Winter Wonderland: Athens, Georgia

Located 60 miles outside of Atlanta - Athens, Georgia is the perfect winter getaway offering a variety of holiday and winter fun. Visitors can enjoy a trail of twinkling lights, ice skate on an NHL-sized rink, attend a holiday parade and much more.

The Classic City kicks off its winter season on November 23, 2022, with the second annual Winter WonderLights light show. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia will be transformed into an array of twinkling lights and dazzling displays. The half-mile fully accessible trail weaves through Candy Cane Lane, a tunnel of lights and in between a cone tree forest ultimately ending at the cozy holiday market. Visitors will be able to purchase hot coffee, cocoa and even marshmallows for roasting at specific locations along the trail.

Guests can double their fun and plan a Winter WonderLights getaway! The Georgia Center Hotel is offering two packages coupled with the holiday lights display. Included in each package is breakfast, two Condor Chocolates Wonderbars, two tickets to Winter WonderLights and transportation to and from the event. The Winter WonderLights display can be enjoyed through the new year, on select days, until January 8, 2023.

Ice skating begins November 25, 2022 and is another activity in Athens that is also open after the new year. The Classic Center’s NHL-sized indoor rink in the Akins Ford Arena is larger than other community rinks in the area, it has lots of space making it the perfect place for skaters of all levels to enjoy.

Athens has many other events going on throughout the winter including the city’s Downtown Parade of Lights, holiday markets and various performances at The Classic Center and the UGA Performing Arts Center.