Alpharetta lights its two big holiday trees on back-to-back days this year. The city's 50-foot tree goes up in front of City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 21. Avalon's 40-foot tree lights at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22. That's the weekend before Thanksgiving, which falls on Nov. 26.
Saturday is a free downtown event you can do on foot, with an art market in the afternoon and new places to eat a short distance away. Sunday is mostly about an ice rink opening and a parking plan.
How the two evenings compare
| Saturday, Nov. 21 | Sunday, Nov. 22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Event | Season of Celebration Tree Lighting | The Lighting of Avalon |
| Host | City of Alpharetta | Avalon |
| Where | Downtown Alpharetta, 2 Park Plaza | 400 Avalon Blvd. |
| Hours | 5 to 8 p.m. | 2 to 7:30 p.m. |
| Tree | 50 feet | 40 feet, lit promptly at 7 p.m. |
| Cost | Free, rain or shine | Free activities; ice skating is paid |
| What to bring | Portable chairs | A parking plan |
The first thing the table shows is the starting time. Avalon's afternoon program begins at 2 p.m., three hours before downtown's starts. The second is that Avalon's tree comes at the very end of its event, while downtown's evening is built around a stage program. Each one rewards a different kind of arrival.
Saturday starts at 238 Canton St.
The downtown day opens before the tree does. Arts Alpharetta's Artist Holiday Market runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 at the Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St. The booths carry original artwork, jewelry, ceramics, seasonal pieces and wearable art. In its call for artists, Arts Alpharetta describes the market as original small works no larger than 16 inches in any dimension. Pieces that size are easy to carry around for the rest of the evening, which helps if you're staying downtown for the lighting. An invitation-only VIP preview takes place the evening before, Nov. 20, from 4 to 6 p.m., and the public day is Saturday.
The market closes at 4:30 and the city's program starts at 5, so the timing is tight but workable. Someone who browses Canton Street until close is in position for the start of the tree lighting.
The tree lighting in front of City Hall
Awesome Alpharetta lists the Season of Celebration at Downtown Alpharetta, 2 Park Plaza, with free admission, rain or shine. The program includes live music, snow flurries, marshmallow roasting, sing-alongs, and an appearance from Santa and friends. The event listing adds a main stage in front of City Hall, strolling characters and performers in the crowd, and advice to bring portable chairs.
This is an evening on the lawn with performances leading up to the lighting, and three hours is a long time to stand. The City of Alpharetta's Season of Celebration page is the place to check for final logistics as the date gets closer.
Dinner before or after: two newer stops at City Center
Downtown dining has changed since last year's lighting, and two of the newest additions are at Alpharetta City Center. Appen Media describes City Center as a 26-acre mixed-use development where Main, Academy, Broad, Market and Commerce streets meet.
Amasa Mexican Kitchen opened on Friday, Sept. 18, at 15 Academy St., Space 1E. As the North Atlanta Star reported, the menu leans toward seafood in the Baja California style, and the kitchen is gluten-free. Amasa's own site lists hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The lighting ends at 8 p.m., and Amasa stays open three hours after that on Saturday, so you can go after the tree instead of rushing an early dinner beforehand.
Grove and Barrel Provisions opened Aug. 14 at City Center. It is a Mediterranean-inspired market from owner Josep Juncosa, who brings southern European food traditions from Barcelona. Appen Media reported that the shelves hold European olive oils, rice, pastas, canned and brined goods, coffees, and wines Juncosa favors. The shop also planned to host private group experiences. The weekend before Thanksgiving is when many hosts are stocking up, and Grove and Barrel fits that errand. Check the shop's hours before you plan around it.
Put together, Saturday can run on foot from midmorning to late evening: Canton Street for the market, City Hall for the tree, and City Center for dinner.
Sunday at Avalon is about the rink
The Lighting of Avalon follows a set schedule, and the order matters if you want to skate:
- 2 to 3 p.m. Activity Row, with an ice skating performance by students of all ages.
- 3 p.m. Avalon on Ice opens to the public.
- 3 to 5 p.m. The Atlanta Figure Skating Club performs, and Avalon Boulevard has face painting, holiday crafts and a photo booth.
- 7 p.m. Santa counts down to the 40-foot tree lighting, which starts promptly.
That leaves a gap of roughly two hours between the end of the skating club's set and the tree. You can fill it with dinner on the Boulevard or a turn on the ice. On the rink's first public afternoon, a turn on the ice means a ticket.
What skating costs, as last posted
Awesome Alpharetta's Avalon on Ice page, published in January 2026, lists $18 for general admission and $14 for children 12 and under. Both prices include skates. The same page lists regular hours of 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. It advises booking in advance to hold a time slot, because walk-ups are accepted only as space allows. Groups can ask about pricing at [email protected], but group rates aren't offered Friday through Sunday. The rates and hours were posted before the 2026 opening, so confirm them before you go. On opening Sunday, a reserved slot makes the difference between skating and watching from the rail.
Parking is the other plan
Avalon lists three ways to arrive: its free parking decks, valet at 3rd Street, or the lot at Gwinnett Technical College across the street, with shuttles to the property. The listing warns that parking will fill quickly and recommends carpooling or rideshare. If the 7 p.m. tree is your main goal, the Gwinnett Tech shuttle means you don't have to find a deck space at the busiest hour of the day.
The weeks on either side
The lightings fall in the middle of a busy stretch at Avalon.
Before the weekend:
- Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to noon: Avalon's family Trick or Treating along Avalon Boulevard, with Plaza activities and a dance show at noon.
- Friday, Oct. 30, 6 to 8 p.m.: Trick or Drink, Avalon's Halloween event for adults in the Plaza.
- Sunday, Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: The Alpharetta Women's Half Marathon and 5K finishes back at Avalon. Expect race activity that morning if you're headed that way.
After the weekend:
- Nov. 23 to Dec. 24: Santa at Avalon, at his cottage along the Boulevard.
- Nov. 23 to Dec. 22: Story Time with Santa.
- Dec. 5 and 6: Breakfast with Santa.
Santa's cottage opens on Monday, Nov. 23, the morning after Avalon's lighting. For families, the visit to Santa can be a separate weeknight trip, with no need to fit it into the lighting crowd.
If this holiday weekend has you thinking about which part of Alpharetta fits the way you like to spend your time, whether that's walkable evenings near City Hall or easy access to Avalon, I'm glad to talk it through with you. Shundal Rodgers would be happy to hear what matters most to you. Let's Connect.
