Light the night (and the tree) with these metro Atlanta Christmas tree lightings.
The season opens with tree lightings at Atlantic Station and the classic Macy’s Great Tree Lighting at Lenox Square.
We’ve gathered the details on metro Atlanta’s most dazzling tree lightings, and we’ve included some of the smaller tree lightings in communities outside of Atlanta.
Let there be light this holiday season in Atlanta!
Credit: Raymond Hagans/Special
Credit: Raymond Hagans/Special
Atlantic Station Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. 1-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. Live music, entertainment, and kids activities all day. The tree lighting (and fireworks) will top off the big day around 8 p.m. atlanticstation.com.
The Lighting of Avalon. 1 -8 p.m. Nov. 18. The annual lighting of Avalon's 40-foot Christmas tree will kick off the holiday season. This family-friendly event will feature seasonal music, entertainment and free activities throughout the day. Santa will light the tree around 7 p.m. www.experienceavalon.com.
Lilburn Tree Lighting. 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, Lilburn City Hall, 340 Main St. Live music including a brass band, hot chocolate, kid's crafts and real reindeer (6-8 p.m. only). cityoflilburn.com.
Credit: File photo
Credit: File photo
Macy's 2018 Tree Lighting Atlanta. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, Lenox Square Mall. Hosted by Jovita Moore and Zach Klein. Performances by Adrienne Bailon Houghton, Russell Dickerson, Francesca Battistelli and former "The Voice" finalist, Kyla Jade. You can also catch it live on WSB-TV.
Light Up Dunwoody. 3 p.m. Sun. Nov. 18, Dunwoody Christmas Village at Cheek Spruill Farm House. Village opens at 3 p.m., tree and menorah lighting closes out the evening around 5:45p.m. Vendors will sell gifts and food and beverages, photos with Santa and his sleigh and reindeer! Bring your own camera, or phone. 5455 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Light Up Dunwoody.
Hapeville for the Holidays: Tree Lighting. 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, Jess Lucas Y-Teen Park, Annual event includes music, games, crafts, Santa Claus visit and tree lighting ceremony (around 8 p.m.). 680 S. Central Avenue, Hapeville. hapeville.org.
The City of Hampton Downtown Tree Lighting. 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22, Depot Park. Event includes Christmas carols, cocoa and cookies. hamptonga.gov.
RELATED: Schedules and locations of major holiday light displays from Callaway Gardens to Lake Lanier, Stone Mountain to Marietta.
38th Annual Snellville Christmas Tree Lighting. 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. Christmas Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. at Wisteria Plaza and ends near the Towne Green. Visits and photos with Santa Claus, Christmas carolers. See their site for ticketed events which can be paid for with canned goods for the Southeast Gwinnett Co-op. Tree lighting 7 p.m. www.snellvilletourism.com/events/christmas-tree-lighting.
Avondale Estates Annual City Christmas Tree Lighting. 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, Clarendon Avenue and South Avondale Road. Festivities begin with Boy Scout Troop 6 giving away cookies and a Christmas lantern parade. The Avondale Estates First Baptist Church and other carolers begin caroling at 6:30 p.m. Tree lighting around 7 p.m. Cider and doughnuts to be served after the lighting. Santa Claus will make an appearance. There will be another tree lighting at Lake Avondale at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1 avondaleestates.org.
Coming home for the Holidays in Smyrna. Smyrna Community Center. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27 on the Village Green, 200 Village Green Circle SE. Holiday festivities and musical performances. Parade begins at 7 p.m. Santa will light the Christmas tree around 7:15 p.m. smyrnacity.com.
Marietta Square Christmas Tree Lighting. 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, Glover Park (50 North Park Square). Festivities include caroling by local school choruses and visits with Santa. This is also the kickoff for the Festival of Trees, so after the tree lighting at 6 p.m. many themed trees will light up as well.
