Things to Do in Georgia (USA) in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Georgia (USA)
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + December drops Apalachicola Bay's flats to 16°C (61°F), turning the oysters briny and sweet, prime time for slurping them straight from the shell.
- + Atlanta's High Museum keeps its doors open until 9 PM on Fridays, letting you wander the Woodruff Arts Center complex without the usual weekend crush.
- + Blue Ridge Mountain trails empty out, most weekdays you'll have Blood Mountain's 1,359 m (4,458 ft) summit all to yourself.
- + Savannah's live oaks shed in delicate gold drifts, so Forsyth Park's canopy feels more cathedral than canopy.
- − December 26-31 flips into Atlanta's spring break, highways stack up for 40 km (25 miles) northbound toward the mountains.
- − Gulf Coast wind slices through decent jackets. The humidity makes 10°C (50°F) feel closer to 4°C (39°F).
- − Most mountain hiking trails shut at 4:30 PM with the early sunset, trimming two full hours off your day compared to summer.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December's cooler air and glass-calm water make Cumberland Island's wild horses visible from 500 m (1,640 ft) offshore. After 10 AM the salt marsh lies mirror-still once the wind dies, and dolphins hunt the warmer tidal channels. You glide through 300-year-old live oak tunnels minus the summer mosquito clouds.
The 35 km (22-mile) loop of converted rail line turns into an open-air gallery in December's dry air, murals stay sharp and bright without summer's humidity haze. The Eastside Trail between Ponce City Market and Piedmont Park packs the densest concentration of commissioned murals, and most local artists are out retouching their pieces on weekends.
December's low water exposes cypress knees and alligator trails. Yet temperatures stay warm enough that gators stay active and easy to spot. The swamp's tannin-stained water throws back golden winter light like liquid bronze, and without summer insects you can hear gar fish splashing as they feed.
December brings pecan harvest at peak freshness, and Macon's 200-year-old downtown turns into a working cookbook. Tours cover five historic buildings, including the Cannonball House's original 1853 kitchen where pecans are still candied with antebellum recipes. The scent of roasted pecans drifts from old brick warehouses before the tour even starts.
The 'Hooch runs gin-clear in December, and spawning brown trout attack dry flies with abandon. Morning frost on the banks sends up steam columns rising 1 m (3 ft) off the water, while the river's 13°C (55°F) keeps you comfortable in waders. The delayed harvest stretch below Buford Dam fires between 10 AM and 2 PM.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
An unlikely show of 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees blooming in December, Georgia's climate quirk. Trees along Coleman Hill and Wesleyan College campus paint the whole town pink against bare hardwoods. Local farmers set up pecan pie stands every 100 m (328 ft) along the parade route.
The 251 m (825 ft) granite dome becomes a projection-mapped canvas telling Civil War stories with Christmas lights. Kettle corn and pine needles scent the air, while nightly snow machines spit real ice crystals drifting 100 m (328 ft) across the lawn.
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Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
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Top-rated things to do in Georgia (USA) this December
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