Georgia's Magical Nights of Lights Bigger and Brighter for 2026
The Californer/10358735

BUFORD, Ga. - Californer -- Georgia's Lanier Islands Resort promises "More Lights, More Magic" for the 2026 return of a beloved holiday tradition, Magical Nights of Lights. On November 20, the lakeside destination will lift the curtain on its modern-day sleigh ride through mile after mile of sparkling lights and animated displays, with even more lights and more magic for guests to discover along the way. As the cabin of each vehicle fills with holiday music and wonder, all roads lead to the resort's Holiday Headquarters at Game Changer – which marks another year of Clark's Holiday Pop-up Bar in addition to all the fun and games to be found at the 23,000-square-foot indoor playground. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, Magical Nights of Lights will run nightly from 5-10 p.m. through January 3, 2027, with appearances from the Jolly Old Elf himself and other holiday characters on select nights.

"We were floored by the response to last year's Magical Nights of Lights," said Matthew Bowling, President of Lanier Islands Resort. "After five years with no light show, it was clear that our fans missed it. And it's no wonder. Magical Nights of Lights has all the makings for a special date night, a cherished tradition for groups of friends, or an evening of memory-making for the whole family. We earned the top spot among Favorite Homegrown Holiday Light Displays from North Georgia Living Magazine, and Mommy Poppins named Magical Nights of Lights one of the Best Holiday Light Shows in Atlanta last year. The best part is that this year's show will be bigger and brighter than the last. We'll add over a mile and a half of lights to last year's route, including several new holiday-themed vignettes, animated trees, and over-the-road décor to literally light the path for our guests. There will be no mistaking that Game Changer is Holiday Headquarters, as it will be decked out in lights as well. We're also endeavoring to incorporate special events throughout the season – making every night a unique celebration, from the arrival of Santa Claus and his elves on the back of a firetruck to Give Back Nights with gifts at the gate for the first 100 cars on select evenings."

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Bowling also shared that a portion of the proceeds from gate entry to Magical Nights of Lights will benefit the Georgia Mountain Food Bank – a nonprofit that provided 8.5 million meals to 88,000 people in five counties in 2025 alone. Priced by the car rather than by the person, tickets to the Magical Nights of Lights start at $25 per vehicle and vary by vehicle type and day of the week. To enhance their holiday experience further, Bowling recommends an overnight stay at Legacy Lodge, Villas, or LakeHouses with special accommodation packages that could include an elf tuck-in and story time for the little ones, Breakfast with Santa for the whole family on select days, and passes to License to Chill Snow Island, presented by the resort's recreational partners – Margaritaville at Lanier Islands.

For more information about Magical Nights of Lights and other holiday happenings in 2026, visit https://www.lanierislands.com/holiday-events/. As part of its Holiday Headquarters at Game Changer throughout the holiday season, the resort will play host to a Vendor Village, and applications are now being accepted for a select number of local makers, artisans, boutiques, and specialty retailers. To apply to be a vendor, please visit https://www.lanierislands.com/holidaymarket-vendors/. Lanier Islands Resort is 45 miles north of Atlanta at 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford. To make reservations, visit www.LanierIslands.com or call 770-945-8787. To stay up to date on the latest news, guests can follow the resort on Facebook @lanierislands, Instagram @lanierislands, TikTok @lanier_islands, and LinkedIn @Lake-Lanier-Islands-Resort.

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