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Families walk through Margaritaville at Lake Lanier's spectacular light show with festive seasonal music. Photo courtesy of Margaritaville
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11/29/24 - By Elsa Simcik

Christmas lights, Hanukkah celebrations, and holiday activities are in full effect for December, and that's just the beginning of things to do in Atlanta this month! 

December in Atlanta starts with Christmas tree lightings all over town, including those in Sandy Springs, Woodstock, and Brookhaven (where Santa enters on a helicopter)! As December continues, Atlanta families get into the holiday spirit with Nutcracker Ballet and Holiday Shows as well as Dazzling Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows. December 25th brings Christmas Day AND the first night of Hanukkah! Families celebrate with lots of events, including Chabad Intown's menorah lightings. After all those holiday gifts are ripped open, families can ring in 2025 with fun, daytime events like the New Year's Eve Bubble Bash at Children's Museum of Atlanta. 

Forget the holiday drama, mama — sign up for our newsletters to make your December run smoothly. 

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Top Things To Do in Atlanta with Kids this December

Ten Days of Holiday Happenings in the DTL

Lawrenceville - FREE!
November 27 - December 6, 2025
Lawrenceville hosts ten fun-filled days to ring in the holidays. Each day offers a different event starting with The Lighting of the Great Tree on the lawn of the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on Thursday, November 27.  READ MORE

Cirque du Soleil LUZIA

West Midtown
Select dates through January 25, 2026
LUZIA chronicles the encounters of a parachuted traveler with the culture, nature and mythology of a dreamlike land inhabited by a mystifying menagerie of characters.  READ MORE

Holiday Express at Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Blue Ridge
Select dates through December 28, 2025
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. READ MORE

Atlanta Christkindl Market in Lawrenceville

Lawrenceville - FREE!
Select dates through December 24, 2025
New location! Atlanta parents and kids get to visit this authentic German marketplace in Lawrenceville 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!  READ MORE

A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre

Downtown
Select dates through December 24, 2025
This year's production of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol returns to Alliance Theatre's Coca-Cola Stage.  READ MORE

Candy Rush Light Show by World of Illumination

Marietta
Select dates through January 4, 2026
Take a trip through sugar plum fairies, a gigantic gingerbread village and sweets as far as the eye can see. Candy Rush is the world’s largest animated drive-through audio-visual experience, highlighting larger-than-life Christmas characters and confections. READ MORE

Glow Light Show

Lawrenceville
Select dates through January 4, 2026
Glow Light Show returns this holiday season at Coolray Field beginning Nov. 14 and running through Jan. 4. Don’t miss the Atlanta area’s most popular, budget-friendly light show the whole family can enjoy!  READ MORE

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Puppet Show

Midtown
Select dates through December 28, 2025
Children delight in seeing this classic tale played out in puppet form at the Center for Puppetry Arts this holiday season.  READ MORE

Holiday Bricktacular at LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta

Buckhead
December 4 - 24, 2025
For most of December, enjoy Holiday Bricktacular at LEGO Discovery Center. Holiday activities include special LEGO snowflake, meet-and-greet with LEGO gingerbread man, MINILAND Atlanta transformed into a festive holiday landsape, and much more!   READ MORE

Noel Magic Light Show at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Hampton
Through January 4, 2026
Drive through this huge holiday light show at Atlanta Motor Speedway, synchronized to Christmas music for all ages. READ MORE

Stone Mountain Christmas

Stone Mountain
Select dates through January 4, 2026
Stone Mountain Park celebrates the magic of Christmas with music, lights, live shows, and visits from familiar holiday-season friends.  READ MORE

Magical Nights of Lights at Lanier Islands

Buford
Select dates through January 4, 2026
Load up the family and head to Lanier Islands for a dazzling six-mile drive through festive holiday lights. Afterwards, stop at Game Changer to purchase food and beverages, enjoy games, and sit by the outdoor firepits.    READ MORE

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden

Midtown
Select nights through January 11, 2026
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.  READ MORE

Skate the Station at Atlantic Station

Midtown
Through January 19, 2026
Atlantic Station welcomes families to skate under the stars at Skate the Station. Open everyday, even on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  READ MORE

