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Have you ever heard of the Christmas town in Georgia? Located in the Northern Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen is known for its German Alpine charm. A visit for a Helen, GA Christmas is a must to add to your travel calendar.
Originally, I asked my friend Christina to write about her experience of a Helen GA Christmas. We were able to have our own Helen Georgia Christmas in 2022, so I’ve included our experiences as well!
Helen is well-known for its rich history and quaint German town tourism. Of course, they do it up large for one of the longest-running Oktoberfest. But their traditional German event Christmas is not to be missed.
The heart of Helen is like walking into a fairy tale. Nestled in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains, it is a stunning replica of a Bavarian Alpine town. The mountain town was specifically designed to look like a German village.
Last year we talked about going to visit Helen, Georgia for Christmas. This year, we made it happen. We packed up our camper and took to the road leading to Northeast Georgia mountains.
The following will take a look at what is there to do in Helen, GA at Christmas.
1. Helen GA Christmas Parade
The annual Helen Christmas Parade is an event the whole family can enjoy. Every year, local merchants and residents come out to show their support and get into the holiday spirit. Festive floats, German Christmas Characters, and marching bands fill the streets as the participants wave and cheer to the crowds.
The annual Christmas parade traditionally takes place on the 2nd Saturday of December.
As the day winds down, kids can get involved by decorating traditional lanterns for the magical annual Lantern Parade. After the procession from downtown to the Festhalle, families can finish the evening around a cozy, crackling bonfire, indulging in some sweet s’mores and hot chocolate.
2. Helen Christmas Market
The Helen Christmas Market, held annually in Georgia, is a unique experience. The traditional Christkindlmarkt traces its origins back to a traditional German event where shoppers stock up on hand-crafted presents while enjoying sweet and savory treats and mulled wine.
Visitors to Helen can expect to find a variety of artisan vendors selling handmade crafts, jewelry, and other unique gifts. There is a wide array of food vendors, offering delicious treats perfect for the holiday season. Imagine walking through the stalls while smells of roasted almonds and gingerbread fill the air.
Live music and entertainment also fill the air as folks browse through the markets.
With the festive decorations, friendly atmosphere, and abundance of great merchandise, the Christmas Market is easily one of the best things to do in Helen GA in December. The Christmas market takes place the first two weekends in December. If you can’t make the traditional German Christmas Markets in Germany, Alpine Helen is the next best thing!
3. Helen Georgia Christmas Lights
If you go by the traditional “save the best for last” philosophy, this should be last. But I am putting it first because everything else I have to say revolves around this one topic when you visit Helen, Georgia at Christmas.
Helen Georgia’s Christmas lights are an annual event and one of the top things to do in the area. The annual lighting of the village for the first time takes place over Thanksgiving Weekend.
The lights in downtown Helen at Christmas are enchanting. You get sucked into this magical landscape of twinkle and charm. At the town center, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus light the lights and you will find local musical performances.
Down the main road, every tiny little piece of the city’s cobblestone alleys, and all the nooks and crannies were bathed in Christmas lights. The entire town sparkles and twinkles. Since the city of Helen is modeled after Bavarian towns in Germany, the town’s alpine architecture makes it one of the best places to view Christmas lights.
The Christmas spirit just washes all over you leaving you with that North Pole Christmas feel.
4. Helen Georgia Mountain Coaster
Helen is not just a tourist town full of shops and restaurants. The Georgia Mountain Coaster is a newly added experience right in town. It is the first alpine coaster in the area. If you have that thirst for the thrill, look no further. But I make mention of this here because we were told by the locals to ride this at night for the mere fact that it is a great place that overlooks the lights!
The ride is so fast and it feels like you are going to fly off the rails but the thrill is insane. And the view. I don’t think I could do it justice. I couldn’t get any pictures for fear of losing my phone off the mountain. All 5 of us went including our 7-year-old. The kids rode a second time for half price.
5. Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
A horse-drawn carriage ride at Christmas in Helen GA is a magical experience. Operators run day and night, but to take in all the gorgeous scenery and lights, I suggest aiming for sunset.
As the sun fades into the horizon, enjoy the beautiful rolling hills and snow-covered trees while the horses clip-clop their way through town. The alluring smell of roasted chestnuts and Christmas goodies from nearby restaurants and shops fills the air.
