December 2024: Things to do in Atlanta & Beyond

Read about the best ways to celebrate Christmas in this Atlanta Holiday Guide!

Specific lists available at the bottom of the post:

• Holiday Lights
• Christmas Markets
• Visit Santa
• Holiday Home Tours
• Ice Skating
• New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Events Happening all December

• All Month: Magical Flight to the North Pole at Stone Mountain Park
• All Month: Stone Mountain Christmas
• All Month: Dahlonega‘s Old Fashioned Christmas
• Select Days All Month: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at Center for Puppetry Arts
• Every Weekend: Callanwolde’s Winter House
• Every Thursday, Friday & Saturday: Winter Wonderland Train at the Pine Mountain Gold Museum in Villa Rica – advanced tickets are recommended
• December 1-7: Renaissance Festival Fall Fling – all the fun of Ren Fest without the heat!
• December 1-22: Christkindlmarket Roswell at Bulloch Hall
• December 1-24: Atlanta Christkindl Market in Buckhead Village and Galleria on the Park in Cobb Co
• December 1-29: Festival of Trees at the Southeastern Railway Museum – featuring trains and over 50 decorated trees
• December 6-20: Carriage Rides through downtown Norcross every Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
• December 6 – January 31: Discovering the World of Jesus at Pullman Yards
• Starting December 14: Free admission for College Students to the College Football Hall of Fame – it only applies to the first 400 students of the day so be sure to arrive early and bring your student ID!

Individual December Events

• Sunday, December 1: Helen’s Christmas Market in Helen, Georgia
• Sunday, December 1:  First Free Sunday at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art
• Sunday, December 1: Sunday FUNday at the Michael C. Carlos Museum – free drop-in program for all families and includes admission to the galleries
• Monday, December 2: Town Green Tree Lighting in Avondale Estates
• Wednesday, December 4: Light Up Brookhaven returns in Blackburn Park
• Thursday, December 5: Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa on the Square in Marietta
• Friday, December 6: Roswell’s Annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree
• Friday, December 6: Holiday Celebration at Thrasher Park in downtown Norcross
• Friday, December 6: Snowman Spectacular at the Calhoun Recreation Department
• Saturday, December 7: Atlanta International School’s German Christmas Market
• Saturday, December 7: Historic Norcross Christmas Village in downtown Norcross
• Saturday, December 7: A Day with Santa in downtown Kennesaw
• Saturday, December 7: First Free Saturday: Winter Wonders at Dunwoody Nature Center
• Saturday, December 7: Waffle House Museum – Open House at the original location in Avondale Estates
• Saturday, December 7: Deck the Hall – a festive celebration in downtown Duluth – free visits with Santa
• Saturday, December 7: Pictures with Santa and more at Santa’s Workshop at JJ Biello, the Valley in Woodstock
• Saturday, December 7: Holiday STEM Workshop at Fernbank Science Center 10am-2pm
• Saturday, December 7: Conyers Christmas Parade
• Saturday, December 7: Holiday Spirit at Oakland Cemetery
• Saturday, December 7: North Pole at Tucker – Official Christmas tree lighting, a symbolic Menorah lighting, Santa visits, winter crafts and hot chocolate
• Saturday & Sunday, December 7-8: Helen’s Christmas Market in Helen, Georgia
• Saturday & Sunday, December 7-8: Bank of America’s Museums on Us
  • Atlanta History Center
  • Center for Civil and Human Rights
  • High Museum of Art
  • Tellus Science Museum
• Sunday, December 8: Sparkle Sandy Springs Holiday Celebration including Sparkle Wonderland and parade
• Sunday, December 8: High Museum of Art UPS Second Sunday – free admission and family friendly programming – advanced registration is recommended

