Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Atlanta

Lights of Joy in Kennesaw uses 60 miles of Christmas lights to create the ultimate holiday display.
Lights of Joy in Kennesaw uses 60 miles of Christmas lights to create the ultimate holiday display.
11/17/23 - By Melanie Preis

Atlanta knows Christmas lights and how to show up, and show off, for the holidays! Neighborhood Christmas lights in Atlanta mean an all-out explosion of intricate designs, clever themes, and surging electricity bills. Some of these dizzying, dazzling homes can even be seen from overhead flights!

Residential holiday lights include houses that feature a walking tour through their front yards; other houses welcome families to drive by and tune specific radio frequencies to their synchronized Christmas lights; and some houses are a part of an entire neighborhood that creates a collective attraction! In fact, enjoy Christmas lights AND do charitable work —some of the homes mentioned below are part of Cobb EMC's Christmas lights map, where you can visit each home, vote for your favorite, and then the utility company awards the top three winners $500 each as donations to the charities of the winners' choosing. 

We’ve assembled the brightest, most elaborate holiday and Christmas lights in Atlanta to knock your seasonal socks off! 

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Note: Most homes run Christmas lights around 6-10pm. Remember, these are all private homes—homeowners expect sightseers, but don't touch any displays, enter private property, block neighboring driveways, and show up after hours. Consider bringing items or money for donations, as many homes collect funds for charities close to their hearts. 

Drive-Thru and Drive-By Christmas Displays in Atlanta Smoot Family Christmas Show
The Smoot Family Christmas Show in Acworth is an awesome place for holiday fun.

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Acworth

3699 Autumn View Drive

Wear your sunglasses at night when you head to the Smoot Family Christmas Show. Located at 3699 Autumn View Drive, the Smoots do their darndest to make sure onlookers have a wonderful holiday experience. Visitors can sync radios, dim headlights, and enjoy the show...they may even get hot chocolate and cookies on Saturdays! All donations go to the Lupus Foundation, Georgia Chapter.

Drive-Thru and Drive-By Christmas Displays in Atlanta  Hrockin Hranicky Christmas Lights
Hrockin Hranicky Christmas Lights shine in glorious holiday fashion to welcome visitors and raise awareness of Angels Among Us animal rescue. 

3848 Rivers Run Trace NW

The Hranicky family welcomes visitors yearly to their Hrockin Hranicky Christmas Lights show in Acworth. Visitors can sync radios to add festive music in their car. The display runs 6-10pm nightly. Donations of money, pet food, and supplies are accepted on behalf of Angels Among Us animal rescue.

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Kennesaw

1510 Ben King Road

Lights of Joy features more than 1.2 million Christmas lights! This Kennesaw attraction is a walk-through display; depending on the schedule, visitors may watch performances from local bands and choirs. The home accepts donations. Nearby parking at Futures Church costs $5. The fun begins Sunday, November 26, 2023 6-11pm

2008 Palladium Drive

Get rockin' and rollin' at Riley's Rockin' Christmas! This drive-by light display is synchronized to 55 minutes of holiday music. Check the display schedule to see when the animated and static shows take place and bring a donation, which goes to the Children's Burn Foundation. The fun begins Friday, December 1, 2023 6-11pm

Holiday & Christmas Lights: East Cobb

2994 Clary Hill Court

Making the East Cobb and Roswell communities proud, the Fox Family Christmas Light Display is back! The home is located in Roswell, and welcomes visitors nightly. The drive-by attraction is set to music! Donations accepted for local organizations.

770 Fox Hollow Parkway 

Lane Lights at 770 Fox Hollow Pkwy in Marietta has attracted visitors for years who love a festive light show! Running nightly November 24-December 27, 2023; Sunday-Thursday 6-9:30pm and Friday-Saturday 6-10pm  

RELATED: Dazzling Holiday and Christmas Light Drive-Thrus in Atlanta 

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Alpharetta 

370 Oak Terrace

Join Pierce Lights for holiday fun in Alpharetta! This synchornized light show features more than 50,000 Christmas lights, and visitors can make donations to the family's selected charity. Expected to start Thanksgiving night.

