Alpharetta lights three Christmas trees this year on three nights in a row: Friday, November 20, Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22. A different host runs each lighting in a different part of the city. Each one also starts something that keeps going through December. The hotel lighting opens the rooftop season, the city lighting opens the downtown calendar and the Avalon lighting opens the ice rink. Choosing a night to attend also decides which of those you start with.
Three Hosts, Three Addresses, One Weekend
Here are the three lightings side by side.
| Night | Host and location | Hours | When the tree lights | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 20 | The Hamilton Alpharetta, 35 Milton Ave. | 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | Free |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | City of Alpharetta, 2 Park Plaza | 5 to 8 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | Free, rain or shine |
| Sun., Nov. 22 | Avalon, 400 Avalon Blvd. | 2 to 7:30 p.m. | 7 p.m. sharp | Free |
The three are different sizes and keep different hours. The Hamilton's evening has the feel of a hotel event. According to the event's Awesome Alpharetta listing, there's a Baileys hot cocoa bar, a prime rib special from the hotel's restaurant, carolers from the Alpharetta High School Chorus, photos with Santa, and holiday classics on a big screen on the Amenity Deck. The tree lights at 6:30 p.m.
The city's lighting on Saturday is the traditional one. The Season of Celebration lights 10,000 bulbs at 6:30 p.m. and adds live music, snow flurries, marshmallow roasting, sing-alongs and a visit from Santa. Admission is free, and the event happens rain or shine.
Avalon's Sunday event takes up most of the afternoon. The Lighting of Avalon starts at 2 p.m. with skating performances around the rink. Avalon on Ice opens to the public at 3, and the Atlanta Figure Skating Club skates from 3 to 5. Face painting, holiday crafts and a photo booth run along Avalon Boulevard. Santa counts down to the 40-foot tree, which lights at 7 p.m. sharp.
Of the three, Avalon gives the most specific parking guidance. Parking is free in its decks, valet is at 3rd Street, and shuttles run from Gwinnett Technical College across the street. Avalon expects the decks to fill quickly and suggests carpooling or rideshare.
Saturday Is the Busiest Day of the Weekend
The city's tree lighting is the last event on a busy Saturday. Three other things happen in Alpharetta earlier that day:
- Arts Alpharetta's Artist Holiday Market runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St. Admission is free.
- North Point Mall's Holiday Kick-Off runs from noon to 3 p.m. at 1000 North Point Circle. The Seed & Feed Marching Abominable leads a parade that brings Santa in on the Peachtree Express Train. The route goes from Center Court to the West Court near Dillard's and Von Maur, then to the East Court near JCPenney, where the band marches upstairs to play at the carousel. Admission is free.
- The Friendship Ring of Kids display at the Alpharetta Community Center, 175 Roswell St., gets its winter look that day. The sculpture's children wear colorful winter hats among lights and decorations through December 31, and there's no admission charge.
The arts market, the Friendship Ring and the city's tree lighting, which starts at 5 p.m. and lights the tree at 6:30, are all downtown, so they can be done in one day. North Point is east of GA-400 and its event ends at 3, which leaves time to get back downtown before the tree lights.
What Each Lighting Starts
Each of the three lightings starts a season-long event in its own part of the city.
Friday opens the rooftop season. Elf'd UP, the holiday pop-up at UP on the Roof in downtown Alpharetta, opens November 20, the same night as the Hamilton lighting, and runs through December 27. Its own listing promises kitschy décor and Christmas-themed cocktails and encourages guests to wear their tackiest sweater.
Downtown's calendar continues from Saturday's lighting. The Town Green at 2 Park Plaza also hosts the Downtown Menorah Lighting with Chabad of North Fulton on Thursday, December 10, from 5 to 6 p.m. The new Winter Parade comes downtown two days later.
Avalon's rink opens Sunday and has the longest season. Avalon on Ice is open from November 22 through January 18, 2027. That is the longest run of any event on Alpharetta's holiday calendar. Admission is $18 for adults and $14 for children 12 and under, and skates are included. Hours are 3 to 9 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Avalon asks skaters to reserve a time slot in advance. Walk-ups are welcome but aren't guaranteed a time.
The rest of Avalon's season starts the next day. Santa's Cottage opens in Palmer Plaza on Monday, November 23, and stays through December 24. Appointments are recommended, hours change by day of the week, and photo packages cost $40 to $50. Story Time with Santa runs on Mondays from November 23 through December 22, with 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. sessions. Tickets for story time and for Avalon's Breakfast with Santa go on sale November 5 at 10 a.m.
The Alpharetta Symphony also fits between Thanksgiving and December. Its concert, An Alpharetta Holiday, is Saturday, November 28, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Innovation Academy, 125 Milton Ave. The program includes themes from holiday movies, carols the audience can sing along to, and some classical pieces. Tickets are required; details are on the Alpharetta Symphony's site.
December Adds Northwinds to the Map
The opening weekend uses Milton Avenue, Park Plaza and Avalon. In December, the holiday calendar adds the Alpha Loop near Northwinds Parkway, along with two more weekends that have several events each.
Lights on the Loop lights up one mile of the Alpha Loop at 2500 Northwinds Pkwy. every night from 5:30 to 11 p.m., December 4 through January 4, 2027. It's free. The lights switch on Friday, December 4, at 5:30 p.m. Two themed weekends run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.:
- December 4 and 5, Holiday Music Showcase. The Alpharetta Symphony, the Alpharetta City Band, local musicians and a holiday DJ perform.
- December 18 and 19, Pet-Friendly Weekend. Llamas on the Loop returns, along with pet-friendly activities.
On both themed weekends, the Lights & Delights Village behind 2500 Northwinds Parkway has artisan vendors, seasonal food and drinks for sale, entertainment and holiday characters.
Saturday, December 5 is the season's busiest day after the opening weekend. Here is the order of events:
- 8 to 8:45 a.m. and 9:15 to 10 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa at Avalon, at Chick-fil-A. A second breakfast is on Sunday, December 6, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Oak Steakhouse.
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: The Alpharetta Christmas Market at Innovation Academy, 125 Milton Ave., run by the Alpharetta Business Association. Admission is free.
- 10 a.m. to noon: Free photos with Santa at the Alpharetta Welcome Center, 178 South Main St., Suite 200. Photos are printed on-site and emailed right away. Pets aren't allowed in the photos.
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Snow Day at Alpharetta City Center on the Town Green at 2001 Commerce St. There's live music, snow, crafts and photo spots, and admission is free.
- 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.: The second night of the Holiday Music Showcase on the Alpha Loop.
The Christmas Market, Welcome Center and City Center events all run through late morning, so they can be combined without driving. Avalon's breakfast and the evening on the Loop are the stops at either end of the day.
On Sunday, December 6, Avalon holds its Menorah Lighting with Chabad of North Fulton from 5 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
The New Parade Brings the Season Back Downtown
Saturday, December 12 has the season's one new event. The first Alpharetta Winter Parade goes through downtown from 5:30 to 7 p.m. It features local youth, civic organizations and the Rotary Club of Alpharetta, and it's free to attend.
Earlier that day, Makers Market holds a holiday edition of its monthly Local Artist Fair at Avalon from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
The parade has no earlier years to compare with, so this is the first year it's on the calendar. It also means downtown, which hosted the city's lighting on November 21, gets another big evening before the holidays.
After that, the season winds down at different times. Elf'd UP ends December 27, and the Friendship Ring display stays up through December 31. The lights on the Alpha Loop stay on through January 4, and the last day to skate at Avalon is January 18, 2027.
If you're planning which opening night to attend, or welcoming new neighbors to Alpharetta this season, Bonnie Smith and our team are happy to share what we know about every corner of the city's holiday calendar. Our door is open all season.
