2026 Christmas calendar for Helen
These are the dates published by the organizers for the 2026 season. Events can change for weather, so check the linked source before you drive up.
| Date (2026) | Event | Time & place | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Nov 27 | Lighting of the Village | 5–7 PM, Riverside Park | Free |
| Sat–Sun, Nov 28–29 | Christmas Market, weekend 1 | 10 AM–5 PM, Marktplatz & Unicoi Hill Park | Free |
| Fri–Sat, Dec 4–5 | Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm | 4–7 PM, Hardman Farm Historic Site | $30 adult, $22 youth, $65 family |
| Sat–Sun, Dec 5–6 | Christmas Market, weekend 2 | 10 AM–5 PM, Marktplatz & Unicoi Hill Park | Free |
| Fri–Sat, Dec 11–12 | Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm | 4–7 PM | Ticketed |
| Sat, Dec 12 | Helen Christmas Parade | 6 PM, Main Street (rain or shine) | Free |
| Fri–Sat, Dec 18–19 | Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm | 4–7 PM | Ticketed |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas Buffet at Valhalla | 11 AM–6 PM; reservations required | $75 per person; $35 ages 12 and under; free ages 3 and under. Tax and gratuity not included. |
| Thu, Dec 31 | Dropping of the Edelweiss | 8 PM–midnight, Helen Festhalle | $30 adult, $15 ages 6–16 |
Dates from the Helen Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab), Explore Georgia (opens in a new tab), helenga.org (opens in a new tab) and Georgia State Parks (opens in a new tab).
The Lighting of the Village (Helen GA Christmas lights)
Helen switches on its Christmas lights at the Annual Lighting of the Village (opens in a new tab) on Friday, November 27, 2026, from 5 to 7 PM in Riverside Park. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive for the evening, there is local music, and children can meet Santa. From then on, the Bavarian rooftops, the bridges and Main Street are lit every evening, so any December night works for a walk through the village.
- Go after dark, roughly 5:30 PM in December, and walk Main Street to the river.
- Weeknights are quieter than Friday and Saturday evenings.
- The lighting itself is outdoors, so bring a warm layer and gloves.
The Helen Christmas Market
The 19th annual Christmas Market (opens in a new tab) runs two weekends, November 28–29 and December 5–6, 2026, from 10 AM to 5 PM, on the downtown Marktplatz and at Unicoi Hill Park. Admission is free. Vendors sell handmade gifts, ornaments and decorations, plus savory and sweet foods and treats. For hours, parking, which weekend to pick and what to buy, read our Helen Christmas Market guide.
The Helen Christmas Parade
The Helen Christmas Parade (opens in a new tab) rolls down Main Street on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 6 PM, rain or shine. It’s a small-town, after-dark parade, and the curb along Main Street fills well before it starts. Park and find your spot early, and plan on slow traffic out of the village for a while afterward. Staying 4 minutes away means you can wait out the rush with dinner in Helen and still be back at the resort early.
Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm
Just south of downtown in Sautee Nacoochee, the Hardman Farm Historic Site (opens in a new tab) dresses the West End mansion for an 1877 Christmas. Reenactors in period dress, candlelight, live music and s’mores around the campfire fill Friday and Saturday evenings, December 4–5, 11–12 and 18–19, 2026, from 4 to 7 PM. Admission is $30 for adults, $22 for youth and $65 for a family; pre-registration is required through Eventbrite (opens in a new tab). Read more about the valley in our Sautee Nacoochee guide.
New Year’s Eve: the Dropping of the Edelweiss
Helen lowers an edelweiss instead of a ball. The 13th annual Dropping of the Edelweiss (opens in a new tab) runs 8 PM to midnight on Thursday, December 31, 2026, at the Helen Festhalle (1074 Edelweiss Strasse), with live music, dancing, party favors, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight. Admission is $30 for adults, $15 for ages 6–16 and free under 6, paid at the door; the Chamber does not sell tickets in advance. Valhalla’s Midnight at Valhalla: A New Beginning gala is December 31, 8 PM to midnight, with Christian Jones, a three-course dinner, fireworks, dancing and a midnight champagne toast. Tickets are $160 per person plus tax and gratuity; reservations are required. See the Valhalla events calendar or call (706) 878-2200 for this year’s plans.
Parking and timing tips
Downtown Helen is compact, so park once and walk. The Chamber notes that most lots charge a fee, and the City of Helen parking map (opens in a new tab) shows the city pay lots, the free city lots (which have posted time limits) and the private lots. Rates aren’t published, so check the sign at each entrance.
- Market days: arrive close to the 10 AM opening.
- Parade night: give yourself plenty of time to park before 6 PM.
- Thanksgiving weekend (the first market weekend and the lighting) is the busiest stretch of the season; the second market weekend is usually calmer.
- Bring layers. December highs in Helen average about 51°F, and evenings drop near freezing.
A Christmas getaway in North Georgia at Valhalla
A two-night stay covers the best of Christmas in Helen without rushing. Here is a simple plan built around the 2026 dates:
| When | Plan |
|---|---|
| Friday | Check in at Valhalla from the afternoon, then drive 4 minutes into the village for dinner and an evening walk under the lights (or the Lighting of the Village on November 27). |
| Saturday morning | Be at the Christmas Market when it opens at 10 AM, before the lots and the Marktplatz fill up. |
| Saturday afternoon | Back to the resort for a Solasta Spa treatment, open until 4:30 PM, or a quiet hour by the Great Hall fire. |
| Saturday evening | Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm (December Fridays and Saturdays, 4–7 PM) or the parade on December 12, then a nightcap at the Sky Bar. |
| Sunday | Breakfast, a slower second pass through the market and an easy drive home before the Sunday traffic. |
- Room choice: compare the suites and bungalows, or read our accommodations comparison.
- Dining: Caledonia, the Sky Bar and the Abbey Wine Room are on site.
- Christmas Day: Valhalla’s Christmas Buffet runs 11 AM–6 PM ($75 per person, $35 ages 12 and under, free ages 3 and under; tax and gratuity not included). Reservations required; see the events calendar.
- Spa: Solasta Spa is open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 AM–4:30 PM. Book holiday weekends early.
- Packages: see current offers and packages before you book.
Holiday gifts from Valhalla
A Valhalla Club membership includes 15% savings on spa, dining, shopping and lodging, which makes it an easy gift for someone who loves the mountains. Solasta Spa gift cards (opens in a new tab) can be bought online.
Sources & official links
- Helen Chamber of Commerce: Christmas Market (opens in a new tab)
- Explore Georgia: Annual Lighting of the Village (opens in a new tab)
- helenga.org: Helen’s Annual Christmas Parade (opens in a new tab)
- Georgia State Parks: Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm (opens in a new tab)
- Helen Chamber of Commerce: New Year’s Eve Celebration (opens in a new tab)
- City of Helen: City Parking (opens in a new tab)
