The Christmas tree lighting is two weeks away. Starting at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, the Dahlonega Visitors Center at 13 S. Park Street will have carolers, hot cocoa and Santa until 8 p.m. That is the day after Thanksgiving. The square gets the headline night and gets most of the photos.
After opening weekend, though, a lot of the daytime calendar moves a few blocks to Hancock Park at 90 N. Meaders Street. Both holiday markets are there, and so is the children's afternoon. The parade covers Main Street, and the plays and movies are indoors on East Main and at the Holly Theatre. Sorting this year's schedule by place works better than reading it top to bottom.
Opening Weekend Starts on the Square
On the Dahlonega Old Fashioned Christmas calendar, the Lighting of the Square is set for Nov. 27, 3 to 8 p.m. The same calendar has Santa at the Visitors Center from Nov. 27 through Dec. 20. Its posted time window is 3 to 6 p.m., with no separate hours for each day. The window is the same every week, so it helps to check before taking little ones on a weekday.
Downtown shops join in that weekend. Discover Dahlonega lists a "Kicking Off the Christmas Season" weekend at Reclaimed Rose, 75 North Grove Street, from Nov. 27 through 29. Dahlonega Walking Tours begins its "Christmas in a Small Town" tour on Nov. 27 too. It leaves from 19 E. Main Street at 6 p.m. on the dates posted on the visitors bureau calendar, and the posted dates run into January.
Discover Dahlonega says the season runs from the day after Thanksgiving through the first week of January, so the square stays decorated well after the lighting.
Then the Calendar Moves to Hancock Park
Two days after the lighting, Hancock Park hosts its first holiday event. The Dahlonega Arts Alliance Christmas Art Market runs Sunday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, and the listing says everything is original art and handmade crafts by local artists.
The second market runs longer. The organizers' calendar lists the Christmas Market at Hancock Park from Dec. 5 through Dec. 13, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is a fundraiser for the Women's Club. Those nine days cover two weekends, so you can make a second trip once your gift list fills in.
A week later the park hosts the kids. Kids' Day is Saturday, Dec. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m., with children's activities and crafts.
Here is the Hancock Park lineup:
| Date | Event | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Sun., Nov. 29 | DAA Christmas Art Market | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free |
| Sat., Dec. 5 through Sun., Dec. 13 | Christmas Market, Women's Club fundraiser | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Kids' Day | 2 to 4 p.m. |
On the busiest weekends, events overlap. On Saturday, Dec. 5, the Christmas Market is open at Hancock Park all day, and A Christmas Carol plays that evening at The Menagerie Theatre on East Main. On Saturday, Dec. 12, the market is open while the parade goes down Main Street at noon. Parking once downtown and walking between the park and the square covers both.
Dec. 12 Belongs to Main Street
The Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 12, from noon to 1 p.m. The organizers publish the route this way:
- Starts at Hill Street.
- Heads west on Main Street.
- Circles the Gold Museum.
- Comes back down Main Street to Hill Street.
The parade goes out and back on the same road, so any spot along Main Street sees it pass twice. For anyone who lives near the route, that also tells you which stretch of Main Street will be busy during that midday hour.
The Indoor Half of December
Not every December event is outside. A Christmas Carol plays at The Menagerie Theatre and Event Center, 406 East Main Street, over three weekends: Dec. 4 to 6, Dec. 11 to 13 and Dec. 18 to 20. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday shows at 3 p.m. The first weekend lines up with the opening days of the Hancock Park market, and the last lines up with Kids' Day.
The season's last organizer-listed event is on Monday, Dec. 21. The Holly Theatre is showing The Santa Clause free for families, with a listed window of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. That falls the Monday after Santa's last scheduled day at the Visitors Center.
Here is how the season's dates fall by weekday:
- Fri., Nov. 27: Lighting of the Square, Visitors Center, 3 to 8 p.m.
- Sun., Nov. 29: DAA Christmas Art Market, Hancock Park
- Fri., Dec. 4 through Sun., Dec. 6: A Christmas Carol, opening weekend
- Sat., Dec. 5 through Sun., Dec. 13: Christmas Market, Hancock Park
- Sat., Dec. 12: Christmas Parade, noon
- Sat., Dec. 19: Kids' Day, Hancock Park
- Sun., Dec. 20: last listed day for Santa and last weekend of A Christmas Carol
- Mon., Dec. 21: The Santa Clause at the Holly Theatre
Parking Points Toward UNG
Organizers posted what they call the official 2026 parking map on Nov. 6. The post reminds visitors that the University of North Georgia's parking deck and lots are a short walk from downtown. The visitors bureau's downtown parking guide says the UNG deck is available after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Line those hours up with the schedule and they mostly fit. Most of the season's big daytime events fall on weekends, when the guide lists the deck as available all day. That includes both Hancock Park markets on their weekend days, the parade and Kids' Day. The lighting is the exception. It starts at 3 p.m. on a Friday, and the general guide's weekday availability begins at 5:30 p.m. The organizers' map is the source to check for opening night.
Who Runs It Now
The tradition goes back to 1963, but the organization behind it is new. On Oct. 31, Dahlonega Old Fashioned Christmas announced that it is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The announcement said:
"This is a big step forward for our organization and the future of our beloved Christmas celebration. It opens new opportunities for our community to come together and help make each holiday season in Dahlonega special."
It also asks for donations and sponsorships to keep the tradition going. This is the organization's first season under the new status. If you own a downtown business or simply have a favorite part of the event, that is the place to support it.
One More Stop on North Grove
North Grove Street adds a holiday-season stop near downtown. The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber held a ribbon cutting for Mosaic Bakery & Pizzeria at 617 North Grove Street on Nov. 5, 2026. The Dahlonega Nugget describes Mosaic as a nonprofit bakery and pizzeria and reported that volunteers helped repair its North Grove Street location. Reclaimed Rose is on the same street, so North Grove makes an easy add-on to a Hancock Park or square visit.
If your December plans include a few days up the road in Dahlonega, the team at Teresa Smith would be glad to compare notes on getting there from the lake, parking and planning around the parade. Let's Connect.
