Noon Year's Eve at The Hotel at Avalon 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 31, Lights on the Loop until 11 p.m., and trash pickup changes for New Year's Day.

Last checked 2026-10-04. This page is updated each year at the same address. Event details come from the Alpha Loop Foundation, the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau calendar, Lanier Islands, the City of Alpharetta and Fulton County Schools.

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31. Alpharetta’s best-known countdown happens at noon, for families, at Avalon. After dark, the Alpha Loop’s mile of holiday lights stays on until 11 p.m. Restaurants and bars have not posted New Year’s Eve menus or parties yet; we will add them as they announce.

What this means for you

  • With kids: Noon Year’s Eve, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Hotel at Avalon. Tickets required.
  • Free: Lights on the Loop, 5:30 to 11 p.m. on the Alpha Loop. No registration for the nightly display.
  • Fireworks: none announced in Alpharetta as of Oct. 4.
  • Trash: Friday pickup moves to Saturday, Jan. 2. Republic Services, 678-407-6216.

Noon Year’s Eve at Avalon

The Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s calendar lists Noon Year’s Eve on Thursday, Dec. 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Hotel at Avalon and Alpharetta Conference Center, 9000 Avalon Blvd. It is Avalon’s family party for children with early bedtimes:

  • Live music, face painting and crafts
  • A countdown to noon, with a giant balloon drop
  • Ticket admission required

The visitors bureau’s New Year’s Eve page gives a price of $20 a person, with tickets needed for all adults and for children over 2. Avalon had not opened ticket sales when we checked on Oct. 4. Avalon’s own events are at experienceavalon.com.

Lights on the Loop

The Alpha Loop Foundation’s Lights on the Loop lights a one-mile stretch of the Alpha Loop trail every night from Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, to Monday, Jan. 4, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. That includes New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

  • No registration is needed for the nightly light display.
  • The two themed weekends, with a holiday village, are before Christmas: Dec. 4-5 (music from the Alpharetta Symphony, Alpharetta City Band and local musicians) and Dec. 18-19 (a pet-friendly weekend with llamas). Those need free registration on Eventbrite.
  • The visitors bureau lists the trail address as 2500 Northwinds Parkway.

The light display is a walk, so wear good shoes; it is the same paved trail described in our walking and biking trails guide.

Drive-through lights at Lanier Islands

Magical Nights of Lights at Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford, runs Nov. 20, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, starting at 5 p.m. each evening. Tickets are priced per vehicle and vary by date. More on this and other displays is in our holiday lights guide.

New Year’s Day

  • Once Upon a Merry Maze, the storybook walk-through maze inside North Point Mall, opens for the season Nov. 13, the maze’s website says. The visitors bureau lists it open noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1. Timed entry every 15 minutes; tickets online or at the door.
  • Lights on the Loop is on again from 5:30 to 11 p.m.

Trash pickup and school

The city’s contractor shifts pickup for three holidays, and New Year’s Day is one, according to the city’s service schedule.

Normal day New Year’s week
Monday, Dec. 28, to Thursday, Dec. 31 No change
Friday, Jan. 1 Saturday, Jan. 2

Christmas falls on a Friday too, so Friday pickup the week before moves to Saturday, Dec. 26. Full details are in our trash and recycling guide.

Fulton County Schools are on December break from Dec. 21 to Dec. 31. New Year’s Day is a holiday, Monday, Jan. 4, is a teacher workday, and students return for the second semester on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

Fireworks and parties

No public New Year’s Eve fireworks show had been announced for Alpharetta when we checked on Oct. 4, and we had not found a restaurant, hotel or bar party posted yet. If you run one, send us the link and we will add it.

Related: holiday lights and Christmas events 2026, Christmas parade and tree lighting 2026, Thanksgiving 2026, Avalon visitor’s guide and date night in Alpharetta.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Noon Year’s Eve in Alpharetta in 2026?

Yes. The visitors bureau lists Noon Year’s Eve at The Hotel at Avalon, 9000 Avalon Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, with a balloon drop at noon. Tickets are required.

Are there fireworks in Alpharetta on New Year’s Eve?

No public New Year’s Eve fireworks had been announced for Alpharetta when we checked on Oct. 4. We will add any that are.

Is Lights on the Loop open on New Year’s Eve?

Yes. The one-mile light display on the Alpha Loop is open every night from Dec. 4, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. No registration is needed for the nightly display.

Is trash picked up on New Year’s Day in Alpharetta?

Friday pickup moves to Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, because New Year’s Day falls on a Friday. Thursday, Dec. 31, pickup is unchanged.

When do Fulton County students go back after winter break?

December break runs Dec. 21-31. Friday, Jan. 1, is a holiday, Jan. 4 is a teacher workday, and the second semester starts Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027.