Brookhaven holidays 2026: Light Up Brookhaven at Blackburn Park, Santa at City Centre Dec. 5, 12 and 19, Santa Paws Dec. 20, Holidays in the 'Haven.

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

Brookhaven’s holiday season opens with Light Up Brookhaven at Blackburn Park in the first week of December and runs through Holidays in the ‘Haven at Brookhaven Park, which the city lists from Dec. 19 to Jan. 4. In between, Santa sits for photos at City Hall on three Saturdays, and dogs get their own Santa day.

Date Event Time Place
Dec. 2 or 3 (see below) Light Up Brookhaven 6 to 9 p.m. Blackburn Park
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 5-6 Farmers market Christmas Market Not yet posted 1375 Fernwood Circle
Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19 City Centre Santa 9 a.m. to noon Brookhaven City Centre
Dec. 19 to Jan. 4 Holidays in the ‘Haven Not yet posted Brookhaven Park
Sunday, Dec. 20 Santa Paws 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brookhaven Park

Who to call

  • City events: City of Brookhaven, 404-637-0500, special events
  • Weather cancellations: Parks and Recreation rainout line, 470-704-4774 (option 3)
  • Christmas tree pickup: DeKalb County Sanitation, 404-294-2900

Light Up Brookhaven

The city’s tree lighting is at Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road, 6 to 9 p.m. The city’s events calendar lists it for Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, while its special events page lists Dec. 2. We will update this page when the city settles the date; check its page before you go.

Last year’s Light Up Brookhaven, on Dec. 3, 2025, opened with Santa arriving by helicopter courtesy of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, then the lighting of the city’s 40-foot Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah, live holiday music, food trucks, bounce houses, train rides, a petting zoo, crafts and first-come giveaways, according to Explore Brookhaven, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. The 2026 program had not been announced on Oct. 5.

Santa at City Hall and Santa Paws

City Centre Santa is on Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, from 9 a.m. to noon at Brookhaven City Centre, 4001 Peachtree Road, according to the city’s calendar (Dec. 5, Dec. 12, Dec. 19).

Santa Paws brings dogs and their owners to the dog park at Brookhaven Park, 4158 Peachtree Road, on Sunday, Dec. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., per the city’s listing. More dog outings are in our dog-friendly Brookhaven guide.

Holidays in the ‘Haven and Rudolph’s Rink

The city lists Holidays in the ‘Haven at Brookhaven Park from Dec. 19 through Jan. 4 on its special events page. Details for 2026 were not out on Oct. 5. In 2025 it was built around Rudolph’s Rink, a real-ice rink with free 45-minute sessions booked online (a few walk-ups allowed), skate rentals included in sizes from toddler 8 to adult 14, and a signed waiver for every skater. It was closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and came with Santa’s Village crafts, food trucks on “Festive Food Lane” and lawn games, according to the city’s ice skating page.

Holiday trees on the Tinsel Trail

The Brookhaven Holiday Tinsel Trail puts community-decorated trees at Blackburn Park, Skyland Park (2600 Skyland Drive), Langford Park (1174 Pine Grove Avenue) and the police department side of the Peachtree Creek Greenway (1793 Briarwood Road). Trees go up from Nov. 16 to Dec. 1 and stay through the season, according to Explore Brookhaven. The walk is free.

Markets and more

  • Brookhaven Farmers Market Christmas Market, Dec. 5-6, listed on the market’s website.
  • Posada Navideña at Plaza Fiesta, 4166 Buford Highway: a Mexican holiday celebration with dancing, piñatas and food, listed for Dec. 13, 2 to 4 p.m., on the center’s events page, which does not give a year. Confirm before you go.
  • Boar’s Head at Oglethorpe University: the university’s holiday concert at the Conant Performing Arts Center was on Dec. 5 in 2025, per Explore Brookhaven. The 2026 date was not out on Oct. 5.

Closings and trash over the holidays

  • City offices are closed on Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24, per the city calendar.
  • Brookhaven Library is closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, per the library’s holiday schedule.
  • Trash: Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25, brings no change to collection, and Christmas tree collection runs Dec. 28, 2026, through Jan. 7, 2027, according to DeKalb County Sanitation’s 2026 calendar.
  • DeKalb County schools are on winter break Dec. 21-31; students return Jan. 5, on the district’s 2026-27 calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When is Light Up Brookhaven 2026? The city’s events calendar lists Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Blackburn Park; its special events page lists Dec. 2. Check the city’s page before you go.

Where can kids see Santa in Brookhaven? At Brookhaven City Centre, 4001 Peachtree Road, from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, 2026.

Is there ice skating in Brookhaven? In 2025 the city ran Rudolph’s Rink in Brookhaven Park with free sessions. Holidays in the ‘Haven is listed again for Dec. 19, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027.

Is there a menorah lighting in Brookhaven? Light Up Brookhaven in 2025 included the lighting of a Hanukkah menorah along with the city’s Christmas tree.

When does DeKalb County pick up Christmas trees? From Dec. 28, 2026, through Jan. 7, 2027.

What this means for you

  • Watch the city’s page for the final Light Up Brookhaven date: Dec. 2 or Dec. 3.
  • Santa at City Hall is three Saturday mornings; go early.
  • Rink sessions in 2025 were free but booked online; expect the same sign-up when the city posts 2026.

Related: Black Friday and holiday shopping, New Year’s Eve in Brookhaven, kids’ activities and free things to do.