life/

## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **Garden Lights, Holiday Nights** at Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. When: Nightly Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: Evenings until midnight (last entry 11pm). Price: Dated tickets; 2 and under don’t need one. Official page: https://atlantabg.org/plan-your-visit/atlanta-garden-calendar/garden-lights-holiday-nights/
- **IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta** at Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30315. When: Select nights Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027. Time: 5:30–9:30pm (last entry 8pm). Price: $20.99–$24.99 ages 12+; $17.99–$19.99 ages 3–11; 2 and under free. Official page: https://zooatlanta.org/event/illuminights/
- **Stone Mountain Christmas** at Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30083. When: Weekends and holidays, Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Christmas parade 6pm; tree lighting 6:30pm; drone show after. Price: Price on the ticket page. A Kids’ Early New Year’s Eve runs Dec 31 with a countdown at 9pm. Official page: https://stonemountainpark.com/activity/events/stone-mountain-christmas/
- **Bulloch Hall Christmas Tree Lighting** at Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA 30075. When: Sat Nov 28, 2026. Time: 6-9pm. Price: See event page. Friends of Bulloch gather guests on the Gift Shoppe porch for carols before the tree is lit, during the Christkindlmarket. Official page: https://www.bullochhallroswell.org/events/christmas-tree-lighting

## Light displays that come back every year

- [Stone Mountain Christmas](https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/events/stone-mountain-christmas-park/): next dates Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- [Garden Lights, Holiday Nights](https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/events/garden-lights-holiday-nights-atlanta-botanical/): next dates Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
- [IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta](https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/events/illuminights-at-zoo-atlanta/): next dates Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027
- [Lights of Life](https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/events/lights-of-life-university/): next dates Nov 26 – Dec 31, 2026

## Christmas trains near Atlanta

- [Christmas train rides near Atlanta](https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/christmas-trains/index.md): Holiday lights trains, Polar Express rides and more, 6 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.

## More holiday outings in Atlanta

- [The Nutcracker with kids in Atlanta](https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/nutcracker/index.md): 5 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances.
- [Christmas markets in Atlanta](https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/christmas-markets/index.md): 6 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Are there free Christmas lights 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”.

### What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Atlanta?
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.

### Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?
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.

### What time do the Christmas lights start in Atlanta? We have an early bedtime.
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.

### Which light shows are best for kids under 3?
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.

### How do you check these Christmas lights listings?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).