Light Up Brookhaven. 6-8 p.m. Nov. 29, Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road. Music, free crafts and refreshments, Girl Scouts selling hot chocolate, pictures with Santa, food trucks and more. Hanukkah decorations will be lit as well as a big ol' tree. Bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. www.facebook.com/events/1764428280346654/
The 2018 Vinings Jubilee Tree Lighting. 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 4300 Paces Ferry Rd SE, Atlanta. Family-friendly event includes holiday music and dance from local schools, food, activities, train rides on the Vinings Express, face painting, balloon twisting, and pictures with Santa Claus. www.facebook.com/events/194718141346116/
Flowery Branch Polar Express Block Party. 5-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, Main St., downtown Flowery Branch. Gift market, food trucks and downtown businesses Polar Express train rides and photos with Santa. Tree lighting around 6:30 p.m. www.facebook.com/events/344613969633287/.
Jolly Holly Day Suwanee. 6:30-10 p.m., Nov. 30, Suwanee Town Center Park, 330 Town Center Ave. Performances by local schools, visits with Santa (bring your camera or phone). Holiday crafts and free hot chocolate, cookies and smores. www.facebook.com/events/1579632378809987/.
City of Conyers Hometown Holiday Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting. Olde Town Conyers. 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Parade (theme: "Christmas in the South") begins at 4 p.m. at Rockdale County High School and winds its way to the Courthouse on Milstead Ave. www.facebook.com/events/546794812427804/, 770-602-2606.
Alpharetta Light the Night. 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Activities include free pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus (with your camera or phone), snow play area, marshmallow roasting, food trucks, holiday crafts for the kids, a live broadcast of the Georgia SEC Championship game and more. Tree lighting at 6:15 p.m. alpharettaga.ga.us
Deck the Hall. 2-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, Duluth Town Green. A tree lighting will happen but there's a lot more. Music, decorations, face painting, inflatables, snow playground and slide. Santa will be there. www.duluthga.net.
Annual Downtown Fayetteville Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Starts and ends at Heritage Park in downtown Fayetteville. Parade starts at 5 p.m. Free hot chocolate and popcorn. Tree lighting around 7 p.m. downtownfayetteville.org
Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting in Sugar Hill. 5:30-8:30 p.m., Dec. 1 on the Dawn P. Gober Community Plaza in downtown Sugar Hill. Santa and the Grinch will balance out good and bad karma. Holiday market, fake snow, ice skating, food vendors, music and free carriage rides. Tree lighting around 6 p.m. cityofsugarhill.com.
City of McDonough Tree Lighting Celebration. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. It's a full day in McD. with Santa on the Square, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Bring your camera or phone. Tree lighting at 5 p.m. Christmas Parade follows at 6 p.m. www.mcdonoughga.org.
Peachtree City Hometown Holiday. 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, The Fred-City Hall Plaza/ Fun starts at 5 p.m. at The Fred (Amphitheater, 201 McIntosh Trail) with music, firepits and s'mores. Then it's into your trusty golf cart and head over to City Hall for the tree lighting around 6:30 p.m. visitpeachtreecity.com.
City of Riverdale's Annual Tree Lighting & Holiday Celebration. 3-7 p.m. Dec. 1, Amphitheater Plaza, 7210 Church Street, Riverdale. Christmas parade, 3-4 p.m. Tree lighting celebration from 4-7 p.m. riverdaleculture.com, 770-909-5300.
Tyrone Christmas Tree Lighting. 5-7 p.m., Shamrock Park. Sunday, Dec. 2, lantern parade and Christmas Tree lighting tyrone.org.
Caroling in the Park. 3-4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta, 91 Peachtree St. NW. Two choirs, the Atlanta Homeward Choir and the Georgia State University Choral Union will be caroling in Woodruff Park to call attention to homelessness. There will be a free hot chocolate bar and Santa will be there along with a photo booth Park lights and a Christmas tree light up for the finale.
Decatur Tree Lighting. 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6., on the Decatur Square. The 4/5 Academy Choir provides the music, and snow is guaranteed by snow elves. Organized by Little Shop of Stories. This is about a week later than past years.
East Point Celebrates the Holidays. 5:30-7 p.m. Dec. 7, East Point City Hall, 2777 East Point Street. Musical performances will lead up to the tree lighting. Santa will be there along with hot chocolate and cider. www.facebook.com/events/2156503701257405/
Union City Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, Mayor's Park. Featuring live music, train rides, moonwalk and pictures with Santa Claus. unioncityga.org.
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