Looking for the brightest and biggest light displays this season? Pack the car with family and friends, and put on your favorite Christmas music for a de-light-ful time. A visit to these sites surely will get you in the holiday spirit.
In Cobb
Celebrate the Season Holiday Light Show
Through Dec. 25 at the Battery Atlanta, with shows at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Guests will experience a free immersive
sound and light display throughout the Plaza each evening.
800 Battery Ave., Atlanta. Batteryatl.com.
Lights of Life
on the campus of Life University
Every night, rain or shine, through Dec. 31. Introduced in 1989, the display has grown into one of the most popular light shows in the Southeast. Cruise through the illuminated campus, stopping along the 1.5-mile drive to enjoy seasonal entertainment. Costs are $5 per car Dec. 2-5, Dec. 9-12; $10 per car Fridays-Sundays, as well as Dec. 13-31. Display opens at dark every night and runs until 9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. www.life.edu/events/lights-of-life.
Lights for Lupus
The annual Smoot Family Lights for Lupus takes place nightly through Dec. 31. The family decorates their home with a variety of lights and fixtures that are synchronized to music. Donations go to the Lupus Foundation of North Georgia; Jeremy Smoot’s mother, Debbie Founds, died from complications of lupus. Lights are on 6-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 6-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The family provides free hot chocolate and cookies every Saturday night, weather permitting. 3699 Autumn View Drive, Acworth.
Outside Cobb
A Country Christmas
at Pettit Creek Farms
Gates open 6-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Dec. 30. Drive through more than a mile of Christmas lights and visit with Santa and his live reindeer. Families can visit with Santa Thursdays-Sundays, and the live Nativity can be seen on Saturdays. Hay rides also are available nightly. 337 Cassville Road, Cartersville. 770-386-8688. www.pettitcreekfarms.com.
Christmas at the Farm Light Show
Through Dec. 29 at Warbington Farms. Enjoy the magic of Christmas as the farm is transformed into an illuminated wonderland. Experience a synchronized light show at the Pavilion, stroll the barnyard, aglow with hundreds of lights, then enjoy a hayride to the Field of Lights. 5555 Crow Road, Cumming. Check website for dates, times and ticket information. www.warbingtonfarms.com/hours-and-info.
Christmas at The Rock Ranch
Various dates through Dec. 25. Drive through the mile-long display of thousands of lights, all strung by volunteers and ranch hands. Bring the family by Truett’s Barn for hot cocoa and apple cider, soup and other treats. Wagon rides, Santa’s workshop, Christmas Train Express rides and breakfast with Santa tickets also are available on select days. 5020 Barnesville Highway, The Rock. 706-647-6374. www.therockranch.com.
Enchanted Garden of Lights
at Rock City Gardens
Through Jan. 4 (closed Dec. 24). Holiday scenes include more than 1 million lights. Stop in the pavilion for nightly entertainment, gingerbread cookie decorating and hot cocoa. 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, TN. 706-820-2531. www.seerockcity.com.
Fantasy in Lights
at Callaway Gardens
Through Jan. 4. Bundle up for a Jolly Trolley ride, or drive your car through more than 8 million lights. Named one of the top 10 places to see holiday lights by National Geographic Traveler. 17800 U.S. Highway 27, Pine Mountain. 706-663-2281. www.callawaygardens.com.
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
at Atlanta Botanical Garden
Open through Jan. 11. Orchestral Orbs glow harmoniously with holiday tunes. A Tunnel of Light from the radiant Ice Goddess to the Glittering Galaxy embraces visitors in enchanting light. Named one of the top 10 holiday light shows in the country by USA Today. 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-876-5859. www.atlantabg.org.
Holiday Lights of Hope
at Hobgood Park
Dec. 5-23, beginning at 6 p.m. each evening. The Christmas celebration, which benefits the Anna Crawford Children’s Center, features a walk-through light display with more than 2 million lights, concessions, vendors, Santa and more. Located at Hobgood Park, 6688 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. Fee is $10 for adults, free for age 14 and younger. 678-504-6388. Watch Facebook for weather updates. www.holidaylightsofhope.com.
Holiday Lights of Hope
at Veterans Park
Nightly through Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. Drive through 2 miles of lights featuring tunnels, animated displays and more than 1 millions lights. Cost is $20 per car. This is a fundraiser benefiting Papa’s Pantry, Enduring Hearts, Skills USA, Veterans of Cherokee County, and CRPA Play it Forward. 7345 Cumming Highway, Canton. www.holidaylightsatveteranspark.com.
Holiday in the Park
On select days through Jan. 5 at Six Flags Over Georgia. More than 1 million LED lights and dozens of Christmas trees create a magical atmosphere during the holiday season. This holiday classic includes sparkling lights, festive shows, culinary treats, and, of course, Santa! www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia/special-events/.
International Winter Wonderland
Through Jan. 5 at Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave., Atlanta. Presented by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, this event includes the Chinese Lantern Festival, with more than 25 handcrafted lanterns of land and sea animals as part of the festival’s theme, Into the Wild, and the Atlanta Christkindl Market, an international holiday experience featuring live entertainment, cultural food and interactive activities. www.gwcca.org/copholiday.
Light Up the Holidays
at Barnsley Resort
Through Jan. 1. Visitors (including those who are not staying overnight), are welcome to view more than 1 million lights and festive décor in the historic 1800s manor house ruins, surrounding gardens and English-style village. There is a small fee for the self-guided tour. 597 Barnsley Gardens Road, Adairsville. 770-773-7480. www.barnsleyresort.com.
Magical Nights of Lights
at Lanier Islands
Through Jan. 5. Drive through larger-than-life light displays while listening to songs of the season on your radio or smartphone. Enhance the experience with the companion app, and stop at the Holiday Village to visit Santa, shop for gifts, and ride carnival rides. This year, enjoy License to Chill Snow Island at Margaritaville. With one of the fastest snow rides in North America, ice skating, a snow play area, fire pits, s’mores, carnival rides and more, Snow Island is one of the best Southern snow attractions, and fun for all ages. 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Gainesville. 770-945-8787. www.lanierislands.com.
Mountain Country Christmas in Lights
Through Dec. 28. At the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Enjoy a
winter walk through thousands of lights and exhibits! Visit Poinsettia Place, Candy Cane Lane, Santa’s Workshop, Toyland, Frosty’s Trail and many more light exhibits. There will be live music, arts and crafts vendors, holiday food, and visiting and pictures with Santa. 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee. 706-896-4191. On Facebook @georgiamountainfairgrounds.
Stone Mountain Christmas
at Stone Mountain Park
Open through Jan. 5. Millions of lights, Christmas shows and Rudolph create a night to remember. Don’t miss the Singalong Christmas Train, featuring a satellite message from Santa’s elves, and a track-side show about the first Christmas. Experience the new Enchanted Tree Lighting Ceremony, and end the night with the Snow Angel Snowfall Finale. 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690. www.stonemountainpark.com.
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