Atlanta holiday guide
Your go-to guide for all things Holiday in Atlanta!
classic atlanta holiday:
- Botanical Garden Lights and more!
- See the, now retired, Pink Pig at The Atlanta History Center
- Lake Lanier Lights Spectacular
- The Graves House Christmas Lights – 2464 Fontaine Circle in Decatur
- Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker
- A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theater
- Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer at The Center for Puppetry Arts
- Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
- Stone Mountain Christmas at Snow Mountain Park
- Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights
holiday markets:
- The Atlanta Christkindl Market 2023 is open daily through Sunday. The market brings German holiday traditions including culinary delights and handcrafted treasures.
- Creator’s Market and Holiday Sistah Shop at Atlantic Station
- Vinings Jubilee’s Farmers Market – Thursday afternoons
- Spruill Arts Holiday Art Fair (through Dec. 23rd).
- On Friday, December 22 from 6 to 11 p.m, celebrate Atlanta’s Asian-American Pacific Islander communities with a special night market showcasing artists, vendors, crafters, food, culture & more at Pullman Yards!
trees & Menorahs!
- Holiday Tree and Menorah Lighting Events have now passed.
- The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library’s new holiday exhibit, “Holidays at the Carter White House,” is open through Jan. 6, 2024. There are a number of items that have never been displayed before including the menorah used for the 1979 Celebration of the Festival of Lights (the first time a president participated in a national celebration of Hanukkah), a 500-year-old painting depicting the nativity, Christmas stockings and much more.
- Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions Around the World is on display at Fernbank Museum of Natural History through Jan. 7, 2024. Among the highlights are representations of cultural traditions from all over the world; relevant artistry; and holiday staples.
festivals & events:
- Chamblee Holiday Hoopla kicks off November 24-December 31 with Holiday Hoopla of Lights in Downtown Chamblee – 5 additional events on multiple dates. See link for details.
- Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta during our Holiday Bricktacular, November 24 – December 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (hours may vary – please check the website for all hours).
- CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL
Kick off bowl week in style during the pregame parade, MVP Tailgate Party, featuring live entertainment, food and beverages, and much more. - The Atlanta Hawks play the Memphis Grizzlies at State Farm Arena Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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holiday pop ups & bars:
Check out one of the many Holiday pop up bars around the city with this curated list of bars from Alyssa Fagien of @atl_bucketlist! All Holiday Bar Pop Up’s Instagrams linked below! Be sure to designate a driver, grab a ride share or take Marta to your favorite destination!
- West Midtown Santa Bar Crawl – December 9th
- @poncecityroof Holiday Social Bar + MixMas
- @westside_motor_lounge ATL Yule
- @biltongbar Blitzen Room
- @miraclebaratlanta at @tapatapaatlanta Miracle on Monroe
- @sostikibar Tiki Christmas
- @pachengos Feliz Navidad
- @theblindpigparlourbar The Blind Elf
- @livebatteryatl Tinsel Tavern
- @hamptonhudson Mountain Lodge
- @virtuerooftop Holiday Bar @5churchatlanta
- @loasocialclub Santa’s Flamingo Bar
- @rangerstationatl Apres Ski
- @chattahoocheefoodworks Jingle Bar
- @littlespiritatl Little Christmas Spirit
- @urbantreecider Rockin’ Around the UrbanTree
- @treveleatl Jingle Bar
- @holidaybaratl Dorry’s Tavern
- @caperestaurant Cape Christmas
- @mercantilesocial Grinchmas
- @theselectatl Christmas
- @fromtheearthbrewingg Angel Bar
- @mingleandjinglebar at Best End Brewing
- @dadsatl Christmas at Dad’s
- @hampandharrys Grinch pop-up
- @blameitonthealcohall Jar Jar Drinks Holiday Bar
Santa sightings:
- On weekends beginning Nov. 18 and including Fridays in December, Santa will be at the 2023 Christkindl Market in Buckhead Village District for you to take your own photos, from 2 to 6 p.m. No reservations necessary.
- Enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season at Georgia Aquarium beginning Nov. 10 with daily tree lightings, photos with Santa and more through Jan. 1, 2024.
