Looking for Christmas lights in Georgia to enjoy with family this holiday season? Magical Nights of Lights at Lanier Islands Resort in Buford, Georgia, returns November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027. This popular drive-through Christmas light show features miles of sparkling displays, holiday entertainment, visits with Santa on select dates, and winter fun at License to Chill Snow Island.
With tickets priced per vehicle, overnight accommodations at Legacy Lodge and other resort properties, and plenty of festive activities, Lanier Islands makes it easy to turn a Christmas lights outing into a North Georgia holiday getaway.
For our family, this attraction has an extra-special appeal. Our daughter lives in Marietta, and we have enjoyed making holiday visits a family tradition. Usually, she comes to see us in middle Georgia. This year, we can head her way and enjoy the Christmas lights and festivities at Lanier Islands together.
Magical Nights of Lights Returns to Lanier Islands: A North Georgia Holiday Getaway
If holiday road trips, sparkling light displays, and festive family traditions are on your holiday season bucket list, Lanier Islands Resort is preparing a dazzling reason to visit North Georgia this season.
Beginning November 20, 2026, Magical Nights of Lights returns to Lanier Islands with a promise of “More Lights, More Magic,” bringing an expanded drive-through experience with six miles of light displays.
Running nightly through January 3, 2027, this magical holiday attraction offers much more than a traditional holiday light display. It’s also an all-in-one winter destination that combines twinkling scenery, family entertainment, festive dining, and lakeside accommodations. Make this your holiday weekend trip this year.
What to expect at Magical Nights of Lights
After making a celebrated return last year following a five-year hiatus, Lanier Island Christmas Lights quickly reclaimed its place as one of North Georgia’s favorite holiday traditions.
Recognized as the Favorite Homegrown Holiday Light Display by North Georgia Living Magazine, the attraction is growing even larger for 2026 with even more lights.
What you can expect:
- More than 1.5 additional miles of lights
- New holiday-themed vignettes
- Animated trees and displays
- Over-the-road décor illuminating the route
- Expanded festive experiences throughout the resort
As you drive through the sparkling displays, holiday music and thousands of lights transform an ordinary car ride into an immersive magical holiday experience.
Holiday Headquarters at Lanier Island Resort Game Changer
Game Changer is Lanier Island’s 23,000-square-foot indoor entertainment venue. The holiday magic continues after the drive-through light show at Game Changer, which has been transformed into the resort’s Holiday Headquarters.
There is plenty of family fun at Game Changer, with 30+ games, Axe Throwing, Duckpin Bowling, an Escape Room, Arcade Games, Adult Gaming Machines, and even great dining.
Local artisans, boutiques, and specialty retailers will be there with anything you might imagine to fulfill your holiday shopping list. Check the site for exact dates for the shopping experience. Seasonal cocktails are served for adults at Clark’s Holiday Pop-Up Bar.
If you happen to live nearby on Lake Lanier, Game Changer is now accessible by boat with a new dock at coordinates 34°10’53.5″N 84°01’43.4″W. Golf Cart pickup is available daily from 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Santa Visits and Special Holiday Events
Special events are scheduled throughout the season so that every night is a little bit different. That is why you want to stay for a couple of days, so you can do it all.
What to expect:
- Santa Claus and his elves arriving on a fire truck
- Holiday character appearances on select nights
- Give Back Nights with gifts for the first 100 vehicles
- Additional seasonal surprises throughout the event
Where to Stay at Lake Lanier Christmas Getaway
With overnight accommodations at Legacy Lodge, the Villas, and LakeHouses, you can plan a memorable couples getaway, a family trip, or a group of friends’ getaway. The accommodations are wonderful. They remind me of Callaway Gardens Resort. The views from your room are great.
There is certainly plenty to do all weekend for the holiday season. If you need a break from activities, I recommend a relaxing walk by the lake. The scenery is peaceful and beautiful. It almost looks like a picture on the box of a puzzle.
Snow Tubing and Winter Fun at License to Chill Snow Island
Margaritaville at Lanier Island will be hosting License To Chill again this year! Race down Georgia’s longest snow tubing hill, glide across the ice to festive holiday music, enjoy carnival rides, and play in fresh, daily-made snow with snowball fights and snowy adventures for the whole family!
Magical Nights of Lights 2026 Tickets, Dates and Hours
- Opening Date: November 20, 2026
- Closing Date: January 3, 2027
- Hours: Nightly, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Admission: Starting at $25 per vehicle
- Pricing: Varies by vehicle type and day of the week
Because admission is charged by the vehicle rather than per person, the attraction remains a more affordable option for families and groups traveling together.
Why Lanier Island Christmas Lights Belongs on Your Georgia Holiday Bucket List
Holiday light displays have a special way of bringing people together, but Magical Nights of Lights offers something beyond the usual drive-through experience.
Here, you can spend the evening surrounded by sparkling displays, meet Santa, enjoy indoor entertainment, sip seasonal drinks, go snow tubing, stay overnight by the lake, and support a local nonprofit, all in one destination.
For travelers searching for festive experiences in Georgia this winter, Lanier Islands delivers a holiday getaway filled with lights, laughter, and just the right amount of Christmas magic.
What people are saying:
Robert says,…”It was everything I hope for and more. A great place to spend a holiday with family and friends.”
Jordan said, “Perfect escape for a couple of days”
Ann said, “Had a great family night at Magical Nights of Lights. Very easy to see all the light displays.”
Sydney said, “We went to the Magical Nights of Lights and Snow Island!! It was so much fun. Our family ranges from 9 to 85 years old, and there was something for everyone.”
Lake Lanier Resort Magical Nights of Lights
How to Get to Lanier Island Resort in Buford, Ga.
Lanier Resort is located in Buford, Ga. Buford is also home of the massive and still thriving Mall of Georgia.
Lanier Islands Resort is 45 miles north of Atlanta via I-85 North, at 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford.
From Chattanooga to Lanier Islands Resort is about a 2 1/2 hour drive.
Expect a 2-hour and 20 minute drive from Macon via I-75, then I-85.
From Columbus, the drive will be just under 3 hours via I-85 North.
The trip from Columbia, S.C., via I-20 W is about 4 hours.
How Magical Nights of Lights Give Back
Magical Nights of Lights 2026 also supports an important community cause.
A portion of gate proceeds benefits the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, which provided 8.5 million meals to 88,000 people across five North Georgia counties in 2025. That is a lot of food, folks!
You can enjoy the festivities knowing your holiday travel destination contributes to helping families in need.
More Southern Places to Visit During the Holidays
- Best Christmas Light Displays in Georgia
- 9 Great Places to Spend Christmas in the South
- Tips for Visiting Dollywood at Christmas
- The Best Time to Visit Callaway Gardens
