Press Release: Lanier Islands Brings the Holidays to Life with the Return of its Live Nativity

Buford, Ga. – December 1, 2015 – On the heels of the recent return of the legendary Magical Nights of Lights to Lanier Islands, the restoration of another beloved holiday tradition takes place at the lakeside resort – the Live Nativity. Set just outside the Peachtree Pointe Amphitheater near the Islands’ front gates, the presentation of this year’s Live Nativity will be a combined effort between the resort, Free Chapel, Cross Pointe Church and local nonprofit organization – Happy Feat. Beginning Tuesday, December 1, live performers from the various organizations will assume their positions inside a beautifully constructed open-air stable set to re-enact the Christmas story for Magical Nights of Lights’ guests.

Members of Free Chapel – based in Gainesville – will perform the Live Nativity on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, including December 4-6, 11-13 and 18-20, as well as Monday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 22. Members of Cross Pointe Church - with locations in Duluth and Hoschton – will perform the Live Nativity on Mondays through Thursdays, including December 1-3, 7-10 and 14-15. On two very special evenings – Wednesday, December 16 and Thursday, December 17 – volunteers and special needs friends from a local nonprofit organization called Happy Feat will perform the Live Nativity. Dedicated to bettering the lives of special needs children and teens, as well as the communities they serve – Happy Feat will benefit from $1 of the proceeds from every Magical Nights of Lights ticket sold on the two evenings of their performances.

In addition to the Live Nativity, guests of Magical Nights of Lights will also enjoy a six-mile driving tour of twinkling animated holiday light displays as it winds through the resort. Prior to their tour, visitors are encouraged to download the Lanier Islands: Magical Nights of Lights app from the App Store or Google Play. The app provides the ultimate in an engaging holiday experience as trigger points throughout the tour cue special music and a custom story for each light display section. Also included within the app are car game suggestions, special coupon offers, a map of the islands and more. The tour culminates in a visit to the Holiday Village where little ones can share wishlists and have their photo taken with Santa Claus while Mom and Dad shop for ornaments and gifts in Santa’s Workshop. The whole family can roast marshmallows while sipping on hot cocoa near a roaring fire or purchase tickets to take a spin on a variety of classic carnival rides.

New this year, Magical Nights of Lights ticket holders can opt for an upgrade to include the all NEW Winter Adventure. This frosty fun-focused attraction is comprised of a number of fast and fabulous speed slides, high-flying zip lines, live entertainment and special snow play zones where kids of all ages can build a snowman, make a snow fort or challenge family and friends to a friendly snowball fight. Guests will be “bubbling over” with excitement thanks to the introduction of a bubble play area, bubble skating rink and Knockerball - a new game that places players INSIDE a bubble. For a great twist on a date night, guests of Winter Adventure can enjoy dinner and a show thanks to a slew of terrific restaurants around the boardwalk and the brand new Spectacular Screen - a 46’ x 80’ high definition screen anchored high above Big Beach for endless entertainment.

To learn more about Magical Nights of Lights and Winter Adventure at Lanier Islands, purchase tickets online, book a special holiday accommodations package, check dates for Breakfast with Santa and view the calendar for additional events at the resort during the holiday season, please visit www.lanierislands.com.

About Lanier Islands: Nestled on the southern-most shoreline of Lake Sidney Lanier at the foothills of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains lies the truly distinctive Lanier Islands. Situated less than 45 miles from downtown Atlanta on 1,500 pristine acres of forests, meadows and beaches, this luxury resort is quickly growing in size, scope and reputation as one of the Southeast’s leading lakeside retreats. As the resort’s crown jewel, Lake Lanier is one of the United States’ most popular man-made lakes, encompassing 38,000 surface acres and 690 miles of shoreline in Northeast Georgia. Legacy Lodge and Legacy Villas enhance the resort’s broad assortment of accommodation choices and meeting sites – making it the ideal choice for corporate meetings and company retreats. Popular excursions like fun in the sun at the boardwalk-themed LanierWorld, zip lining through the trees with Lake Lanier Canopy Tours, horseback riding on a lakeside trail from the Equestrian Center, and renting a boat and ski equipment from Harbor Landing make the resort a terrific choice for families vacationing or “staycationing” in the South. Tranquility – the Spa and the picturesque 18-hole Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course are major draws for visitors looking to relax or play, and with more than 20 wedding venues to choose from, the Resort is rapidly gaining favor with brides- and grooms-to-be as a highly sought-after Destination Wedding site.

Lanier Islands is steadily securing a solid standing for their unique vision of the future of this luxury retreat, their unswerving dedication to the comfort and enjoyment of their guests, and their signature brand of Southern Hospitality. In 2014, the Resort became a member of the highly esteemed Southern Living Hotel Collection. The Islands has also been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for two consecutive years and was named “Best Place for Family Fun” by Best Self Atlanta Magazine in 2015.