Christmas in Atlanta 2026: Best Events, Shows & Local Traditions

Atlanta rarely gets a snow-globe Christmas, but the city has its own way of making December feel magical. Neighborhood streets glow with holiday lights, historic homes dress for the season, and town squares become gathering places filled with music, laughter and familiar traditions.

There's something especially inviting about Atlanta this time of year. Cool Southern evenings, lively neighborhoods and a thriving arts scene bring a little extra energy to the city. It's a season for revisiting favorite traditions, discovering new ones and experiencing the places that make Atlanta feel like home.

Big Christmas outings for the whole family

Stone Mountain Christmas

This is the full-scale holiday outing: more than two million lights, live entertainment, a parade, and attractions that can keep a family busy for hours. The moments children tend to talk about afterward are unusually Atlanta-sized: Santa’s Big Flight during the tree lighting and a nighttime drone-and-light show set to holiday music, with fireworks at the end. The usual evening rhythm is the parade at 6 p.m., Santa’s flight at 6:30 and the drone show at 8:20. Check your date’s schedule before you go: attraction hours change, and wind can delay or cancel the outdoor shows.

Select dates Nov. 7-Jan. 3 · Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain · Ticketed; attraction hours and ticket options vary by date · Schedule and tickets

Georgia Aquarium: WinterTide

WinterTide gives the Aquarium’s blue-lit galleries a very different holiday soundtrack. In the atrium, a 40-foot tree lights up each morning; elsewhere, seasonal dolphin and sea lion presentations share the day with the animals visitors came to see. Beginning November 21, Santa’s North Pole Village adds giant games and hands-on activities, while Scuba Claus makes an appearance among the whale sharks and manta rays in the Ocean Voyager habitat. It’s an especially good way to combine a familiar Atlanta attraction with a Christmas experience, without buying a second event ticket. WinterTide is included with general admission, though Santa portraits and special experiences, including breakfast with Santa on select dates, are extra.

Nov. 13-Jan. 3 · Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta · Included with general admission; Santa photos extra · WinterTide details and schedule

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center: JOIE, an Immersive Holiday Adventure

The historic Callanwolde estate becomes a theatrical world rather than a conventional light display. JOIE combines an outdoor forest of illuminated installations, snow effects, fire performers and character encounters with live music, dance and puppetry in the mansion experience. It is one of the most unusual new entries on Atlanta’s Christmas calendar, especially for families who like performance they can move through instead of simply watch. Check ticket levels carefully: grounds-only access is different from the mansion packages, parking is off-site with a shuttle, and organizers recommend allowing at least two to three hours depending on the ticket.

Dec. 5–Jan. 3 · Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta · Timed, tiered tickets; grounds-only and mansion packages differ · Experience details and tickets

Atlanta Botanical Garden: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

There is a reason the Botanical Garden feels different after dark in December: the paths, trees and sculptures become part of the artwork. This year brings expanded installations along Flower Walk, the return of the enormous mosaiculture dragon in Skyline Garden, and fresh choreography for Nature’s Wonders, the curtain of light that changes with the music. The experience unfolds on foot, with time to stop at the displays rather than follow a show from a fixed seat. Come for the artistry as much as the Christmas photographs; it’s a good choice for families who enjoy exploring at their own pace. Entry is timed, with late-night tickets available after 9:30 p.m.

Nov. 14-Jan. 10 · Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta · Timed tickets; prices vary · Official event details and tickets

Zoo Atlanta: IllumiNights at the Zoo

After dark, the zoo’s paths turn into a mile-long trail of glowing animal lanterns, some towering overhead. Cocoa, fire pits for marshmallow roasting and the Endangered Species Carousel give families reasons to slow down between displays. It’s a good pick for children who love animals and lights, with one useful expectation to set: the lanterns are the nighttime attraction; most live animals go inside before dark. The event is separately ticketed from daytime zoo admission, and the zoo recommends buying ahead because capacity is limited.

