Christmas in Blue Ridge, GA 2026: Parade, Holiday Train & Events

Blue Ridge does Christmas right: a downtown parade and tree lighting, a holiday train with a chance to see Santa, handmade gifts from local artists, and cold nights that are perfect for a fire. Here's the 2026 lineup, all dated and sourced. Holiday train tickets go first, so book early.

#Light Up Blue Ridge & the Christmas parade (Nov. 27–28)

The town's official kickoff to the season, per the Blue Ridge Mountains Chamber:

Friday, November 27: Blue Friday

• Live music downtown from noon to 4:30 PM.
• Santa in the gazebo from noon to 4:15 PM.
• Store discounts and food vendors.

Saturday, November 28: Light Up Blue Ridge

• 11 AM: Tuba Christmas.
• Noon–4:30 PM: entertainment on East Main Street.
• 5:30 PM: the Christmas parade, starting at Church Street and East Main.
• About 7 PM: the Great Tree lighting downtown.
• Also: the Gingerbread Village on display at The Art Center.

It's all free. Get downtown early on Saturday for a parade spot, then stay for the tree lighting.

#The Holiday Express train (Nov. 27–Dec. 24)

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway runs its Holiday Express on select days from November 27, 2026. Its holiday page and 2026 schedule run it through December 24, though its homepage says December 23, so check the calendar. The one-hour ride from the downtown depot includes holiday music, a reading of The Night Before Christmas, a jingle bell and candy cane for kids, and a chance to see Santa.

The railway's own advice: "Tickets sell out FAST." Trains run on select days through the season with several departures a day, so check the railway's calendar for exact times before you plan around a date. Read the railway's FAQs for its cancellation policy before you buy.

Want the full rundown on the railway, including the regular winter trips? See our Blue Ridge Scenic Railway guide.

#Holiday Market at The Art Center (Nov. 15–Dec. 19)

The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association fills The Art Center at 420 West Main Street with handmade gifts from member artists. The Holiday Market runs November 15 through December 19, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM (closed Mondays). It's the best place in town to shop local.

#Christmas Tour of Trees (Nov. 8 & 15)

Serenity in the Mountains, a day spa in Blue Ridge, holds its 6th annual Tour of Trees on Sundays, November 8 and 15, from 2 to 5 PM. Tickets are $20 per person, children 12 and under are free, tickets are sold at the door with "no RSVP necessary," and all proceeds benefit the Fannin County Shop with a Cop program (Serenity; Chamber listing).

#Blue Ridge on Ice (Nov. 17–Jan. 2)

The seasonal outdoor skating rink is back at 787 Summit Street, next to the Swan Drive-In, from November 17, 2026 to January 2, 2027. Admission is $15, $12 for kids 12 and under, and $10 for active military. Hours vary by day, so check before you go (details).

#The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Nov. 27–Dec. 20)

The Blue Ridge Community Theater's holiday musical runs November 27 through December 20, Thursday through Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM (details).

#Light Up McCaysville (Nov. 27)

McCaysville, about 20 minutes north of Blue Ridge, lights its tree at dusk on Friday, November 27, with festivities from 5 to 7 PM and Santa at the Riverwalk Shops (details). But as of Nov. 10, 2026, the Chamber says McCaysville "is temporarily closed to visitors" while it recovers from recent flooding, so check its McCaysville page before you go.

#More holiday trips nearby

• Helen's Christmas Market: November 28–29 and December 5–6, 10 AM–5 PM, free (Helen Chamber). Helen is about an hour and 20 minutes away.
• New Year's Eve in Helen: the "Dropping of the Edelweiss" at the Helen Festhalle on December 31, 8 PM to midnight, with a champagne toast (details). See our New Year's Eve in Blue Ridge guide for fireworks and what's open.
• Copperhill Kiwanis Christmas Parade (McCaysville): Saturday, December 5, 2026. The event runs 11 AM to 3 PM at Toccoa River Park (McCaysville City Park), and the parade starts at 1 PM, with a rain date of December 12 (Chamber listing). The rest of the month is in our guide to Blue Ridge in December.
• Santa at Mercier Orchards (Blue Ridge): Saturday, December 12, 2026, 10 AM to 3 PM, with photos with Santa, a cookie decorating station, holiday tractor tours, and a petting zoo (Mercier). Our Mercier Orchards guide has the farm's hours and holiday closures.

Driving up from the city? Our guide to holiday lights near Atlanta has dates for the big light shows in and around Atlanta. For everything else on the calendar, see our Blue Ridge events calendar, and if you're coming up for the holiday itself, read Thanksgiving in Blue Ridge.

#Planning a Christmas weekend in Blue Ridge

• Book the train first. It's the hardest thing to get.
• Make Light Up Blue Ridge weekend (Nov. 27–28) your anchor. It's the most festive weekend of the season, and the day after Thanksgiving gets you Blue Friday too.
• Pack for cold. December nights in the mountains are chilly, which is the best excuse for a sauna and a fire.

#Where to stay for Christmas in Blue Ridge

The Black Ember is a modern A-frame about 10 minutes from downtown, close enough to make the parade and the train, and quiet enough to come home to. Spend the evening in the cedar barrel sauna and the hot tub, then by the fire pit.