It’s the holiday season — and the most wonderful time of year in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains! From seasonal treats shared with friends to festive downtown parades, North Georgia offers community calendars packed with family fun for an old-fashioned Appalachian Christmas. Enjoy a small-town holiday — mountain style! Listen to live music, meet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, sip cocoa in front of glittering Christmas lights, look out for North Georgia snow, make holiday crafts, spot beautiful Christmas trees, tour holiday homes, go ice-skating, and soak in a steamy hot tub at your cozy cabin. It’s the perfect way to celebrate a Blue Ridge, Georgia, Christmas!
2022 Holiday Events in the North Georgia Mountains
Holiday Show & Sale | Nov 19 – Dec 17
Find the perfect gift — made locally in the Blue Ridge Mountains — at the annual holiday sale hosted by the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association!
BRMAA & Art Center
420 West Main Street
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
706.632.2144
Mountain Country Christmas in Lights | Nov 24 – Dec 23
Bring the family for a festive night at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, GA. Lake Chatuge serves as the backdrop for the glittering holiday lights, vendors offering local arts and crafts, food vendors, hot cocoa, and magical photos with Santa! Kids 12 and under get in for FREE, and tickets are only $7 per person.
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
1311 Music Hall Road
Hiawassee, GA 30546
706.896.4191
Blue Friday | Nov 25
On the day after Thanksgiving, Blue Friday welcomes everyone to visit downtown Blue Ridge for special sales on souvenirs, sweets, and gifts. Plus, there’s Christmas caroling throughout the day, the start of their annual gingerbread village competition, carriage rides, holiday characters, and fun activities for kids in the park!
Light Up MCaysville Tree Lighting | Nov 25
Kick off the holiday season, just about 10 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge, at Riverwalk Shops in neighboring McCaysville! Do some Christmas shopping, grab a bite to eat, visit Santa, enjoy live music at TOONEYS, and watch the lights begin to dazzle next to the Toccoa River around 4 PM — with the 30-foot tree lighting around 7 PM.
Riverwalk Shops
100 Blue Ridge Drive
McCaysville, GA 30555
706.964.8800
Elf the Musical | Nov 25 – Dec 11
See your favorite overgrown Christmas elf dance and sing on stage at the Blue Ridge Ridge Community Theater’s seasonal show this year — a local tradition that brings all of Fannin County together!
Blue Ridge Community Theater
2591 East 1st Street
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
706.632.9191
Light Up Blue Ridge + Christmas Parade | Nov 26
Save at local shops, enjoy the sights and sounds of the season, and taste seasonal local foods during Blue Friday in downtown, then come back for a Santa Claus visit and bright holiday displays on Saturday! Along with a celebration of Christmas lights and holiday decorations at every glance, you can enjoy the TubaChristmas performance, an enchanting Christmas parade along East Main Street, photos with Santa in the gazebo, and a lighting ceremony for the Great Tree.
Dahlonega’s Old-Fashioned Christmas | Dec 1-31
Experience an old-fashioned Appalachian Christmas in Dahlonega, hosting many Christmas events throughout December in the mountain town square. Start with the tree lighting ceremony and Christmas parade, hop on a horse carriage ride through downtown, snap photos with Santa, visit the Christmas market for last-minute gifts, sip mulled wine, build gingerbread houses, sing Christmas carols, and make seasonal arts and crafts with locals.
Blue Ridge on Ice | Dec 1 – Jan 9
Twirl and glide on the seasonal ice-skating rink in the Blue Ridge Farmers Market, next to the Swan Drive-in Theater (playing holiday films). Hot drinks and treats are available at the concession stand. The rink is open daily — including special hours on Christmas Day — and ice-skating only costs $10 per person.
Blue Ridge Farmers Market
787 Summit Street
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Holiday Express | Dec 2-23
This magical 1-hour train ride aboard the Blue Ridge train is set to the sounds of seasonal tunes and a reading of The Night Before Christmas. Sip hot cocoa as the kids enjoy their own jingle bell, candy cane, and Christmas activity pack for holiday fun!
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
241 Depot Street
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
877.413.8724
Copper Basin Christmas Parade | Dec 3
Holiday floats are getting ready for this annual festive parade — by the Copperhill Kiwanis Club — that’s been a Christmas tradition in the Blue Ridge area for more than 60 years in downtown McCaysville, Georgia & Copperhill, Tennessee! The FREE festivities start at 2 PM in the heart of these twin mountain towns.
Christmas Tour of Homes | Dec 4
Appalachian homes get into the holiday spirit for an incredible display of seasonal magic in the North Georgia Mountains! Enjoy refreshments between 11 AM and 2 PM before heading out to visit the stunningly decorated homes between 1 PM and 6 PM that day.
Family County Family Connection
501 Fannin Industrial Park
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
706.632.6063
Helen’s Annual Christmas Parade | Dec 10
In the alpine mountain town of Helen, GA, Santa will arrive in a classic Bavarian sleigh at this fun daytime Christmas parade on Main Street! With seasonal decorations, festive floats, Christmas candy, and the jolly elf himself, this parade is a great holiday event for families and friends.
Festive Family Fun at YOUR Mountain Cabin
When you’re not out and about exploring a winter wonderland in the Chattahoochee National Forest, enjoying a holiday light show downtown, meeting Mrs. Claus, ice-skating at the market, taking a seasonal carriage ride, singing Christmas carols, or listening to live music — come back to one of our cozy cabin rentals in North Georgia for more holiday fun with family and friends. What’s more magical than a private mountain cabin with all the fixings of a perfect holiday?! Here are a few fun ways to celebrate Christmas at your Blue Ridge cabin north of Atlanta.
- Sip hot chocolate in front of a wood-burning fireplace and mountain views.
- Bring a mini Christmas tree and decorate it as a family on Christmas Eve.
- Bring your favorite holiday movies to watch in the plush home theater.
- Decorate and nosh on Christmas cookies baked in the fully equipped kitchen.
- Make gingerbread houses — complete with local candies and treats from sweets shops in Blue Ridge!
- Play board games while sipping hot cider from a local apple orchard.
- Kick back in a soothing hot tub after a full day of Christmas cheer!
Ready to plan YOUR Blue Ridge, GA, Christmas? Block your calendar, book your holiday stay, and make forever memories in the North Georgia Mountains!
