Holiday lights and Christmas events in Marietta 2026

Last checked Oct. 5, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates, times and prices come from each organizer’s own page, linked below.

The city’s Christmas tree lighting, Ugly Sweater Parade and Santa’s arrival are on Thursday, Dec. 3, and have their own page: see our Christmas parade and tree lighting guide. This page covers the rest of the season: home tours, concerts, candlelight, light displays and Hanukkah. Christmas is Friday, Dec. 25, 2026.

Who to call

• City events and the tree lighting: Marietta Parks and Recreation, 770-794-5601
• Root House: 770-426-4982
• Marietta History Center: 770-794-5710
• Strand Theatre box office: 770-293-0080
• Emergency: 911

Christmas home tour and gala

The 40th annual Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour opens five decorated private homes in the Church-Cherokee Historic District, plus churches, museums and historic buildings, according to the Pilgrimage site:

• Friday, Dec. 4, 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 during the tour. Online sales close at 4 p.m. Dec. 3.
• The Pilgrimage Gala is 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at The Whitlock Inn. Tickets are $100, bought online by 4 p.m. Dec. 1; festive cocktail attire is required.

Proceeds support Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society and Visit Marietta.

Concerts, ballet and the Strand

• Holiday Pops, Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Marietta Performing Arts Center, 1171 Whitlock Ave.: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. A shorter sensory-friendly performance at 3 p.m. Dec. 5 has smaller crowds, softer sound and light and a visit with Santa; its tickets are free and released later in the fall, according to the GSO’s events page.
• The Nutcracker, The Georgia Ballet: a 75-minute sensory-friendly performance is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 S. Marietta Parkway SE (ballet’s event page). The full run’s dates were not posted when we checked.
• Holiday films at the Strand, 117 N. Park Square: “A Christmas Story” Nov. 17, “Home Alone” Nov. 24, “Elf” Nov. 25, “Die Hard” Dec. 15 and an “It’s a Wonderful Life” marathon Dec. 22, according to the Strand’s site.

Candlelight and family days

• Victorian Christmas Candlelight Night, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, William Root House, 80 N. Marietta Parkway NW. Candlelit rooms decorated with live greens, fruit and handmade decorations in the style of the 1860s. Tickets are $10 per person (Root House events page).
• Holiday Celebrations Pop-In, Saturday, Dec. 19, Marietta History Center, 1 Depot St. Admission is free 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with family activities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Pop-In page).

Light displays

In 2025 the city invited residents and businesses to add their holiday light displays to an interactive city map, so neighbors could find them, according to its 2025 announcement. The 2026 map had not been posted when we checked; we will link it here when it is.

Holiday in the Park returns on select days from Nov. 21 to Jan. 3, 2027, at Six Flags Over Georgia, 275 Riverside Parkway, Austell, with themed lands, lights and nightly tree lightings, according to the park’s event page.

Hanukkah

The city’s 2026 event calendar lists a Menorah Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 5, on the Square. It is run by an outside group, not the city, and the time was not posted when we checked. Hanukkah begins the evening of Friday, Dec. 4, 2026.

Run it off: Dashing Through the Square

The 11th annual Dashing Through the Square 5K run and walk is Saturday, Dec. 19, past the historic homes and shops around the Square. It is a Peachtree qualifying race with chip timing, and proceeds support youth programs in Cobb County. Sign up on the race’s registration page.

Christmas week closures and trash

The city had not posted its 2026 Christmas notice when we checked. In 2025 it closed its administrative offices and the Marietta Power and Water offices on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and changed garbage, yard waste and recycling pickup for the week. Check your address on the Holiday Pickup Schedule. Marietta City Schools’ holiday break is Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, according to the district calendar. The History Center is closed Dec. 24 and 25.

What this means for you

• The first weekend of December is the busiest: tree lighting Thursday, the home tour Friday to Sunday and Holiday Pops Saturday and Sunday.
• Home tour and gala tickets close online Dec. 1 and Dec. 3; buy ahead.
• Holding a light display, Santa visit or holiday event open to the public? Send it through our contact page.

Related: Christmas parade and tree lighting, holiday shopping, New Year’s Eve and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Marietta Christmas tree lighting in 2026?

Thursday, Dec. 3, on Marietta Square, with the Ugly Sweater Parade and Santa’s arrival before the 6 p.m. lighting. Details are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.

When is the Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour?

Dec. 4-6, 2026: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. This year’s five homes are in the Church-Cherokee Historic District. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 during the tour.

Where can I see Christmas lights in Marietta?

The city ran an interactive map of resident and business light displays in 2025; check its site for the 2026 map. Glover Park on the Square is decorated for the season, and Six Flags Over Georgia’s Holiday in the Park runs select days Nov. 21 to Jan. 3.

Where can kids see Santa in Marietta?

Santa arrives on the Square by fire truck at the tree lighting Thursday, Dec. 3, and visits the Georgia Symphony’s free sensory-friendly Holiday Pops at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Is there a menorah lighting in Marietta?

The city’s 2026 event calendar lists a Menorah Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 5, on the Square, run by an outside group, not the city. Hanukkah begins the evening of Friday, Dec. 4, 2026.