Light Up Brookhaven 2026: Dec. 3 tree lighting, Santa

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Every fact comes from the City of Brookhaven or Explore Brookhaven, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, linked below. This page is updated each year at the same address.

Light Up Brookhaven, the city’s tree lighting, is listed for 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, at Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road. Yes, it is on this year: it appears on the city’s events calendar and its special events page. The two pages disagree on the day, though: the calendar says Dec. 3 and the special events page says Dec. 2. The city has not yet posted the 2026 program.

Light Up Brookhaven at a glance

• When: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, per the city calendar (the special events page lists Dec. 2)
• Where: Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road
• Cost: free in 2025; 2026 not yet posted
• Program, parking and road closures: not announced as of Oct. 17
• Questions: City of Brookhaven, 404-637-0500

Confirmed and still to come

We will update this page when the city confirms the date and posts the program.

What happened last year

Light Up Brookhaven ran from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at Blackburn Park. The city’s 2025 listing called it “Brookhaven’s annual holiday event” and listed it as free.

According to Explore Brookhaven, the 2025 evening included:

• Santa arriving by helicopter, courtesy of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and photos with Santa
• the lighting of the city’s 40-foot Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah
• live holiday music and food trucks
• bounce houses and inflatables, train rides, a petting zoo and hands-on crafts
• holiday giveaways, first come, first served

Getting there and parking

Blackburn Park has its own parking lots, according to the city’s park page. The city has not said whether those lots will be open to visitors on the night, or whether there will be shuttles or road closures on Ashford Dunwoody Road. Neither the 2025 listing nor Explore Brookhaven’s 2025 article mentioned event parking.

Santa after the lighting

City Centre Santa follows 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). Dogs get Santa Paws at Brookhaven Park on Sunday, Dec. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road. The city’s special events page lists Dec. 2, so check the city’s listing before you go.

Is Light Up Brookhaven free? The city listed the 2025 event as free. It had not posted a price for 2026 as of Oct. 17.

Does Santa come to Light Up Brookhaven? In 2025 Santa arrived by helicopter, courtesy of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, according to Explore Brookhaven. The 2026 program has not been announced. Santa also sits for photos at Brookhaven City Centre on Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Is there a menorah lighting at Light Up Brookhaven? In 2025 the evening included the lighting of a Hanukkah menorah as well as the city’s 40-foot Christmas tree, according to Explore Brookhaven.

Where do I park for Light Up Brookhaven? Blackburn Park has its own parking lots, according to the city’s park page. The city had not posted event parking, shuttle or road closure plans for 2026 as of Oct. 17.

What this means for you

• Hold both Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 until the city settles the date; its calendar says Thursday, Dec. 3.
• It was free in 2025, with food trucks selling food.
• Santa photos at City Hall are the following three Saturday mornings.

Related: holiday lights and Christmas events, ice skating at Rudolph’s Rink, things to do this month and free things to do.