Community Events

Celebration at the Station kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 23. Enjoy this interactive experience with a festive video featuring holiday lights set to the music of some of our holiday favorites and swirls of snow.

During the holiday season, check out this fantastic display at the top of every hour, from 5-9 p.m., through Wednesday, Dec. 25.

Warm your heart during Chattanooga’s most enchanted holiday celebration.

Experience Rock City Gardens as a nighttime winter wonderland. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the season amidst the unparalleled natural beauty of this enchanted place. This uniquely festive light experience has become a beloved holiday tradition and is not to be missed during this anniversary event.

Journey down the all-new Christmas tree walk to visit Santa at Carter Cliffs, the original home of Rock City’s founders. Decorate your own GingerGnome cookie and experience the enchantment of a winter celebration like no other – all after dark.

Don’t miss creating holiday memories with your family and friends as we celebrate 30 years of magic, moments and memories during Rock City Gardens Enchanted Garden of Lights!

Elevate your Thanksgiving celebration at Tesserae with a one-of-a-kind rooftop dining experience.

Gather with friends and family in a stunning, festive setting as you enjoy a specially curated prix fixe menu, priced at $80 per person, that beautifully blends holiday classics with inventive, chef-inspired dishes. Savor holiday-inspired starters like butter lettuce salad or filet mignon tartare with truffle brioche toast. Choose from main courses such as sea trout or roasted turkey breast served with cranberry orange chutney, complemented by family-style sides like fried brussels, garlic green beans and Tesserae’s lasagna mac. End on a sweet note with desserts like lemon meringue pie or pumpkin pie cheesecake.

View the full menu here.

Reserve your spot now to experience the holiday with breathtaking views and exceptional service.

Visit here to secure your reservation.  

The tradition continues as the Great Tree is lit on the lawn of the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on Thanksgiving evening.

Santa will light the tree and then will receive visitors in his living room inside the Courthouse. Visitors can enjoy self-guided tours of the beautifully decorated Courthouse.

Pre-registration is not required.

Plus kids' activities, s'mores, live entertainment, gingerbread contest and more! Learn more on Gwinnett County's website.

This event will run from 5:30-8 p.m.

The Thanksgiving Ride the Rails and Model Railroad Open House event features a 40-minute 5-mile round trip ride in open-air railroad motor cars departing the Historic Depot, traveling through the Iron Bridge over the beautiful Toccoa River, climbing the grade out of the river valley and then in reverse back to the depot. There participants may view the extensive museum quality model railroad representing the L&N Railroad in the Tri-State area, circa 1948-52.

The first trip departs at noon, the last at 3 p.m.

Model Railroad is accessible. Ride may be accessible depending on rider's ability to transfer!

Suggested Donations:

MOTOR CAR Ride- $15.00, age 13 and older. $5.00, children 3-12. Under age 3, free.

HAND CAR - $ 2.00 - Per person/per trip.

Mini Hand Car Ride and entry to model railroad - free to all ages.

Free parking. A fun and economical family outing day.

Come take a stroll through the world where differences are cherished and kindness flourishes, a world we’d all like to live in, a world envisioned and created by artists and friends Maxine Hess and Jeanne Hewell-Chambers--on exhibit at the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum in Carrollton Sept. 26-Dec. 5.

Museum hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

The Festival of Trees is a holiday highlight!  Take a walk through a collection of beautifully decorated Christmas trees throughout the Museum of Aviation Rotunda and on the second and third floors. The view from above is amazing!

The Festival of Trees is open to the public and admission is free. This community-wide affair will put you in the holiday spirit.

Plus, this is a chance to wear your ugly Christmas sweater and take photos by your favorite tree. Don’t forget to post those pics on Facebook!

Kick off the holiday season with Georgia's largest holiday event, the Georgia Festival of Trees! A family tradition perfect for all ages, the festival features a forest of fully-decorated Christmas trees available for auction, live music and entertainment, visits with Santa, boutique gift shops, sugar cookie decorating, a Christmas Gingerbread Competition and more. Plus, Penny the Pink Pig will make her debut this year during the festival! 

All proceeds from the event will benefit Street Grace and Atlanta Redemption Ink, local nonprofit organizations working to support survivors of human trafficking and end human trafficking. 

Tickets to the Georgia Festival of Trees (excluding fees) start at $13.95 for seniors ages 62+, and adult tickets are $18.95. Children’s tickets for ages 3-12 are $18.95 and include access to the Reindeer Games area. The Pink Pig, cookie decorating, Santa’s Workshop (a shopping experience for children) and photos with Santa are an additional cost.

Nov. 23-Dec. 1 (The festival will be closed Nov. 27 and 28 for Thanksgiving)

Starting in November through Christmas Eve, grab a Santa Shuffle card from a participating business! Once you spend $100 downtown you are entered to win unbelievable prizes. Ask participating businesses for a card!

In recognition of the vital importance of increased visibility and diverse representation of LGBTQ+ communities and issues, particularly in our rural areas, the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is honored to present Queer Perspectives, a juried exhibition in Fall 2024.

Join us for a magical breakfast during Fantasy In Lights!

