Atlanta Homes With Spectacular Christmas Lights for 2021
We in Atlanta know how to decorate for the holidays, and that obsession reaches an apex with Christmas lights. 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 lights include houses that feature a walking tour through their front yards (sometimes even offering tassty treats); 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 in person, vote for your favorite, and then the utility company will award $1,000 donation to the charity of the winning homeowner's choosing.
We’ve assembled the brightest, most elaborate holiday and Christmas lights in Atlanta to knock your seasonal socks off!
Note: Most homes run Christmas lights around 6-10pm. Holiday and Christmas lights often continue through New Year's Eve, but each home is different. And 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.
Visit 3699 Autumn View Drive in Acworth for holiday fun.
Holiday and Christmas Lights: Acworth, Georgia
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 tune radios to 90.7FM, 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.
3848 Rivers Run Trace NW
The Hranicky family welcomes visitors yearly to their Hrockin Hranicky Christmas Lights show at 3848 Rivers Run Trace NW. Visitors can tune in to 107.7FM to add some 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 Lights in Kennesaw, Georgia
1510 Ben King Road
Lights of Joy, at 1510 Ben King Road features more than 850,000 Christmas lights! This Kennesaw attraction is a walk-through display that runs 6-10pm nightly; depending on the schedule, visitors may watch performances from local bands and choirs. The home accepts donations.
2008 Palladium Drive
Get rockin' and rollin' at Riley's Rockin' Christmas! Located at 2008 Palladium Drive, this drive-by light display runs until January 1 and is synchronized to 55 minutes of holiday music (tune to 101.3FM). 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.
4220 Tivoli Way in Alpharetta is a sight to see. Just get there early; neighborhood gates close at 9pm nightly.
Holiday Lights in Alpharetta, Georgia
4220 Tivoli Way
This trendy neighborhood north of Atlanta is highlighted by 4220 Tivoli Way, called Christmas in Castille. For 2021, homeowners put on a light display December 16-18, 6-9pm, synchronized with the radio station 89.9FM. The neighborhood is gated, but permits cars to come through to see the show.
Holiday Lights in East Cobb, Georgia
2994 Clary Hill Court
Making the East Cobb and Roswell communities proud, the Fox Family Christmas Light Display is back again this year! The home is located at 2994 Clary Hill Court, Roswell, and welcomes visitors nightly 6-10pm. The drive-by attraction is set to music, accessible on 88.3FM. Donations accepted for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.
Invasion of the Hanukkah inflatables in Dunwoody!
Holiday Lights in Dunwoody, Georgia
Springfield Drive
Who says Christmas lights are the only thing to look at this holiday season? Head to Springfield Drive in Dunwoody and witness Hanukkah in inflatable form! The entire front yard is covered in festive inflatables, including a huge section just devoted to Star Wars.
RELATED: Dazzling Holiday and Christmas Lights in Atlanta
Holiday Lights in Decatur, Georgia
2464 Fontaine Circle
The Graves Christmas house, at 2464 Fontaine Circle, is known across Atlanta as one of the best houses to stop during the holiday season. You may even catch a glimpse of a real-life Santa as the homeowner sometimes dresses as the "big guy."
RELATED: Atlanta Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide
Drive by 2929 Mockingbird Circle for a dose of holiday cheer.
Holiday Lights in Duluth, Georgia
2929 Mockingbird Circle
Duluth’s Christmas House at 2929 Mockingbird Circle is one of the holiday mainstays in this town just north of Atlanta. So many seasonal figures pack the lawn it's almost difficult to find the house behind all the lights. This drive-through event runs nightly, 6-10pm, until December 29. The family is accepting non-perishable food and monetary donations for Duluth's First Baptist Church.
Holiday Lights in Cumming, Georgia
Kelly Mill Road and Bethelview Road
The Ashebrooke subdivision in Cumming is an entire neighborhood of awe-inspiring lights. The Night of Lights is scheduled for Sunday, December 19, 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.
Get your fill of holiday lights in Stone Mountain!
Holiday Lights in Stone Mountain, Georgia
1833 Smokerise Summit
A Whole Lot of Christmas awaits at 1833 Smokerise Summit. For more than 25 years, these homeowners have been creating the stuff of Christmas dreams. Stop by nightly 5:30-11pm to see the "Christmas shark" among other wonderful lights. Donations are given to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
The Portwood family offers character nights, featuring reindeer, snowmen, and more.
Holiday Lights in Hiram, Georgia
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! The fun runs Sunday-Thursday, 6-10pm, and Friday-Saturday, 6-11pm. Their sock drive, to support the Paulding County Sheriff's Cops For Kids program, runs until Friday, December 10.
Holiday Lights in Lawrenceville, Georgia
371 Amberwood Drive
The homeowners of 371 Amberwood Drive spare no cost in lighting up the block with their fully illuminated home. The drive-through attraction opens 6-10pm (later on the weekend) and accepts donations for Toys for Tots and March of Dimes. Other houses in the neighborhood feature inflatables, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more in a celebration locals call Christmas on Amberwood.
224 Oliver Overlook has been voted one of the best decorated houses in the country.
Holiday Lights in Dallas, Georgia
224 Oliver Overlook
Homeowners here go all out, making a visit to 224 Oliver Overlook, west of the city, a must-do during the holiday season. Thrill to 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.
Holiday Lights in Marietta, Georgia
4151 Bolingbrook Drive
Santa's sleigh and reindeer are among the focal points of this vast light display at 4151 Bolingbrook Drive. The home beckons visitors with thousands of lights that ignite the warm feeling of Christmas, even for a Grinch.
Holiday Lights in Powder Springs, Georgia
5268 Seamus Way
The Woodruff family home at 5268 Seamus Way is worth the drive during the Christmas season. The holiday site features a TON of Christmas lights, inflatables, and special effects. The show, synchronized to holiday music, is broadcast on 102.1FM.
Photos courtesy of the houses.
Writers Dana Shemesh and James Smith contributed to this post.