Winter Wonders: Your Guide to the Holidays at Lake Oconee

Where we’re eating & drinking: 

–Breakfast with Santa at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee: Saturdays, December 9th, 16th, and 23rd, 2023 with seatings at 8:30 and 10 a.m.

Children of all ages will delight in Breakfast with Santa, where your child’s wish list can be shared with him personally. Young guests will enjoy a breakfast buffet featuring Fruit Smoothies, Fluffy Pancakes and Waffles with an array of toppings, Made-to-Order Omelets, Applewood Smoked Bacon, and other Elf approved breakfast items.

–Sipping in a winter wonderland at PJ’s Coffee: Warm up with a seasonal beverage from PJ’s. Peppermint Bark Velvet Ice & Latte, Butter Rum Latte, and Cookie Dough Latte are some of the drinks you can sip by the fire.

–Table at the Lake: Embark on a culinary journey at Lake Oconee’s newest restaurant, where your taste buds are in for a delightful adventure! Local favorites include the Spanish Octopus and the Fig Old Fashioned.

–Holcomb’s BBQ: Got the whole family in town for the holidays and need a break from cooking? Grab everyone’s favorite barbeque to-go! Holcomb’s has been a staple in our small town for over 50 years.

Where we’re shopping: 

–Bend The Trend: Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle this season, Bend the Trend has the perfect gifts for him and her! Bend the Trend is a luxury boutique of high-end furniture and home goods inspired by timeless classics and worldly designs from around the globe. Specializing in custom, hand-painted finishes and bespoke pieces.

–Paper Soiree: Nestled in the Lake Oconee Village, Paper Soiree provides high quality printing services as well as providing the lake area with a wide variety of gift ideas from unique candles to apparel, jewelry and handbags, to a huge selection of children’s toys and games. Paper Soiree will help you find the perfect Christmas gift!

–Genuine Georgia: Fun, hands on gifts for the little ones on your Christmas list! Spinners, woven hats, wand kaleidoscopes, books and more! All items at Genuine Georgia are made by local Georgia artists, making for a truly unique present.

–JH McCommons: JH McCommons Co offers unique home decor, gifts, jewelry, apparel, tee shirts, candles, baby items and much more!

–Empire South: Empire South offers clothing and gifts for men, women, and kids including Peter Millar and Peach State Pride.

–Max & Molly: Max & Molly is the sweetest little children’s boutique in Greensboro! They have clothes, shoes and toys!

Where we’re going: 

–Downtown Greensboro Tree Lighting: Ring in the holidays with Downtown Greensboro at their classic Christmas celebration on December 1st! The tree will be lit on the courthouse lawn, there will be music, craft vendors and even a visit from Santa!

–Gingerbread House at The Ritz-Carlton: A must-see for the holidays is the one-of-a-kind, life-sized gingerbread house that is created by the pastry team. This holiday treat, made with gingerbread, 180 pounds of candy and 480 pounds of icing, will be on display for guests’ delight in the hotel’s main lobby throughout the holidays.

–Ice Skating at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee: Step into The Winter Forest where adventures and memories await. Guests can glide across the 5,000 square-foot ice rink, holding hands and laughing as they take in views of Lake Oconee. Find respite in the Ice Lounge with plush sofas, creative drinks and twinkle lights. The “Ice” Bar, a retro trailer outfitted with holiday cheer, will be serving up warm classics such as hot cocoa, apple cider and hot toddies while creative cocktails make an appearance. Stop by the Snow Globe Photo Booth to snap and share those magical #RCMemories. The Winter Forest will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m.

Dates: November 22nd – January 1st

–Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds: Woven into 100 acres of beautiful countryside, the Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds at Reynolds Lake Oconee encompasses an unmatched, multi-faceted selection of shooting challenges and sporting endeavors. An adventure for all ages, this luxurious sporting facility features a twenty-station sporting clays course, a five-stand shooting range, a sporting clays instructional and games area, an air rifle range and an archery range.

–Joe Gransden Big Band Christmas Live at the Plaza: Come enjoy The Joe Gransden Big Band Christmas Celebration! Enjoy the Christmas Holiday Season with Joe Gransden and his 16-piece big band. A special evening for the entire family at The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton.