Dahlonega Holiday Sweets Calendar 2026: Thanksgiving to Christmas

Dahlonega’s Christmas season runs from the day after Thanksgiving through the first week of January, starting with the Lighting of the Square, according to the Visitors Bureau. Below is every dated 2026 event we could confirm from the organizers, in date order, with the times they publish, and where sweets come into it. Dates were checked Oct 19, 2026. Organizers can change times, so check the linked source before you drive up.

Before the season: Saturday, October 31

Scares on the Square, 5 to 7 p.m. on the Dahlonega Square, per the Dahlonega DDA. It is the downtown Halloween trick-or-treat evening, and the first sweets date on the calendar after the farmers market season ended on October 10.

Thursday, November 26: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day at The Smith House, 84 South Chestatee St, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (6 p.m. is the last seating time). The Smith House says it is a traditional family-style meal with no reservations, first come, first served, and its published menu includes Pumpkin & Pecan Pie and homemade yeast rolls and cornbread muffins.

The Dahlonega Gold Museum on the Square is closed on Thanksgiving, per Georgia State Parks.

Friday, November 27: the season opens

Lighting of the Square, 3 to 8 p.m. at the Dahlonega Visitors Center, 13 S Park St, per the Christmas in Dahlonega schedule. The organizer describes carolers, hot cocoa and a visit from Santa. The downtown authority’s older Christmas page calls the lighting a Merchant Open House, with extended shopping hours in many downtown shops after the lighting; it has not restated that for 2026.

The Visitors Bureau’s Christmas page still gives a 6 p.m. tree-lighting time, but that line was written for 2025. For 2026, go by the organizer’s 3 to 8 p.m. listing.

Santa’s mailbox opens the same day. The Visitors Bureau says children can bring letters to Santa to a special mailbox at the Visitors Center beginning 11/27/26.

November 27 to December 29: Visit Santa

Visit Santa at the Visitors Center, listed from Nov 27, 2026 to Dec 29, 2026, with times shown as 3 to 6 p.m. The organizer says to check its schedule for exact days and times, so do not assume every day.

Every evening in December

The Visitors Bureau’s holiday events page says to stroll downtown every evening of December for extended merchant hours, wine-sampling, carriage rides and more. That is the Bureau’s general statement for downtown. None of the bakeries and sweets places in this guide publishes its own December or holiday hours online, so call a specific shop before you count on a late visit.

December 5 to 13: the Christmas Market

Christmas Market, a Women’s Club fundraiser, Dec 5, 2026, 10 a.m. to Dec 13, 2026, 5 p.m., in Hancock Park, per the organizer. Its listing names homemade sweets, unique gifts and holiday decor. The organizer gives the address as Hawkins St; the city lists Hancock Park at 54 North Park Street, at the corner of North Park and Warwick streets. Check the organizer’s page before you go.

Saturday, December 12: the parade

Dahlonega Christmas Parade, noon to 1 p.m. The organizer lists community floats with music through the Square; check its page for the route. The organizer’s listing says to plan parking early; see parking and getting here for the all-day lots.

Saturday, December 19: Kid’s Day

Kid’s Day, 2 to 4 p.m. in Hancock Park: holiday activities and crafts for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. A parent or guardian must stay with each child.

Monday, December 21: a free movie

Free Christmas movie at the Holly Theatre, 69 W Main St, listed 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: a free family showing of The Santa Clause (rated PG).

Christmas Day and after

The Gold Museum is closed on Christmas and on New Year’s Day. The Visitors Bureau’s season runs through the first week of January.

Holiday ordering windows, as published

No place in this guide publishes a holiday pre-order deadline. These are the standing lead times and seasonal windows they do publish:

• The Dahlonega Fudge Factory ships chocolate products only between November 1 and February 28 (tentative), with a one-pound minimum on mail orders, per its site. Its seasonal favorites are listed as available Nov. 1 to Feb. 28, and it sells caramel-dipped apples in fall and winter. For wedding favors, catering and corporate gifts, call (706) 864-3988.
• Picnic Cafe & Dessertery sells whole cakes and whole pies, including pecan, pumpkin and apple pies, and asks for 48 hours’ notice before any catering order, per its catering page.
• Kilwins Dahlonega asks you to contact the store as early as possible for large orders, party favors, gift baskets and corporate gifts.
• Sherry’s Sweets-n-Eats takes custom orders by inquiry form; for events other than weddings its policies put the balance due 2 weeks ahead, per its policies page.
• Nonni’s Bakery works by appointment and says it replies to inquiries within 48 hours with availability.
• The Smith House asks for a 2-hour minimum notice on its to-go family meals; it does not publish a separate holiday to-go window.

For more on lead times and what to ask, read ordering a custom cake in Dahlonega. For a broader holiday guide, see holiday sweets in Dahlonega, and for events all year, the sweets calendar.

Dahlonega Bakery Guide is a Gold Peach Realty community guide. We list only dates an organizer publishes and update this calendar when they change.

Questions people ask

Written by the Dahlonega Bakery Guide Editorial Team. AI tools help us draft; people check every fact against its source before it publishes.