• Thursday, December 12: Free Family Thursday at the Booth Western Art Museum
• Thursday, December 12: Christmas Parade of Lights in Calhoun
• Thursday, December 12: Bonfire & Marshmallow Roast – Downtown Decatur Square
• Friday & Saturday, December 13-14: Virginia Highland Winterfest
• Saturday, December 14: All Aboard For Holiday Fun at the Southern Museum in Kennesaw
• Saturday, December 14: Cookies and Cocoa with Santa at the Duluth Festival Center – free professional photo taken with Santa – be sure to arrive early
• Saturday, December 14: SantaCon in downtown Decatur – this event is for adults. Wear holiday themed costumes – there will be a contest!
• Saturday, December 14: Winter Wonders in the Garden at Cator Woolford Gardens at the Frazer Center
• Sunday, December 15: Family Fun Days at the Chattahoochee Nature Center: Enchanted Woodland Wonders – purchase tickets in advance

• Saturday, December 21: Pop-in for Family Fun: Holiday Crafts at the Marietta History Museum
• Saturday, December 21: Coca‑Cola Holiday Caravan at Pemberton Place – visit with Santa and more!
• Saturday, December 21: Krog’s Cozy Christmas in the Krog District
• Saturday, December 21: Screen on the Square: The Grinch in downtown Decatur
• Sunday, December 29: Menorah Lighting on the Decatur Square
• Monday, December 30: Downtown Roswell Chanukah Celebration – Menorah Lighting – free

Holiday Lights

• December 12-14 & 19-21: Lawrenceville Lights at the campground of Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church – free drive thru
• All Month: Holiday Lights: Arctic Safari at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody – free
• All Month: Illuminights Chinese Lantern Festival at Zoo Atlanta – purchase tickets at the gate or in advance
• All Month: The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights, Holiday Nights – purchase tickets in advance
• All Month: Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA
• All Month: Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City in Lookout Mountain, GA
• All Month: Magic of Lights Drive-Through Holiday Lights Spectacular at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock – drive thru
• All Month: Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Jim R Miller Park in Cobb county
• All Month: Holiday Lights of Canton at Cherokee Veterans Park – drive thru
• All Month: Holiday Lights of Ellijay – drive thru
• All Month: Holiday Lights of Rome at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds – drive thru
• All Month: Holiday Lights of Woodstock at Hobgood Park – walk thru
• All Month: Lights of Life at Life University in Marietta – drive thru
• All Month: Margaritaville’s Lakeside Lights Spectacular at Lake Lanier
• Select Nights this Month: Wildwoods AGLOW at Fernbank Museum

Christmas Markets

• December 1-22: Christkindlmarket Roswell at Bulloch Hall
• December 1-24: Atlanta Christkindl Market in Buckhead Village and Galleria on the Park in Cobb Co
• Sunday, December 1: Helen’s Christmas Market in Helen, Georgia
• Thursday, December 5: Tree Lighting in Downtown Decatur on the Square
• Saturday, December 7: SWEA Atlanta’s Traditional Swedish Christmas Market at the Dorothy Benson Center in Sandy Springs
• Saturday, December 7: Atlanta International School’s German Christmas Market
• Saturday, December 7: Newnan Market Day on Main Street
• Saturday, December 7: Chattahoochee Nature Center Holiday Market – admission is free to the center, but you will need to make a reservation
• Saturday, December 7: Holiday Spirit at Oakland Cemetery – Holiday Gift Market and wreath sale
• Saturday & Sunday, December 7-8: Helen’s Christmas Market in Helen, Georgia
• Sunday, December 8: Sparkle Village & Gift Market in Sandy Springs
• Sunday, December 8: Artist & Artisan Bazaar: A Taste of Christmas in the Arab World with the Alif Institute
• Friday & Saturday, December 13-14: Virginia Highland Winterfest
• Saturday, December 14: Krog Holiday Market in the Krog District

Visit Santa!

