This article is all about Helen GA in December. I’m sharing the 12 best things to do in Helen during the holidays, plus Helen’s cozy Christmas events.

Helen is a mountain town in the North Georgia Mountains. All of the buildings in town are Bavarian-themed, creating a festive atmosphere. In fact, Helen is the third largest tourist attraction in Georgia.

Let’s dive in.

What to do in Helen GA in December

• Catch Helen GA Christmas events
• Visit Main Street shops and restaurants
• Visit the Christmas Shoppe
• Snap 20′ Christmas tree photos
• Sip gluhwein at Betty’s Country Store
• Lock hearts at the lock tree
• Dine at a Bavarian-themed restaurant
• Stroll the Chattahoochee Riverside path
• Join a wine tasting in Georgia’s wine country
• Indulge in a mead tasting at Jumpingoat Coffee Roasters and Tasting Room
• Hike Yonah Mountain
• Spot Lifetime’s Filming Locations
• Learn About Helen at the Helen Arts & Heritage Center

Helen GA Christmas Events

The Helen Georgia Christmas 2024 schedule is full of cozy events to kick off the holidays.

Annual Lighting of the Village

Date: November 24, 2024.

You can join the annual tree lighting in Downtown Helen (along Main Street).

In 2024, the event included live music by local groups, visits with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, and a lot of beautiful decor going up across the entire town.

17th Annual Helen’s Christmas Market

Dates: 2 weekends: November 30 and December 1, December 7 and 8, 2024.

Find unique gifts and food vendors at this festive holiday market. It is hosted by the Helen Chamber of Commerce and located at the Downtown Market Platz and Unicoi Hill Park.

Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm Historic Site

Dates: Select dates in December.

Historic Hardman Farm’s Victorian Christmas event is taking place in December 2024.

The main home is decorated in beautiful time period decor, and actors in period dress are doing live re-enactments.

Plan on an open house style event, marshmallow roasting, candle light, and live music.

 

Best Things to do in Helen GA in December

This list has you covered for your visit to Helen. Even if you’re just in town for the day, you’ll have fun exploring and catching the Christmas time vibes.

The holiday lights and decor are on full display in Helen in December.

Alpine Helen (aka downtown) really knows how to go all out for the Christmas season, so there are tons of cute photo ops and shops across town waiting to be discovered.

 

Visit Main Street Shops and Restaurants Decked out for Christmas

Walk through the Bavarian-inspired shops and restaurants along both sides of Main Street in Alpine Helen.

Pick up fun (slightly kitschy) gifts, sample bites of fudge, get old timey photos taken, and sip German beers on tap.

If you’re there over a weekend, plan to visit the restaurants and bars (busiest on Saturday nights). This is one of the best ways to see the livelier side of Helen in winter.

Visit the Christmas Shoppe

While strolling, pay a visit to Helen’s Christmas Shoppe on Main Street.

The shop is filled with Christmas decor for the holiday season.

Check the hours before you go, as they may be limited on some weekdays.

 

Snap 20′ Christmas Tree Photos

Stop in the center of town beside the Band Shell Outdoor Auditorium to take in the Christmas lights.

There’s a 20-foot-tall tree decked out in ornaments, a Love Tree where you can add a lock (grab one from a local store), and plenty of Christmas lights for photos.

Lock Hearts at the Lock Tree

Bring your own lock or buy one from a nearby shop (plenty of the stores sell locks).

Then, add your lock to the Lock Tree or the Chattahoochee River Bridge.

Sip Gluhwein at Betty’s Country Store

I highly recommend you visit Betty’s while you’re in Helen. Take a leisurely stroll through the store for nostalgic foods and gifts.

Then, sit in the heated patio for a cup of holiday cheer, aka gluhwein (German mulled wine. The menu offers hot cocoa, a full bar, and lots of savory foods.

If it’s sunny out, sit on the outdoor patio for optimal people watching. You can stay warm by the fire pit or play a game of Giant Stack Four on the lawn.

Dine at a Bavarian-themed Restaurant

Ok I will be honest with you – Helen is not known for five-star dining.

I’ve found the best thing to do is embrace the German cuisine, but don’t expect it to be your best meal in Georgia.

What Helen does well is provide a fun, lively atmosphere playing into its German surroundings. Definitely get a schnitzel or pretzel and drink a German beer on draft.

Top rated restaurants along Main Street:

• Heidi Haus
• Bangkok Haus (recommended by our hosts when staying at Viking Hilltop Suites)
• Q’Paso Latin Grub

Bavarian Themed Restaurants:

• Heidi Haus
• The Troll Tavern (riverside)
• Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe
• The Heidelberg

This isn’t a complete list, there are plenty of other options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

 

Stroll the Chattahoochee Riverside Path

Start by Troll’s Tavern and take the short trail beside the Chattahoochee River.

During the summer, the river is filled with tubers floating downstream.

But during winter months, the river is a peaceful spot to walk away from the weekend crowds and enjoy sunny weather.

Join a Wine Tasting in Georgia’s Wine Country

December in Helen is actually a perfect time to visit North Georgia wineries.

The weather is still generally warm and sunny, and you’ll avoid the summer crowds.

Travel Tip: Visit this list of top 10 Helen wineries to plan your wine tour.

 

Indulge in a Mead Tasting at Jumpingoat Coffee Roasters and Tasting Room

Jumpingoat Coffee Roasters is my favorite spot for coffee, mead tastings, and big views of Yonah Mountain.

Take your coffee into the enclosed sun room or sit in the adirondack chairs overlooking the mountain.

Jumpingoat also provides cozy indoor seating, a fenced dog park, and a cute gift shop.

Travel Tip: Jumpingoat has two locations. I talk about their riverside location next to Nora Mill in this article.

Hike Yonah Mountain

You might be thinking, why would I climb a mountain in Helen in December?

I get it! The thing is, Georgia winters are mild, and the panoramic views are spectacular.

If you visit in November or early December you can see the leaves changing from the best view in Helen.

 

Spot Lifetime’s Filming Locations

Helen GA was used to film Lifetime Christmas movies Christmas Love Letter (2019) and A Taste of Christmas (2020).

If you’re a Christmas movie lover, watch the movies before you go and see if you can spot their filming locations.

 

Learn Helen’s Fascinating History at The Helen Arts & Heritage Center

If you’re in Helen GA in December, you might be asking yourself how a whole Bavarian town got to the Blue Ridge Mountains (I definitely was).

Great news! You can stop off at the Heritage Center and find out.

While there, catch the 15 minute documentary and peruse historic photos of the town which was an Indigenous American village and later a logging town.

Your favorite part of the center may just be the artist’s market. This is the best place to find handmade art and pottery from local artists in Helen.

 

Helen in December: Know Before You Go

I did some deep dive research on the town out of curiosity.

Here are some commonly asked questions that myself and other folks have about Helen.

 

Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Helen

Downtown Helen along Main Street is your best place to see Christmas lights in Helen GA.

Travel Tip: If you want more amazing Christmas light experiences, this article covers the 7 Vest Christmas lights in Georgia.

 

Is Helen, Georgia Worth Visiting at Christmas?

Yes! Helen makes for a very cute Christmas town.

It is worth visiting to see the festive Christmas lights and decorated downtown.

It is more touristy than Dahlonega, and more relaxed than Savannah this time of year.

Does it Snow in Helen?

This time of year is chilly, but it rarely snows in Georgia.

Helen gets somewhere around 3 inches of snow every year. Your best chance to see snow is December to February, but don’t count on it.

Wrapping Up

This article was all about Helen GA in December.

I hope you have a great trip to Helen for Christmas!