How a Mile of the Alpha Loop Became Alpharetta's Holiday Habit

In December 2024, the Alpha Loop Foundation strung lights along a new section of trail for two nights, Dec. 13 and 14. Appen Media counted at least 400 people.

This year, the same mile between Northwinds Parkway and Old Milton Parkway will be lit every night from Dec. 4, 2026, through Jan. 4, 2027, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Some of the power is now permanently wired into the trail. A public development authority is also paying for the event at the top sponsorship level. Downtown Alpharetta and Avalon each hold one lighting night. Lights on the Loop is the only part of Alpharetta's holiday season that stays on every night, and it now has backing that treats it like part of the trail.

Two Nights, Then a Month

The event grew in three steps.

1. 2024: Two nights in mid-December, at least 400 visitors, and a debut for a newly opened trail section.
2. 2025: The display ran nightly from Dec. 5 through Jan. 4, with themed Friday and Saturday gatherings on three December weekends. Karen Richard, a foundation board member and former City Council member, told Appen Media that about 800 visitors came the first weekend. By the Dec. 12 and 13 weekend, foundation president John Goss counted 1,000 registered on Friday and 1,500 on Saturday, according to Appen Media.
3. 2026: The nightly run stays at a month, and the themed gatherings drop to two weekends. Permanent power near the Westside Parkway tunnel and a $25,000 public sponsorship now back the display.

In two years, the first weekend's crowd went from about 400 to about 800, and a later weekend drew 2,500 registrations. Those crowds are the reason the city got involved.

The $17,000 Extension Cord

In 2025, the foundation paid $17,000 to run temporary power along the trail. At a Dec. 8 City Council meeting, City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom put a permanent installation at about $20,000. He framed it as simple math, telling Appen Media, "If you pay $20,000 once, and it's done, the return on that investment is in one year." Councilman Fergal Brady asked staff to look at putting it in the budget. Councilman Doug DeRito said the same power could serve everyday trail users outside of events. He added, "It's one of those things that Alpharetta is probably going to be known for." WSB Radio reported the same $17,000 figure and the council's interest in permanent power sources along the Loop.

Part of that power is now in place. The foundation presented to Alpharetta's Development Authority on Sept. 21, 2026. A summary of that meeting says an earlier $20,000 contribution from the authority paid for permanent power near the tunnel on the south side of Westside Parkway, which replaced some of the temporary power boxes used in 2025. At the same meeting, the authority voted 4 to 0 to fund the foundation at the $25,000 top sponsorship level for 2026. The foundation also described plans for reusable gear, including collapsible 10- to 12-foot arches, photo backdrops and interactive cutouts that it would store and reuse each season.

The foundation calls Lights on the Loop its largest fundraiser of the year, and the money goes back into growing and programming the trail.

Opening Night and the Two Themed Weekends

The 2026 schedule comes from the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau's event page:

• "Switch On The Lights" celebration: Friday, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m.
• Holiday Music Showcase, Dec. 4 and 5, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Performances by the Alpharetta Symphony, the Alpharetta City Band, local musicians and a holiday DJ.
• Pet-Friendly Weekend, Dec. 18 and 19, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Includes Llamas on the Loop. Leashed pets are welcome all season but must stay at least 6 feet from the llamas.
• Lights & Delights Village: Behind 2500 Northwinds Parkway on themed weekends, with artisan vendors, seasonal food and non-alcoholic drinks for sale, and seasonal characters for photos.
• E-bike raffle: $10 tickets for an e-bike donated by ATL E-Bikes LLC, an Alpharetta company. The drawing is the evening of Dec. 19, and winners do not need to be present.

Parking is free at 2500 and 2520 Northwinds Parkway. An ADA-accessible ramp up to the trail is behind 2520. Portable toilets are set up only on themed weekends, and the whole event is alcohol-free. Admission is free. Organizers strongly encourage Eventbrite registration for the themed weekends and will send any weather updates through it.

