Decatur Announces Comprehensive Holiday Season Program with Weekly Events and Local Business Support

The Decatur Downtown Development Authority has unveiled a comprehensive holiday program designed to bring seasonal cheer while supporting local businesses through a series of weekly events and shopping incentives. The "Holidays in Decatur" initiative includes weekly "Terrific Thursday" events running from November through December, each featuring different community activations developed through collaboration between the DDA, community groups, and local businesses.

The Thursday evening events begin November 6 with an official city ornament unveiling at Vivid Boutique, followed by early bird shopping photos with Santa throughout downtown on November 13. Subsequent weeks will feature pet photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Harmony Park in Oakhurst on November 20, the annual tree lighting with caroling and refreshments at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse on December 4, a bonfire and marshmallow roast with caroling from The Talley Street Chorus on December 11, and a screening of Happy Feet with free popcorn at Ebster Recreation Center on December 18.

Beyond the weekly events, several ongoing promotions aim to support local retailers during the holiday season. The "Shop Early, Shop Local" promotion offers a $20 gift card to a City of Decatur restaurant for every $200 spent at local retailers during November. A "Gingerbread Takeover" will feature local shops decorating giant cookie cutouts with festive designs, while Letters to Santa can be dropped at three locations including the Decatur Visitors Center, Kelly's Market, and Oakhurst Market.

Special events include Small Business Saturday on November 29, featuring photos with Santa, free milk and cookies, and complimentary gift wrapping services. The first night of Hanukkah will be celebrated with a menorah lighting in The Square on December 14 at 4:30 p.m., complete with free hot drinks and latkes. Conor McNally, chair of the Decatur Downtown Development Authority, emphasized the community-wide effort behind the programming, noting that new restaurants have opened and existing retailers have made substantial investments to enhance the guest experience.

The holiday festivities occur against the backdrop of the $8.5 million renovation of Decatur Square, which began in spring and targets an April 2026 reopening to coincide with FIFA World Cup 2026. The reimagined Square will serve as the central hub for Decatur WatchFest '26, a 34-day free soccer and music festival featuring match viewing at local establishments and a kickoff concert with Big Boi of Outkast on June 11. Additional information about the holiday programming is available at VisitDecaturGA.com/holidays, while details about the Square renovation can be found at SquareShakeUp.com and WatchFest information at DecaturWatchFest26.com.