Things to Do in Georgia (USA) in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Georgia (USA)
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- December brings Atlanta's most civilized weather - crisp mornings that burn off to sweater-weather afternoons, when you can enjoy Piedmont Park without the summer's suffocating humidity
- Savannah's oak-lined squares reach peak Southern Gothic beauty with Spanish moss catching the low winter sun, while the historic district's boutique hotels drop their peak-season rates
- Georgia's oyster season peaks in December, meaning you'll find the plumpest, briniest clusters at coastal raw bars from Tybee Island to Cumberland Island
- The Atlanta Botanical Garden's Garden Lights, Holiday Nights transforms into an actual winter wonderland without the frozen fingers - 2 million LED bulbs strung through 15 hectares (37 acres) of well temperate gardens
Considerations
- December is Georgia's second-busiest month after October leaf season - Savannah's St. Patrick's Day crowds pale compared to Christmas in the historic district
- Mountain areas like Blue Ridge and Helen get cold - we're talking -1°C (30°F) mornings that can surprise visitors expecting Southern warmth
- Atlanta's holiday traffic rivals LA's worst days, around Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza where Christmas shoppers gridlock Peachtree Road for miles
Best Activities in December
Historic Savannah Walking Tours
December's 21°C (70°F) afternoons make Savannah's 22 historic squares walkable - no summer humidity turning your shirt into a wet rag within minutes. The city smells like pine garlands and roasted pecans, and evening tours through the historic district mean you can linger at Jones Street's Federal-style mansions without sweating through your jacket. Bonus: December's shorter days mean the gas lamps flicker on earlier, turning Chippewa Square into something from a Tennessee Williams play.
Atlanta BeltLine Art Walks
December's mild weather makes the Eastside Trail's 3.2 km (2 miles) of street art enjoyable - you'll spot new murals that appeared during the year without the summer's brutal heat. The trail's Saturday farmers market moves to Ponce City Market's indoor food hall, so you can warm up with hot cider while browsing local pottery. The crowds thin out after 4 pm when locals head home for dinner, leaving the trail's best installations like the giant koi mural at Irwin Street practically empty.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Holiday Excursions
December transforms this 42 km (26-mile) round-trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains into a rolling Christmas party. The vintage train cars stay cozy with heaters, but you'll want to crack windows for photos of frost-covered pine forests. The route crosses the Toccoa River four times, and morning trips catch steam rising off the water like something from a fairy tale. The layover in McCaysville includes a visit to the town's 1950s-style diner where locals line up for pecan pie.
Cumberland Island Wild Horse Photography
December's 8°C (46°F) mornings mean the wild horses come out of the maritime forest to sun themselves on Driftwood Beach - they're easier to spot than summer when they hide from heat and bugs. The island's 27 km (17 miles) of beach have actual solitude without summer's ferry crowds, and morning light hits the salt marshes at that perfect golden angle. Bring layers - the 8 am ferry over can be cold, but you'll warm up hiking to Dungeness Ruins.
Atlanta Food Hall Crawls
December's indoor weather makes Atlanta's food halls the city's best-kept secret - Ponce City Market's Central Food Hall and Krog Street Market turn into heated wonderlands of global flavors. You'll find everything from Korean corn dogs to Nashville hot chicken, all under one roof when outside temperatures drop. The crowds skew local in December (tourists stick to restaurants), so you're eating alongside actual Atlantans who know which stalls have the best ramen or the spiciest jerk chicken.
December Events & Festivals
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden
This isn't your typical Christmas light display - it's 2 million LEDs choreographed to music, floating orbs in the lake, and a 6-meter (20-foot) tall Earth Goddess sculpture wrapped in lights. The gardens stay open until 10 pm, and December evenings are cool enough that the hot chocolate stations make sense.
Savannah's Holiday Tour of Homes
Historic mansion owners open their doors for one weekend only, revealing how Savannah's elite decorate for Christmas. You'll see everything from 1820s Federal-style homes with fresh magnolia garlands to Victorian mansions dripping with crystal ornaments. The scent of pine and beeswax candles follows you through each house.