Holiday Events and Activities in Atlanta for Kids

Holiday Events and Christmas Activities in Atlanta for Kids

Celebrate the holidays in Atlanta with the whole family. You and your kids can enjoy the magical winter season with Christmas and holiday shows, holiday lights, holiday markets and more.

Best Holiday and Christmas Things To Do in Atlanta

A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
Midtown
Select days, November 9 - December 24, 2024
This year's production of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol returns to Alliance Theatre's Coca-Cola Stage. Visit the website here.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Puppet Show
Midtown
Select days, November 13 - December 29, 2024
Children delight in seeing this classic tale played out in puppet form at the Center for Puppetry Arts this holiday season. Visit the website here.

IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta
Grant Park
Select days, November 14, 2024 - January 19, 2025
IllumiNights: A Lantern Festival is back at Zoo Atlanta! The lanterns create a wonderland for zoo visitors to enjoy. Visit the website here.

Skate the Station at Atlantic Station
West Midtown
November 15, 2024 - January 20, 2025
Atlantic Station welcomes families to skate under the stars at Skate the Station. Open everyday, even on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Visit the website here.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Midtown
November 16, 2024- January 12, 2025
One of Atlanta’s favorite holiday light displays returns to the Atlanta Botanical Garden for Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. Expect new music and choreography with more vertical lights than ever. Visit the website here.

Atlanta Christkindl Market
Buckhead - FREE!
Select nights, November 22 - December 24, 2024
Atlanta parents and kids get to visit this authentic German marketplace in Buckhead Village all season long. The Atlanta Christkindl Market features holiday items, as well as German food, treats, drinks, and more. Santa will be there for photos! Visit the website here.

Light the Station at Atlantic Station
West Midtown - FREE!
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Atlantic Station's annual tree lighting ceremony is back with a British Invasion theme. Enjoy the fab Parade of Lights beginning at 6:30pm including floats from quintessential gingerbread to posh pink telephone booths to mod fireplace, Royal guard stilt walkers, and more! All concluding with Santa on the Atlantic Station Express! Visit the website here.

Winter Wonderland at Fernbank
Atlanta
November 23, 2024 - January 12, 2025
During the holidays at Fernbank, museum visitors enjoy winter traditions from across the globe. Visit the website here.

Atlanta Christkindl Market - Galleria
NW Atlanta - FREE!
November 29 - December 22, 2024
Atlanta parents and kids get to visit this authentic German marketplace at its second location at Galleria on the Park. The Atlanta Christkindl Market features holiday items, as well as German food, treats, drinks, and more. Santa will be there for photos! Visit the website here.

Atlanta Ballet's The Nutcracker
NW Atlanta
Select days, December 7 - 26, 2024
Atlanta Ballet brings The Nutcracker to life at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Yuri Possokhov's production uses striking costumes, immersive video projections, and bold sets to provide a magical night of this holiday classic. Visit the website here.

Cirque du Soleil's "'Twas the Night Before" at The Fox
Midtown
December 9 - 15, 2024
Cirque du Soleil reimagines a Christmas classic in ‘Twas The Night Before..., a family show perfect for the holiday season! Visit the website here.

Chabad Intown's Menorah Lightings
FREE!
Virginia-Highland - December 25, 2024
Ponce City Market - December 26, 2024
Decatur - December 29, 2024
Atlantic Station - December 30, 2024
Celebrate Hanukkah with Menorah lightings around the city, taking place from December 25 - 30. Visit the website here.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Midtown
Thursday, December 26, 2024
This touring show comes to the Fox Theatre for one night only and features the same traditional Nutcracker story with a hip hop flair. Families will enjoy this vibrant take on the beloved tale through upbeat dance, a DJ, and a violinist. Visit the website here.

Best Holiday and Christmas Events Near Atlanta

Winter Lantern Festival Atlanta
Lawrenceville
Select days, November 8, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Gwinnett County Fairgrounds transforms into a dazzling world of light with over 1,000 Chinese lanterns portraying Chinese myths, legends, and zodiacs; Attendees will be amazed as they traverse through dazzling displays of colorful, festive lights and lanterns, including an animal kingdom, a sea world, and a theme park. Visit the website here.

Stone Mountain Christmas
Stone Mountain
Select days, November 9, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Stone Mountain Park celebrates the magic of Christmas with music, lights, live shows, and visits from familiar holiday-season friends. Visit the website here.

