Atlanta Holiday Guide:: Holiday Activities + Events

Atlanta Holiday Guide:: Holiday Lights & Activities

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

Shine Light Show

November 18th-January 1st
Coolray Field

Ready for the holiday season? We sure are! Making its debut at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville this holiday season, Shine Light Show is a brand-new drive-thru light show that opens November 18th, and we have the exclusive scoop on the magical show!

Shine Light Show

Guests are invited to stay in their cars and tune their radio to a designated radio station and immerse themselves into a wonderland of over +1M synchronized lights to holiday music. Experience the festive magic of the lights as you sing along! With each turn you take, a surprise awaits. Drive through the show’s path and unwrap the festive cheer!

The best part? Only ONE ticket is required per vehicle so load up the car with all your friends and family! Tickets are on sale now.


Fernbank Holiday Events

Fernbank Museum

Nov. 19-Jan. 6, 2023
Atlanta

Enjoy a season of celebrations during Fernbank’s annual Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions Around the World. This holiday-inspired exhibit features trees and other displays decorated by local cultural partners that recognize celebrations including Christmas and Hanukkah, as well as traditions and practices like indigenous art and national symbols, located on Entry and Upper Levels. Winter Wonderland also features iconic winter themes in giant “snow globe” scenes located outdoors.

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 12th – January 1st
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 2nd, 7pm
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 9th – December 31st
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 15th-17th, December 20th-22nd
Roswell

The Roswell Cultural Arts Center presents two puppet shows that you do not want to miss. This year they will be showing Lee Bryan, “That Puppet’s Guy” Trouble in Toyland showing December 15th-17th. Next up they are showing the Frisch Marionettes’ Holiday Punch show from December 20th-22nd. Tickets are $10 per person.


A Farmstead Christmas at Southern Belle Farm

November 25th – December 18th
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 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 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[email protected].com or (678) 977-1033

​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.


Holiday Celebrations at Children’s Museum of Atlanta

December 1st – December 30th
Downtown Atlanta

Tis the season to explore, light, joy, winter, and wonder at CMA! Don’t forget to bring your socks for a skate around Sockefeller Plaza. It’s also a great way to celebrate Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Christmas, and Kwanzaa with special performances, story times, and crafts. Reservations are required.

Dates reserved for each Holiday: Hanukkah – Dec 11th; Las Posadas – Dec 17th; Kwanzaa – Dec 28th


Buckhead Village Festive Holiday Happenings

November 25th-December 24th
Buckhead Village

Buckhead Village will host festive holiday happenings, including hosting The German American Cultural Foundation’s 2022 German Christkindl Market, a performance from the Atlanta Ballet 2, shops & strolls, pop-ups, and more.

Alongside activations, Buckhead Village will celebrate the merriest time of year as it transforms into an abstract winter wonderland decked with sparkling globes, illuminated trees, and fresh eucalyptus garland. Wonderland happenings will abound all season long


2022 Season of Celebration in Alpharetta

December 2nd-December 16th
Alpharetta

Celebrate the season with a flurry of fun in downtown Alpharetta on the first three Fridays in December from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Events will include Santa sightings, holiday music, snow flurries, and other festive activities.


Acworth Holiday Events

November 25th – January 1st
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

November 19th – January 1st
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!


Holiday at the World of Coca-Cola

2022 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:

Atlanta Holiday and Christmas Activities
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Jessica is an adventure-loving, over-committing, and previously organized mother of 2! She and her husband (high school sweethearts) moved to Atlanta in 2006 after graduating college, ready to start their life in the “real world”. They have experienced so many wonderful life milestones while in Atlanta – lived in Buckhead pre-kids, bought a house in great Smyrna neighborhood, had their first child in 2011 (a spunky little girl, Vivian), welcomed their second child exactly 18 months later in 2012 (a creative and crazy little boy, Harrison), and most recently added a Golden Doodle named Winston into the mix. Jessica and her family have since moved to the burbs of Milton where you now find them past 2 horse farms on the right. Jessica has always loved being part of a community, so when the opportunity to join the Atlanta Mom executive team presented itself it was a no brainer! She loved it so much, in fact, that in 2021 she and Natalie joined forces to lead the team and continue connecting with awesome moms across the ATL!