• All Month: Letters to Santa in Decatur – special mailboxes that send your child’s letter straight to the North Pole are available in Decatur – be sure to have your children include a return address in case Santa needs to write back!
  • Decatur Visitors Center, 113 Clairemont Ave
  • Kelly’s Market, 308 E. Howard Ave
  • Oakhurst Market, 650 East Lake Dr
• All Month: Santa’s Post Office at the Battery in the Truist Holiday Community Center – children should bring handwritten letters to Santa and Santa will be available for photos and to hear children’s’ lists in person!
• Every Saturday in before Christmas: Saturdays with Santa at Ponce City Market – take a selfie or the elf will be happy to take a photo with your phone
• Every Weekend until December 15: Santa at Rhodes Hall – make reservations in advance
• Every Thursday, Friday & Saturday until December 21: Santa at the Pine Mountain Gold Museum’s Winter Wonderland – free visit with Santa. 6-8pm; Join the line before 7:30pm
• Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday until December 22: Photos with Santa at the Christkindlmarket Roswell – no reservations required 4-7pm
• Multiple Dates: Santa Photographs at Callanwolde’s Winter House including Sensory Santa – reserve tickets in advance
• Wednesday, December 4: Light Up Brookhaven returns in Blackburn Park – Santa will be there with 2 live reindeer
• Thursday, December 5: Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa on the Square in Marietta
• Friday, December 6: Santa of Senoia rides into town with Peachtree City fire Rescue! Free event. Bring an unwrapped toy to donate
• Saturday, December 7: Holiday Spirit at Oakland Cemetery – free photos with Santa
• Saturday, December 7: Historic Norcross Christmas Village in downtown Norcross including visits with Santa
• Saturday, December 7: A Day with Santa in downtown Kennesaw
• Saturday, December 7: Deck the Hall – a festive celebration in downtown Duluth – free visits with Santa
• Saturday, December 7: North Pole at Tucker – Santa visits, winter crafts and hot chocolate
• December 11-20: Photos with Santa at the 45 South Café in Norcross every Wednesday & Friday
• Saturday, December 14: Winter Wonders in the Garden at Cator Woolford Gardens at the Frazer Center – free photos with Santa
• Saturday, December 14: Cookies and Cocoa with Santa at the Duluth Festival Center – free professional photo taken with Santa – be sure to arrive early
• Saturday, December 14: Santa on the Square in Roswell – free
• Saturday, December 21: Coca‑Cola Holiday Caravan at Pemberton Place – visit with Santa and more!
• Sunday, December 22: Santa on the Square in Roswell – free

Holiday Home Tours

• Thursday, December 5: Peachtree Garden Club Christmas Home Tour
• Friday, December 6: Newnan Christmas Tour of Homes
• Friday, December 6: Mimosa Hall Holiday Open House in Roswell
• December 6-8: Marietta Pilgrimage – Christmas Home Tour
• Saturday & Sunday, December 14-15: Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes
• Sunday, December 15: Avondale Estates Tour of Homes & Holiday Market
• Every Weekend until December 15: Christmas Traditions Tour at Jarrell Plantation Historic Site, Juliette, GA
• Select Days: Christmas Tours at the Tate House in Tate, GA

Ice Skating

• Rink on the River at the Mill on Etowah is open through January 20
• Atlantic Station’s Skate the Station is available through January 20
• The Rink at Park Tavern runs through February 17
• Avalon on Ice runs through January 20
• Skate City Springs in Sandy Springs runs through January 20
• Ice Skating in Olde Town Conyers is open through February 9
• Ice Rink at Sugar Hill is open through February 18 – check the calendar for specific dates
• Rudolph’s Rink at Brookhaven Park is be open December 7 – January 5

New Year’s Eve Celebrations

• December 31: Atlanta’s New Year’s Eve Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta with performances by Big Boi and the Neon Trees
• December 31: Noon Year’s Eve Celebration on the Roof at Ponce City Market – purchase tickets in advance
• December 31: New Year’s Eve Bash at the Battery – a family-friendly early countdown AND a late-night celebration to ring in the new year
• December 31: Kids’ Early New Year’s Eve Celebration at Stone Mountain Park
• December 31: Zoo Year’s Eve at Zoo Atlanta
• December 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration in Helen, Georgia
• December 31: Last Day Hikes and New Year’s Eve Hikes with Georgia State Parks
• December 31: Noon Year’s Eve at the Lego Discovery Center
• December 31: New Year’s Bubble Bash at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta – purchase tickets in advance

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

Coming up in January

• January 1: First Day Hikes with Georgia State Parks