You will get to take in all the Christmas lights and decorations people have put up, and it’s a perfect opportunity to make lasting memories with your family and friends. The horse-drawn carriage will make you feel as if you’re stepping back in time to a simpler era.
Find the carriage rides picking up and dropping off at the center of town.
6. Christmas Train
For the little ones on your trip, consider a ride on theAlpine Express Christmas Train. Similar to the carriage rides above, find a children’s motorized train picking up at the center of town.
This fun adventure is always a hit with young children. They don’t go far, so you can ride or stand by and watch.
7. Hardman Farm – Victorian Christmas
Hardman Farm State Historic Site is a gorgeous 173-acre farm. During a visit, you can experience:
- “Historic Estate” Guided Tour — on the hour
- Self-Guided Tour — does not include mansion entry
- Gazebo-Topped Indian Mound
- Dairy Barn
But at Christmas, they set up each room in the house with Christmas trees decorated by locals for the Victorian Christmas. You can vote on which tree you like the best and they give a gift card to the winner.
Related: Can You Homeschool and Travel at the Same Time?
The historians that guide you through the house dress up in authentic clothes and offer so much information about the home’s history. Each room has a history. There is also the history of Anna Ruby who has a portrait hanging in the front sitting room. The area is well-known for Anna Ruby Falls. This leads me to my next reason.
Book an Anna Ruby Falls to Hardman Farm Tour – This all-inclusive tour includes admission to all sites along the tour and historical narrative throughout the journey.
8. Anna Ruby Falls Trail
Anna Ruby is the sole daughter of Captain Nichols from the Civil War. They had purchased a lot of land in the area including these falls. Anna Ruby Falls Trail in the Chattahoochee National Forest was named after her, although they were known about 50 years prior. They are one of 4 very popular waterfall visits in this area.
The hike is approximately 2 miles roundtrip. The path is paved and not too difficult. The entire walk follows the river coming from the falls and full of some incredible photo opportunities. It was one of our favorite things to do on our trip.
There are normally picnic areas in the park but right now, due to Covid, the area is closed. We drove just outside the entrance into Unicoi State Park and they were full of picnic stops. We sat on the river and had our lunch. It was relaxing and beautiful.
9. Visit Babyland General Hospital
If you have the opportunity to visit Babyland General Hospital at Christmas time, it will be a truly unique experience. Not only does this hospital have a long-standing tradition of bringing joy to families during the holidays, but its unique setup will also make for a memorable visit.
If you’re not familiar with Babyland, it is where Cabbage Patch dolls are born. I highly recommend staying to watch a birth at the Mother Cabbage Tree.
While this is easily meant for young children, it’s a delightful trip down memory lane for adults. The lobby features the history of Xavier Roberts and the Cabbage Patch dolls along with original creations. If you remember the craze of the 1980s, news clippings of the shortage of Cabbage Patch dolls are there too.
As for Christmas-themed enjoyment, lights and garland decorate the large showroom. A special room filled with themed Christmas trees is the main attraction during the holidays. Stroll through the dozens of trees. I enjoyed walking through here and getting ideas for decorations.
Babyland General Hospital is about 20 minutes from Helen. If you’re out driving the area, tis’ worth a 45-minute stop in. Stay longer if you plan to adopt!
10. Christmas in the Mountains Festival and Lighted Christmas Parade
We were staying in Cleveland which is the next town over. If you’re visiting Helen Georgia at Christmas, consider popping over to Cleveland as well.
Their parade was a great time and incredibly charming. They have a cute town center with a huge tree-lighting ceremony followed by a hometown Christmas parade.
There is also live music, a street market with vendors and local crafters and artists. A lot of the stores stay open. But my favorite place was Nora Mills General Store. It was the perfect depiction of small-town general store.
The lighted Christmas parade in Cleveland takes place the first weekend of December.
11. Shopping in Helen
Helen is the perfect destination for your Christmas shopping – the streets are lined with festive decorations, gift shops, and boutique stores selling unique holiday gifts.
There are dozens of shops along the main street. While many sell your standard tourist fare, seek out the shops with unique German gifts. My favorite is the clock shop.
