Tis the season of holiday activities, lights, parades, and festivities! Atlanta has so many options for you and your family to choose from. Here is a list of some great ones in the Area.
Atlanta Holiday Guide:: Holiday Activities + Events
Winter Wonderland at Fernbank Museum
November 18 – January 7
Atlanta
Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions Around the World returns for its 14th year to celebrate the holiday season and much more with dazzling trees and other displays that line two floors for a rich, artistic expression that recognizes cultural celebrations, events, and traditions from around the world. The exhibit highlights festivities and traditions that tell unique stories selected by cultural partners through arts, crafts, symbols, and ornamental displays.
Share the joy and wonder of Fernbank Museum this holiday season! Stuff their stockings with nature and science and impress your holiday guests with gift memberships, gift tickets , or the perfect present in the Museum Store. Fernbank offers year-round adventures both inside and out, with permanent and special exhibits, giant screen films, and family-friendly events. Party the night away the second Friday of each month at Fernbank After Dark, an after-hours, ages 21+ event filled with science, snacks, and cocktails. Feeling philanthropic? Donate a gift to the Annual Fund and help fuel the curiosity of young minds.
Stone Mountain Christmas
November 11 – January 2
Stone Mountain Park
Each day during Stone Mountain Christmas, you can enjoy park attractions including Summit Skyride, Scenic Railroad, and more! Then, become immersed in holiday magic with evenings full of festive music, millions of dazzling lights, spectacular shows, and visits from some of your favorite holiday characters!
March of the Toys Parade
December 1, 7 pm
Downtown Ball Ground
One of the largest Christmas parades in North Georgia that benefits Toys for Tots! Attendees to the parade are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots campaign.
Past parades have featured such participants as the Griswold Truckster that appeared in the 2015 movie “Vacation”, the Oscar Myer Weinermobile, Christian Fine Arts of Forsyth Marching Band, the Creekview High School Marching Band, a replica of the 1966 Batmobile, Scooby Do’s Mystery Machine, Atlanta Falcon Cheerleaders, the Georgia Tech Goldrush Dancers, the Georgia State Pantherettes, dance groups, floats, tractors, antique cars and much more.
Rudolph at the Center for Puppetry Arts
November 8 – December 31
Midtown Atlanta
He’s back! Rudolph soars back into town for this faithful adaptation that speaks to the misfit in all of us. This is absolutely one of my family’s favorite traditions. It is such a great show with a great message and the kids look forward to it year after year. Most years they even have a craft for the kids after the show!
Roswell Winter Puppet Series
December 14 – 22
Roswell
The Roswell Cultural Arts Center presents two puppet shows by Lee Bryan, “That Puppet’s Guy” that you do not want to miss. This year they will be showing ‘North Pole Fa-La-La-La Follies’ showing December 14-16. Next up they are showing ‘Trouble in Toyland’ show from December 20th-22nd. Tickets are $10 per person.
A Farmstead Christmas at Southern Belle Farm
November 24 – December 17
McDonough
Head to the farm to enjoy Christmas in the Country! Take your family on over to Southern Belle Farm to experience all the activities, including pedal karts, hayrides, animal barn and so much more. There are also plenty of tasty treats at their Country Market, so stop in and fill your bellies!
Santa Claus is coming to town….and to the Hilton Alpharetta Atlanta
November 25th to 27th; December 2nd, December 9th, December 11th, and December 16th-18th
Hilton Alpharetta Atlanta
Exclusively available at the brand-new Hilton Alpharetta! First, book your hotel reservation here. *Guests must book a Santa Tuck In package to be eligible for Santa Tuck In. Bring the magic of Christmas to your children with an evening Tuck-In with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Have Santa & Mrs. Claus (and perhaps Mary the Elf) come tuck your children in at night with a Christmas Bedtime Story complete with Milk & Cookies and a Keepsake Teddy Bear. Enjoy some one-on-one time with the jolly old elf, snap pictures and videos to share with friends and family to enjoy your memories for years to come. Breakfast for two is also included. (Children 10 and under are complimentary.)
The second step, contact Santa to book your Tuck In!! There are 3 ways to contact Santa…Santa Marty Bruce, santamartybruce@gmail.
Please have your room reservation confirmation number ready when booking your Tuck-In. The cost is $75.00 for the first child + $25.00 for each additional child up to a total of 4 children per visit, per room. (Infants less than 11 months old are free unless you want them to receive a teddy bear or if they are the only child). Tuck-in times start at 7:30 pm and run every half hour with the last appointment at 9:30 pm.
