Four mountain towns within about an hour and 20 minutes of each other all put on a Christmas season, and three of them light up on the same night. Here is how they compare for 2026, so you can pick one or string a few together.

The towns side by side

Blue Ridge Dahlonega Helen Ellijay
Lighting Great Tree, Sat., Nov. 28, about 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 27, 6 p.m. Fri., Nov. 27, 5 to 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 27, about 6:30 p.m.
Parade Sat., Nov. 28, 5:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 12 Sat., Dec. 12, 6 p.m. Fri., Nov. 27, 6 p.m.
Santa Gazebo, Nov. 27 and 28, noon to 4:15 On the square, scheduled days Riverside Park at the lighting Photos at Merry Mountain Town
Signature draw Holiday Express train Season-long events on the square Christmas Market, two weekends Decorated storefronts contest
Season Thanksgiving weekend to Dec. 24 Nov. 27 to the first week of January Nov. 27 to Dec. 12 Nov. 27
Drive from Ellijay About 30 minutes About 50 minutes About 1 hour 20 minutes —

Blue Ridge: the train and a Saturday parade

Blue Ridge waits a day. Its Light Up Blue Ridge celebration is Saturday, Nov. 28, with music on East Main from 11 a.m., Santa photos until 4:15 p.m., a lighted parade at 5:30 p.m. and the Great Tree lighting around 7 p.m. Blue Friday on Nov. 27 brings store sales and Santa without the crowd.

The Blue Ridge Railway’s one-hour Holiday Express is the main reason families pick Blue Ridge. It sells out, so book before you plan anything else. Details are in our Christmas in Blue Ridge guide.

Pick it if: you have kids under 10, or you want the parade and tree on the same evening.

Dahlonega: the longest season

Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas starts with the Lighting of the Square on Friday, Nov. 27, and the tree lighting at 6 p.m. The town keeps going “almost daily” through New Year’s with caroling, wine sampling and live theater, and horse-drawn carriages circle the square at night. The parade is Saturday, Dec. 12.

Because everything is on one compact square, Dahlonega is the easiest town to do on foot. See our Christmas in Dahlonega guide.

Pick it if: you want a December date night, wine tasting or a trip after the Thanksgiving rush.

Helen: the market town

Helen lights the village at Riverside Park on Friday, Nov. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Its Christmas Market fills the Marktplatz and Unicoi Hill Park on Nov. 28 to 29 and Dec. 5 to 6, with handmade work given priority. The parade is Saturday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. Most parking lots charge a fee. Our Christmas in Helen guide has the details.

Pick it if: you want to shop for ornaments and gifts, or you like the Alpine setting.

Ellijay: the small-town option

Ellijay’s Merry Mountain Town is a single day, Friday, Nov. 27, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. downtown. Shops compete in a decorating contest, with voting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and maps at the Downtown Welcome Center, 10 Broad St. A festival with vendors runs on Broad Street, and Santa photos (pets welcome) take a $10 donation for the Friends of Gilmer Animal Shelter. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and the tree lighting follows around 6:30 p.m.

Our downtown Ellijay guide covers where to eat and park.

Pick it if: you want a smaller crowd, or you want to pair it with Blue Ridge the next day.

Two weekends that work

Thanksgiving weekend. Friday in Ellijay for Merry Mountain Town and its 6 p.m. parade. Saturday in Blue Ridge for Light Up Blue Ridge, with the Holiday Express if you can get seats. The two towns are about 30 minutes apart on GA-515.

Dec. 12. Spend the day in Dahlonega for its parade and the square, then drive about 40 minutes to Helen for its 6 p.m. parade, or stay in one town and do it properly. Check Dahlonega’s parade start time on dahlonegachristmas.com first.

Hoping for snow?

Snow is possible at higher elevations in December but never something to count on. Our guide to snow in North Georgia explains where it falls most often and how to check road conditions.

Sources and further reading

Facts in this article were checked against these sources on October 30, 2026. Hours, fees and seasons change, so confirm before you go.