Select nights Nov. 21-Jan. 17 · Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta · Separate ticket required; last entry 8 p.m. · Dates, hours and tickets

Atlanta History Center: Winter Fest

Atlanta’s Christmas past and present share a campus at Winter Fest. Children can listen to Tinsel Tales, make crafts and meet Santa, while the historic demonstrations show how earlier generations celebrated with cooking and handmade ornaments. There’s a Jingle Parade led by Santa at 12:30 p.m., carolers moving through the grounds, and a chance to see the retired Pink Pig figures remembered by generations of Atlanta shoppers. Even the gardens join in, with a winter scavenger hunt and a look at camellias in bloom. This is a daytime outing rather than an evening lights attraction, with plenty to interest grandparents as well as younger children. Some Santa photo sessions require separate reservations and may sell out.

Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. · Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta · Included with admission; free for members · Winter Fest schedule and admission

Fernbank Museum: Winter Wonderland

A Christmas tree can tell a surprisingly rich story at Fernbank. Dozens of trees and displays are decorated in collaboration with local cultural partners, using ornaments, craft and symbolism to explore how communities around the world mark Christmas and other winter holidays. Rather than treating every tradition as interchangeable, the exhibition invites a closer look at what the decorations mean and where they come from. It’s a quieter, more curious kind of holiday visit, particularly for children who like asking questions and spotting small details. The display is indoors and included with regular museum admission, so you can combine it with Fernbank’s other exhibits. Selected evening programs offer another way to see the trees.

Nov. 21–Jan. 10 · Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta · Included with museum admission; free for members · Exhibit details

Georgia Festival of Trees

Walk into the Gas South Convention Center and the Christmas trees are the main attraction: dozens of elaborately decorated displays give the hall the feel of a holiday forest. But the appeal goes beyond looking. Families can decorate sugar cookies, browse boutique gift shops, catch live entertainment and move between children’s activities without leaving the building. It’s the kind of outing where younger kids have something to do while adults linger over the decorations and gift stalls. There’s also a charitable purpose: the festival is operated by Unto the Least of These and benefits its partner Street Grace, which works to combat sexual exploitation. Allow time for the drive to Duluth, and check the selected open dates rather than assuming the festival runs every day.

Nov. 21–24 and 27–29 · Gas South Convention Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Duluth · Ticket prices and daily hours vary · Festival details and tickets

Christmas shows kids will remember

Center for Puppetry Arts: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Festive Features

The familiar stop-motion faces from the 1964 television special become something entirely different when puppeteers bring them to life onstage. Rudolph and Hermey are still the outsiders trying to find a place to belong, with Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster adding just enough peril to the adventure. The 60-minute production is short enough for many first-time theatergoers, but the visit doesn’t have to end when the curtain falls. A performance ticket also includes the museum and a Create-A-Puppet workshop, where children can make a Bumble-inspired hand puppet. In the galleries, the Festive Features scavenger hunt brings in characters from Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, Lamb Chop’s Special Chanukah and other holiday favorites. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Nov. 11-Dec. 27 · Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta · Rudolph from $22; ages 4+; museum included · Show dates and tickets · Festive Features

Cirque du Soleil: ’Twas the Night Before…

Cirque du Soleil turns “A Visit from St. Nicholas” into a story about a girl rediscovering the wonder of Christmas, then sends it airborne with acrobatics and theatrical spectacle. The show gives families the visual scale of a big production without asking younger audience members to sit through a long evening: it runs 85 minutes with no intermission and is listed for all ages. It is the pick for children who would rather be astonished by what performers can do than sit through another retelling of a familiar Christmas tale.

Dec. 2-13 · Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta · 85 minutes, no intermission; all ages · Atlanta dates and tickets

Atlanta Ballet: The Nutcracker

Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker is the evening to dress up for. In Yuri Possokhov’s production, snowflakes, flowers and luminous spinning stars fill the stage as the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s score live. The combination of dancing and elaborate scenic design makes this more than a familiar Christmas story. It is a chance to see how an entire ballet company builds a world out of music and movement. The running time is just over two hours including intermission, so a matinee can be easier for younger children than a late show.

