Every Easter, Stone Mountain hosts a serene and beautiful event: their Easter Sunrise Service! With two simultaneous, inter-denominational Easter services, guests come from all over to enjoy both the beautiful nature and the service! Keep scrolling to learn more about this one-of-a-kind event.
What is Stone Mountain’s Easter Sunrise Service?
This event is exactly what it sounds like! An Easter service atop Atlanta’s mountain, Stone Mountain.
According to Stone Mountain Park’s website,
The event began in 1944 before the land around Stone Mountain was officially owned by the State of Georgia. Lucille A. Lanford, from Stone Mountain First United Methodist Church, suggested that the church’s youth group climb to the top of Stone Mountain on Easter morning to watch the sunrise. The event grew from that one youth group to thousands ascending the mountain every Easter since.
And now, you can join in on the celebration, too!
Do I have to hike the mountain?
No, you don’t!
Stone Mountain Park will actually present two simultaneous, inter-denominational Easter services at the top of the mountain and at the base of the mountain on the Memorial Lawn. So if hiking the mountain isn’t exactly your thing… that’s okay, too!
You can also take Summit Skyride, Stone Mountain’s high-speed Swiss cable car, to the top of Stone Mountain instead of hiking.
Okay, okay, I’ve GOT to check this out! Gimme the details!
When: Easter Sunday, April 5th, 2026
*Park Gates will open at 3:00 AM and the Summit Skyride will open at 4:00 AM to begin taking guests to the summit. Services will begin at 7:00 AM.
Where: Stone Mountain Park
Cost: The actual service itself is free, as is the walk-up trail to the top of the mountain.
- Vehicle entry to the park is $20 for a one-day permit or $40 for an annual permit. Church vans and buses enter free.
- Skyride fees are $20 for round-trip and $15 for one-way.