Light Up Blue Ridge is held the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving in downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. In 2026 that means Blue Friday on November 27 and Light Up Saturday on November 28, which ends with the parade at 5:30 p.m. and the lighting of the Great Tree at about 7 p.m. It is free.
The times on this page come from Light Up Blue Ridge as of October 17, 2026. The organizers say they are still working on the full 2026 schedule and will post times as they are confirmed, so dates can change; confirm with Light Up Blue Ridge before you go. Both days happen rain, snow or shine.
Blue Friday, November 27
Friday is the warm-up. The organizer lists downtown merchant discounts, food vendors and live entertainment from noon to 5 p.m. Santa takes pictures in the downtown park from noon until 4:15 p.m. (The Chamber’s listing shows Friday music ending at 4:30 p.m.; we go with the organizer’s hours.) The Gingerbread Village opens to the public at noon that day inside the Art Center on West Main.
Light Up McCaysville is the same evening, 5 to 7 p.m., with its tree lit at dusk. It is a separate event with different organizers, centered on the Riverwalk Shops in McCaysville, and Santa visits there too. Our Santa guide lists every appearance that weekend.
Light Up Saturday, November 28
Here is the day in order, built from the organizer’s home page and its schedule page. Items marked “listed” are on the organizer’s Saturday schedule but not yet confirmed for 2026.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 11 a.m. | Entertainment starts on East Main Street (runs to 5 p.m.) |
| 11 a.m. | Tuba Christmas near Depot Street and the magnolia tree (listed) |
| Noon | Brasstown Big Band in the same space (listed) |
| Noon to 4:15 p.m. | Pictures with Santa in the downtown park |
| 4 p.m. | All cars must be off East and West Main Street |
| 5:26 p.m. | Sunset |
| 5:30 p.m. | Parade starts at Church Street and East Main |
| About 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. | Caroling around the tree begins |
| About 7 p.m. | Lighting of the Great Tree |
A few details matter more than the rest. Santa’s line has a hard stop: children already in line before 4:15 p.m. are seen until 4:30 p.m., and then Santa leaves to get ready for the parade. Sunset is 5:26 p.m. (U.S. Naval Observatory), so the parade steps off just after dark, which is why the organizers encourage lights on floats. The tree is lit as close to 7 p.m. as the parade’s length allows. It is a new tree: the organizers installed it for 2025 after the old one served 13 years.
All cars must be off East and West Main Street by 4 p.m. on parade day. (Light Up Blue Ridge, checked Oct 17, 2026)
The parade route, entry rules and the separate McCaysville parade are on our Christmas parade page.
Food, windows and gingerbread
Food vendors set up on Depot Street between East and West Main on both days, according to the organizer’s food vendor page. The 2026 vendor list has not been posted. The Chamber says Light Up day also brings a Window Decorating contest in downtown shop windows, and it mentions Santa’s Mailbox, where children can write to Santa and get a handwritten reply by mail. The organizer has not published rules or a location for either in 2026.
The Gingerbread Village at the Art Center is open during Light Up weekend. Judged winners are announced at the tree lighting on Saturday night.
Plan your Saturday
Tell the planner who is coming, what matters most and when you can get downtown, and it builds a time-ordered day from the organizer’s schedule.
Decision tool · Light Up Saturday
Build your Light Up Saturday plan
Answer three questions and get one time-ordered plan for Saturday, November 28, 2026, built from the organizers' published schedule.
Who is coming?
What matters most?
When can you get downtown?
Your Light Up Saturday, November 28, 2026
Times come from the Light Up Blue Ridge organizers, the Fannin County Chamber and the railway as of October 17, 2026. No official 2026 parking or shuttle plan has been published.
Who is coming? Young kids
Plan the day around Santa, then claim a curb for the parade.
- 12 pmPictures with Santa open in the downtown park. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- 4:15 pmSanta's line closes. Children already in line are seen until 4:30. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- No Santa costumes are allowed in the parade, so the Santa at the very end is the one. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
Downtown Blue Ridge City Park (gazebo/pavilion)
Downtown park where Light Up Blue Ridge Santa photos (gazebo/pavilion) and the Great Tree lighting take place; also the Turkey Trot hub. OSM names it 'Downtown Blue Ridge Park'.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
Who is coming? Adults
Come for the music and the shops, stay for the tree.
- 11 amEntertainment starts on East Main Street. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- Food vendors set up on Depot Street between East and West Main. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
Depot Street (Light Up food vendors)
Block where Light Up Blue Ridge food vendors set up on Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.
Source: Light Up Blue Ridge, checked Oct 17, 2026
Who is coming? Someone who needs step-free access
No accessible viewing area or shuttle has been published for 2026. Call the organizers before you go.
- The organizers list 706-258-8289 for general information. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- On the Holiday Express, the accessible coach can only be booked by phone. (Blue Ridge Railway)
What matters most? The parade
Be on the sidewalk before the street closes to cars.