Dec. 5-26 · Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta · 2 hours, 8 minutes including intermission · Dates and tickets

Atlanta Symphony Hall: A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage

Charlie Brown’s little Christmas tree has always been the heart of the story, and seeing it onstage gives the familiar television special a fresh kind of charm. This touring production brings Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang together as they try to stage their own Christmas play. Just as important is the music: Vince Guaraldi’s jazz score has a warmth and unmistakable rhythm that immediately takes adults back to the original special. Unlike the orchestra’s film-in-concert events, this is a theatrical adaptation with live performers and characters. It comes to Symphony Hall for one Atlanta date, December 9, so it’s worth booking ahead if it’s a family favorite.

Dec. 9 · Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta · Ticketed; one-day engagement · Performance information

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Elf in Concert

Buddy the Elf’s trip from the North Pole to New York plays out on a 40-foot screen, but this time John Debney’s film score is performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jacob Joyce. The full film is shown, so the jokes, syrup and increasingly improbable New York adventures are all there; what changes is the sound around them. With the musicians visible in the hall, it’s easier to notice how the score makes Buddy’s wide-eyed optimism feel bigger than the screen. It’s an inviting introduction to live orchestral music for children who would never ask to attend a symphony concert. There’s a Saturday evening performance and a Sunday afternoon option.

Nov. 28-29 · Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta · Showtimes and tickets

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Family Concert: Winter Wonderland

This is a concert designed for children to participate in, not simply sit through. Atlanta comedy theater Dad’s Garage and dancers from Dance Canvas join the orchestra for an afternoon that moves between Sleigh Ride, music from The Polar Express and The Nutcracker, and a holiday sing-along. The mix of performers gives younger listeners something to follow beyond the instruments, while the music introduces the sound and scale of a full orchestra. Arrive early: the pre-concert activities include an Instrument Exploration Station, art-making and a photo booth, making the outing feel like a mini festival. The program is aimed especially at children under 12, with two afternoon performances to choose from.

Dec. 6, 1:30 and 3 p.m. · Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta · Concert details and tickets

Alliance Theatre: A Christmas Carol

Scrooge’s London is built anew on the Alliance Theatre’s Coca-Cola Stage, where three spirits take him through the memories, losses and possibilities that finally change his heart. David H. Bell’s adaptation uses live music and an elaborate theatrical setting to make a story many people know by heart feel alive in the room. The pleasure is not finding out how it ends; it’s watching a whole cast create Dickens’s world around him, from the unease of the ghostly visits to the warmth of Christmas morning. At approximately two hours with an intermission, this is a full theater outing rather than a quick children’s show. Check the performance calendar for sensory-friendly and other accessible options.

Nov. 14-Dec. 27 · Coca-Cola Stage, Alliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta · About 2 hours including intermission · Performances, access details and tickets

Neighborhood celebrations, Christmas markets and a special Santa visit

Piedmont Park: Lantern Parade and Lighting Celebration

Piedmont Park’s November lantern parade is one of the rare holiday events where the crowd becomes part of the show. Homemade lanterns move from Greystone around Lake Clara Meer to the Meadow, accompanied by the Seed & Feed Marching Abominable and giant lantern puppets from Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons. At the end, everyone gathers for the lighting of the park’s Great Tree, menorah and kinara; the evening continues with a family film and cocoa at Park Tavern. It’s free, lively and recognizably a neighborhood celebration rather than a commercial attraction. The on-site lantern-making party is already fully booked, but you can bring your own lantern or join the parade without one.

Nov. 22 · Parade and lighting begin at 5 p.m.; lantern workshop registration closed · Piedmont Park, 1071 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta · Free · Event schedule and getting there

Historic Oakland Cemetery: Holiday Spirit

Oakland’s Victorian-era grounds make an unexpectedly lovely backdrop for Christmas. Across two evenings, families can browse handmade gifts, hear live holiday music, warm up with cocoa and find Santa, crafts and even snow for the kids. Friday brings a community tree lighting; for a more atmospheric outing, separately ticketed candlelit tours lead through decorated historic mausoleums as costumed guides tell stories of the people buried there. The main celebration is free, which makes it an appealing alternative to another expensive attraction.

