Atlanta Homes With Spectacular Christmas Lights for 2021
We in Atlanta know how to decorate for 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 airplanes!
Some houses feature a walking tour through their front yards, perhaps offering treats and cocoa; other houses welcome families to drive by and tune specific radio frequencies to synchronized Christmas lights; and some houses are a part of an entire festive neighborhood that create a collective attraction. In fact, enjoy Christmas lights AND do charitable work —access some of these homes by using Cobb EMC's Christmas lights map, visit the homes in person, vote for your favorite, and the utility company will award $1,000 donation to the charity of the 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.
Holiday and Christmas Lights: Acworth, Georgia
Find your shades when you head to the Smoot Family Christmas Show. Located at 3699 Autumn View Dr., the Smoots do their darndest to make sure onlookers have a wonderful holiday experience. Visitors tune radios to 90.7FM, dim headlights, and enjoy the show. You even might get a cup of hot chocolate and cookies on Saturdays! All donations go to the Lupus Foundation, Georgia Chapter.
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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.
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
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 Dunwoody, Georgia
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.
Holiday Lights in Cumming, Georgia
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.
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One glimpse and you'll know why 224 Oliver Overlook has been voted one of the best decorated houses in the country.
Holiday Lights in Dallas, Georgia
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. 224 Oliver Overlook has been voted one of the best-decorated homes in the country.
Holiday Lights in Decatur, Georgia
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."
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Drive by 2929 Mockingbird Circle, Duluth's Christmas House, for a dose of holiday cheer.
Holiday Lights in Duluth, Georgia
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 Stone Mountain, Georgia
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.
Holiday Lights in Hiram, Georgia
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 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 Kennesaw, Georgia
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 does accept donations.
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.
Holiday Lights in East Cobb, Georgia
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.
Holiday Lights in Lawrenceville, Georgia
The homeowners of 371 Amberwood Drive spare no cost in lighting up the block with their fully illuminated home. Visitors' donations benefit nonprofit Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen. Other houses in the neighborhood feature inflatables, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more in a celebration locals call Christmas on Amberwood.
Holiday Lights in Marietta, Georgia
Santa's sleigh and reindeer are among the focal points of this vast light display at 4161 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
The family home at 5268 Seamus Way is worth the drive during the Christmas season. It features a lawn full of thousands of lights and festive nativity scenes.
Holiday Lights in Sandy Springs, Georgia
The north Atlanta neighborhood home at 6960 Hunters Knoll features a peppy light display with music to boot. The home features some 48 channels of lights synchronized to cheerful holiday tunes. Visitors are welcome to tune to 88.3FM on their car radios to listen in. As the home is situated on a dead-end street, the family welcomes visitors to park at the end of the street and watch the show.
Photos courtesy of the houses.
Writer James Smith contributed to this post, which was updated in November 2020.