For an up-to-date list of exciting holiday-related things to do in Atlanta, check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide. And sign up for the free Mommy Poppins newsletters to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox!

Enjoy Frosted Fables with Santa's baker, Candy.

Stone Mountain Christmas Guide for Atlanta Families

Crossroads Village

Most of the activities for Stone Mountain Christmas center on Crossroads Village, decorated with Christmas trees and tons of Christmas lights. You’ll find lots of photo ops, too! Carolers serenade guests in the holiday village as they shop for personalized ornaments at the Christmas Store, peruse gifts at the Toy Store, or enjoy a fudge demonstration at the Sweet Shoppe.  

My family started our Christmas adventure with a covered, open-air ride aboard the Sing-Along Train. Ride around the base of Stone Mountain, as crew members lead a holiday sing-along (don't worry, the lyrics display on the screens above the seats)! Near the end of the five-mile journey, the train makes a stop at Pebble Ridge, where a narrator tells the story of the first Christmas, complete with a nativity scene.

Take the kids to the elf station to make their wishlists for Santa Claus. Here, they can mail it directly to the North Pole or give it to Santa in person. Yes, Santa chats individually with kids during select times so get your phones/cameras ready for adorable pics.

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Holiday magic comes to life on stage at Stone Mountain!

Entertainment and Shows at Stone Mountain Christmas

Scheduled events occur throughout the day and evening. Let younger kids (ages 2-8) play games and dance the Hokey Pokey with Comet and Cupid or listen to stories from Santa’s baker, Candy, in front of a gingerbread house. And Mrs. Claus offers a special show (and cookie!) at the Cookie Corner throughout the day.

Catch the new 4D show, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," where your family watches the story of Rudolph, accompanied by cool special effects. Catch a humorous version of "A Christmas Carol" and make sure you take your little princesses to see "One Magic Christmas: The Story of Aurora the Princess of Light." The shows and events range from 10-25 minutes.

Nighttime Activities at Stone Mountain Christmas

Evening events kick off at 6pm with the start of the parade. Led by Princess Aurora, the Stone Mountain Park Christmas Parade features colorful floats, holiday music, and dancing Christmas trees, holiday globes, reindeer, and more. The 15-minute event ends with Santa and Mrs. Claus waving to spectators.  

For those who love Christmas lights, walk through the Musical Frosted Forest where glittering lights sync to the rhythm of holiday music. Don’t stay too long because the Enchanted Tree Lighting Ceremony begins at 6:30pm on the adjacent Memorial Lawn. Learn about holiday traditions in other countries such as Sweden, France, Ethiopia, and India before Santa flies in on his sleigh to light the big tree.

The Christmas tree lighting is a spectacular holiday sight.

Other interactive holiday light attractions include The Northern Lights 3D Immersive Experience. Don 3D glasses given at the entrance and visit Princess Aurora’s world at the Northern Lights. At Skylights Spectacular, snowflakes fall among lit Christmas trees. Walk past an array of Christmas trees, see Santa’s Tool Shed, track Santa’s journey on the large screen, and more.

For an additional fee, reserve the new Santa’s Magical Flight to the North Pole. Ride Santa’s sleigh (the Swiss-style cable car) all the way to the North Pole and receive a stamp in a passport book. The 45-minute experience includes “petting” the baby reindeer who are learning to fly, visiting with Santa, walking around the iconic Christmas tree on top of the mountain, and stepping into Mission Control to see who gets on Santa’s gift list. On select weekday evenings, you can purchase this experience without visiting Stone Mountain Christmas.

The festivities culminate every evening with the 35-minute Magical Christmas Drone and Light Show. After Princess Aurora lights up the face of the mountain for Santa, over 250 drones create a dazzling array of animated holiday symbols. This is followed by a light show (featuring over 2 million LED lights) that will delight kids and adults with hi-tech graphics set to holiday music. 

Find yourself among pre-historic favorites including the T-Rex, Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Brachiosaurus, and more.

Other Activities at Stone Mountain Park

In addition to Stone Mountain Christmas, visitors enjoy access to 15 miles of hiking trails and the 300-acre Stone Mountain Lake. Take a self-guided tour of the Historic Square, a compilation of buildings built in Georgia between 1793 and 1875, or play mini golf at the railroad-themed Great Locomotive Chase Adventure Golf.

Board the Skyride Summit for a cable car ride (dangling over 800 feet from the ground!) to the top of Stone Mountain. Get ready for jaw-dropping views of Atlanta, walk along the granite surface, and purchase items from the gift shop. While you can hike one mile down to the base of the mountain, it’s more fun (and quicker) to take the Skyride down.

Dinosaur Explore is another fun family activity. As you wind along the holiday-lit trail with 20 lifesize dinos, don’t be caught off guard when some swish their tails, shake their heads, or roar. Encounter dino footprints, bones, and eggs! Younger kids will want to stop at Dinotorium, a large four-story playhouse.

Ticket Prices for Stone Mountain Christmas

Stone Mountain Christmas tickets begin at $34.99 for kids ages 3-12 and $39.99 for adults and can be purchased online. For just $10 more, upgrade your ticket to the VIP experience. The VIP passes allow families to go to the front of the line at the Sky Ride Summit, the 4D show, and the scenic railroad. Plus, get reserved seating on the lawn at both the tree lighting and drone/light show and a pair of 3D glasses. The Flight to the North Pole isn’t included, but easily add this activity for an extra fee. Stone Mountain Park charges $20 for a daily parking pass.

Tips to Enjoy Stone Mountain Christmas

• Look at the holiday schedule ahead of time and download the map so you don’t miss anything. The parade, tree lighting, and drone show occur once per evening.
• Pack extra layers or jackets since temperatures drop after sunset. Bring an umbrella, too, as the event continues, rain or shine. Pack a blanket if you want to sit on the lawn for the tree lighting and drone show.
• Purchase on-site food, including BBQ, hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, cinnamon buns, and hot chocolate, or bring a picnic to eat inside the park.
• Don’t wait until it gets dark to enjoy the event—get to Stone Mountain in the afternoon to experience all the awesome attractions.

Photos by the author