The holiday season is not complete without a wondrous light show. Lights bring joy and excitement and are an incredible way to celebrate the holiday with family and friends. Set aside the shopping lists, menus and travel schedules and enjoy the simpler side of Christmas.
About two hours north of Fayette County lies one of the most vivid light shows in Georgia. The Lakeside Lights Spectacular is inside the park at Margaritaville Lanier Islands in Buford, Georgia. Marketing Coordinator, Maggie Garcia, and the team have put a great deal of love and care into the annual event. “The Lakeside Lights Spectacular light show is a one-of-a-kind holiday experience with millions of combinations of colors, lights and motions all synchronized to favorite Christmas songs from classics to modern holiday tunes!” This year you will see Margaritaville-themed lights from Jimmy Buffet’s seaplane as well as holiday-themed displays.
The team begins planning and preparing for the event up to a year in advance. The actual setup can take about six to eight weeks. Onlookers can view the light show on foot. Throughout your journey, hunger won’t be an issue as there are multiple food and snack locations within the park. To warm up, plan a stop at one of the fire-pits to relax, make s-mores, and delight in all of the wonder surrounding you.
Before the show, pay a visit to the License to Chill Snow Island, located outside of the light show route. Meet Santa, enjoy family carnival rides, ice skating and more. You’ll even get the chance to purchase a keepsake from your holiday adventure at one of the gift shops, including Santa’s very own workshop.
Snow tubing in Georgia? You can do that here! Lanier Islands has one of the longest and steepest snow tube hills in North America. Families can enjoy the family lane and ride down in groups of four. Blizzard Mountain includes single or double tubes as well. “A visit to Margaritaville License to Chill Snow Island is a great activity to kick-off and enjoy the holiday/winter season and perfect for all ages to enjoy,” Garcia states.
What a lovely day trip this can be for your family. If you prefer to stay the night, there are many options from the Camp Margaritaville RV Resort to the lake view cabins and the Legacy Lodge Hotel. Visit Margaritaville Lanier Islands for the Lakeside Lights Spectacular on weekends only from November 12th – 14th. Daily from November 19th – 5th. Weekends and holidays only from January 8th – February 27th. The show begins at 5 pm. A ticket to the light show starts as low as $9.99, and for License to Chill Snow Island, tickets start as low as $39.99. If you would like access to do both activities, you can purchase an All-Access Pass for $54.99. Margaritaville Lanier Islands, 7650 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, GA 30518