On every other night of the run, the trail is simply lit, with no crowds or vendors. A walk on a Tuesday in late December is a very different outing from opening night.

Where the Loop Fits in the Season

Alpharetta's other holiday events cluster around downtown, Avalon and North Point, and most last a single day. Here is the calendar the Alpharetta CVB has published, in date order:

1. Nov. 7 and 14: Alpharetta Farmers Market, downtown, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
2. Nov. 20: The Hamilton Alpharetta's Christmas Tree Lighting at 25 Milton Avenue, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The tree lights at 6:30, with carolers from the Alpharetta High School Chorus.
3. Nov. 21: Arts Alpharetta's Holiday Artists Market at 238 Canton St., 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. That evening is the Season of Celebration Tree Lighting at 2001 Commerce Street, 5 to 8 p.m., when 10,000 bulbs come on downtown. The Friendship Ring of Kids display at Innovation Academy, 125 Milton Avenue, is decorated from Nov. 21 through Dec. 31.
4. Nov. 22: The Lighting of Avalon at 400 Avalon Blvd., 2 to 7:30 p.m. Avalon on Ice opens at 3 p.m., and the tree lights at 7. The rink stays open through Jan. 18, 2027.
5. Dec. 4: Lights on the Loop switches on.
6. Dec. 5: The Alpharetta Christmas Market at Innovation Academy, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Snow Day on the Town Green at 2001 Commerce Street, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
7. Dec. 12: The Makers Market Local Holiday Street Fair at Avalon, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Alpharetta Winter Parade on Canton Street, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
8. Dec. 13: Jingle Jog, a one-mile fun run with Santa starting from The Hotel at Avalon, 9000 Avalon Blvd.

All three tree lightings fall within three days, from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22. December then fills in around the Loop's two themed weekends. Avalon on Ice is the only other long-running attraction, and it requires a ticket. Lights on the Loop is free, open every night until 11, and set up away from the busiest shopping districts.

Dinner Before the Downtown Lighting

The Nov. 21 tree lighting is centered on 2001 Commerce Street in Alpharetta City Center. The 26-acre development sits where Main, Academy, Broad, Market and Commerce Streets meet, and several of its storefronts are new this year. Amasa Mexican Kitchen held its grand opening on Sept. 18 at 15 Academy Street, Space 1E. Grove and Barrel Provisions is a Mediterranean-inspired market that announced an Aug. 14 opening. Owner Josep Juncosa brought southern European food traditions from Barcelona and stocks olive oils, rice, pastas, preserved goods, coffees and some of his favorite wines, according to Appen Media. The market also hosts private group experiences, which could suit a holiday gathering. Giulia Italian Bakery, at 24 S. Main St., is a short walk from the Town Green.

The Trail Keeps Growing

The lit mile is one piece of a longer network. In its September presentation, the foundation reported 7.7 miles of the Alpha Loop finished and another 4.7 miles planned or under construction. It also cited two new sculptures, a bridge mural and wayfinding kiosks downtown. In August, the city approved a $15.99 million contract for the Alpha Link, a one-mile connection from Encore Gateway and the Big Creek Greenway to the Alpha Loop near Morrison Lake. Construction is expected to take about 18.5 months. Encore Greenway Park, at North Point Parkway and Encore Parkway, has a completion target of December 2026. In June, the City Council also approved a $314,800 design contract for Alpha Loop work along Northwinds Parkway, Haynes Bridge Road and Morrison Parkway.

Each new mile of trail is a possible place for future lights. Karen Richard has described what the current mile already does, telling Appen Media she saw "people coming from different neighborhoods and bumping into each other" on the Loop. The lights come on at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, behind 2500 Northwinds Parkway.

If you want help picking a home within walking distance of the Alpha Loop, or want to know how the trail network affects value in a particular part of Alpharetta, The Katie McGuirk Team would be glad to talk. Contact Us.