High Street Skate

Dunwoody
Through January 19, 2026
From Nov. 23 through Jan. 19, get ready to glide into the holidays at High Street Skate. The brand-new ice rink will take over The Green at the center of the mixed-use community.  READ MORE

Light Up Brookhaven

Brookhaven - FREE!
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
This festive holiday event is back with bouncy houses, a petting zoo, reindeer, face painting, and of course, Santa!  READ MORE

The North Pole Fa-La-La-La Follies

Roswell
December 3 - 5, 2025
Get ready to sleigh the holidays with this laugh-out-loud show for the whole family! Join the zany residents of the North Pole as they take the stage for their annual talent show—where anything can happen and probably will!  READ MORE

2024 SEC Football Championship

Downtown
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Get your final football fix of the season by getting tickets to attend the always fantastic SEC Championship game, back in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. READ MORE

Sparkle Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs - FREE!
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Visitors to Sandy Springs City Springs on Sunday, December 8, enjoy a parade and a beautiful display of lit, miniature homes (around all month long). Following the parade, families are treated to both menorah and tree lightings.  READ MORE

Halcyon Holiday Magic

Alpharetta
Saturday, December 7, 2024
A ticket to Halcyon Holiday Magic allows your child photo ops with Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Elsa and Anna from Frozen, the Grinch, and of course, Santa! The fun-filled event includes crafts, face painting, and musical entertainment. READ MORE

Atlanta Ballet's The Nutcracker

Northwest Atlanta
Select dates, 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. READ MORE

Winter Fest at Atlanta History Center

Buckhead
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Get into the holiday spirit with a festive day of fun, memory-making, and wonder at Atlanta History Center! The campus transforms into a winter celebration featuring seasonal activities for all ages. READ MORE

Woodstock Christmas Jubilee and Parade

Woodstock - FREE!
Sunday, December 8, 2024 Free
The City of Woodstock kicks off the holiday season with their Christmas Jubilee & Parade of Lights. The parade starts at Woodstock Elementary School on Rope Mill Rd. and travels down Main St. to Sam’s Club at Highway 92. After the parade, folks walk over to The Park at City Center to visit with Santa, see the tree lighting, enjoy kids' activities, decorate cupcakes, and more.  READ MORE

Virginia Highland Winterfest

Virginia Highland - FREE!
December 13 & 14, 2024
Winterfest in Va-Hi kicks off with a ticketed Tour of Lights on Friday night. Families stroll around the historic neighborhood and receive beverages and treats at participating homes. On Saturday morning Winterfest starts with a Jingle Jog followed by a parade and a huge holiday market. READ MORE

Snow Day at Alpharetta City Center

Alpharetta - FREE!
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Families descend on the Town Green to experience a winter wonderland  with snow flurries plus family-friendly activities, a photo booth, and holiday-themed treats.  READ MORE

Family Fun Day at the MJCCA

Dunwoody - FREE!
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Everyone is invited to Family Fun Day at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) for a winter-themed celebration featuring crafts, activities, and games.   READ MORE

Chabad Intown's Menorah Lightings

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 14 - 21.  READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Avalon - SOLD OUT

Alpharetta
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Celebrate NYE early at the Hotel at Avalon with a DJ, crafts and face painting. The event concludes with a giant balloon drop!  READ MORE

New Year's Bubble Bash

Downtown
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Kids and parents can party into 2025 during the day at the Children's Museum of Atlanta. Visitors enjoy dancing, games, a DJ, and crafts (party hats and noisemakers!). Kids also make their own bubbles to ring in the new year!  READ MORE

New Year's Eve Bash at The Battery

NW Atlanta - FREE!
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
The Battery hosts a New Year's Eve celebration that has something for everyone. The Early Innings party, geared towards families, starts at 6pm and wraps up at 8pm with an inflatable baseball drop.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Margaritaville at Lanier Islands
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Intersection of Virginia Ave & North Highland

About the Author

Elsa Simcik
Elsa Simcik has been freelance writing for 20-something years, covering a hodgepodge of fields--health & fitness, human interest stories, and even dating. After becoming a mom she segued into writing for local magazines and websites, focusing on parenting, fun things to do with kids, and travel. The travel part is fun, but not as glamorous as it sounds, because it's traveling with kids. Still, she'll take it.
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