Last December 12, temperatures sat in the 30s and thousands of people still turned out for a one-mile stretch of the Alpha Loop. They wore jackets, carried thermoses, and brought dozens of dogs in sweaters. Appen Media's Alpharetta-Roswell Herald reported two flautists playing along the trail and walkers passing through its tunnel under colored lights. John Goss, president of the Alpha Loop Foundation, told the paper that 1,000 people registered for that Friday evening and 1,500 for Saturday.
That weekend was one of three gatherings in 2025. This year the format changes again. Lights on the Loop runs every night from December 4, 2026, through January 4, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m., and admission is free. Alpharetta's tree lightings are still the big kickoff moments, and three of them fall on three straight nights in November. But each one lasts a single evening. The trail between Northwinds Parkway and Old Milton Parkway is now the part of the season that stays open well past Christmas.
Three Decembers, three formats
The event has changed shape every year since it started, and the turnout has grown each time.
| Year | Format | Dates | Reported turnout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Inaugural two-night event | Dec. 13–14 | At least 400 attendees |
| 2025 | Three weekend gatherings | Second weekend Dec. 12–13, pet weekend Dec. 19–20 | 1,000 registered Friday, 1,500 Saturday on the second weekend |
| 2026 | Nightly display with two themed weekends | Dec. 4, 2026–Jan. 4, 2027 | Not yet held |
The first year had a narrower purpose. According to Appen Media's coverage of the 2024 event, the Alpha Loop Foundation and Awesome Alpharetta held it to celebrate the trail's newly finished one-mile section between Old Milton Parkway and Northwinds Summit. Visitors had hot chocolate and donuts, and the foundation set up a map showing where the trail was headed. Karen Richard, a foundation board member and former City Council member, told Appen Media that the section's tunnel and 12-foot-wide bridge made it the right setting. "The line for the hot chocolate was about as long as the line for people wanting to talk about the map," she said.
The event still serves the trail. The foundation calls Lights on the Loop its largest fundraiser of the year, and the money supports the Alpha Loop's continued growth and activation. The trail's long-range plan connects Avalon, Alpharetta City Center, Northwinds Office Park and the North Point Economic District. So a nightly display gives the foundation a month of evenings to raise money for the parts of the trail that aren't built yet.
Before the trail lights up, three trees on three nights
The season starts two weeks before the Loop switches on. From Friday, November 20, through Sunday, November 22, Alpharetta lights three trees in three different settings. Each is a single evening built around a set countdown time.
- Friday, Nov. 20: The Hamilton Alpharetta, 35 Milton Ave. The hotel's tree lighting runs 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the tree is lit at 6:30. Admission is complimentary. The evening includes carolers from the Alpharetta High School Chorus, a family photo area, photos with Santa, a Baileys hot cocoa bar, and holiday classics on a big screen on the Amenity Deck. The hotel's restaurant is also serving a prime rib special. Details are on The Hamilton's site.
- Saturday, Nov. 21: City of Alpharetta Season of Celebration, City Hall, 2 Park Plaza. The city's event runs 5 to 8 p.m., and the tree lighting is scheduled for 6:30. Expect a 50-foot tree, live holiday music, snow flurries, strolling characters and Santa, with the main stage in front of City Hall. The city's event listing also mentions marshmallow roasting and sing-alongs. The event is free and goes on rain or shine.
- Sunday, Nov. 22: The Lighting of Avalon, 400 Avalon Blvd. This one starts earliest and runs longest, from 2 to 7:30 p.m. It begins with a skating performance by students around the rink. Avalon on Ice opens to the public at 3 p.m., and the Atlanta Figure Skating Club is on the ice from 3 to 5. Face painting, holiday crafts and a photo booth line Avalon Boulevard. The 40-foot tree is lit at 7 p.m. sharp.
Avalon's parking note is worth reading before you go. Guests can use any of the free parking decks or valet at 3rd Street. Shuttles also run from Gwinnett Technical College across the street. Avalon recommends carpooling or ride-share because parking fills quickly.
The same weekend has a few more stops. On Saturday, Arts Alpharetta brings back its Artist Holiday Market at the Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St., from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., which wraps up a few hours before the city's tree lighting. On Friday, the same night as The Hamilton's lighting, Elf'd UP returns to UP on the Roof downtown. The rooftop pop-up has kitschy décor and Christmas-themed cocktails, and it runs through December 27.
If you plan to skate after Sunday, Avalon on Ice lists hours of 3 to 9 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is listed at $18 per person and $14 for children 12 and under, skates included. Avalon asks skaters to reserve a time slot in advance. Walk-ups are welcome, but a slot isn't guaranteed.
December 4, when the Loop takes over
The display opens on Friday, December 4, with a "Switch On The Lights" celebration at 5:30 p.m. One calendar listing gives a 5 p.m. start for that night, so check the time before you head out. Opening night is also the start of the first of two themed weekends:
- Holiday Music Showcase, Dec. 4–5, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Live performances from the Alpharetta Symphony, the Alpharetta City Band, local musicians and a holiday DJ.
- Pet-Friendly Weekend featuring Llamas on the Loop, Dec. 18–19, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Pet-friendly activities, plus the llamas that give the weekend its name.
On both themed weekends, the Lights & Delights Village sets up behind 2500 Northwinds Parkway. It has artisan vendors, seasonal food and non-alcoholic drinks for purchase, a holiday DJ, and costumed characters for photos. The themed weekends happen rain or shine unless there's heavy rain or severe weather. Organizers send weather updates by Eventbrite to people who have registered, and they strongly encourage registration for those weekends. Free parking is available at 2500 and 2520 Northwinds Parkway.
Saturday, December 5, is the busiest day of the season. The Alpharetta Christmas Market runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Innovation Academy, 125 Milton Ave., and admission is free. The Loop's music showcase starts at 5:30 that evening, so you can go from the market to the trail on the same day.
What a nightly display means for the rest of December
The themed weekends will draw the big, registered crowds, as they did in 2025. The bigger change is every other night on the calendar. From December 4 through January 4, the lit mile is open from 5:30 to 11 p.m. on weeknights as well as weekends, including the week between Christmas and New Year's, when the November ceremonies are long over. In 2024, visitors had two nights to see this stretch of trail lit. In 2026 they have the whole month, and the tunnel and 12-foot bridge that made the first event work are still part of the route.
The schedule now has a clear shape. Three tree lightings fill the weekend before Thanksgiving. Avalon's rink stays open through the season. Then the Alpha Loop opens December 4 and stays lit nightly into the new year.
If your holiday plans this year include hosting family in Alpharetta, or finding a home close to the Alpha Loop for next December, The Chatham Co. would be glad to help. Our family has watched North Fulton's traditions grow for generations, and we enjoy sharing what we know about the places that make this season special. Schedule a Personal Consultation, and we'll help you plan your next move.
