Holiday Events on Jekyll Island
Christmas and New Year’s are a wonderful time to be on Jekyll Island! During the holiday season, the island is full of exciting activities and events that you won’t want to miss. From holiday light displays to outdoor movies, there’s something for everyone. Here are the top ten holiday events to check out on Jekyll Island:
Holiday Light Displays. Take a Holly Jolly Light Tour around the island to enjoy Christmas light displays decorating historic sites and houses. The trolley tour includes festive drinks and music, with tickets available for purchase at the Mosaic Museum, or you can take a self-guided tour by car or bike by following the signs for the Holly Jolly Light Tour. Come watch Santa and other Christmas characters wind their way around the island in festively lit vehicles for the Holly Jolly Jekyll Island Light Parade.
Holiday Drive-In Movie Night. Enjoy holiday movies on the big screen with the whole family at this outdoor movie night. Popcorn, blankets, and warm clothes are all you need for this cozy event. Get there early to catch Santa riding around on a fire truck!
Shopping for the Holidays. Visit the Goodyear Cottage to browse through handmade crafts and beautiful works of art from local artists at Merry Artists Holiday Market. Or stop by the Holly Jolly Trading Post on Pier Road to pick up your holiday gifts of the season and enjoy Christmas snacks and warm beverages. Open daily through Christmas Eve.
Go Christmas Caroling. On Saturdays in December, get in the holiday spirit with a Christmas sing-along put on by Chapel Carols! Local musicians lead the music at the Faith Chapel and admission is free.
Holidays in History. Take a trolley tour through the Historic District to learn what holidays were like for the wealthy families with homes on Jekyll Island at the turn of the twentieth century. Tickets can be purchased at the Mosaic Museum.
Follow the Christmas Bagpiper. Starting at the Riverfront Veranda, this fun live music tradition takes place daily for the week prior to Christmas. Grab a drink and take a stroll following the sounds of bagpipes.
Get Festive at Jekyll Island Club. Get a little fancy and festive with Holiday High Tea at Jekyll Island Club throughout the month of December. Tables are set for up to four people and tickets can be purchased up to three days in advance. Or put your own spin on some holiday treats with Christmas Cookie Decorating at Jekyll Island Club Ballroom the weekend before Christmas, a timeless tradition sure to delight the whole family (tickets sold in advance). Jekyll Island Club also offers elegant holiday dining options for Christmas and New Year’s.
Horsin’ Around for the Holiday. Join Three Oaks Carriage Tours for a narrated Christmas Lights Tour of the Historic District in a horse-drawn carriage. Or jump in the saddle for a one hour Jingle Bell Beach horseback ride, led by Three Oaks Farm. The horses will be decked out in festive attire and ready for some photos!
Festive Family Fun. Kids will love the Winter Carnival in early December, offering free carnival rides, games, a visit with Santa and a chance to get up close to fire trucks and emergency vehicles. Or take the whole family to the mini-golf course, which is transformed into Peppermint Land for the holiday season, with life-size gumdrops, gingerbread people and more!
Explore the Local Environment. Visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to learn about the lives of sea turtles and tour their rehabilitation center. While you’re there, leave “get well soon” wishes in the holiday stockings for the turtle patients, and decorate a Christmas ornament to hang on the tree. Stop by the 4-H Tidelands Nature Center to learn about coastal ecology and see exhibits about animals native to the area. On your way out, pick up animal-themed DIY holiday ornament kits to complete at home.
No matter how you celebrate it, the holiday season is a magical time of year on Jekyll Island. Come join us in the holiday spirit and book your vacation rental today!
