Communities across Northeast Georgia are gearing up for a full season of Christmas parades, tree lightings and family-friendly celebrations. Here’s a look at what’s happening across the region this year.
CORNELIA
November 29: Cornelia Christmas Tree Lighting
6:30–7 p.m., North Main Street next to the Big Apple. Celebrate the start of the Christmas season with friends and family.
December 6: Christmas in Downtown Cornelia
4–9 p.m. throughout downtown Cornelia. Enjoy free pictures with Santa, hayrides, food vendors (prices vary), a holiday market, and live entertainment in Fender’s Alley.
CLARKESVILLE
December 5: Downtown Clarkesville Christmas
5–8 p.m., Clarkesville Square. Free professional Santa photos, Christmas llamas, the
Cookie Crawl, craft vendors, shopping, games and live music.
December 22: Candlelight Christmas Walk
6–8 p.m. Walk begins at the Burn Sutton house (Norton Realty). LED candles provided. The group will carol along Washington Street, stop at local churches, then gather on the square for hot chocolate, fellowship and a reading of the Christmas story.
BALDWIN
December 5: Baldwin Christmas Tree Lighting
6–8 p.m. Features carols by the Baldwin Elementary School Choir, photos with Santa, cookies, hot cocoa and train rides.
December 6: Habersham County Christmas Parade
6:30–8 p.m. Hosted by the City of Baldwin and Life Church. The 2025 parade route runs from Mitchell Gailey Park to Airport Road. This year’s theme is The Music of Christmas.
DEMOREST
November 29: Photos with Santa
11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Demorest City Hall
December 4: Demorest Christmas Tree Lighting
6:30–7:30 p.m., Demorest Springs Park
December 5–6: Piedmont University’s 37th Annual Lessons and Carols
7:30–10:30 p.m. One of the region’s most beloved Christmas traditions, featuring the Piedmont Chorale, Brass Choir, Sewell Organ and Cherokee Bluff High School Chorus.
CLAYTON
November 28–29: Rabun County Festival of Trees and Holiday Celebration
All day at the Rabun County Civic Center. Decorated trees will be auctioned to benefit the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia’s Teaching Kitchen.
November 28: Christmas in Clayton
An all-day downtown celebration with extended merchant hours, live music, luminaries and a visit from Santa.
December 6: Clayton Christmas Parade
5:30 p.m. Hosted by the City of Clayton and the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce.
TOCCOA
December 5: ChristmasFest
5–9 p.m., downtown Toccoa. Carolers, craft and food vendors, live nativity, carriage rides and Santa visits. Santa’s Express train will give rides throughout the evening. The city Christmas tree lights at 6 p.m.
December 11: Night of Lights Christmas Parade
7–8 p.m., downtown Toccoa. Sponsored by the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.
ROYSTON
November 24: Royston Christmas and Tree Lighting
5–7 p.m. Late-night shopping and dining downtown, holiday market at the Depot, letters to Santa, and the tree lighting at 7 p.m.
HARTWELL
December 13: Annual Holiday Tour of Homes
10 a.m.–4 p.m. Presented by the Hartwell Service League. A $25 ticket provides access to five decorated private homes.
December 14: Hartwell Christmas Parade
4–5 p.m. Route runs from Hart County High School down Franklin Street to the Ace Hardware Shopping Center. This year’s theme is Lights… Camera… Christmas!
CLEVELAND
December 6: 2025 Christmas in the Mountains
12–7 p.m., downtown courthouse square. Holiday market, craft and food vendors, free photos with Santa (1:30–5:30 p.m.), and a lighted parade at 6 p.m.
HELEN
November 28: Annual Lighting of the Village
5–7 p.m., 1074 Edelweiss Strasse. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at Riverside Park as the village lights up for the season. Musical performances precede Santa visits.
December 13: Helen Christmas Parade
6 p.m., downtown Helen. Features fire trucks, horses, floats, dirt buggies and plenty of candy. Best viewing is across from the downtown gazebo.
DAHLONEGA
November 28–January 6: Old Fashioned Christmas
Downtown Dahlonega. A month-long celebration with daily events including caroling, entertainment, wine sampling and theater.
November 28: Lighting of the Square
6 p.m., downtown square. Dahlonega’s historic square glows with white lights. Carriage rides and music by Radford Windham follow.
December 13: Dahlonega Christmas Parade
Noon, Dahlonega Historic Square District. Begins at the Holly Theater, loops down Main Street and returns.
GAINESVILLE
December 7: Christmas on Green Street
12–7 p.m., Green Street. Antique cars, holiday floats and marching bands parade from the Gainesville Civic Center down Green Street.
December 13: Holiday Boat Light Parade
5 p.m. Boats depart Port Royale and travel to Margaritaville on Lake Lanier.