Delight in a festive morning filled with holiday cheer, a delicious breakfast buffet and a special visit from Santa himself! Children will have the opportunity to share their Christmas wishes with Santa and take memorable photos. This enchanting experience is perfect for families looking to create lasting holiday memories.

Breakfast will be from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Lodge & Spa Conference Center.

Tickets must be pre-purchased.

A beloved Christmas tradition shines even brighter!

This holiday season, discover the brand-new Tree of Traditions, a 40-foot Pixel Pine Tree, lighting up festive winter nights in Callaway Christmas Village. Step out of your car and into a real-life Winter Wonderland of twinkling lights, oversized ornaments and a forest of perfectly decorated trees. Then climb aboard the Jolly Trolley for a dazzling journey along the classic seven-mile Fantasy In Lights drive-through experience, illuminated with 10 million twinkling lights and 17 dazzling Christmas scenes! Discover 2,500 acres of Christmas cheer with your family only during Fantasy in Lights presented by Georgia Power.

The Madison Artists Guild & Gallery's 6th Annual Holiday Market is filled with one of a kind gifts ready to purchase for the holidays – wreaths, ornaments, pottery, jewelry, glass art, paintings and more.

The market will be open Oct. 18-Dec. 31, during regular MAGallery hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with extended hours of 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Shop Sip ‘N Stroll Saturdays in November, during Madison’s Fifth Fridays (open until 7 p.m.), Holiday Tour of Homes and Candlelight Shopping (open until 7 p.m.).

With more than 30 artists providing a variety of handmade items, shoppers will find something for everyone this holiday season.

Come early to find the best selections.

Fifth Fridays - Decked Out for the Holidays - in downtown Madison!

Get decked out in your favorite holiday outfit for Fifth Friday in Downtown Madison! Whether you are in costume, dressed to the nines or sporting an ugly Christmas sweater, show off your holiday cheer while shopping "late" until 7 p.m. and dining out.

More fun downtown

• Special giveaways for people dressed up will be at the Main Street Tent next to the Welcome Center, while supplies last!
• Complimentary hot cider located at the Main Street Tent.

For more information and a full list of who is open late and upcoming 'Open Late Dates' visit https://www.madisonga.com/949/Open-Late-Downtown

“Christmas Belles,” a play by Jones, Hope, Wooten, is an uproarious comedy that takes place in Fayro, Texas, at the local church’s Christmas Eve program. It spins hilariously out of control when feuding sisters, a surly Santa, family secrets and a reluctant Elvis impersonator come to life on the stage. This holiday journey through a misadventure-filled production is guaranteed to bring joy to your world.

Shows are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at the theater's website or at the theater box office, one hour before each performance.  If you have any questions, send an email to taterpatchplayers@gmail.com.

This winter, the Byron L. Dobbs Exhibit Gallery is set to host a heartwarming temporary exhibit, A Century of Toys: 100 Years of Play, just in time for the holiday season. Curated by Chuck Douglas, the collection spans three generations of his family’s cherished toys, alongside contributions from other families and History Cherokee’s archives.

Expect to see a blend of modern-day favorites and beloved vintage treasures, ensuring there’s something to stir nostalgia in every visitor. From classic toys that defined childhoods to recent creations, this exhibition promises a captivating experience for children and adults alike.

Admission: Free for History Cherokee members, included with general admission for non-members

Location: Cherokee County History Center, 221 E. Marietta St. Canton, GA 30114

Dates: Nov. 13, 2024, through February 2025

Public Ice Skating

Experience the joy of gliding across the ice under twinkling lights at our fully-covered ice rink. Perfect for family outings, date nights or just a fun day with friends. No cold weather needed!

Open Nov. 14 till Jan. 18, 2025. 

Weekends $13 Weekends/ Prime Days $17 Seasonal Pass $140 

Check the website for dates and times.

Bring your family for a wonderful holiday tradition.

The Lights Of The South will be open Nov. 22 until Dec. 30. They will be closed Christmas day. Enjoy a hayride or stroll thought acres of beautiful Christmas lights. Kid-friendly food is available on site.

See the world's largest vertical American Flag make out of Christmas Lights.

Experience the legendary tale of the Titanic like never before with Titanic: An Immersive Voyage.

Featuring over 300 artifacts, life-sized reconstructed rooms, 3D views, video animations and state-of-the-art technology, this immersive experience offers a riveting and emotional journey through one of history’s most iconic tragedies. From the ship’s grand construction to its fatal collision with the iceberg, you’ll get to fully immerse yourself in the Titanic's captivating story.

Wander through its lavish halls, watch the iceberg appear and relive the ship’s dramatic final moments in an immersive gallery. Plus, with a virtual reality exploration of the Titanic’s wreck site more than 2.5 miles deep into the ocean, it promises to be a retelling of the Titanic story like no other.

Get your tickets now for Titanic: An Immersive Voyage in Atlanta!

Find tickets at the link below.

All are invited to skate under the stars Nov. 15 -Jan. 20 at Atlanta’s largest outdoor skating rink!\

View the exciting lineup of theme nights here. General Admission tickets ($17) and Season Passes ($90) must be purchased online in advance. Skate the Station hours are Monday through Friday, 4-10 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., and Sunday, 12-8 p.m.