THE LIGHTS
NIGHTLY SHOWS NOVEMBER 29, 2024 THROUGH JANUARY 3, 2025 AT 6PM, 7PM, 8PM, AND 9PM
POPLAR STREET BETWEEN FIRST STREET AND MLK JR. BLVD AND THIRD STREET BETWEEN Plum STREET AND CHERRY STREET
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
During the month of December, a multi-colored canopy of 1,00,000+ twinkling lights covers the streets of downtown Macon. The lights, spanning 5.5 city blocks, move in time to music by Macon Pops during nightly shows that have quickly made the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza Middle Georgia’s newest holiday tradition. Now in its seventh year, the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza offers an entire month of family-friendly fun in the beautiful setting of downtown Macon. The Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza kicks off with a live concert featuring Macon Pops on Friday, November 29, 2024 at 6pm. Shows occur nightly November 29, 2024 through January 3, 2025 from 6pm to 10pm at the top of each hour. The lights will stay on nightly from 10 to 11pm. The Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza is completely free and open to the public.
The light show features 31 original songs arranged, produced, and recorded by Macon Pops. Each song features a local artist from Macon, offering a unique soundtrack that can’t be found at other light shows. Show 1 takes place at 6pm and 8pm, and Show 2 takes place at 7pm and 9pm. Each show lasts for about an hour. Stick around to catch both shows to hear all the merry sounds of the season!
During the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza, Maconites and visitors come together and celebrate the hope and wonder inspired by the holiday season. Merry-makers are encouraged to exit their vehicles and walk among the lights in our spacious city lights so they can fully experience downtown Macon and discover our diverse array of independently-owned eateries, shops, and attractions.
The holiday season in downtown Macon is truly merry and bright.
A BRIGHT IDEA
The internationally award-winning Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza began in 2017 when Maconite Bryan Nichols flipped the switch on a new tool for economic development in downtown Macon. Nichols realized Christmas lights had the potential to attract thousands of visitors to Macon’s walkable urban core and help fuel downtown Macon’s ongoing revitalization. His vision of a light show synchronized to music by Macon Pops, an innovative, high energy, and world class orchestra that performs with orchestral musicians from around the southeast and across the country, caught the attention of Macon’s philanthropic community and received seed funding from the Downtown Challenge Fund at the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Knight Foundation, and the Peyton Anderson Foundation. With the initial grant, the process of implementing a synchronized light show spanning multiple city blocks of public space in the city’s center began.
With almost no advertising, the first edition of the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza brought nearly 100,000 people to downtown Macon. The beauty and wonder of the light show generated so much buzz on social media, thousands of people visited the urban core and supported local restaurants and retailers.
The success of the first year generated more grant funding and private donations and sponsorships to enable the expansion of the show from two city blocks to four. The second year also brought the addition of one of Macon’s signature musical events - the Opening Concert with Macon Pops. For one magical evening, the Macon Pops orchestra played in time with the 500,000+ dancing lights during a free community concert that brought 20,000 people to downtown. Doubling the area and expanding programming resulted in double the attendance and Visit Macon reported a 15% increase in hotel/motel occupancy during the month of December. Businesses and organizations began planning more holiday events, bringing more people to downtown Macon to enjoy our unique city experience.
In its third year, the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza expanded with technology and innovation. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation generously donated funds to implement interactive components into the show, including giant Lite Brites, singing Christmas trees, and interactive light displays. Traditional programming like Selfies with Santa and carriage rides enhance the downtown Christmas experience and of course, the Opening Concert with Macon Pops was back by popular demand.
