The three kinds of parking
- Evening and weekend visitors are pointed first to the University of North Georgia parking deck, reached from South Chestatee Street and Choice Avenue. It is available after 5:30 PM Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Old Fashioned Christmas committee schedule
- For a full day or several days, use the Park & Stay spaces in the North Park Street lot or the Warwick Street lot, close to the shops and the Welcome Center. Old Fashioned Christmas committee schedule
- Spaces around the Public Square and in the Choice Street lot are 3-hour spaces. The limit is enforced 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday. Discover Dahlonega (visitors bureau)
- The downtown authority counts 300 free spaces on and around the Public Square, plus three free lots with 140 spaces. Downtown Dahlonega (development authority)
- The city's parking guide mentions electric vehicle charging downtown but gives no locations. Old Fashioned Christmas committee schedule
| If you are coming for | Try first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting of the Square (a Friday) | Park and Stay lots | The deck does not open to visitors until 5:30 PM on a weekday, and roads have closed mid-afternoon in past years. |
| The parade (a Saturday) | UNG parking deck | Open all day at weekends. Park before the roads close. |
| A weekday evening walk under the lights | UNG parking deck after 5:30 PM | Close to the square and not time-limited in the evening. |
| A full day of shopping | Park and Stay lots | Spaces around the square are limited to 3 hours on weekdays. |
Event-day road closures
- For the 2025 lighting, road closures and detours began at 3:30 PM. No 2026 closure time is published yet. Discover Dahlonega (visitors bureau)
- In 2024 the Dahlonega Nugget reported roads closing half an hour before the noon parade, which was planned rain or shine. The 2026 plan is not published. The Dahlonega Nugget
Closure times for 2026 are not published. The city and the organisers post them close to each event.
Driving in
- The visitors bureau describes Dahlonega as one hour north of Atlanta at the end of GA-400, and lists Atlanta at 71 miles. Discover Dahlonega (visitors bureau)
- From Atlanta: GA-400 North through Alpharetta, Cumming and Dawsonville, left onto GA-60 North at the light where GA-400 ends, then about 5.5 miles to the square. Discover Dahlonega (visitors bureau)
GA-60 is the last 5.5 miles for almost everyone coming from the south. On event days, leave earlier than the map suggests.
Once you are parked
- The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Center is at 13 South Park Street on the square and is open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM. Discover Dahlonega (visitors bureau)
The square is compact, and the Visitors Center on South Park Street is the natural first stop for a map and for that day’s details.
Questions people ask
Where should I park for Christmas events in downtown Dahlonega?
The official parking guide points evening and weekend visitors first to the University of North Georgia parking deck, reached from South Chestatee Street and Choice Avenue, available after 5:30 PM on weekdays and all day at weekends. For a full day, use the Park & Stay spaces in the North Park Street and Warwick Street lots.
Source: Discover Dahlonega
Is parking free in downtown Dahlonega?
The downtown authority describes 300 free spaces on and around the Public Square, three free lots with 140 spaces, and the UNG parking deck as free on evenings and weekends. Spaces around the square have a 3-hour limit enforced 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays.
Source: Downtown Dahlonega
Are streets closed for the Lighting of the Square and the parade?
Closure times for 2026 are not published. In 2025 road closures and detours for the lighting started at 3:30 PM, and in 2024 roads closed half an hour before the noon parade.
Source: Discover Dahlonega
How far is Dahlonega from Atlanta?
The chamber describes Dahlonega as one hour north of Atlanta at the end of GA-400 and lists the distance as 71 miles.
Source: Discover Dahlonega
How do I drive to Dahlonega's square from Atlanta?
Take GA-400 North / US-19 North through Alpharetta, Cumming and Dawsonville, turn left onto GA-60 North at the traffic light at the end of GA-400, and continue about 5.5 miles to the Historic Square.
Source: Discover Dahlonega
Dates can change. The organisers have the final word: Official Old Fashioned Christmas schedule
