If you’re looking for the perfect holiday escape from the city, then you’ve gotta check out Helen, Atlanta’s adorable Alpine neighbor to the north!
Every winter, Helen gets a full magical makeover and turns into one of the state’s most iconic holiday towns! So head to Helen and make some holiday memories that will last a lifetime.
Keep scrolling for all the details about Helen’s winter wonderland.
What is Helen, Georgia?
Helen is a small Bavarian village in North Georgia, just 1.5 hours from Atlanta.
Famous for their German-style architecture, cuisine, and cultural shops, a visit to Helen will make you feel like you’ve been transported to the cobblestone streets of a storybook village in Germany.
It’s also nestled in the North Georgia mountains, so there’s plenty of beautiful nature around for everyone to enjoy.
And Helen is SMALL. With a population of just 654, you’ll get that small town vibe… but with a fun touristy-twist.
Visit Helen’s tourism website to learn more about the town!
What can adventurers expect in Helen during the holidays?
The winter holiday season is definitely one of the best times to visit Alpine Helen. The whole town lights up with over-the-top Christmas decor, holiday events, and of course, spirited holiday magic!
The holiday season officially starts on November 27th, with the Annual Lighting of the Village. For the annual lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at Riverside Park as the village is lit with dazzling lights! Musical performances by local groups will precede Santa’s arrival and the kiddos are invited to meet with Santa from 5:00 to 7PM.
From there, visitors can expect:
- the Annual Helen’s Christmas Market
- a Victorian Christmas celebration
- Christmas in the Mountains
- the Weihnachten Christmas Lights Walk
- Christmas Open House
- Helen’s annual Christmas Parade
And so. much. more. You can see the full roundup of fun winter happenings & Christmas events on Helen’s events page, here.
Happy holidays, Atlanta! Enjoy all the fun in Helen this holiday season!