Holiday Art Fair at Spruill Gallery
Dunwoody
November 15 - December 23, 2024
Spruill Gallery hosts its annual Holiday Art Fair, offering unique decor and gifts from local artists. Shoppers can choose from one-of-a-kind items this holiday season. Visit the website here.

Cosmic Sleigh Ride by World of Illumination
Marietta
November 15 - December 29, 2024
Take a trip through a cosmic sleigh ride in this holiday lights extravaganza. World of Illumination welcomes families in their own cars to ride through Six Flags White Water as it is transformed into a land filled with out-of-this-world magic. Visit the website here.

Glow Light Show & Festival
Lawrenceville
November 15 - December 29, 2024
Glow Light Show & Festival is back at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. Glow has three different experiences the whole family can enjoy. Visit the website here.

Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights
Pine Mountain
November 15, 2024 - January 4, 2025
Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights is an annual Christmas lights display that spans the size of two football fields. Visitors can experience it in a car, on a trolley or on foot. Visit the website here.

License to Chill Snow Island at Margaritaville at Lake Lanier Islands
Buford
Select days, November 16, 2024 - February 23, 2025
License to Chill Snow Island is a seasonal amusement park at Lake Lanier Islands that features one of the fastest snow tubing hills in North America. It includes winter-themed carnival rides, an ice skating rink, fire pit with s’mores, and specialty winter drinks and snacks. Visit the website here.

Skate Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs
November 20, 2024- February 20, 2025
The heart of Sandy Springs turns into a winter wonderland once again as Skate City Springs returns to City Green. They even offer free "Skater Helpers," the walker-style props for kids learning to ice skate. Visit the website here.

Noel Magic Light Show at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Hampton
November 22, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Drive through this huge holiday light show at Atlanta Motor Speedway, synchronized to Christmas music for all ages. Visit the website here.

Georgia Festival of Trees
Duluth - New location!
November 23 - December 1, 2024
The Georgia Festival of Trees is back in a new location (Gas South Convention Center in Duluth) and with a special guest - The Pink Pig! Celebrate the holiday season with beautiful trees, live entertainment, children's games and crafts, and of course, Santa! Visit the website here.

Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia
Austell
Select days, November 23, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Starting the weekend before Thanksgiving and going through January 5, 2025, Six Flags Over Georgia gets into the holiday spirit. Families enjoy photos with Santa, hot chocolate, beautiful light displays, and of course, all of the thrilling Six Flags rides. Visit the website here.

The Lighting of Avalon
Alpharetta -FREE!
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Families head to Avalon, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, for a day full of holiday activities. The festival kicks off at 2pm with an ice-skating performance followed by the opening of the rink to the public. Visit the website here.

Lights of LIFE at Life University
Marietta
Select nights, November 28 - December 31, 2024
A drive-through holiday light showcase awaits at Life University. In addition to the magical display, a petting zoo, train rides, and pony rides are available for children. Visit the website here.

Holiday Express at Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
Blue Ridge
Select days, November 29 - December 24, 2024
Families head north to the mountains for this one-hour holiday train ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, featuring the story, The Night Before Christmas. Riders are also treated to holiday music, an activity packet, a candy cane, and a jingle bell. Parents can purchase snacks and hot chocolate while on board. Visit the website here.

The Battery Atlanta Tree Lighting
Northwest Atlanta- FREE!
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Families come to The Battery the Saturday after Thanksgiving for their annual tree lighting ceremony complete with entertainment from The Free. Mark Owens and Atlanta Braves’ mascot BLOOPER will watch the skies to help track Santa as he nears closer to The Battery Atlanta. Visit the website here.

Christmas on the Farm at Southern Belle Farm
McDonough
Select days, November 30 - December 15, 2024
Southern Belle Farms invites families to celebrate Christmas in the country at the farm. Visitors can enjoy the outdoor activities and take free pictures with Santa on the weekends. Visit the website here.

Roswell Winter Puppet Series
Roswell
December 4-6 & 19-21, 2024
Kids love the Roswell Winter Puppet Series because of the funny characters, colorful puppets, and entertaining stories. Visit the website here.

Hanukkah Family Fun Day at the MJCCA
Dunwoody - FREE!
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Everyone is invited to Family Fun Day at the MJCCA for open play in their gyms, iarts and crafts, and games, all in the spirit of Hanukkah. Visit the website here.

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