Johns Creek's Holidays Now Have Two Hubs: Medley's Ice Rink, The Boardwalk's Tree, and Every Weekend Between

The City of Johns Creek will light its 40-foot Christmas tree on Friday, Dec. 4, during a free two-hour party at The Boardwalk at Town Center. A week earlier, on Nov. 27, Medley opens an outdoor ice rink that runs until Feb. 7, 2027. The city tree gets one evening and the rink stays open for 73 days.

This is the first holiday season with both places open. The city's traditions are now at a public gathering space that opened in May. A private district that opens in late October will run the longest attraction of the season. Every other date in this guide falls before, between or after those two.

The two kickoffs are a week apart

Medley calls its kickoff Merry Medley. It runs Friday, Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, along Medley Boulevard. Medley's event page lists family activities, a holiday concert, curated performances, the rink opening and a fireworks finale. The district is at 2140 Medley Boulevard. Its grand opening program runs Oct. 28 through 30, so Merry Medley falls about four weeks after the doors open.

The tree lighting and Santa's visit come a week later, at the city's Holly Jolly Block Party on Dec. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., at 11362 Lakefield Drive. In the city's words, the party "marks the start of the holiday season":

"The Holly Jolly Block Party will feature a visit from Santa, lighting of the City's 40-foot Christmas tree, hot cocoa, local choirs, and lights!"

The Boardwalk was built for evenings like this. Appen Media reported that the $39 million space opened May 8 behind City Hall, with wetland trails, an amphitheater and room for 4,000 people. Getting there on foot is also easier than it was last December. The Medlock Bridge Road pedestrian tunnel opened in August. It connects nearby neighborhoods, restaurants and shops to The Boardwalk and Town Center, just north of Johns Creek Parkway.

With two kickoffs a week apart, the season has two starts. Medley's comes first and runs until February. The city's comes second and is over by 8 p.m.

November's events are smaller and closer to home

Before either kickoff, November's events are spread across churches, parks and The Boardwalk itself. Most are free or cheap, and most are tied to one address for one day.

Saturday, Nov. 7 has two events at two ends of town:

• Honoring Our Veterans, 9 to 10 a.m., at Veterans Memorial Walk in Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road. Free.
• Diwali Celebration, 4 to 8 p.m., at The Boardwalk, with vendors, food, performances and a drone and light show at 7 p.m. Free.

The Diwali drone show lights up The Boardwalk four weeks before the city's tree does.

Nov. 13 through 15 is a busy stretch. St. Benedict's runs its 23rd Annual Holiday Market and Bake Sale with baked goods, crafts from local vendors and prizes. Hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, according to the parish listing. On Saturday, Nov. 14, the city's Literary Fair runs from 3 to 7 p.m. at Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road. Author Ariel Lawhon gives the keynote. Reserved tickets are free and VIP tickets are $45.

The Art Center at 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road holds an awards reception on Friday, Nov. 13, from 6 to 7 p.m. It's for the Fall Student & Member Exhibition, "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues," which runs Oct. 26 through Nov. 20.

One November date matters for December plans. Registration for Breakfast with Santa opens Sunday, Nov. 1, at 8 a.m. The breakfast itself is Dec. 12, so families who want a seat need to register six weeks ahead.

Dec. 4 to 6: five events in three days

Right after the city tree lighting, the busiest stretch of the season begins. Here are the events in order:

1. Friday, Dec. 4, 6 to 8 p.m. The Holly Jolly Block Party at The Boardwalk, with Santa, the tree lighting, cocoa and choirs. Free.
2. Saturday, Dec. 5, 4:30 p.m. The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra's "Holiday Pops: From Our Family to Yours," with the Johns Creek Community Choir. It's held at Innovation Academy in Alpharetta, the one major Johns Creek holiday event on this list held outside the city. Tickets are sold through the orchestra's holiday page.
3. Sunday, Dec. 6, from 2 p.m. until dark. Perimeter Church's free Winterfest & Tree Lighting at 9500 Medlock Bridge Road. It has an ice rink, a carol sing-along, train rides, food trucks and a tree-lighting ceremony, according to Perimeter's event page.
4. Sunday, Dec. 6, 5 p.m. The Johns Creek Chorale's "Messiah at the Pub" at Six Bridges Brewing, 11455 Lakefield Drive #300. Admission is $35 plus a $0.88 service fee and includes one free drink.
5. All three days, the Medley rink. By this weekend it has been open for a week.

That makes two tree lightings in Johns Creek in three days, at The Boardwalk on Friday and Perimeter on Sunday. Two ice rinks are open that weekend too. Perimeter's lasts one afternoon and Medley's lasts ten weeks. Six Bridges sits on Lakefield Drive, the same street as The Boardwalk, so Sunday evening's concert brings the season back to the Town Center area two days after the tree lighting.

Saturday, Dec. 12 stacks three events from morning to night

The second Saturday in December has three events spread across the day, so you can plan a route between them.

Breakfast with Santa also has later snack sessions after the two breakfast seatings, according to the city's listing. Park Place at Newtown sits on Old Alabama Road, the same road as Newtown Park, where the Veterans ceremony takes place on Nov. 7. Old Alabama Road hosts the season's first city event and its last one.

The Chorale's December has a range of venues and prices. It sings in a brewery with a drink included on Dec. 6, and at Johns Creek United Methodist Church for $25 six days later. Johns Creek United Methodist Church hosts the Literary Fair in November and "Star of Wonder" in December, so it's the venue that holds two of the season's events.

The rink is open long after the other events end

After Dec. 12, the published calendar mostly empties out, except at Medley. Skate the Plaza keeps its regular hours through the winter, according to Medley's rink page:

• Monday through Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m.
• Friday, 3 to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

From Dec. 21 through Jan. 4, during the school break, the rink is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The page also lists special hours for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Its labels for Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve don't match the 2026 calendar, though, so check Medley's page before planning around a holiday-day session. The page doesn't list a skating price yet either.

That's where the two hubs differ most. The city's holiday events end when the Boardwalk tree is lit and Breakfast with Santa wraps up on Dec. 12. Medley's rink keeps going through the school break, past New Year's Day and into February. This year Johns Creek has a holiday attraction open after Christmas, and it's at Medley.

Medley's restaurant lineup will also matter for the season. Appen Media lists 26 Thai Kitchen and Bar, Chops Lobster Bar, Amorino Gelato, Tonic House, Minnie Olivia Wood Fire Pizzeria, Fadó Irish Pub, STIR and Summit Coffee among the planned food and drink tenants. No opening dates have been announced for those tenants. Trader Joe's has been open since June, and Appen reports that Chops will anchor a hotel planned for 2028. Check which restaurants are open before planning dinner around a skate session.

Dates to remember

• Nov. 1, 8 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa registration opens
• Nov. 7: Veterans ceremony in the morning, Diwali at The Boardwalk in the evening
• Nov. 13 to 15: St. Benedict's Holiday Market; Literary Fair on Nov. 14
• Nov. 27: Merry Medley and the rink opening
• Dec. 4 to 6: Holly Jolly, Holiday Pops, Winterfest, Messiah at the Pub
• Dec. 12: Breakfast with Santa, the Art Center Pop-Up Market, "Star of Wonder"
• Feb. 7, 2027: Last day of Skate the Plaza

Medley and The Boardwalk are adding new places for Johns Creek to gather this year. If you're wondering how that affects a home's appeal to owners or tenants near Town Center or Medley Boulevard, Tina Sui and the TJS Team can go over the numbers with you in English or Mandarin. Request a personalized market & investment consult.