Holiday Calendar

Beyond Atlanta

Holiday Celebration Under the Stars with the Animals. North Georgia Zoo. Animal-filled holiday celebration with a live nativity, starlight tours, marshmallow roast and Christmas carols. Dec. 1. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Starlight tours, 6-8 p.m. 2912 Paradise Valley Rd., Cleveland. 706-348-7279. Starlight tours and hayride (general admission included). Adults, $30; ages 2-11, $27; younger than 2, free.
North Pole Limited. Tennessee Valley Railroad. A round-trip journey to the “North Pole”, featuring storytelling, light refreshments and an appearance by Santa. Dec. 1, 6-8, 13-15, 20-22. 5:45 and 7 p.m. 4119 Cromwell Rd, Chattanooga, Tenn. 423-894-8028. 1 and older, $24; Ride in Santa’s private car, $48/person. Buy tickets at tvrail.com.
Christmas at the Cabin. Red Top Mountain State Park. 1800s-style Christmas with music, cooking, toys and games. Bring a camera for free pictures with Santa. Dec.7. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 50 Lodge Rd. SE, Cartersville. 770-975-0055. Free, $5 parking.
Christmas Candlelight Tour. Lighted pathways, Christmas carols, hot apple cider, refreshments and Christmas cheer.  Dec. 7. 6-9:30 p.m. 1211 Chatsworth Hwy. 225 NE, Calhoun. 706-624-1321. $5.50-7.50. 
A Jarrell Plantation Christmas. Jarrell Plantation Historic Site. A 1900s country Christmas, featuring decorations, spiced apple cider, cookies and fireside stories. Dec. 7. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 711 Jarrell Plantation Rd., Juliette. 478-986-5172. $4-6.50.
Cherokee Christmas by Candlelight. Chief Vann House Historic Site. Christmas in a preserved Cherokee Indian home, decorated in Moravian style. Dec.13-14. 6-9 p.m. 82 Georgia Hwy. 225 N., Chatsworth. 706-695-2598. $4-6.
Christmas Tree Lighting. Vogel State Park. 10th annual lighting of a 35-foot live Blue Spruce, plus caroling, hayrides, Santa Claus visits, bonfires, hot chocolate and cider. Dec. 14. 4-7 p.m. 405 Vogel State Park Rd., Blairsville. 706-745-2628. Free.
Reading of the Polar Express. Roosevelt’s Little White House Historic Site. Train ride and story-telling, plus refreshments and a visit from Santa. Train departs from Memorial Fountain. Dec. 14. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 401 Little White House Rd., Warm Springs. 706-655-5870. $8-12.
A Tree of Families. Robert Toombs House Historic Site. Living history performers “Robert Toombs Family and Friends” celebrate post-colonial holiday traditions through the early 1900s. Dec. 14. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 216 E. Robert Toombs Ave., Washington. 706-678-2226. Free.
Victorian Christmas. Travelers Rest Historic Site. The Inn is decorated with Victorian-era items. Dec. 14. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 4339 Riverdale Rd., Toccoa. 706-886-2256. $3-5; $5 parking.
The Polar Express. Great Smoky Mountains. A 75 minute round-trip train ride with Santa Claus visit. Includes warm cocoa, carols and a treat while reading along to the story. Through Dec. 29. Departure times at gsmr.com. 226 Everett St., Bryson City, NC. 800-872-4681. Adults, $40-74; ages 2-12, $26-50; 23 months and younger, $10-15.
Lights of the South. Hayride through over four million lights, plus a lighted Christmas tree maze, roasted marshmallows, Mrs. Claus’s kitchen and pictures with Santa. Through Dec. 30. 6-10 p.m. 633 Louisville Road, Grovetown. 706-825-6441. Adults, $8; ages 4-17, $5; 3 and younger, free.
Holidays Under the Peaks. Tennessee Aquarium. Meet penguins, sharks and jellyfish. Scuba Santa makes appearances weekends through Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. Through Jan. 6. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas day. 201 Chesnut St., Chattanooga, Tenn. 800-262-0695. Included with admission. Adults, $24.95; ages 3-12, $14.95.
Enchanted Garden of Lights. Rock City. See holiday scenes illuminated by a million lights around the mountain and Enchanted Trail. Dinner with Santa also available on select dates. Though Jan. 4. 6-9 p.m., nightly. Closed Christmas Eve. 1400 Patten Rd., Lookout Mountain. 800-854-0675. Adults, $19.95-$21.95; ages 3-12, $11.95-$12.95; Santa dinner, $37.50.
Christmas at Biltmore. Biltmore Estate. Holiday décor of the main house, plus live music, visits with Santa, gingerbread house workshops and evening candlelight tours. Through Jan. 12. Asheville, NC. Exact dates and pricing vary. Visit biltmore.com for details.