Are you looking for a special way to celebrate the holiday season this year? Christmas at Stone Mountain Georgia is a great choice! Looking for a special activity to enjoy with your family that is outdoors and festive? Have you considered a trip to Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park, for their Christmas Celebration? We spent opening day as a guest of Stone Mountain Park to check out what a holiday trip to the Georgia attraction will look like.
For even more holiday fun, don’t miss the Ultimate Holiday Guide to Greenville, SC. It’s packed full of things to do, gift ideas, events and more!
Stone Mountain Georgia provides a unique mountaintop view of the Atlanta skyline. Oddly enough as much time as I spend in that area of Georgia, I had never been to the park despite being just minutes away.
Staying at Stone Mountain
At about 2.5 hours from the Upstate, Stone Mountain is definitely doable as a day trip, however an early start is highly recommended so you can get the most out of your day there.
If you decide to make a weekend of the trip, there are so many activities to enjoy at Stone Mountain Park, in addition to the seasonal attractions and the mountain. Guests can enjoy 7 hiking trails, watersports, biking, golf, and more. You can spend the entire weekend within the confines of the park with several different options for overnight accommodations.
- Atlanta Evergreen Marriott is a full service hotel at the foot of the mountain on Stone Mountain lake.
- Stone Mountain Campground features over 400 RV, pop-up, and Tent sites. As well as Yurt, Safari Tent, and RV Rentals. If you’ve ever wondered what RV like would be like, you can rent a stationary one to try it out!
Hike-it or Ride Up the Mountain in Style
The top of Stone Mountain is accessible to everyone, you just need to decide which options are the best for you and your family, before planning your trip.
Option 1: Stone Mountain Walk Up Trail
Hiking to the top of the 2.2 mile trail is rated as extremely difficult and strenuous. Despite this rating, it is also noted as being kid friendly and we saw families on the trailhead. I asked in my local family hiking group for feedback, and plenty of Upstate families have successfully scaled the mountain. I didn’t know that hiking to the top was an option beforehand, and look forward to trying this the next time we visit.
The trailhead has it’s own parking lot at the rear of the mountain. You will need to park at the trailhead to hike the mountain, and then drive to the other side for the Christmas attraction. I suggest arriving early to start your hike, prior to the Skyride opening at 10am. That will give you a much quieter experience at the summit.
Option 2: Summit Skyride
For an additional fee of $5 per person (ages 3+) added to your attraction pass purchase, you can enjoy a ride on a swiss-style cable car to the top of the mountain. The car only takes 3 families at a time, so timed reservations are required. I highly suggest you purchase them in advance. Due to the reduced capacity, the tickets sell out early and it would be a shame to miss the view from the top. The time you reserve is a a tool to help staff space out guests, so don’t panic if you’re a few minutes late or early and be patient if you find they are running behind.
The Skyride opens at 10 am, and I suggest getting there as close to then as possible. The Christmas attraction doesn’t open until later (12 pm-2 pm depending on the day), so you can enjoy the mountain, and then head down and do all the things that are part of the holiday festivities.
Christmas at Stone Mountain
I suggest getting to the park ahead of the scheduled attraction opening, to give you time to get through the ticket line without wasting time you could be having fun.
During the day you can enjoy several different holiday shows on the Memorial Lawn located at the base of the mountain. (See the entertainment schedule for your day’s show times)
During The Day :
- Tinseltone Carolers (15 minute show)
- Aaron Radatz : The Magic of Christmas (20 minutes show)
- A Wish for Snow (15-minute show)
After The Sun Sets :
- Enchanted Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony (6 pm nightly)
- Christmas Lasershow (10 minutes)
We found a bench and the perfect spot to watch the lasershow in the “Louisianna” viewing spot located on the west side of the lawn.
- The Polar Express: The Experience (12 minute show)
- Snow Angel’s Christmas Parade & Fireworks Finale (8:45 pm nightly)
In addition to the shows on the lawn, there are several others tucked away in spots around the Crossroads Area of the park.
- MIstle Tales (10 minute show)
- Frosted Fables (10 minute show)
- A Christmas Carol (20 minute show)
- James Maltman: Elfin Around (10 minute show)
The Scenic Railroad offers guests a 40-minute ride on a 1940’s train around the base of Stone Mountain. Passengers will be treated to a telling of “The Gift” during a stop at the halfway mark of the 5-mile trip. We boarded the train right at sunset and got treated to both daylight and nighttime views of the area, it was perfect! Grab a drink and a potty break before getting in line, because you might be waiting for about an hour in line.
Great Locomotive Adventure Golf is a glow-in-the-dark mini-golf experience that starts at sundown. Try to head this way in between shows after dark.
Skylights spectacularly turns the zipline course area into a walk-thru light experience, with a surprise in store for guests.
Stone Mountain Christmas Tickets
Purchase Attraction & Parking Passes for admission to Stone Mountain Christmas
Ages 2 and under – Free
Ages 3 to 11- $34.99
Age 12 + – $39.99
VIP tickets are $10 more
Parking – $20
Tickets include:
- Summit Skyride 10 am – 4 pm
- Scenic Railroad
- Dinosaur Explore
- Dinotorium
- 4D Theater
- Mini-Golf
- Historic Square
- Christmas Drone & Light Show
- Santa’s Big Flight
- Christmas Parade
Tickets do not include Flight to the North Pole attraction.
Stone Mountain Park Christmas
1000 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, Stone Mountain GA 30083
Are you looking for more fun towns to visit in the South during Christmas? Check out our Kidding Around 30+ Best Christmas Towns in The South Guide.
