For many families, taking a drive to see holiday light displays is an annual tradition, as much a part of Christmas as picking out the tree or writing a list to Santa Claus. From high-tech light shows to more traditional holiday decor, there is nothing better than the twinkling of lights to get you in the mood for the season. Put these 12 wow-worthy Cobb Christmas displays on your itinerary to make this year the sweetest yet!
PROFESSIONAL LIGHT DISPLAYS
Holiday in the Park – More than one million LED lights and dozens of Christmas trees will create the perfect magical atmosphere this holiday season at Six Flags Over Georgia. From November 19, 2022 through January 1, 2023, on select days, enjoy popular rides, sparkling lights, festive shows, tasty culinary treats and of course, the Big Man: Santa Claus in all his glory! A trip to Holiday in the Park is not complete without a visit to the historic Riverview Carousel and Six Flags Railroad which will be beautifully decorated in a new way for the holiday season. Learn more
275 Riverside Parkway SW, Austell, GA
Lights of Life – The 1.5 mile drive around the Life University campus in Marietta features more than one million lights during Lights of Life. The display opens on Thanksgiving Day and remains open through New Years Eve. Admission is $10 per car and $20 per bus, so bring in your family and friends for a ride through the lights once the sun goes down. You can also look forward to pony rides, train rides, a petting zoo, and cold-weather concessions until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Learn more
1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA
Reindeer Road –The world’s largest holiday drive-through animated light show is returning to Marietta! Grab your sled and join World of Illumination on a trek down Reindeer Road. In this mile-long symphony of sight and sound, you’ll whiz through mountainous terrain, traverse glacial peaks, explore the northern ice caves, and make your way through the northern forests to the heart of Santa’s Workshop! With 2 million animated lights and synchronized musical experiences, this mile long journey is open seven days a week, rain or shine at Six Flags White Water in Marietta, Georgia from November 16, 2022, through January 1, 2023. Learn more
250 Cobb Pkwy N #100, Marietta, GA
RESIDENTIAL LIGHT DISPLAYS
Due West UMC Light the Night– Due West United Methodist Church is proud to announce they are the beneficiary of the Calumet West Christmas House light tradition. A self-guided walking tour will be open to the community beginning December 3 through January 8 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Covered with more than 50,000 lights, ornaments, and characters, the display features West Cobb’s tallest Christmas tree, a gingerbread house, the biggest chicken west of The Big Chicken, and a real sand beach complete with a 13-foot working light house! Holiday entertainment will be provided on Friday and Saturday evenings between 7 and 9 p.m. Visitors are asked to make a $10 donation to be shared between Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Due West UMC missions by placing money into the collection box near the entrance or online. Please use the Due West Road entrance located between Due West UMC and Due West Elementary School.
3956 Due West Road, Marietta, GA 30064
Fox Family Christmas Lights– Fox Family Christmas Lights has more than 75,000 lights synchronized to music. Tune to 88.3FM to listen and watch the lights November 26 through January 7 from 6 – 11 p.m. The interactive display has many handmade animated features, two snow machines, a memorial tree and an ornament and letters to Santa craft station. Santa and Frozen characters visit on select evenings for photo ops and treats. Check their Facebook page, @Foxfamilylights, for updates. Donations are accepted for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.
2994 Clary Hill Court, Roswell, GA 30075
Holiday Magic – Woodruff Family Christmas Lights – Head to Powder Springs to experience this free nightly holiday light show featuring dancing Christmas lights, inflatables, and special effects synchronized to holiday music. This year’s show will include the return of PURPLE CHRISTMAS: A Tribute To Prince. Turn your radio to 102.1 FM so you can enjoy the soundtrack from Thanksgiving night until January 10.
5268 Seamus Way, Powder Springs, GA
Hrockin Hranicky Christmas Light Show – Becky and Chip Hranicky along with their son and 4 dogs design a magical Christmas lights show each year at their home. Shows begin the Saturday after Thanksgiving and run through January 1. The display features precision synchronization, a dizzying array of moving lights, and dramatic music. Tune into the show on 107.7 FM from 6 to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 6 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
3848 Rivers Run Trace NW, Acworth, GA
Lights of Joy – Burst with joy when you visit Lights of Joy, a contestant in ABC’s Great Light Fight. This residential display’s most prominent feature is the lighting of the landscape. There are more than 230 natural trees dripping with lights (one tree has more than 23,000 lights in it), plus numerous electronic trees! The house and many sections of the display are synchronized to music. Visitors are encouraged to park across the street at the Influencers Church and walk to see the lights starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving through January 1 from 6 to 11 p.m. The 2022 display will feature more than 1,000,000 lights!
1510 Ben King Road NW, Kennesaw, GA
Maple Avenue – Looking for a unique light display? You will find it on Maple Avenue and the surrounding area near Marietta Square where spheres of lighted Christmas balls are artistically and strategically placed high above the streets. Every year, the number of participants grows, with more than 70 families hanging these special lights in the trees surrounding their homes. Expect to see these beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Maple Avenue, Marietta, GA
Riley’s Rockin’ Christmas – Riley’s Rockin’ Christmas is a residential light display operating on a varied schedule from December 1st thru January 1st. Experience more than 60,000 LED lights synchronized to more than 50 minutes of holiday music including songs from Frozen, Polar Express, and many other holiday movie favorites. Listen to the music from the warmth of your car by tuning in to 101.3 FM on your radio. Donations are collected for the Children’s Burn Foundation. Please note that this year, not every night is an animated show night. Click here to see the show schedule.
2008 Palladium Drive NW, Kennesaw, GA
Smoot Family Christmas Light Show – Jeremy Smoot and his wife Rosalind put up more than 70,000 commercial LED Christmas lights each year in memory of his mother, Debbie, who loved Christmas. The impressive light display is free to the public, though donations are appreciated, and begins Thanksgiving night. All donations collected by the Smoot family are given to The Lupus Foundation of America, Georgia Chapter, to help fight the disease that took Debbie’s life.
3699 Autumn View Drive, Acworth, GA
Smyrna Bright Nights – The city of Smyrna goes all-out for the holidays. Check out their light display surrounding the Village Green. Then, keep the spirit going by visiting homes that local residents have submitted to the Smyrna Bright Nights interactive map. The map includes all levels of displays, from Charlie Brown to Clark Griswold and will be updated through December 31.
Smyrna, GA
Check out the gallery below to see sweet pics from Christmas past. Don’t forget to share photos of your yuletide celebrations with us by using #AtlantasSweetSpot and #HolidaysInCobb on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Your photo could be featured on our social media pages! To see more holiday happenings in Cobb, click here.