Snow Days at Children’s Museum of Atlanta
December 1 – December 30
Downtown Atlanta
Every day in December we’ll explore the winter season with hands-on activities. It’s sure to be “snow” much fun at the Museum!
Snow Days Kick-Off weekend is Saturday, December 2 – Sunday, December 3! Celebrate Winter Solstice with Full Radius Dance Company, join a kid-friendly snowball fight on stage, and enjoy afternoon hot cocoa at Jane’s Innovation Station before hitting CMA’s sock-friendly “ice” rink, Sockerfeller Plaza.
On Saturday, December 2, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM enjoy a Holiday PJ Movie Night at CMA to watch a screening of Pixar’s Inside Out! They will be serving up hot chocolate, popcorn snacks, and a whole lot of fun and play!
Keep the holiday spirit going with the Celebrate Winter Holidays throughout December and ring in the New Year with our annual Bubble Bash on Sunday, December 31.
Buckhead Village Festive Holiday Happenings
November 25 – December 16
Buckhead Village
Embark on a holiday mountainside adventure with exclusive ski-in, and ski-out access to an Alpine lodge. Immerse yourself in a cozy setting featuring crackling fires, picturesque ski-lift photo opportunities, live performances by OkCello accompanied by dance and aerial acts, delightful seasonal cuisine, warm beverages, festive celebrations, and captivating pop-ups. For globe-trotters returning home for the holidays, Buckhead offers a fusion of vintage 1950-80s “after-ski” culture, complete with illuminated snow-capped trees, vintage snowshoes and sleds, bar-crafted cocktails, and intimate fireside moments.
2023 Season of Celebration in Alpharetta
December 2 & -December 16
Alpharetta
December 2 – Holiday shopping just got easier! Join us in Alpharetta for a Holiday Hop & Shop. Take advantage of the FREE hop-on, hop-off shuttle, running from 9:30 – 4:00 p.m. as you browse for handcrafted items for everyone on your list. You’ll have the chance to visit four unique markets offering a variety of crafts, food, décor, jewelry, sweet treats, and much more! Plus, there are plenty of fun activities for the kids including free pictures with Santa, holiday character meet & greets, and live music. Don’t forget to keep receipts to get up to three gifts wrapped for free! Make it a fun day of holiday shopping while supporting your community.
December 16 – Experience the enchantment of winter in Downtown Alpharetta during the holiday season. Take a stroll past decorated storefronts, twinkling lights, and snow flurries on Town Green. Catch one of the rotating holiday shorts on the big screen, complete with an inflatable snow globe for photos and Brewable’s hot cocoa available for purchase. Snow flurries will appear every 15 minutes between movies – the perfect opportunity to capture those precious moments.
Acworth Holiday Events
December 1 – December 20
Downtown Acworth
Acworth Community Center has plenty of events this holiday season including its annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony, writing letters to Santa, a visit from the big guy to a special breakfast with the Grinch! Check out all the events they have to offer.
Holiday Scavenger Hunt at Oakland Cemetery
December 1 – January 3
Downtown Atlanta
Grab your family or friends and head to Oakland Cemetery for a day of puzzle-solving and sleuthing. This is a self-guided Scavenger Hunt where you just download and print off your Holiday Hunt packet and enjoy the fun!
Gwinnett County Winter Lantern Festival
November 10 – January 2
Gwinnett County Fairgrounds
Starting on November 10, you will have an opportunity to step into a dazzling world of light that features over 1000 lanterns inspired by Chinese myths, legends, and the zodiac. All lanterns are handmade by artisans with decades of experience in their trade bringing magical folklorical creatures to life. It is a whimsical light display with special activities for kids, couples, and the whole family.
Holiday at the World of Coca-Cola
2023 TBA
Downtown Atlanta
The combination of Santa and Coca-Cola goes way back, so what better way to celebrate than in the heart of that great tradition? The World of Coca-Cola has done it right with huge decorations, amazing holiday light displays, seasonal tastes and scent attractions, festive holiday photo shoot opportunities, and much more.
Did we miss any holiday activities in your community? Let us know in the comments! Posts and holiday activities are updated periodically.
Be sure to check out Atlanta Mom’s other holiday guides:
