Home > Holiday Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 12 > Entry
Best place to see Christmas lights?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Are Christmas lights shining bright around your neighborhood?
AJC staffers recently hit several spots known for having great holiday light displays. They invited area children to go along with them to give their take on what’s to like and dislike about the various displays.
For instance, the Christmas Village at Calloway Gardens was a big hit. The village is a 22,000-square-foot tent full of holiday decorations. “The kids loved the sights of holiday trimmings (all for sale) and activities such as making their own stuffed animals.”
Where do you go to see Christmas displays? Do you go to places like Lake Lanier Islands and Life University or do you prefer to pack the kids in the car and travel around metro neighborhoods?
What’s your personal style? Has the recession put a crimp on your decorating fun?
You can also submit photos of your Christmas decorations inside and outside the house. Also, visit our holiday lights database and tell us where to check out wonderful displays - even if they’re yours!
For more holiday tips check out our Holiday Guide




DEL.ICIO.US
Comments
By Grammaw
December 12, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
The VERY best place to see fantastic lights is on the Mall in Washington, D.C. It’s AMAZING! It is my hometown, and we take the kids (and now the grandkids) there every year, just to see the trees from various countries, the White House tree, and all the lights/decorations. It’s well worth the trip!
By Dino
December 12, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
I’ve got a string of lights outside my condo and a lighted snowman! Best in town baby!!
By cici
December 12, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
There is a beautiful all white display every year at a house on Hugh Howell Rd. between Mountain Industrial and Hwy 78.
By Brenda
December 12, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
The best Christmas ligh display is at 339 & 342 Harris Avenue, Locust Grove, GA. You will be just amazed at the display.
By Emily
December 12, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
The best lights in Coweta County are on Gordon Rd. There is a house that is located right before the intersection of Gordon Rd and Moore Rd that is full of lights. My family and I call it the Ginger Bread house because it looks like one with all the colorful and white lights. Every inch of the house has lights or some short of Christmas item on it, it just puts you in the Christmas Spirit.
By Joe
December 12, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
AJC, when/where will we see galleries of the user-submitted Christmas lights?
By Erin
December 12, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
The best display I’ve seen is a guy on Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. in the Capital City Club neighborhood. He must have 50-75 of the inflatable Christmas decorations you see in people’s yards. Everything from Santa on a pirate ship to Pooh Bear. It’s awesome. Corner of Peachtree and Winnall Down. Go at night so you can hear the sound of all the fans in those things. His power bill must be nuts!!!
By Chris
December 12, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
A little town called Thomaston Georgia has a display in a neighborhood called Candy Lane. It is worth the drive and every house in the neighborhood is decorated - well the yards are all decorated. It is awesome and I have gone there every year since I was a child. The neighborhood is located off of Highway 19. Go slow and roll your windows down as most of the yard displays have sound.
By Mr Charlie
December 12, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Certainly NOT Lake Lanier. What a waste of time that trip was there last year. 30 minutes of creeping in traffic just to get to the gate, $40 for a guest and myself, then light displays scattered throughout the park along the driving path. Mucho minutes of my life wasted that I’ll never be able to get back.
By Mr Charlie
December 12, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
To “cici”
Are you referring to the house adjacent to the Kanawha subdivision entrance signs?
By teach1
December 15, 2008 6:19 AM | Link to this
I,too am wondering were to find reader submitted homes. I submitted our home and got your phone call verifying it over 2 weeks ago. We have been out looking at lights for 3 weeks already and it would be nice to have some direction. Often we pick one neighborhood a weekend. So, if you are waiting for some special time ajc, you are messing a bunch of us up that enjoy the season from thanksgiving until Christmas. Show us our lights!
By Dee
December 17, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
If you want to see holiday decorations and lights, don’t go to the Mall of GA. Of all the time not to decorate the mall. What’s up with that? Retailers are crying for people to buy…what put’s you in the mood?….all the decorations. I can’t understand it. Does anyone know why they are the only Mall in the Atlanta area that didn’t put up decorations inside the mall?
By Lyn
December 19, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
The best place to go is, Sherwood Hall lane..in Alex,VA! They have their own radio station and the lights go with the music,it’s amazing!
By Nancy
December 23, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Where are the good neighborhoods to see lights - do any communities or subdivisions participate? In San Diego, many did this, and we always drove through them each year. There was every type of light and decoration imaginable. Paying $20 to drive through a parking lot with lighting displays for $20 is unacceptable! And they are never very good. Our neighborhood did 12/24 luminarias for about 4 block square, and everyone walked around and talked to neighbors who had tables with cookies & hot cider. It was fun and festive.
By Terrence Robertson
December 23, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
I think we are going to travel to Thomaston GA. I grew up in Pasadena, CA. This is like the best place to spend Christmas and New Years. A sub-division called Hastings Ranch, the entire neighborhood provides elaborate decorations, Christmas tree lane is about three miles of 30 to 40 foot trees that line the streets (decorated like Christmas trees) and the Tournament of Roses Parade festivities fill the streets! I want to believe Atlanta is a great Christmas town too!
By Samantha Hanner
December 23, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
Hastings Ranch in Pasadena is WONDERFUL … I was hoping to find something similar in Atlanta. I miss many things living in Atlanta now and I was hoping to replace some of the things so that I can start this tradition with my children.