Winter WonderLights and Holiday Magic Illuminate Athens, Georgia

Downtown Athens Parade of Lights

Just an hour east of Atlanta, Athens, Georgia, transforms into a glowing winter destination filled with creativity, community, and festive cheer. The centerpiece of the season is Winter WonderLights at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, where from late November through early January, the gardens sparkle with dazzling light displays and immersive holiday scenes. Guests can stroll a half-mile trail through the Winter Wondercave, Jingle Bell Lane, and Cone Tree Forest, pausing to roast s’mores and sip hot chocolate beneath the glittering lights.

When the holidays wind down, the celebration keeps going with WonderLights Disco Nights on January 2–3 and 9–10, 2026. These special evenings swap traditional holiday tunes for disco beats, inviting visitors to dance their way through the illuminated gardens.

Downtown Athens shines just as brightly with its Downtown Athens Parade of Lights on December 4. This cherished local tradition fills the streets with festive floats, holiday music, and the annual tree-lighting ceremony led by Santa himself—marking the official start of the season.

Athens’ holiday markets add another layer of charm, showcasing the city’s creative spirit. Families flock to the Beechwood Holiday Market for hayrides and Santa’s Village, while shoppers hunt for unique handmade treasures at the Indie South Fair’s Holiday Hooray and the Athens Holiday Market at Big City Bread Café.

From sparkling gardens to festive markets, Athens offers a winter season brimming with light, music, and small-town magic.

Learn more at VisitAthensGA.com.

Winter WonderLights

Photo credits: ACC Leisure Services and Uga Shannah Montgomery