- 4 pmAll cars must be off East and West Main Street. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- 5:26 pmSunset, so the parade starts after dark. (U.S. Naval Observatory)
- 5:30 pmThe parade steps off at Church Street and East Main Street. (Fannin County Chamber)
What matters most? The tree lighting
Stay downtown after the parade and head for the park.
- 6:30 pmCaroling around the tree starts between about 6:30 and 6:45. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- 7 pmThe Great Tree is lit after the parade, at about 7 p.m. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
Downtown Blue Ridge City Park (gazebo/pavilion)
Downtown park where Light Up Blue Ridge Santa photos (gazebo/pavilion) and the Great Tree lighting take place; also the Turkey Trot hub. OSM names it 'Downtown Blue Ridge Park'.
Source: Fannin County Chamber, checked Oct 17, 2026
What matters most? The Holiday Express
Book first. The railway warns holiday rides sell out fast.
- 10 amFirst 1-Hour Holiday Express of the day. Others leave at noon, 2 and 4. (Railway booking system)
- Arrive 45 minutes before your train; boarding starts 30 minutes before. (Blue Ridge Railway)
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway depot
The 1905 depot where Blue Ridge Railway trains board, including the 1-hour Holiday Express with Santa from late November to Christmas Eve.
Source: Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, checked Oct 17, 2026
What matters most? Shopping
Light Up weekend brings shop specials and holiday markets.
- The Gingerbread Village is open at the Art Center during its hours. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- The Art Center's Annual Holiday Market runs November 20 to December 20. (BRMAA 2026 schedule)
- The Chamber says downtown shop windows compete in a window decorating contest. (Fannin County Chamber)
The Art Center (Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association)
Arts center in the circa-1937 former Fannin County Courthouse; hosts the Gingerbread Village and the Annual Holiday Market of member art.
Source: The Art Center (BRMAA), checked Oct 17, 2026
When can you get downtown? Before noon
The easiest arrival, with the whole day ahead.
- 11 amEntertainment starts on East Main Street. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- The railway says downtown parking is limited, with paid lots near the depot and a 3-hour limit on Main Street. (Railway booking system)
When can you get downtown? Noon to 4 p.m.
Mind the 4 p.m. street closing if you park on Main.
- 4 pmAll cars must be off East and West Main Street. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- The railway says downtown parking is limited, with paid lots near the depot and a 3-hour limit on Main Street. (Railway booking system)
When can you get downtown? After 4 p.m.
Expect the heaviest traffic. Main Street is closed to cars from 4 p.m.
- 4 pmAll cars must be off East and West Main Street. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- 5:30 pmThe parade steps off at Church Street and East Main Street. (Fannin County Chamber)
- The railway says weekends bring its heaviest traffic and limited parking. (Blue Ridge Railway)
Whoever you are Good to know before you leave
- Light Up is free and happens rain, snow or shine. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
- The organizers are still finishing the 2026 schedule, so check their site before you go. (Light Up Blue Ridge)
Parking and crowds on Light Up Saturday
This plan uses only published times. When the organizers post the full 2026 schedule, we add it here.
The organizers have not published a parking or shuttle plan. The Blue Ridge Railway notes that downtown parking is limited, that there are paid lots near the depot and that parking on East and West Main is limited to three hours, which matters on a day when Main Street closes to cars at 4 p.m. Our parking and crowds guide covers arrival times, and Light Up Saturday hour by hour goes deeper on where to be when.
The railway runs its first 1-Hour Holiday Express trains of the season the same day, at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and many were already sold out by mid-October. The Holiday Express guide has prices and the rest of the season’s dates.
Who runs Light Up Blue Ridge
Light Up Blue Ridge is a free event put on by community volunteers, the Light Up Blue Ridge Committee, with donations and help from the Blue Ridge Business Association, the Fannin Chamber of Commerce and the City of Blue Ridge (Light Up Blue Ridge). For general questions the organizer lists 706-258-8289. This guide is independent and not affiliated with the committee.
Questions people ask
When is Light Up Blue Ridge 2026?
Light Up Blue Ridge is the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving: Blue Friday on November 27, 2026 and the main Light Up day on Saturday, November 28, 2026.
Source: Light Up Blue Ridge, checked Oct 17, 2026
What time is Light Up Blue Ridge?
On Saturday, November 28, entertainment runs on East Main Street from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the parade starts at 5:30 p.m. and the Great Tree is lit at approximately 7 p.m.
Source: Light Up Blue Ridge, checked Oct 17, 2026
Is Light Up Blue Ridge free?
Yes. Light Up Blue Ridge is a free event put on by community volunteers, with help from the Blue Ridge Business Association, the Fannin Chamber of Commerce and the City of Blue Ridge.
Source: Light Up Blue Ridge, checked Oct 17, 2026
Does Light Up Blue Ridge happen if it rains?
Yes. The organizers say Blue Friday and Light Up Saturday happen rain, snow or shine.
Source: Light Up Blue Ridge, checked Oct 17, 2026
When do cars have to be off Main Street on Light Up day?
All cars must be off East and West Main Street by 4 p.m. on parade day, Saturday, November 28, 2026.
Source: Light Up Blue Ridge, checked Oct 17, 2026
