Last Updated on August 28, 2024 by Tori’s VA
Looking for a picture perfect, Christmas destination? One that feels so charming you will actually think you’re on the set of a Hallmark movie? Then you must enjoy a Helen, Georgia Christmas this year.
Helen is located in North Georgia just an hour and a half North of Atlanta. It’s pretty centrally located and is easy for many people on the east coast to get to by car. It’s also a great spot to visit by plane with the busiest airport in the country (Atlanta International Airport) located so close. This means there will be plenty of flight options and they’re usually fairly inexpensive.
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Why Would You Enjoy a Helen, Georgia Christmas?
Helen is extremely unique for its architecture. The entire town is built to look like a Bavarian Alpine village with every single building built in a German style. Yes, even the Wendy’s in the center of town is built like this! When you arrive, you’ll think you just stepped onto the pages of your favorite childhood fairy tale. It’s incredibly magical.
In addition to the town being so beautiful and unique, there’s also so much to do here. Helen, Georgia at Christmas means fun celebrations, activities and markets for the holidays. There’s also great non-Christmas things to do in town and some incredible hiking and nature to explore just outside of city limits.
Who Should visit Helen, Georgia for Christmas?
A Helen, Georgia Christmas is ideal for any type of traveler, but especially perfect for the Christmas lover. It’s fun with kids as almost every activity is kid-friendly and will keep them entertained and feel like they’re living in a story book.
It’s a romantic spot for couples to spend the holidays with an endless number of cabins tucked away in the woods, many featuring hot tubs too. And, it’s a super dog-friendly spot with almost all of the activities being outdoors.
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When to visit Helen, Georgia
Anytime from the end of November until the beginning of January is a perfect time to visit Helen, Georgia for Christmas celebrations. We loved visiting during Thanksgiving as the Christmas décor is already up and the celebrations are beginning.
The Annual Lighting of the Village is always held the week of Thanksgiving. This year it will be held on Friday, November 25, 2022 from 5 to 7pm, the day after Thanksgiving. They also hold the annual Christkindlmarkt this weekend. This year will be November 26 & 27, 2022, all day. For more information about local events be sure to check out the event calendar that the visitor’s bureau provides.
Throughout the month of December the town glows with lights and Christmas spirit. They hold more events throughout the month, so any week or weekend will be a fun time.
Of course, visiting during actual Christmas is super special as you can spend the holiday strolling the charming streets, and sitting by the fire in your cabin opening presents.
Finally, you can also visit for New Year’s Eve for a more relaxed, low-key celebration to ring in the new year. You’ll still get to enjoy the town’s over-the-top Christmas decorations after Christmas is over.
Where to Stay in Helen, Georgia
There’s two main choices when selecting where to stay in Helen, Georgia at Christmas time. The first and easiest option would be to select one of the many hotels located in downtown Helen. There are many different hotels, all designed to fit right into the Bavarian style, so they’re adorable and make the stay that much more special.
Some of my favorite hotels include the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Helen, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Helen, or for a pet-friendly option, book a room at the Baymont by Wyndham Helen. They allow up to two pets per room.
If you chose to stay at a hotel, you don’t have to worry about parking as you’ll have a spot at the hotel (some still charge for it). You also won’t have to deal with the traffic in town either. Especially on event days, traffic can be an issue as it’s a very small town with one main road in and out. At the hotel you’ll be close to everything and can easily walk to any spot in town.
The other, and arguably more charming option, would be to rent a cabin just outside of the town through VRBO. There are cabins listed on VRBO all over the area, and offer a huge variety of options. There are several still within walking distance, but most are a little further out of town. I would recommend staying within 15 minutes of town if possible, as the mountain roads aren’t that much fun to drive on at night. So, the shorter the drive the better.
Many of the cabins on VRBO will be pet-friendly, which means you can spend the holidays with your favorite furry child. And the best part, they almost always have a kitchen. This might be a nice bonus any time of the year, but it is especially important if you will be here on Thanksgiving or Christmas day. Want to make a whole holiday feast on vacation? This way you can still carry on your traditions if you want (or if not there’s plenty of restaurants in town that have holiday menus).
Prices vary, but the cabins and other VRBO options can actually be super comparable to hotel prices!
Things to do in Helen, Georgia at Christmas
With so many fun holiday activities to do in Helen, Georgia at Christmas, you’ll likely want to add more time to your trip. Start planning out the days now to make sure you hit everything during your stay!
1. Annual Lighting of the Village
As I mentioned earlier, the Annual Lighting of the Village is the first Helen, Georgia Christmas activity for the year hosted the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a huge celebration held all throughout town as you count down to turn on the Christmas lights. Watch the massive Christmas tree come to life, meet Santa, listen to music and enjoy many other activities to start getting in the Christmas spirit. If you’re here during Thanksgiving week, this event is a must.