Dec. 4–5, 5–9 p.m. · Historic Oakland Cemetery, 374 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE, Atlanta · Free celebration; candlelit tours extra ($20 nonmembers) · Holiday Spirit details

Virginia-Highland Winterfest

This is the sort of Christmas weekend that feels like it belongs to its neighborhood. Bells jingle along the 5K course, local makers fill the gift market, and children can head to the Kids Corner for crafts, face painting and bounce houses. A holiday parade adds to the street-festival mood, while the separate Tour of Homes opens doors to some of Virginia-Highland’s decorated houses. The market and children’s activities are free; the run and home tour are separate, so families can drop in without committing to the whole weekend.

Dec. 12–13; market and Kids Corner Saturday, Dec. 12 · Virginia-Highland, Atlanta · Free festival activities; 5K and Tour of Homes ticketed · Winterfest schedule

Atlanta Christkindl Market in Lawrenceville

The scent of food from the stalls and the search for a handmade ornament are part of the appeal of a traditional German Christmas market. At Lawrenceville Lawn, families can wander between artisan vendors, try seasonal German food and turn holiday shopping into an outing rather than an errand. Admission and parking are free, though you will pay for food and gifts. Despite the name, the market is in Lawrenceville, not Buckhead or downtown Atlanta, so it makes sense to plan the drive and explore downtown Lawrenceville while you are there.

Nov. 20–Dec. 24 · Lawrenceville Lawn, 210 Luckie St., Lawrenceville · Free admission and parking; purchases extra · Market locations and details

Rhodes Hall: Santa in the Castle on Peachtree

Santa visits do not get much more Atlanta than this: a personal appointment inside Rhodes Hall, the stone mansion known as the Castle on Peachtree. The setting gives holiday portraits a sense of occasion without the queues and bustle of a mall, and each reservation includes a custom 5-by-7-inch portrait. It is best for families who want a lasting Santa photo rather than an afternoon of activities. Times are reserved in advance, and the additional camera-use fee is worth checking before you arrive.

Weekends Nov. 21–Dec. 13 · Rhodes Hall, 1516 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta · $60 per reservation including a portrait; personal cameras $20 extra · Reserve a Santa visit

Holiday music and Christmas stories with a local voice

Georgia State School of Music: 29th Annual Holiday Gala

The appeal of the Holiday Gala is the talent already growing in Atlanta. Georgia State students and faculty take the stage at the Rialto for a concert that has brought the School of Music and the downtown community together for nearly three decades. Unlike a touring Christmas production built around familiar stars, the pleasure here is hearing young musicians alongside their teachers, sharing seasonal music in a theater with its own long cultural history. It’s also one of the more accessible concert tickets in this guide, with seats listed from $17 to $36. For families with older children who play an instrument or sing, the performance offers a particularly tangible look at where musical training can lead.

Dec. 6, 3 p.m. · Rialto Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth St. NW, Atlanta · Tickets $17–$36; supports student scholarships · Program and tickets

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Christmas with the ASO

When the Morehouse College Glee Club and Spivey Hall Children’s Choir join the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and ASO Chorus, the sound becomes much bigger than a typical Christmas concert. This program, created by legendary conductor Robert Shaw, tells the Christmas story through hymns, carols and choral music, with moments when the audience can sing along. There’s a sense of Atlanta in the combination of ensembles: established orchestral musicians, collegiate voices and young singers sharing the same stage. Director of Choruses Norman Mackenzie leads the performances, which have become a seasonal tradition of their own. Choose this for the impact of massed voices and live music rather than a theatrical plot or a children’s activity schedule.

