It may only be November, but it’s time for one of the most magical times of the year; a Stone Mountain Christmas. Each year the park turns into a Winter Wonderland. The festive atmosphere contains enough surprises to capture the heart of everyone, even Mr. Scrooge! Happening now, from November 10th until January 6th, this is the perfect opportunity to make memories your family will cherish for years to come.
Our family attended a Stone Mountain Park Media Event. All opinions are our own.
A Stone Mountain Christmas
Arrive early to spend the morning visiting the classic attractions, like the Summit Skyride or the farm, but prepare to spend the afternoon and evening immersed in Christmas activities and being dazzled by the 2 million lights on display. Here’s a sample of some of Christmas Fun you’ll find at Stone Mountain.
How often do you get to see dinosaurs dressed for Christmas?
Visits with Your Favorite Holiday Characters:
Are your kids’ fans of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? They’ll be able to visit with Rudolph, Clarice, and Bumble during the Rudolph’s Merry Little Meet & Greet. No Christmas celebration would be complete without a visit to Santa Claus. Stop by and tell Santa what you’d like to have for Christmas, take a photo, and get a candy cane. Finish the visit by writing a letter to Santa and dropping it in the special North Pole mailbox. Of course, Mrs. Claus makes appearances too! She’s in Christmas corner earlier in the day preparing for Christmas, but she’s not to busy to make a picture with the kids.
Parades and Christmas Trees:
Stop by Celebration Circle, in the middle of Crossroads, for the new Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony held at 6:00 PM. Our kids were amazed to see Angelina the Snow Angel appear on the balcony of the Sweet Shop to perform the “secret” lighting ceremony. Be prepared to take pictures as Santa’s sleigh arrives, gliding across the night sky before the tree magically lights up the square. The Lighting Ceremony is immediately followed by the Christmas Parade where you’ll see Santa, Rudolph, Clarice, and Bumble, along with Angelina the Snow Angel. The parade is accompanied by cheery Christmas music that will have you singing along, tapping your feet, and clapping your hands.
New this year are the Christmas Carolers, dressed in classic Victorian garb. They perform several times each evening, but they appear each evening at 5:45 as you wait for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Christmas Stories:
There’s nothing like a classic Christmas tale to get the family in the mood for a visit from St. Nick. Stop by the Gingerbread Cottage with the younger set for Mistletales by Mrs. Claus or Frosted Fables, a story of a Christmas cookie told by Candy, Santa’s favorite baker.
Christmas Plays and Shows:
No Christmas is complete with a retelling of some of our favorite classic Christmas Stories that are suitable for the entire family. Stone Mountain Park presents everything from the humorous in an amusing adaption of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, to the touching with It’s a Wonderful Life. The kids will enjoy A Wish For Snow with Angelina the Snow Angel. They’ll be able to participate in the story and be able to meet Angelina after the show. The Littlest Christmas Tree, another kid favorite, tells the story of a small Christmas tree that’s been left on the Christmas tree lot over the holidays. He’s sad, but his new friends are there to offer some Christmas spirit.
If you prefer musicals, stop by Christmas in the City, where you’ll take a cross-country musical journey, or by the Holiday Cabaret, a variety show with stories, comedy, and songs.
Other Special Activities
Sing-A-Long Christmas Train and The Gift – It’s the family favorite train ride around the park with the addition of lights and music. Our kids loved discovering the tree perched atop Stone Mountain and the surprise lights-like the 12 days of Christmas-along the route. Additionally, you’ll stop by Pebble Ridge for the special story of The Gift, a retelling of the first Christmas.
The Snow Angel Snowfall Celebration – The Snow Angel brings snow to the mountain area in this special ceremony.
The Polar Express 4-D experience- Who can forget the magic of The Polar Express? Now the book has come to life in this immersive film for all ages. Bring some tissues.
The Skylights Spectacular– This new addition allowed us to walk through lights which were timed with music to provide an experience I didn’t think we would get the kids to leave. It’s a dazzling way to end the evening.
Be sure to watch for surprises throughout the park. We found a talented bubble maker who was able to make bubbles within bubbles, make bubbles at least eight feet in length, and more. He was happy to blow a few for the kids to catch too.
TIPS TO ENJOY YOUR VISIT
*The Attraction hours vary according to the day but expect the park to open by 10:00 AM and stay open until at least 9:00 PM on weekends. You can find a complete schedule of operating hours here.
*There is a $20 Parking fee per vehicle. While this does not include the all-attractions pass, it allows you to take advantage of the recreational activities available throughout the park. This includes the hiking and nature trails, the Walk-Up trail, the Grist Mill and Covered Bridge, the playground, and the waterfront.
*If you’re feeling chilly, stop by Base Camp Barbecue for a loaf of freshly made Cinnamon Bread and some Hot Cocoa. It’s the perfect way to spend some time relaxing before engaging in more Christmas festivities.
*Plan for shopping! The Christmas Store has unique Christmas gifts. We always purchase an ornament for the kids here.
*During the day you can visit various craft stations and discover Christmas as it was in the 1800’s at Homespun Christmas. It’s open daily from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM and allows the family to participate in various craft stations.
Make plans to spend a day at the Stone Mountain Christmas Festival before it is whisked back to the North Pole! Have you ever attended a Stone Mountain Christmas?
Wow, being here really feels a lot like Christmas. Who would not love to be able to experience being here, right? How I wish, we are near this so we could pay a visit.
Looks like fun place, my kids will like it, they love Santa and Christmas lights, Thanks for introducing this wonderful place.
It looks like they do a great job of lighting it up for Christmas. It looks very festive.
Oh wow how lovely and magical it looks! My children would love it there at this time of year especially!
It looks so magical with all the Christmas lights light up. We have the same park here in East TN. We call it Smoky Mountain we were there almost every weekend. The Dollywood Park also offers this kind of event.
This looks like such a fun place! I would love to take my family there.
Such an amazing place to visit in Christmas. I would love to go there with my loved ones!
That looks like a really magical Christmas wonderland! I bet kids are all having fun there!
Now this looks like a lot of fun! I love the dinosaur with the Christmas lights..LOL!!
I have been to Stone Mountain in the summer but never at Christmas! What a fun thing to do. I need to add this to my list. I love all things Christmas.
How fun! Looks like such a great place. I’m so ready for ALL the Christmas things!
Stone Mountain Christmas Festival Sounds pretty amazing. I would love to visit with my family this holiday season.
This looks like a great experience. The holidays are such a nice time to spend together with family. We have a place similar nearby that we enjoy.
The Raptor is a nice touch! LOL It looks like you had a great time, such a pretty setting for Christmastime.
Christmas is such a magical time for the kids. I would love to visit this place with the whole family one day.
I honestly like the sound of Sing-A-Long Christmas Train and The Gift and I would enjoy the ride and go more than once on it if that is possible. Such a fun and memorable place this Stone Mountain sounds!
So fun! This looks like a great place to celebrate the holidays with family. I know my kids would love it. We like checking out lights.
If you live close this would be a wonderful place to take the family. Love all the christmas decorations and how beautiful it all looks.
I have not been to Stone Mountain since I was a child and boy has it changed. I need to go back because I always loved as a child. The history alone is interested.