Holiday lights near East Cobb 2026: East Cobb Park Dec. 6, Sparkle Sandy Springs, Mable House, Santa at Avenue East Cobb and Hanukkah Dec. 4-12.

Last checked Oct. 5, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates and times come from each organizer’s own page, linked below. Where only last year’s dates are out, we say so.

The Avenue East Cobb tree lighting on Nov. 20 and the Marietta Square tree lighting and sweater parade on Dec. 3 are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page. This page covers light displays, Santa visits, menorah lightings and other holiday events.

Date Event Place
Nov. 12 to Dec. 11 Tree Jubilee Mable House Arts Center, Mableton
Nov. 21 to Dec. 24 Photos with Santa Avenue East Cobb
Dec. 2, 9, 16 Story Time with Santa Barnes & Noble, Avenue East Cobb
Friday, Dec. 4 Hanukkah begins at sundown
Friday, Dec. 4, 5 to 8 p.m. Mable House Lights the Night Mableton
Sunday, Dec. 6, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park 3322 Roswell Road
Sunday, Dec. 6 Sparkle Sandy Springs City Springs, Sandy Springs

Who to call

  • Avenue East Cobb (Santa bookings): 770-971-9945
  • Cobb County PARKS: 770-528-8800
  • Police, non-emergency: Cobb County Police, 770-499-3900
  • Emergency: 911

Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park, Sunday, Dec. 6

East Cobb’s own holiday night is at East Cobb Park, 3322 Roswell Road, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, according to the Friends for East Cobb Park calendar. The volunteer group that runs the park lists “holiday lights” among its community events; the program for 2026 has not been posted.

Santa in East Cobb

  • Photos with Santa, Saturday, Nov. 21, to Thursday, Dec. 24, in the Family Lounge next to Panera Bread at Avenue East Cobb, 4475 Roswell Road. Times vary. Appointments open at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, and walk-ups are taken only if time allows. Pets are not allowed (Avenue East Cobb).
  • Story Time with Santa, Wednesdays, Dec. 2, 9 and 16, inside Barnes & Noble at Avenue East Cobb, with readings at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 a child, recommended for ages 3 to 7, and all proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity NW Metro Atlanta. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 26 (event page).

Light displays

Lights of Life, Life University, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta. The university’s campus light display had no 2026 dates posted as of Oct. 5. In 2025 it ran every night from Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, to New Year’s Eve, with lights on from sunset until about 9 or 10 p.m. Admission was $15 a car and $30 a bus, paid at the entrance by cash or card, with proceeds going to student scholarships (Life University).

Mable House Lights the Night, Friday, Dec. 4, 5 to 8 p.m., Mable House Arts Center, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. Cobb PARKS lights the campus and holds the Sugar Plum Market of local artisans, live performances, free hot cocoa and popcorn, Santa photos and a tree lighting at 7 p.m. (county event page). Inside, the Tree Jubilee gallery of trees and wreaths decorated by local groups is up from Nov. 12 to Dec. 11 (Tree Jubilee).

Sparkle Sandy Springs, Sunday, Dec. 6, City Springs, about five miles east. The city’s nighttime Sparkle Parade, with lit floats and marching bands, ends with a menorah lighting and then the Christmas tree lighting near City Hall. Sparkle Village has a food and gift market and Sparkle Wonderland has carolers and giant inflatables. The city says the 2026 schedule is coming soon (city of Sandy Springs; parade route and viewing spots on the Sparkle parade page). The tree stays lit until New Year’s Day and the menorah is lit each night of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4, and ends Saturday, Dec. 12 (Hebcal). The public menorah lighting at Sparkle Sandy Springs is Sunday, Dec. 6. In East Cobb, Chabad Lubavitch of Cobb County, 4450 Lower Roswell Road, 770-565-4412 (Chabad directory listing), had not posted its 2026 Hanukkah events as of Oct. 5. We will add menorah lightings here as organizers announce them.

Frequently asked questions

When is Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park in 2026? Sunday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at East Cobb Park, 3322 Roswell Road, according to the Friends for East Cobb Park calendar.

Where can I see Santa in East Cobb? Avenue East Cobb has Photos with Santa by appointment from Nov. 21 to Dec. 24, and Story Time with Santa at Barnes & Noble on Wednesdays, Dec. 2, 9 and 16. Bookings open at 10 a.m. Oct. 26.

When is Hanukkah 2026? Hanukkah begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4, and ends Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026. Sandy Springs lights its menorah at Sparkle Sandy Springs on Dec. 6.

Is Lights of Life at Life University open in 2026? Life University had not posted 2026 dates as of Oct. 5. The 2025 display ran nightly from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, at $15 a car paid at the entrance.

What this means for you

  • Set a reminder for 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26: Santa photo slots and story time tickets at Avenue East Cobb go on sale then.
  • Dec. 4-6 is the busiest stretch: Hanukkah begins, Mable House lights up, and East Cobb Park and Sparkle Sandy Springs both fall on Sunday, Dec. 6.
  • Cobb County offices close Thursday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 25, the county’s holiday schedule shows, and libraries are closed both days.

Related: Christmas parade and tree lighting, Black Friday and holiday shopping, New Year’s Eve and things to do this month.