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Cumming

Kelly Mill Road and Bethelview Road

The Ashebrooke subdivision in Cumming is an entire neighborhood of awe-inspiring lights! They invite the public for their annual Night of Lights, which is scheduled for Sunday, December 17, 2023 starting at 6pm. Make sure to drive slow and catch all the homes as the streets will be directed into a one-way traffic pattern. 

Drive-Thru and Drive-By Christmas Displays in Atlanta
Get your fill of holiday lights in Stone Mountain at 1833 Smokerise Summit!

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Stone Mountain

1833 Smokerise Summit

A Whole Lot of Christmas awaits at 1833 Smokerise Summit in Stone Mountain. For more than 25 years, these homeowners have been creating the stuff of Christmas dreams (check out the snowman village!). Donations are given to Make-a-Wish Foundation. Nightly 5:30-11pm

Drive-Thru and Drive-By Christmas Displays in Atlanta Portwood Family Christmas Lights
The Portwood family offers character nights, featuring reindeer, snowmen, and more.

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Hiram

20 Valley Drive

The Portwood Family Christmas Lights are so much more than just lights—visitors are treated to character nights, a snow machine, and even hot chocolate on certain nights! Their sock drive, to support the Paulding County Sheriff's Cops For Kids program. Runs until November 25-December 8, 2023. 

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Lawrenceville

371 Amberwood Drive

These homeowners spare no cost in lighting up the block with their fully illuminated home and inflatables. The display accepts donations, which helps to keep their Christmas lights up and running. Other houses in the neighborhood also feature inflatables, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more in a celebration locals call Christmas on Amberwood. Nightly 6:30-10pm

Drive-Thru and Drive-By Christmas Displays in Atlanta 224 Oliver Overlook
224 Oliver Overlook has been voted one of the best decorated houses in the country! 

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Dallas

10 Red Bud Court

Get ready for the ultimate holiday magic at a Red Bud Christmas in Dallas! Everyone is welcome to come (including pets); donations are appreciated and go toward Caleb's Cup. Runs November 23, 2023-January 1, 2024; Sunday-Thursday, 6-9pm, and Friday-Saturday, 6-10pm.

224 Oliver Overlook

Homeowners go all out, making a visit to 224 Oliver Overlook, west of Dallas, Georgia, a must-do during the holiday season. Spectators see dazzling strings of lights that envelope the house, attached garage, and outdoor trees. This house has been voted one of the best decorated homes in the country! 

18 Riverwood Landing 

Visitors to 18 Riverwood Landing in Dallas get to see an awesome Christmas house lit up for the season, with an amazing light show. Check the home's Facebook page for holiday hours.

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Powder Springs

5268 Seamus Way

The Woodruff family home is worth the drive during the Christmas season. The holiday home features a TON of Christmas lights, inflatables, and special effects. The show, synchronized to holiday music, is broadcast on 102.1FM. Fun starts Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 6pm. 

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Stockbridge 

1408 Hemphill Road

This Giganti-Deer Synchornized Light Show in Stockbridge welcomes visitors to drive through and see the lights. The homeowners accept donations for both the upkeep of their holiday light show and for Woodlands School Teacher Appreciation. Check the home's Facebook page for holiday hours and updates.

Holiday & Christmas Lights: Fayetteville 

165 Stafford Court 

Folks who drive by 165 Stafford Court in Fayetteville are treated to a rockin' synchronized holiday light show by Burton Christmas Lights. Folks can sync to the radio to fully enjoy the spectacle. Fun fact: The same house puts on a Halloween light show in October! The fun starts on Friday, November 24, 2023 at 6:30pm, then continues weeknights until 9:30pm and weekends until 10pm.

Photos courtesy of the families/venues

Writers Dana Shemesh, James Smith, and Elsa Simcik contributed to this post.

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