Also check out the original wooden toys at Tim’s Wooden Toys.
12. Christmas Dining
Many of the area restaurants will have exclusive Christmas menus during the holiday season.
Our absolute best dining experience happened at the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant & pub. If you want truly authentic German beer and food, this is it.
Not only was our food delicious, we were treated to a German toast midway through our meal. The wait staff sing out loud and strong and finish with a hearty Prost. Click here to watch.
Plus the Hofbrauhaus sits overlooking the Chattahoochee River. The food was good, the view was great, entertainment was spectacular.
A stop to King Ludwig’s Biergarten is a great way to enjoy German music and golden German brews. This is an open air beer garden, so make sure you’re dressed appropriately. We enjoyed spaetzle, sauerkraut, and a variety of German sausages.
13. Do a Mural Hunt
There are dozens of beautifully painted murals around Helen depicting traditional German scenes and villages. Create your own mural hunt by seeing how many you can find, big and small.
Since the town is decked out with holiday decor, your pictures and selfies will twinkle!
14. Eat Christmas Chocolates
No stop to Helen would be complete without a visit to Hansel and Gretel Candy Kitchen. Pick up any number of hand-crafted gourmet chocolates and candies. The facility itself is a charming alpine cottage. Make sure you pop to the back window to see if you can spy any Christmas treats in the making.
While at one time they used to give tours, staffing and post-pandemic issues have halted the tours. Hopefully, in the future they will be able to give a behind-the-scenes look at how all their treats are made on-site!
15. Visit a Renaissance Castle.
The Uhuburg Castle opens in May 2023. Since this is a newer attraction just outside of Helen, we haven’t experienced it ourselves yet. However, the stunning architecture and gardens will make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to old Germany.
Keep an eye on their site as I’m sure they will offer Christmas themed events come December. You can even book a stay in the castle chambers.
Before your visit
Be sure to check Helenga.org before your visit for a calendar of events. each weekend looks a little different, but no matter which time you choose to visit, it will, without a doubt, spread the Christmas spirit.
Helen is gorgeous and charming year-round and Christmas is no different. With a touch of magic and a splash of adventure, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Helen, Georgia for Christmas.
Other things to do in and around Helen Georgia at Christmas time:
- Visit Charlemagne’s Kingdom Alpine Railroad museum
- Do some cool river tubing on the Chattahoochee River.
Where to stay in Helen GA
Luxury and comfortable stay
The Valhalla Resort Hotel is the perfect location for all your Christmas in Helen needs. Consistently rated 9 stars out of ten, the resort offers bungalows, junior, and king suites, featuring plenty of room for a family to spread out.
🏩 Check Valhalla Rates here. 🏩
Located on Chattahoochee River in Downtown Helen
Guests at the Riverbend Motel & Cabins get the best of both worlds. Scenic nature and close to rafting, tubing, and on the river. Plus you’re .2 miles from the city center, meaning you can easily walk to the Christmas lights.
Guest reviews are very good for this motel and everything is modernized and updated.
Check Riverbend prices and availability here.
Home Rentals in Helen, Georgia for Christmas
Hotels in Helen, Georgia
Looking for other Christmas Towns in America? Check out my list of favorites here.
Getting around Helen
You can stay in the center of town and enjoy the all the Christmas activities in Helen GA. However, I would recommend if you are flying into the Atlanta area and don’t have your own car, that you rent one. Driving through the mountains in Georgia is not bad, but do allow for extra time to get to your various destinations.
Check car rental prices in Atlanta here.
How long does Helen GA have Christmas Lights?
The lights are turned on over Thanksgiving weekend and left on until February.
Is Helen GA a Christmas town?
Yes, but it is also a German-themed down that’s great to visit year round.
When is the best time to visit Helen GA?
In addition to the Christmas season, Helen shines during Oktoberfest, and its location in the North Georgia Mountains makes it perfect for summer activities. Tubing is very popular in Helen.
Visiting Helen GA for Christmas was a bucket list destination for us. We were delighted with the lights, food, and fun activities to do around the area. If you’re visiting Helen in December, make a plan to spend the night and get all your Christmas cheer in for the season.
If you can’t get enough Christmas vacation spots, be sure to check this list of US Christmas destinations.
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