As the fall leaves begin to fade, it’s time to gear up for a magical holiday season in Henry County, Georgia!
From laser light shows and Christmas farm fun, to shopping trails, unique experiences and sweet treats, Henry County is brimming with holiday cheer and everything you need to get in the Christmas spirit.
Holiday Happenings in Henry County, GA
Any season is a great time to visit Henry County, but the holiday season brings extra special events to enjoy and opportunities to immerse yourself in the local scene.
Take your pick of the fun festivities to follow, or map out a multi-weekend retreat to fill up your memory bank.
Laser Light Shows at Atlanta Motor Speedway
The holiday fun kicks off with the Cabin Fever Laser Light Show at Atlanta Motor Speedway, beginning Thursday, November 19 at 5 PM, through Sunday, November 22 at 8 PM.
Enjoy this family-friendly laser event from the comfort of your car, or bring your own chairs to sit in front of your vehicle and take in the mind-blowing laser show performed to the latest musical hits featuring fantastic graphic effects. Get your tickets here.
Farm Fun at Yule Forest
Start a new family tradition with an annual visit to Yule Forest. The Christmas festivities start early this year on Saturday, November 21, and admission is free. Bring the whole family to explore, learn and play at this holiday hotspot that has so much to offer.
Browse the farm’s cut-your-own Christmas tree field for the perfect pick to take home and decorate for the season, or choose your favorite one from the pre-cut selection they also have available. You can also shop the farm’s fresh wreaths and garland that smell amazing and transport you back to all the wonderful Christmases of the past.
Learn more and start planning your visit here.
A Homestead Holiday at Southern Belle Farm
Keep the farm-filled holiday fun going at Southern Belle Farm’s Christmas in the Country celebrations, another great family tradition in the making! The farm officially opens its holiday season right after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 27.
If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree, don’t worry—there are plenty of pre-cut Fraser Firs to choose from to take home and get all gussied up for the holidays.
Once you’ve chosen your 2020 Christmas tree, it’s time to play! Grab a cup of hot apple cider to enjoy while the kids visit with Santa (for free!) and wear themselves out from all the holiday activities. Weekdays bring opportunities to ride down the giant tunnel slide ($5 for unlimited rides) and visit with the barn animals (free).
On weekends, there’s a $9.95 charge for general admission, which includes access to:
- Belle’s Barnstormer
- Ballzone
- Mini Ballzone
- Pedal Karts
- Jumping Pillow
- Animal Barn
- Giant Tunnel Slide
- Seesaw
- Whoville with the Grinch (includes Grinch Photo Op, Make Your Own Ornament, Grinch Ring Toss and Grinch Bean Bag Toss)
Don’t let your visit end without stopping by the farm’s Country Market, brimming with Mimi’s homemade cakes, donuts, and sweets—as well as seasonal items and produce, like jams and jellies, local Georgia honey, seasonal fresh produce, canned peaches, ciders, kettle corn and more. Take a look at the menu here. They also offer custom orders, too, but be sure to order soon to ensure your homemade goodies are ready in time for your holiday celebration.
Community Christmas Celebrations
With so many holiday festivities to enjoy, it’s impossible to not get in the holiday spirit! But be sure to rest up for more Christmas fun in Henry County.
Tune in on Thanksgiving night—Thursday, November 26—at 6 pm for the virtual watch party to see Locust Grove’s beautiful Christmas tree come to life with thousands of lights.
Saturday, December 5 brings two unique local events to check out—Rutabaga’s Market & Cafe’s Saturday Night Live event in Hampton and Locust Grove’s Drive-in Movie. Rutabaga’s big event kicks off at 5 pm and features live music from Gary Crenshaw, performing both originals and chart hits, so grab a beer or glass of wine and enjoy some holiday merriment with the locals. At 6 pm, be ready to snuggle up for Locust Grove’s Christmas Carpool Cinema in Claude Gray Park to watch Polar Express.
If you’re going to be in town in late December, wrap up your Henry County holiday events with a magical Moonlight Mountain Hike at Panola Mountain State Park on Saturday, December 26.
Holiday Shopping in Henry County, GA
Of course, no Christmas season is complete without shopping for loved ones! And with Henry County’s wide selection of shops, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your nice list.
Retail Stores Galore
Shop the nation’s leading brands and designer labels at Tanger Outlets in Locust Grove, including Columbia Sportswear, Michael Kors, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Under Armour, Ann Taylor, Children’s Place, J.Crew and more. Check out the mall’s holiday hours here. When you need to refuel, stop by Great American Cookies & Pretzelmaker for a sweet pick-me-up.
