Lights on the Loop in Alpharetta: dates, hours, parking

Lights on the Loop lights a mile of the Alpha Loop nightly Dec. 4, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027, 5:30 to 11 p.m. Free, with parking at 2500 Northwinds Parkway.

Last checked 2026-10-04. Facts come from the Alpha Loop Foundation’s Lights on the Loop page and its Eventbrite registration page. This page is updated for each season at the same address.

Lights on the Loop, Alpharetta’s holiday light trail, lights a one-mile stretch of the Alpha Loop every night from Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, through Monday, Jan. 4, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. The nightly display is free and needs no registration. Two special event weekends, Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 18-19, add music, a holiday village and a pet-friendly night with llamas.

Know before you go

Nightly display: Dec. 4, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027, 5:30 to 11 p.m.; no registration

Special event weekends: Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 18-19, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; free registration required

Where: the Alpha Loop between Northwinds Parkway and Old Milton Parkway. Enter at 2500 Northwinds Parkway.

Parking: free at 2500 and 2520 Northwinds Parkway

Organizer: Alpha Loop Foundation, info@alphaloopfoundation.org

The nightly light display

The display runs along the Alpha Loop between Northwinds Parkway and Old Milton Parkway. You can walk it any time between 5:30 and 11 p.m. on any night of the season, including Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Enter at 2500 Northwinds Parkway and stroll the lit mile at your own pace. No registration is needed for the nightly display, the foundation says.

Special event weekends

Four evenings, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., add the Lights & Delights Village with artisan vendors, food and drinks for sale, holiday character photos, live entertainment and family activities.

Dates	Theme	What happens
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5	Sounds of the Season	Holiday music from the Alpharetta Symphony, the Alpharetta City Band and local musicians
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 18-19	Paws & Llamas	Pet-friendly weekend with llamas on the Loop

Registration for the special event weekends is required and free on Eventbrite. The foundation sends registered guests parking details and weather alerts. The weekends go ahead rain or shine, but may be delayed, changed or canceled in heavy rain or severe weather.

Parking, access and rules

Parking: free at 2500 and 2520 Northwinds Parkway.
Accessibility: an ADA-accessible ramp to the Alpha Loop is behind 2520 Northwinds Parkway. The trail is a 12-foot-wide hard surface with slight elevation changes, fine for strollers.
Bathrooms: only during the special event weekends.
Pets: well-behaved leashed pets are welcome. On Dec. 18-19, keep pets at least 6 feet from the llamas.
Alcohol: not allowed. Lights on the Loop is an alcohol-free event.

Who runs it

The Alpha Loop Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, organizes Lights on the Loop. It is the foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, and the money supports the trail. The Alpha Loop has more than 7 miles open, linking downtown, Avalon and the Northwinds area, according to the foundation.

Last year: the 2025 display had three themed weekends, Dec. 5-6, Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 19-20, listed on the city calendar with free admission at the same Northwinds Parkway address.

Frequently asked questions

When is Lights on the Loop 2026 in Alpharetta? The light display is open every night from Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, through Monday, Jan. 4, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. The special event weekends are Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 18-19, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where is Lights on the Loop? On a one-mile stretch of the Alpha Loop between Northwinds Parkway and Old Milton Parkway. Enter at 2500 Northwinds Parkway, where parking is free.

Is Lights on the Loop free? Yes. The nightly display needs no registration. The special event weekends need registration on Eventbrite, which is free.

Can I bring my dog to Lights on the Loop? Yes. Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome, and Dec. 18-19 is the pet-friendly Paws & Llamas weekend. Keep pets at least 6 feet from the llamas.

Are there bathrooms at Lights on the Loop? Only during the special event weekends, Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 18-19, the organizer says.

What this means for you

The lights are on every night of the season, and you do not need to sign up to walk them.
For the music or llama nights, register on Eventbrite before you go.
Wear good walking shoes and dress warmly: it is a mile of outdoor trail. See our walking and biking trails guide for more on the Alpha Loop.