Let’s Look at  Christmas Lights!

Hmmmm… So you want to see Christmas Lights in the South?

Below are four of my favorite places for a weekend getaway around Christmas. They’re all relatively close to East TN (my home) and do NOT include the Gatlinburg area.

I know how busy the month of December is. Let me plan the perfect weekend for you to see Christmas Lights in the South.

1. Nashville, TN

Nashville is one of my favorite places to spend a weekend around Christmas! Specifically, Cheekwood and the Opryland Hotel.

Cheekwood

The Holiday Lights at Cheekwood event is unmatched when it comes to viewing Christmas lights in the south. There are over a million lights to see including a train section that kids love. Be sure to get the mansion and gardens tickets so you can also go inside the mansion. Each room is decked out in Christmas gear!

There are stations all around the grounds selling hot cocoa and s’mores kits. If you get a s’mores kit you can roast them at the roasting station.

Their lights are up November 18, 2023 — January 7, 2024.

Opryland Hotel

Another event I like to visit is Christmas at Gaylord Opryland hotel. I can’t even begin to describe to you the feeling I get when I see the Christmas lights outside of the hotel. If you are religious this is one place you don’t want to miss! The outside is covered in lights and there is a huge white nativity. There is an audio reading that tells the biblical story on loop using speakers. You can also take a carriage ride around it.

Even if you’re not religious you should visit Christmas at Opryland. The inside is decorated and there are Christmas lights everywhere. There are many activities going on throughout the season in the hotel. One of these activities is called ICE! It’s the most popular one — for good reason. This year the theme of it is The Polar Express. So, you will see scenes from the movie carved into two million pounds of ice. There are also ice slides, ice tunnels, and more to go through. Yes, it’s very cold so if you go dress warm!

You don’t have to be staying in the hotel to see the Christmas lights or go the the activities. However, they are doing more to manage capacity this year. If you aren’t staying in the hotel or if you don’t have tickets for an activity here are the dates you are welcome to walk in and stroll around looking at lights: November 13-16, November 27-30, December 4-7, and December 11-14, 2023, or January 1, 2024.

On any of the other days in Nov and Dec you can come in and look around but it must be before noon. If you arrive on site before noon you are welcome to stay throughout the afternoon and evening. Check out their frequently asked questions page for more info.

Their lights are up November 10, 2023 — January 1, 2024.

2. McAdenville, NC

McAdenville, NC is known as Christmas Town USA so it’s the perfect place to see Christmas lights in the south! Do you want to feel like you’re in a Hallmark Christmas movie? Yes? Visit this town.

It’s a quaint little town that goes all out for Christmas. Houses and businesses are all decked out, there are little shops and diners to visit, and more. The Christmas lights are on display December 1, 2023 — December 26, 2023. They turn on promptly at 5:30pm and turn off at 10pm. Click here for tips on parking and traffic.

3. Atlanta, Georgia

The Garden Lights, Holiday Nights event at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is breathtaking! A list of Christmas Lights in the South would not be complete without it. There are just SO many lights, the whole place spans about 30 acres. Some of the lights are synchronized to music and there are some “famous” displays. Alice, the Red Queen, and White Rabbit are all ready to shine for you!

Along with them there are other displays and larger-than-life light up plants. Buy tickets in advance because they do sell out quickly.

Their lights are up November 18, 2023 — January 14, 2024.

4. Helen, Georgia

Helen, Georgia is a great place to visit around Christmas. The whole town lights up in Christmas lights, and they have a lot of events going on throughout the season.

The town sits in the mountains of Georgia, but it has a Bavarian theme. Their Christmas season kicks off on November 24th with the annual lighting of the village. Santa and Mrs. Claus does the honors and then they meet everyone they can while they’re in town.

Aside from that event another popular one is the Christkindlmarkt. It’s a German event where you can buy unique gifts and food items. They also have a Christmas parade, Nativity experience, Victorian Christmas experience, and more.

If you do choose to go to Helen, be sure to read my review on the apartment I stayed at while I was there.