Check out what’s happening in Atlanta during the holiday season!
Friends and Family Fun (Outdoor)
IllumiNight At the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival
IllumiNights is a fun outing for the whole family! Happening now through January 15, take an evening stroll through Zoo Atlanta while enjoying more than 80 hand-painted, nature-inspired lanterns. While you are exploring, enjoy some hot chocolate, apple cider and S’mores! Purchase tickets here and use my code BUCKETZOONIN for $2 off admission.
[IllumiNights]
Atlanta Botanical Garden Lights
One of my favorite holiday traditions is back in Atlanta until January 14th! Walk through the transformed garden with wine or hot cocoa, taking in more than 2 million lights and other decorations. Buy your tickets today for the Garden Lights!
Holidays in Technicolor at Buckhead Village
Create new traditions with Buckhead Village’s Holidays in Technicolor event series, set to transform The Veranda into a whimsical Christmas Tree-scape with the help of renowned and decorated florist Canaan Marshall. Stop by to experience family-friendly activities and crafts like ornament and cookie decorating, and enjoy restaurant specials, seasonal treats and in-store events.
World of Illumination
Come hit the Reindeer Road in Marietta at Six Flags White Water for the world’s largest drive-thru animated light show! WIth 2 million animated lights, this is a show you do not want to miss! Open nightly until January 1st. Purchase tickets here.
ATL Holiday Lights (Drive-Thru)
Experience drive-thru holiday light magic at Lakewood Amphitheater. The parking lot has completely transformed into a bright, colorful light maze. Crank up some holiday tunes and drive through! Purchase tickets here.
[ATL Holiday Lights]
Friends and Family Fun (Indoor)
Hampton + Hudson Festive Events
Join Hampton + Hudson, a neighborhood community bar and restaurant in Inman Park to celebrate the holiday session with an array of events. To celebrate Boxing Day, Hampton + Hudson is hosting a scarf exchange on December 26 and collecting winter items for United Way! Attendees can enjoy a limited brunch menu from 9am-11am and pick up a limited edition ATLUTD scarf in exchange for a donation.
Holiday Teas and Events at the Ritz-Carlton
Enjoy a staycation at the Ritz-Carlton this holiday season! The Ritz is hosting an array of holiday events for you, your friends, and family! Check out their events like Naughty or Nice Holiday Tea Friday, Toys and Tea, Santa Tuck-In, and Letters to the North Pole. Some of the events come at an additional cost, and reservations to the hotel are required for the events.
Tea with Santa at St. Regis Atlanta
Enjoy some Afternoon Tea with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the St. Regis. This 1.5 hour experience includes one artfully-selected tea and deletable holiday treats. Purchase tickets to this extraordinary experience for $75 for children under 10, and $95 for adults.
Tinsel Tavern @ Live! at the Battery Atlanta
Have some family fun at the Battery! Tinset Tavern is hosting festive themed nights every Sunday from 4-7PM. There are also activities throughout December, like Family Day, Sip & Paint, Dancing Elves Silent Disco, and more! Kids can visit Santa, enjoy coloring stations, and more. Get your tickets today, but they also welcome walk-ins!
[Photo Courtesy of Live! at the Battery]
Ice Skating
Skate the Sky on The Roof at Ponce City Market
Back for a sixth year, The Roof at Ponce City Market invites guests to “Skate the Sky.” All-access tickets will be $30 for adults and $22 for children, and include ice skating, unlimited gameplay and admission to The Roof. Reservations are available online and include 50 minutes of skating, ice skate rentals and unlimited gameplay at Skyline Park. Skaters must be at least five years of age to skate, and individuals under 12 must be accompanied by an adult skater. See hours here.
The Rink Powered by Pepsi Zero at Park Tavern!
The Ice-Skating Rink Powered by Pepsi Zero is a holiday destination filled with whimsy and holiday cheer located in the heart of Midtown in Piedmont Park. Tickets are $15 Monday – Thursday, and $20 Friday – Saturday and is family friendly until 8 pm. AT 8:30pm, The Rink becomes a 16+ venue until midnight. Rink hours are Monday-Friday, 4:30 p.m. to midnight, and Saturday & Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Purchase tickets here.
Skate the Station at Atlantic Station
Get in the holiday spirit and skate on the largest ice-skating rink in Metro Atlanta! Skate the Station is weather-permitting and tickets can be purchased either online or at the door. Hours vary by day, and change during peak times and holidays. See full list of hours and purchase tickets here!
Avalon on Ice in Alpharetta
Hit the rink at Avalon’s Rockefeller-inspired ice skating rink. General admission is $18/person and $14/child (9 years old and under). Guests are recommended to purchase tickets in advance! Hours vary, see here.
Shopping
German Christkindl Market
Join Buckhead Village in toasting the season with German Glühwein – also known as mulled wine – hot chocolate or cider and discovering delicious traditional German treats like pretzels, schnitzel, brats and more. Open to the public from Friday, November 25 through Saturday, December 24, the market will feature over 50 vendors offering seasonal treats and delightful dazzles to shop & discover. Visitors can celebrate on the weekends with live music and entertainment.
Hours: Fri-Sun from 11:30am-9pm and Mon-Thurs from 3-8:30pm
Lucy’s Market at the St Regis Hotel in Buckhead
Lucy’s Market and the St Regis Hotel have teamed up again for their iconic holiday pop-up shop, Astor Chalet, and this year it is bigger & better than ever! Start crossing off your holiday shopping list with items like candy, candles, ornaments, snow globes and so much more. The Astor Chalet is open Sunday-Thursday from 11am-6pm and Friday-Saturday from 11am-7pm, now through Christmas Eve!
[Astor Chalet]
Girl Gang x Buckhead Village Members Mart Pop-Up
Looking to shop small and support local this holiday season? Stop into The Girl Gang Members Mart, a pop-up market spotlighting female-owned, local businesses offering a one-stop-shop for one of a kind jewelry, art, clothing, candles, home decor and other holiday-inspired gifts. Vendors will rotate weekly.
Hours: Thursday – Sunday through Dec 18, 11am-5pm
Rudolph & Co. Pop-up at Ponce City Market
From the team behind Archer Paper Goods and Collier Candy, Rudolph & Co. will be making spirits bright with holiday-themed items that will make the perfect gift, decoration, stocking stuffer or treat for the season. The pop-up shop will be located across from Collier Candy in Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall and offer the likes of stockings, vintage candy and toys from France and Italy, pet toys and treats, and more.
Misfit Wrapping Co. at Ponce City Market
Come one, come all and stop by Misfit DIY Wrapping Co. to jazz up gifts for giving! Open from Noon-7pm on Saturdays and Sundays during the holiday season, plus December 21-23, guests will be able to wrap gifts purchased at PCM with a misfit assortment of paper, ribbon and doo-dads at Ponce City Market’s do-it-yourself wrapping and decorating factory on the second floor of the Central Food Hall. Suggested donations will benefit a local nonprofit.
Hanukkah Events
Annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Ponce City Market
Join Ponce City Market and Chabad Intown for a menorah lighting ceremony to celebrate the Festival of Lights on Wednesday, December 21 at 6PM! This year’s celebration will take place on The Yard with music, live entertainment and refreshments.
Menorah Lighting Event with Chabad Buckhead
Join Chabad Buckhead for a celebratory, family-friendly menorah lighting outside of The Veranda from 7 to 9:30pm on December 24th, followed by a ticketed (21 and up) after party that will kick-off at 10pm to midnight. For more information, visit the official website.