Signature Holiday Events
Golden sunshine, sandy beaches, and mild coastal temperatures make up the glorious backdrop of the Golden Isles in the wintertime. And our signature holiday events take center stage. Attend an annual event, find great live music weekly or discover your new favorite festival in the Golden Isles this season!
Here's a lineup of Christmas and holiday events on St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island and Brunswick.
ST. SIMONS ISLAND HOLIDAY EVENTS
Sea Palms Holiday Market: November 16
Start you Christmas shopping early! Lots of vendors and a Kid's corner featuring facepainting, ballon art, yard games, and a coloring station. Craving a sweet treat? Shake It Up, Dixion Food Truck, and Byrd's Cookies will satisfy your craving!
Glynn Visual Arts Holiday Market: November 28 - December 23
Shop for the Holidays at Glynn Visual Arts! Your holiday spirit will soar when you step into our Holiday Art Market wonderland brimming with a stunning array of handmade art. You’ll find charming pieces - from paintings to pottery, jewelry to apparel and more!
Letters to Santa: November 21- December 25
Children are encouraged to visit The King and Prince lobby 'Letters to Santa' station this season. Compose a heartfelt letter to Santa to share your Christmas wishes, and the resort will ensure your letter reaches Santa Claus just in time.
Pier Village Annual Christmas Tree Lighting: December 2 at 6:00 PM
Join us to celebrate the season and light the tree in the St. Simons Pier Village!
Christmas Golf Cart Parade: December 6 at 11:00 AM
Join us to celebrate the holiday season at Pier Village!
Fireside Stories with Santa at the Cottage: December
Gather around and soak in the magic of the season as Old Saint Nick visits The Cottage to share his favorite Christmas stories! Enjoy the cozy ambiance while sipping on a delicious hot chocolate from our shop, and let the spirit of the holidays fill the air.
Mistletoe Market: December 6-7
Find the perfect gift of locally made artwork, pottery, sculpture, photography, woodworking, and more as you browse more than 60 accomplished artist booths at Glynn Visual Arts' annual Mistletoe Market held at Postell Park.
Christmas Tour of Lights: December 13-24
Join Lighthouse Trolleys for their Annual Fendig Family Christmas Tour of Lights! The 90-minute tour will be offered daily from mid-end of December. Hop aboard the trolley to see some of the most magnificent light displays found on St. Simons Island.
Georgia Elvis Festival: December 4-6
Join us December 13th-15th on St. Simons Island, Georgia, at The Strickland Auditorium at Epworth By The Sea for The Georgia Elvis Festival with some of the world's best Elvis Tribute Artists. Featuring 6 stage productions paying tribute to Elvis Presley's musical career!
Cassina Garden Club Bake Sale: December 13
The "Best Bake Sale in the South" is a popular St. Simons Christmas tradition. This Bake Sale at Gascoigne Bluff provides an offering of tasty and festive homemade cakes, pies, breads and cookies plus holiday treats and gifts such as toasted pecans, jellies and jams. This happy holiday event is open to the public.
SEA ISLAND HOLIDAY EVENTS
Sea Island Thanksgiving: November 26-30
Live music, bingo, traditional Thanksgiving fare, beach walks and more await guests and members of Sea Island this Thanksgiving. Participate in the resort's annual Turkey Trot Family Fun Run or 5K, delight in a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast, and begin the holiday season with a spectacular tree lighting ceremony, all to be held during the week of Thanksgiving on Sea Island.
Sea Island Christmas: December 20-26
Guests and members of Sea Island will delight in the resort's incredible calendar of holiday-themed events held throughout the week leading up to Christmas. From a life-size Gingerbread Cottage to the annual Reindog Parade and special buffets, brunches, and dinners, this will certainly be a season to remember on Sea Island.
Sea Island New Year's: December 27-January 1
Ring in 2026 at Sea Island with awe-inspiring fireworks displays, sparkling evenings filled with beautiful decorations and impeccable service, all while creating lasting memories along the way.
JEKYLL ISLAND HOLIDAY EVENTS
Peppermint Land: November 28-January 4
Immerse yourself in Peppermint Land at the Jekyll Island Miniature Golf Course! Featuring decorations such as gingerbread men, gumdrops, peppermint sticks, and other sweet holiday favorites. This experience will make you feel like you are in a life-size Candyland!
Holly Jolly Light Tours: November 28-January 4
The Jekyll Island Mosaic Museum will be offering the jolliest of holiday trolley rides. Tour the Historic District and gaze at over half a million-holiday lights! The centuries-old live oak trees will be decorated spectacularly for the season. So grab a holiday beverage and enjoy this coastal take on a winter wonderland.
Mailbox on Main: November 24-December 24
It's time to get that Christmas list to the North Pole! Drop off your letter to Santa in the mailbox located on Main Street in the Jekyll Island Beach Village. Make sure you get it in on time!
Christmas Tour of Lights: November 29-January 5
Join Lighthouse Trolleys for their Family Christmas Tour of Lights! The 90-minute tour will also be offered this year on Jekyll Island! Hop aboard the trolley to see some of the most magnificent light displays found on the island.
SCAD Holiday Concert: December
Join us at the Morgan Center for the SCAD Bee Sharps’ delightful holiday concert! As the university’s premier vocal ensemble, the Bee Sharps will fill the season with joy and festive cheer through their enchanting performances. Don’t miss this magical celebration!