2. Annual Christkindlmarkt
The Annual Christkindlmarkt is held four days each year. The weekend after Thanksgiving, and then another weekend in December. This is an opportunity to stroll the town streets where all of the local vendors set up booths and sell their products. You can find both Christmas decor and items, along with amazing Christmas gifts for your friends and family. Or, just a great chance to buy yourself something nice to remind you of your Helen, Georgia Christmas vacation.
3. Helen Christmas Parade
Another momentous occasion during the holiday season is the Helen Christmas Parade held every December. Held along the streets in downtown, this is another Christmas event you won’t want to miss if you’ll be in town. Especially great for kids, it’s yet another great way to see Santa and get into the spirit.
4. Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm
Close to town sits the Mansion at West End on Hardman Farm. And on Friday and Saturday nights leading up to Christmas they hold a special celebration. The Victorian style mansion will be decorated in period style decor for something a little different than you might be used to. Come see the lights, listen to Christmas music and roast s’mores one evening.
5. Ride the Mountain Coaster
Not specifically Christmas-themed, a ride on the Georgia Mountain Coaster is most certainly the best thing to do in Helen, Georgia year round. Built on the side of a mountain overlooking the town of Helen, this is a coaster that goes up to 28 miles per hour and YOU control the brakes! And since you’ll be here during the holidays, opt to ride the coaster at night so you can see all of the Christmas lights in the town below as you whiz down the tracks.
Yes, this is definitely a great thing to do for kids. And no this is most definitely NOT only fun for kids. We had an absolute blast! Opt for two rides and you’ll get the second one half price!
6. Alpine Mini Golf
Another great thing to do in town is to play mini golf. It’s great during the holidays as everything is decorated and beautiful at night. Go for a night round for a magical experience. It’s fun for kids and extra romantic for couples.
7. Hike Mount Yonah
Get outside of town to see some nature while you’re having a Helen, Georgia Christmas! My absolute favorite place to start would be at Mount Yonah. Hike the mountain for a 4.5 mile adventure that will take about 3 hours. There will be a lot of elevation gain, so you have to be able to handle this workout, but if you can then the views are worth it. This is also a great thing to do with your dogs if they came along for the vacation. Ours loved hiking Mount Yonah and may or may not have pulled me up the mountain! Ha!
8. Visit Anna Ruby Falls
9. Hike to Other Waterfalls
With tons of waterfalls in the area, you’ll have options here. The most famous would be Anna Ruby Falls, but there are others too. Raven Cliff falls requires a long 6 mile hike, while the Duke’s Creek Trail is only a little over 2 and a very easy and dog-friendly adventure. If you choose to see Anna Ruby Falls, know that there is a $5 fee and not much of a hike involved. It’s really just a half-mile walk to the falls, and then the same path back. It’s likely to be the busiest option as well.
10. Visit a Brewery
Tantrum Brewing Company is located in nearby Cleveland and is a fun afternoon experience for all. Adults can try a flight, kids can run around and play lawn games, and dogs can get in on the experience as well. For a similar experience, visit nearby Yonah Mountain Vineyards to taste some local wines made right on property. Again, bring your kids and pups for a whole family experience, or enjoy a romantic afternoon for just the two of you. Tasting local beer and/or wine should always be a part of experiencing a new destination. These two spots are located by Mount Yonah, so they’re perfect rewards to your long hike.
11. Enjoy a Wine Tasting at Habersham Vineyards & Winery
12. Eat Traditional German Food
And finally, an absolute must in Helen is to try some of the traditional German food in town. You’re in a Bavarian-themed village for goodness sakes, there’s no better time to give it a try! Visit one of the many German eateries like Hofbrauhaus Restaurant or Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant. Wherever you go, order a beer, bratwurst, schnitzel and a potato pancake. Those are non-negotiables. Want to have this for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner? No one’s going to stop you this year.
13. Visit Brasstown Bald
Another great outdoor experience is visiting the highest point in Georgia, Brasstown Bald. A 25-minute drive from Helen will get you to this spot where you can do a short hike or ride the shuttle up to the top. There’s a visitor’s center and a huge deck to take in the views from the top of the peak. The views are stunning from every angle, and a sunset here is perfect. So time it right, and make sure to give a buffer as things always take longer than expected.
14. Explore the Rest of the Blue Ridge Mountains
15. Spend some time at the Gone with the Wind Museum
14. Visit Unicoi State Park
15. Bring the Kids to BabyLand General® Hospital
Go have a perfect Helen, Georgia Christmas this year and live out all of your childhood dreams. There’s so much waiting for you to explore.