Dec. 10-13 · Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta · Performance times and tickets

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Sounds of the Season

Two days before Christmas, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra offers a holiday concert that refuses to stay in one musical lane. Selections from The Nutcracker sit alongside “White Christmas,” “Let It Snow,” George Michael’s “Last Christmas” and Lucas Richman’s Hanukkah Festival Overture. There is also Auld Lang Syne and a carol sing-along led by tenor Timothy Miller, with assistant conductor Finan Jones on the podium. The variety is the attraction: familiar songs get a full orchestral sound, while classical pieces offer a change of pace without turning the evening into a formal recital. It’s a lively final-week outing for relatives whose holiday playlists have very little in common.

Dec. 23, 7 p.m. · Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta · Program and tickets

Aurora Theatre: Christmas Canteen 2026

Aurora Theatre’s Christmas Canteen is a holiday revue, not a musical with one plot to follow. Songs, dance numbers and comedy succeed one another, giving the evening the easygoing feel of a variety show while still delivering the polish of a professional theater production. This year’s staging is directed by Katie Erin Chambers, with musical direction by Amy Duffy. The appeal is seeing local performers put their own personality into the Christmas songbook rather than hearing the same recordings again. It’s a particularly sociable choice for a group with mixed tastes, including relatives who might not usually choose theater. The run takes place in Lawrenceville, so treat it as an outing in its own right rather than squeezing it between Midtown plans.

Nov. 19-Dec. 23 · Aurora Theatre, 128 E. Pike St., Lawrenceville · Schedule and tickets

Theatrical Outfit and Atlanta Opera: All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914

In December 1914, soldiers on opposing sides of the First World War briefly set aside their weapons at Christmas. All Is Calm tells that extraordinary story without a conventional orchestra: voices, period songs and words drawn from soldiers’ letters and diaries carry the drama. The result is intimate rather than lavish, letting the contrast between wartime fear and a fragile moment of goodwill do the emotional work. Presented in the Balzer Theater downtown, it offers a very different Christmas night from a ballet or comedy revue. The performance runs about 75 minutes without an intermission and addresses the realities of war, making it more appropriate for older children, teens and adults than for very young theatergoers.

Dec. 2-27 · Balzer Theater at Herren’s, 84 Luckie St. NW, Atlanta · 75 minutes, no intermission; ages 8+ · Show details and tickets

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Cantata No. 140

This is Christmas music for anyone who loves the sound of voices rising together in a concert hall. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus performs Part I of Handel’s Messiah, including the jubilant “Hallelujah” Chorus, alongside Bach’s Cantata No. 140, often known as Sleepers Awake. Director of Choruses Norman Mackenzie is joined by four vocal soloists for a program that moves between reflection and celebration without relying on familiar pop songs or stage effects. For audiences used to seeing holiday classics as films and musicals, the experience of a live chorus can be unexpectedly powerful. The emphasis is entirely on the music, making this an especially rewarding choice for older listeners who enjoy classical and choral performance.

Dec. 17, 8 p.m. · Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta · Program and tickets

Rialto Film Series: Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life

Not every Christmas outing needs a premium ticket, and the Rialto’s holiday screenings make a good case for keeping an evening simple. The downtown theater is showing two films that could hardly be more different in tone: Elf, with Buddy’s unstoppable cheer and New York mishaps, and It’s a Wonderful Life, where George Bailey’s small-town troubles turn into a story about community and second chances. Both benefit from being watched on a big screen with other people instead of from the couch. At $7 a seat, this is one of the least expensive theater outings in the article. It’s also a useful alternative to the Symphony’s live-orchestra Elf: choose the familiar movie-night experience or splurge for the concert version.

Dec. 8 (Elf, 7 p.m.) and Dec. 10 (It’s a Wonderful Life, 7:30 p.m.) · Rialto Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth St. NW, Atlanta · $7 tickets · Rialto event calendar

Which Christmas outing fits your family?

A memorable Christmas outing depends as much on who is coming as on what is happening. Use the comparison below to weigh time, cost and age suitability before choosing between a full evening out, a performance or a free neighborhood celebration.

For the big shows, timed-entry experiences and Santa appointments, pick the date before planning the rest of the outing. For free neighborhood celebrations, the more important details are weather, parking and whether children’s activities require registration.

Dates, prices, schedules and availability can change. Confirm details with the organizer before setting out.