January 2026: Things to do in Atlanta & Beyond

Are you looking for things to do this weekend in Atlanta? Check out the list of things to do in January in Atlanta & Beyond below. Enjoy a First Day Hike with Georgia State Parks. Take advantage of free museum days to stay warm inside on a chilly day. Or enjoy the outdoors at an ice skating rink! Find a volunteer opportunity for Martin Luther King Jr’s Day of Service or celebrate his life and legacy at an honorific event.

• January Events
• New Year Events
• Holiday Light Shows – It’s not too late!
• Ice Skating
• MLK Jr. Day – Observances and Days of Service

January Events

• All Month: The Georgia Aquarium is offering the Aqua Pass, where you can pay for a single visit and come back for the rest of 2026 – black out dates apply
• Friday, January 2: Rick Hubbard’s Great American Kids Show on the Town Green in Duluth
• Saturday, January 3: Free First Saturday at the Dunwoody Nature Center – Paws, Claws & Tracks
• Saturday, January 3: Sketchbook Saturday at the Worlds of Puppetry Museum at the Center for Puppetry Arts
• Saturday & Sunday, January 3-4: Bank of America’s Museums on Us
  • Atlanta History Center
  • Center for Civil and Human Rights
  • High Museum of Art
• Sunday, January 4: First Free Sunday at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art
• Sunday, January 4: Frosty Finale in downtown Duluth
• Thursday, January 8: Free Family Thursday at the Booth Western Art Museum
• Friday, January 9: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl FanFest at the Georgia World Congress Center with activities and pep rallies – free for all fans
• Friday, January 9: Castleberry Hill Art Stroll from 7-11pm. Visit the neighborhood Instagram account for the most up to date information
• Saturday & Sunday January 10-11: Educator Weekend at the Booth Western Art Museum – free admission for educators
• Sunday, January 11: High Museum of Art UPS Second Sunday – free admission and family friendly programming – advanced registration is recommended

• Saturday, January 17: MLK Day 2026 at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights – free admission – reserve tickets in advance
• Saturday, January 17: Pop-in for Free Family Fun at the Marietta History Museum. This month’s theme is Board Games & Puzzles
• Saturday, January 17: Roswell’s History Seek Saturday: Colonial Georgia and Roswell’s Founding Families – Barrington Hall – free
• Monday, January 19: Free Admission at the Atlanta History Center – free with advanced RSVP (online)
• Monday, January 19: Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. – free admission to all National Park Service sites
• Wednesday, January 21: Access for All at the High Museum of Art – free admission – register in advance
• Saturday, January 24: Trains, Trains, Trains! at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw
• Saturday & Sunday, January 31-February 1: Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival – free admission during the day to the public
• Saturday & Sunday, January 31-February 1: Camellia Show at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

New Year Events

• First Day Hikes at Georgia State Parks
  • Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Newnan
  • Fort Yargo State Park in Winder
  • Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge
  • Jarrell Plantation Historic Site in Juliette
  • Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs
  • Red Top Mountain State Park in Acworth

It is not too late for Holiday Light Shows

• January 1-4: The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Gainesville Glows: Lanterns & Lights – purchase tickets in advance (Gainesville)
• January 1-4: Glow Light Show at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville – purchase tickets online
• January 1-4: Candy Rush by the World of Illumination at Six Flags Whitewater in Marietta, GA
• January 1-4: Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA
• January 1-4: Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City in Lookout Mountain, GA
• January 1-4: Noel Magic Lights at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, GA
• January 1-4: Magic of Lights Drive-Through Holiday Lights Spectacular at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock – drive thru
• January 1-11: The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights, Holiday Nights – purchase tickets in advance (Piedmont Park)
• January 1-18: Illuminights Chinese Lantern Festival at Zoo Atlanta – purchase tickets at the gate or in advance
• Select Nights this Month: Wildwoods AGLOW at Fernbank Museum

Ice Skating

• Skate the Sky at Ponce City Market runs through February 15
• Rink on the River at the Mill on Etowah is open through January 20
• Atlantic Station’s Skate the Station is available through January 19
• The Rink at Park Tavern runs through February 16
• Avalon on Ice runs through January 19
• Skate City Springs in Sandy Springs runs through January 19
• Ice Skating in Covington is open through February 17
• Ice Rink at Sugar Hill is open through February 22 – check the calendar for specific dates
• Adair Park Ice Rink in Woodstock is open through January 19
• Rudolph’s Rink at Brookhaven Park opens December 20

MLK Jr. Day

MLK Jr. Day of Service

• Volunteer with Hands on Atlanta for their MLK Day 2026
• Trees Atlanta MLK Service Project
• Volunteer with the City of Dunwoody for their MLK Jr. Day of Service
• Join the City of Tucker and at Kelley Cofer Park for their MLK Day of Service
• The Acworth MLK Celebration and Day of Service
• Keep Panola Mountain State Park beautiful at its MLK Day of Service – parking fee waived for all volunteers

MLK Jr. Day Observances

• January 12-19: King Holiday Observance at The King Center
• Saturday, January 17: Free admission for MLK Day 2026 at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights – reserve tickets online in advance
• Saturday-Monday, January 17-19: Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta
• Monday, January 19: Free Admission at the Atlanta History Center – free with advanced RSVP (online)
• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is free everyday
• Monday, January 19: Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. – free admission to all National Park Service sites
• Monday, January 19: Palefsky Collision Project: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – free admission to the Alliance Theatre with advanced registration
• Monday, January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr.: Life & Legacy at City Springs in Sandy Springs – family-friendly event including an animated children’s educational film and children’s activities
• Monday, January 19: United Ebony Society Annual MLK Parade in Lawrenceville
• Monday, January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade at Stonecrest
• January 19-31: King Week – Morehouse College MLK Jr. Commemoration – events honoring the enduring lagacy of Dr. King, Morehouse’s most iconic alumnus. All events are free and open to the public – visit the website for the full schedule

Celebrating a Birthday this Month?

Georgia residents get free admission to the Georgia Aquarium on your birthday! Bring your Georgia ID or a copy of a child’s birth certificate

Upcoming February Events

• All February: Festival of Camellias at Massee Lane Gardens, Fort Valley – visit this garden dedicated to the winter rose and enjoy the pink fountain to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Special events on Saturday, February 7 – see the website for all programming
• Sunday, February 8: The Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday – many Georgia State Historic Sites are participating and some events may require advanced registration
• Saturday, February 28: LANTA GRAS Parade & Festival in Kirkwood

Are you planning on visiting one of these events? Do you have any events to add? Let me know in the comments!

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