- Santa is setting up shop every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Nov. 15 through Dec. 24 in the Truist Community Corner at The Battery.
- Meet Botanical Saint Nick at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens! Free with Garden admission or membership.
- Mall Santa’s:
- More Santa locations listed here.
skating & snow:
- Through Dec. 30, Snow Days at Children’s Museum of Atlanta brings skating at Sockerfeller Plaza, Hot Cocoa Mondays, snow ball fights and more.
- Pullman Yards Ice skating.
- Skate the Station at Atlantic Station.
- Park Tavern’s ice skating rink is a nice-sized rink with good amenities and spectacular views.
- Back for a seventh year, The Roof at Ponce City Market invites guests to Skate the Sky.
- Tis’ the season to lace up your skates and glide into the holiday spirit at Avalon on Ice!
- Take a spin on Frosty’s Ice Rink at Lake Lanier! – Not only can you ice skate at Lake Lanier, but you can also enjoy the “snow” at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands.
- Olde Town Conyers Pavilion ice skating.
- Center Ice Arena (Sandy Springs). Learn to skate, play hockey, or just enjoy gliding across the ice during one of their public skating dates.
shows & art:
- Celtic Woman: Christmas Symphony Tour 2023, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, occurs Thursday and Friday at Atlanta Symphony Hall. The concert features music from the ensemble’s most favorite Yuletide songs. Expect an enchanting and festive evening filled with mesmerizing music and holiday cheer.
- Deck the Halls with Dad’s Garage and Horizon Theatre this season when “Y’allmark Christmas: An Improvised Holiday ‘Movie,’” returns. Dec. 19 through Dec. 30
- “Madeline’s Christmas” is playing at Horizon Theatre through Dec. 31.
- Dad’s Garage brought back its cult-classic holiday show “Invasion Christmas Carol.” The show runs through Dec. 30.
- Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Winter House 2022.
- The new Cirque du Soleil show “Echo” is open under the big top at Atlantic Station. With performances through Jan. 21, 2024.
- Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Shakespeare Tavern. Dec. 3-23.
- A Christmas Carol at Gas South Theater. Dec. 19-22.
- A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre. Through Dec. 24.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Center for Puppetry Arts. Through Dec. 31.
- White Christmas the Musical at City Springs Theatre – Dec 8-24.
holiday lights:
- Lights of Life at Life University
- Botanical Garden Lights
- IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival opens to the public at Zoo Atlanta in November 2023.
- View 250,000 lights within an 8-block radius at Atlantic Station‘s Celebrate the Station event.
- Trek over land, sea and air to hear the jingle of the jungle at Enchanted Safari produced by World of Illumination at Six Flags White Water in Marietta.
- Lake Lanier Lights Spectacular
- Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park
- At the Winterfest Tour of Lights, you will get a map of homes with the most extravagant decorations. Some homes will be offering treats and beverages, and a few will even be showing off their backyards for participants.
- Decorate Decatur Contest
- The Graves House Christmas Lights – 2464 Fontaine Circle in Decatur
- SMOOT FAMILY CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW –3699 Autumn View Dr NW, Acworth, GA 30101; Nov 23rd – Jan 1st
- HROCKIN HRANICKY CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW 3848 Rivers Run Trace NW, Acworth, GA 30101
- The Largest Residential Christmas Light Display in Georgia. Over 1.2 Million Lights. – 1510 Ben King Road NW – Kennesaw, GA 30144
- Best Neighborhood Lights Around Atlanta
- Lights Over Alpharetta – Driving Night w/ Santa at Ameris Bank Amphitheater
atl regulars but festive:
- Holiday in the Park at Six Flags
- Winter Waterland at Georgia Aquarium
- Piedmont Park hosts wreath workshops and Atlanta Jingle Bell Jog
- Winter Wonderland at Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Home for the Holidays at The Wren’s Nest
- Check out the many Holiday Events at Ponce City Market this season!
- Snow Days at Children’s Museum of Atlanta.
- Holiday Tours at Fox Theatre
- Holiday Events and Wreath Sale at Oakland Cemetery
- Wild Woods AGLOW at Fernbank Museum
- IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival opens to the public at Zoo Atlanta in November 2023