Charming Local Shops
For locally made gifts and items, Henry County’s boutiques and antique shops are just the ticket.
Head to All My Treasures, a resale boutique in Hampton, to browse a variety of eclectic and vintage home furnishings with a custom twist.
BarnBeautiful in Stockbridge is known for their hand-crafted furnishings, décor and art from reclaimed barnwood, as well as their gallery space featuring local artists and artisans.
Leather lovers will get lost in all the handmade leather goods, artisan bags, jewelry, accessories and furniture found at Holy Cow Leather & Goods in Hampton.
Pop into Magnolia Pink in McDonough for locally crafted goods and clothing from a variety of vendors.
Browse beautiful, timeless antiques of all kinds at Peachtree Peddlers Antique Mall & Flea Market in McDonough and Deja Vu on Forty-Two and The Grove Depot in Locust Grove.
Be one of the first to blaze Henry County’s new Artisan Trail and enjoy first dibs on local Georgia-made, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind goods. Choose from art-related retail venues and agri-artisans to artisanal restaurants and unique lodging experiences.
Ready for more shopping? Explore Henry County’s array of shops more here.
Unforgettable Signature Experiences
Some of the best “gifts” in life are the experiences we share with loved ones, and Henry County is home to an array of unique experiences that make for perfect gifts for Christmas—and beyond!
The adrenaline junkie in your life will love a visit to Atlanta Motor Speedway. Give the gift of a driving experience—like the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, The NASCAR Racing Experience and Richard Petty Driving Experience—or get them tickets to an upcoming NASCAR race. The new year holds four exciting NASCAR races:
- March 2021—EchoPark 250 and Atlanta Doubleheader
- March 2021—Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500
- July 2021—July Xfinity Series
- July 2021—Quaker State 400
Another exhilarating experience to consider is a helicopter ride with the The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF). The AAHF hangar houses Huey and Cobra helicopters—originally flown during the Vietnam War—that visitors can take a ride in with a veteran pilot and experience the thrill of flying in military aircraft. Certain age, health, and weight restrictions may apply. Learn more here.
For the animal lover, a visit to Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary is perfect! They’ll get the opportunity to see more than 1,000 rescued, surrendered and rehabilitated animals, from bears, exotic cats and primates to wolves, reptiles, birds and more.
Your loved one can either embark on a free self-guided tour—or for a more personalized experience, take one of the two professionally guided tours: the WOW (Walk On the Wild Side) Tour and the Big Cat Feeding Tour (available during the summer months only). Book a tour by contacting the Welcome Center; you can sometimes find discount tour vouchers on Groupon.
If they also love art, consider gifting a one a one-on-one painting session with Doc, a 500-pound tiger. Doc’s keeper takes you behind the scenes to see Doc up close and personal while he paints his next masterpiece for you to take home.
Holiday Treats in Henry County, GA
The lights, the shopping, the festivities—all that’s missing is some delicious Christmas goodies! Whatever you’re craving this holiday season, Henry County has it.
Feeling a frozen treat? Lupita’s Ice Cream in Stockbridge specializes in Hispanic desserts and serves more than 20 ice cream flavors each day. Cherry Berry Frozen Yogurt in Locust Grove offers 12 premium rotating healthy and fat-free frozen yogurt flavors—and more than 50 toppings. Sweet Charlie’s in McDonough whips up a mean cup of Thai-inspired hand-rolled ice cream with fun flavor combinations and toppings, like warm Belgian waffles. Cake ‘n Shake in Locust Grove offers much more than just cakes—their staple is locally made, hand-scooped milkshakes specially made with homemade cupcakes, cake slices and fresh waffle pops.
Hankerin’ for some good old-fashioned holiday baked goods? ELF’s Cakery in Stockbridge is known for their handcrafted cakes and cupcakes. Crumbles by Nicole in Locust Grove features a delicious variety of hand-decorated cookies, cupcakes and other desserts. Holey Sweet Donuts in Stockbridge is home to top-quality, made-from-scratch donuts in countless unique flavors; they also serve breakfast and lunch, so come hungry! And Smallcakes Cupcakery has the full gamut of freshly baked desserts, including homemade, gourmet-sized cupcakes, cookie sandwiches, milkshakes and more.
Ready to celebrate the holidays in Henry County? Book your stay today and start planning a memory-filled holiday retreat.