Lighting of the Village in Helen, GA

What is confirmed, and what is not

Regional event calendars list the Lighting of the Village for Friday, November 27, 2026, the evening after Thanksgiving, with Santa arriving at Riverside Park to switch on the town’s lights. The listing we rely on is the KOA Hiawassee events calendar, which pairs it with the Christmas Market the next day.

What we could not find yet is an official 2026 start time from the Helen Chamber of Commerce. Past years have started in the early evening, but we are not going to print a time we have not seen from the organiser. Until it appears, plan to be downtown by late afternoon and check the Chamber’s events calendar on the day.

Why it is worth the trip

Helen keeps its Christmas lights on through the season, so you can see them any evening in December. Opening night is different because it is the moment they come on, with Santa’s arrival as the centerpiece. It also sets up the weekend well: the Christmas Market opens the next morning at 10 AM.

Planning the evening

• Holiday-weekend traffic. Helen’s visitor guide puts the town under two hours from Atlanta, but Thanksgiving weekend roads can stretch that.
• Parking. Downtown lots are mostly pay lots. Arrive early and expect to walk; see the parking guide.
• Cold after dark. Evenings in the mountains drop quickly once the sun goes down.
• Stay over. Opening night plus the first market morning makes an easy overnight. Our where to stay page covers the options.

Lighting questions

Dates can change. The organisers have the final word: Helen Chamber of Commerce events