Big Truck Roundup: December 21
Kids can explore, touch and learn more about exciting emergency vehicles from Jekyll Island Fire/EMS and Georgia State Patrol. With the opportunity to sit in the driver's seat and chat with emergency personnel, this holiday-themed event, complete with a visit from Santa, will be fun for all.
Holly Jolly Jekyll Light Parade: December 20
The Holly Jolly Jekyll Light Parade is a festive holiday tradition featuring decorated vehicles and golf carts traveling from Beach Village to the Jekyll Island Golf Club. Open to families, businesses, and organizations, it’s a fun and spirited way to celebrate the season and spread holiday cheer.
Holiday High Tea: December 3-26
A holiday tradition at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, this is the perfect opportunity to gather your closest friends and family for a festive afternoon filled with delicious treats and beautiful decorations. Enjoy the sounds of the season while you sip on the expansive selection of teas and dine on tea sandwiches, soup, warm scones, and exquisite sweets. Reservations required.
Drive-In Movie: December
Park your car at the Jekyll Island Convention Center to enjoy a screening of How the Grinch Stole Christmas featuring a visit from Santa. Enjoy dinner at one of the Beach Village restaurants, do a little Christmas shopping, and treat your family or friends to a fun evening together.
Lunch With Santa: December
Bring the kids for a festive lunch with Santa in the Grand Dining Room at Jekyll Island Club Resort. Enjoy a delightful buffet and a special visit from Santa, plus a memorable family photo.
Holiday Fireworks Displays: December 22 & 29
End your night with a bang with two incredible, free fireworks displays on Jekyll Island! After touring the island to take in the spectacular Christmas decorations, head to Great Dunes Beach Park, Corsair Beach Park or Oceanview Beach Park for three of the best places to view the fireworks show.
Great Gatsby New Year's Eve Party: December 31
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in the lively Morgan Ballroom at Jekyll Island Club Resort! Enjoy a night of dancing to live music, fantastic company, and raise a toast to 2024.
BRUNSWICK HOLIDAY EVENTS
Moxie Craft Fest Handmade Holiday Market: November 23
Kick off the holiday season with our annual Handmade Holiday Market in beautiful, historic downtown Brunswick! Featuring over 40, modern makers from all over the surrounding areas, carefully curated for quality and selection. We’ll have food trucks, local coffee, and so many beautiful items to take home. Join us Saturday, November 23rd from 10am-4pm, and make sure to bring the whole family!
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting: November 28
Join Historic Downtown Brunswick for their annual Christmas tree lighting the Friday after Thanksgiving! The tree lighting will take place at Queen Square with a reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas," live music, and the opportunity to visit with Santa!
Twinkle in the Squares: December
In Historic Downtown Brunswick, walk or drive along Newcastle Street any evening after dark to experience the annual Festival of Lights, which is a fantastic static light display. The whole street will be lit up from G Street to Hanover Park. The fifteen-minute shows will run for an hour twice a night on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout December.
5th Annual Festival of Trees: December 4
The 4th Annual Festival of Trees event benefits the Hope 1312 Collective, bringing tangible hope to children in the welfare system in our community. It is an evening of fun, food and an auction of extraordinary Christmas trees, wreaths, and centerpieces decorated by members of the community.
Jingle Jangle Gullah Geechee Christmas: December 6
This event honors Gullah Geechee heritage while offering a free festive and family-friendly holiday experience.
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation's Annual Christmas: December 5-6
Step back in time at Brunswick's historic rice plantation and enjoy the special holiday-themed decorations for the Christmas season. Visitors will walk along the illuminated path under centuries-old oaks, take in the beautifully decorated historic home, witness pre-Civil War re-enactments and cannon firings, enjoy hot wassail and cookies, and even visit with Santa Claus himself!
Magnolia Garden Club Tour of Homes: December
Enjoy a day filled with holiday cheer while touring historic homes and buildings in Brunswick's Historic District! Homes Featured: First Presbyterian Church, The O'Connor House, The Lissner Mansion, Prim House, Fendig/Shelander Mansion, Prim-Knight House, The Strachan Mansion, L. Effingham House and a special treat The Rain House.
A Christmas Carol: December 18-21
Watch a live performance at the Historic Ritz Theatre of Charles Dickens' immortal tale of the mean old miser Scrooge and his magical night discovering the true meaning of Christmas. Live on stage and starring Bryan Thompson as Ebenezer Scrooge.
The Brunswick Christmas Parade: December 13
The annual Brunswick Christmas Parade is a night parade that begins the wonderment and excitement of Christmas. The parade begins at 5:30 PM leaving from Howard Coffin Park and goes down Gloucester Street with a brief stop in front of City Hall.
The New Year's Eve Shrimp Drop: December 31
Join in on the countdown at Mary Ross Waterfront Park! Say goodbye to 2025 and welcome 2026 with Bob the Shrimp. In addition to the Shrimp Drop, this annual event features live music, food, axe throwing, and fun inflatables.
Explore more art festivals, live music, First Friday events, and more on our full events calendar to see what fits into your vacation! And if you're in search of places to eat during the holidays, make plans to dine at one of these beloved local restaurants featuring special menus this season.
