This GA Town Is The Perfect Place To Celebrate Christmas 2025, HGTV Says

DAHLONEGA, GA — With the holly jolly Christmas Day almost here, HGTV has named its 50 favorite small towns to visit for the merry holiday, and Dahlonega made the list.

Gracing Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains, Dahlonega sits nestled in Lumpkin County. The town is enriched with cinematic appeal and was home to the inaugural major U.S. Gold Rush.

In 2023, it was named Georgia's best small town by Southern Living; and, Trips to Discover said Dahlonega was one of the top 10 vacation spots in the Georgia mountains.

Here's what HGTV had to say about Dahlonega:

"If Dahlonega looks straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie, that’s because a number have been filmed there. It’s also the perfect setting for the annual Old-Fashioned Christmas fest, starting right after Thanksgiving with a tree and town square lighting, horse-drawn carriage rides around the historic square, Santa Claus visits and extended store hours. The latter three continue throughout December, along with a Christmas market, holiday concerts, tree decorating, live Nativity scene, parade and caroling. And while it’s unlikely to snow, the town does indeed deliver an old-timey Christmas filled with hot cocoa and memory-making."

While some Christmas events have already passed, Dahlonega will host the following:

• Dahlonega Christmas Parade, noon Saturday, Dec. 13, Dahlonega Historic Square district
• Candy Cane Kid’s Day, 2-4 p.m., Dec. 20, Hancock Park (enter at Park and Warwick streets)

In case you're traveling across Georgia, you may want to check out these events in other towns:

• A Jazzy Christmas Celebration in Atlanta
• Avondale Estates Christmas Tour of Homes and Holiday Market
• Community Holiday Meal Together in Lawrenceville
• Christmas at Stone Mountain Park
• Holly Jolly Jekyll at Jekyll Island
• Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Resort and Gardens in Pine Mountain

RELATED:

• Home For The Holidays? Take In These 10 GA Events
• The 2025 Holiday Concerts We’re Most Excited To See In GA

See HGTV's full list of its 50 Favorite Small Towns to Visit for Christmas.