Christmas in the South rarely involves snow and sometimes the temperatures don’t even get below freezing. But it’s still magical with twinkling lights and a visit from Santa. We love finding new places to celebrate the holidays and we are going to share our experiences with you. Some of these you may have heard of and some may be new to you. Our plan is to add to the list every year. We will start our list with two familiar places.

Dahlonega

Dahlonega, Georgia is on just about everyone’s wish list at Christmas. The square is lit up beautifully, carolers stroll through the streets and horse-drawn carriages will carry you through the town so you won’t miss any of it. Some say it’s like a Hallmark movie. Apparently Hallmark movie producers agree because at least three productions were shot in Dahlonega.

Christmas is not the only time of year for a trip to Dahlonega. HGTV recently named Dahlonega one of the best small downtowns in the country.

The Smoky Mountains

We love the Smoky Mountains but they are especially magical at Christmas. Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville go all out to make the season memorable. The theaters hold special Christmas shows. The Island is a great place to get into the Christmas season with the dancing fountains set to Christmas tunes. And don’t forget that Dollywood also adds spectacular lights for the Christmas season.

But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to be wowed by the lights.. We walked down Pigeon Forge’s Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail which is completely free. You can enter from either the Old Mill District or The Island. You will see everything from a cute caterpillar all decked out for the holidays to adorable snowmen.

Speaking of snowmen, Gatlinburg has plenty of snow people that are perfect for selfies.

Read more about our Christmas in the Smokies here.

Christmas at the Falls

Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, Alabama is lit up like a Christmas dream every year. Apparently, Santa rides in on a motorcycle.

I looked at pictures before we went to Christmas at the Falls and I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. Every section of Noccalula Falls Park was uniquely decorated with millions of lights. As I approached a group of icicle lights, “Amazing Grace” began to play. I had to stop and watch the lights dance to the music.

The train ride is a great way to see the lights in a short amount of time and is included with admission. It’s for big kids and little kids but those over six feet tall will need a bench to themselves. The engineer describes each section of the park. I recommend taking the train first to familiarize yourself with the different areas of the park.

You may get cold but there is a warm fire and hot chocolate is sold. Warm up in the General Store, the grist mill or the gift shop at the entrance to the park. Some nights Santa is also there to listen to everyone’s Christmas dreams. Even though the temperatures were hovering near freezing as we walked through, we didn’t want to leave until we saw every light.

Christmas at the Falls begins on November 14 this year. You can learn more here.

Jingle Mingle and the Lighting of the Chicken

When I heard about Gainesville, Georgia’s Lighting of the Chicken, I just had to go. I thought it would be one of the more unusual ways to celebrate Christmas in the South. It was and it wasn’t.

First, let me clarify that a real chicken is not being lit. There is a structure adorned with lights atop the Main Street Market downtown. While the highlight is the chicken lighting, you will find a lot more to do during the Jingle Mingle and Lighting of the Chicken.

First you have to get your picture made at the selfie spot. We found plenty of people willing to snap our photo.

Then look for the horse-drawn carriages. They will take you on a ride through beautiful downtown Gainesville for free. Children can ride through the square on a cute little train.

Don’t forget to have your photo made with the Coca-Cola polar bear, too!

The Lighting of the Chicken is always a big event so get a good spot early. Before the chicken is lit, there’s music and a short ceremony. And then–well you can see for yourself.

Don’t run off after the chicken is lit or you may miss the snow!

In 2025, the Jingle Mingle and the Lighting of the Chicken will be held on Nov. 22. It starts at 4 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. Get there early to get a good parking spot. We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott downtown on our visit and walked to downtown

Chattanooga Zoo

Who would have thought a zoo would be a great place to see Christmas lights? The Chattanooga Zoo is one of the best smaller zoos in the country. Our favorite animal there is the giraffe. But when you add 40 different light displays the zoo is even more magical.

We visited the first week of December and it was chilly–perfect for seeing Christmas lights. I loved all the cool–no pun intended–places for selfies. If you are taking the children or grandchildren, you can warm up while they ride the carousel.

The Chattanooga Zoo had held this event for several years. I haven’t seen the dates yet but I will update this article when I know.

Head to the beach

Some people don’t like snow and are happy to spend Christmas in the South at one of the region’s fabulous beaches. Florida’s Forgotten Coast is a favorite destination any time of the year. And the beachcombers know how to show out at Christmas as well.

We started at Carrabelle where we saw some beautiful lighted boats on the water. I tried hard to get a decent picture but I failed. You will just have to visit yourself! I did get a picture of this Christmas tree when exploring their adorable downtown.

St. George Island has a beautiful beach and a lighthouse. But don’t forget to drive over the water to Apalachicola. It’s one of the cutest towns and it’s all decked out for Christmas. I loved this nautical tree.

Honestly, anytime is the perfect time to visit a beach. Why not go at Christmas?

Have a hometown Christmas

Maybe it’s not in the cards for you to travel at Christmas. You can have a great holiday in your own backyard. When we lived in Northwest Georgia, one of Steve’s favorite things was to join these “carolers” in Calhoun. It’s a tradition, now.

Santa makes an appearance in every town. We met him in Calhoun, too.

If you love a parade, there’s nothing like a small town Christmas parade. I spent most of my childhood years in Rome, Georgia, standing on Broad Street the Tuesday after Thanksgiving waiting for the parade. Steve and I continued the tradition during the years we lived in Adairsville. The small town puts on an unforgettable Christmas celebration every year.

No matter how you celebrate Christmas in the South, we hope all of them are merry and bright!