Single Day Events
December 1: Wear holiday cocktail attire to the Callanwolde Holiday Gala for live entertainment, an open bar, and catered food, in the splendor of rooms decorated by designers at Callanwolde mansion.
December 1: Vinings Jubilee Christmas Tree Lighting includes music, crafts, train rides, and Santa. Free.
December 1: Kick off the holiday season with a school chorus, Santa, and a tree-lighting ceremony at Santa on the Square at Glover Park in Marietta. Free.
December 3: Peachtree Street fills with floats, giant balloons, costumed characters, and marching bands for the 90-minute Children’s Christmas Parade that goes from 16th Street to 5th Street in Midtown. Free.
December 3: Wear your ugliest sweater for the Ugly Sweater Run 5K and after-party at Piedmont Park.
December 3: Register and dress up your dog for fun or to win an award at Reindog Parade at Atlanta Botanical Garden.
December 3: Taste 40 high-alcohol beers from 25 local breweries at Atlanta Strong Beer Fest at Wrecking Bar Brewpub.
December 4: Pastry chefs show your child how to build a beautiful edible house to bring home at the Gingerbread House Workshop at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse.
December 4: Star 94.1 radio hosts four superstar acts at Jingle Jam at Infinite Energy Arena.
December 9: Adults can wander Georgia Aquarium enjoying live music, cocktails, and appetizers at Sips Under the Sea. Visit the website to buy tickets and see the theme.
December 11: High Museum of Art – free weekend day Dec. 11
December 11: See live reindeer, make winter crafts, play reindeer games, and walk the trails on Reindeer Day at Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell.
December 12: Up on the Housetop is filled with holiday songs and stories and includes a visit from Santa at OnStage Atlanta.
December 15: Ring in the holidays with joyful Handel’s Messiah performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus.
December 16: Power 96.1 radio brings big-name music artists to Jingle Ball at Philips Arena.
December 16: Christmas With Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith also includes Jordan Smith from “The Voice” and the Georgia Symphony Orchestra at Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth.
December 17: Christmas Jingle Mingle is a giant party for age 21+ with live entertainment, DJ music, and a dance floor at Crowne Plaza Ravinia to support charity.
Multiple Day Events:
December 1-18: The talented cast of Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular performs feats of strength, skill, and grace to holiday music played by a live symphony at Philips Arena.
December 1-18: Black Nativity retells the story of the first Christmas with dance, spirituals, gospel music, and a rousing finale at Southwest Arts Center.
December 1-24: A Christmas Carol is Charles Dickens’ holiday classic about Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and three Christmas ghosts. Playing at multiple venues this month:
Dec. 1 – 23: Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville. Discount tickets $10.
Dec. 1 – 23: Shakespeare Tavern downtown.
Dec. 1 – 24: Alliance Theatre in Midtown Atlanta.
December 1-24: Nutcracker Ballet at several area locations:
Dec. 1 – 3: Roswell Dance Theatre, Roswell.
Dec. 2 – 4: Georgia Ballet, Marietta.
Dec. 2 – 18: Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Duluth. Discount tickets $14.
Dec. 9 – 11: Atlanta Dance Theatre, Roswell. Discount tickets $12.
Dec. 9 – 24: Atlanta Ballet, Fox Theatre, Atlanta. Discount tickets $45 to $75.
Dec. 16 – 18: Metropolitan Ballet Theatre, Alpharetta.
December 1-30: Drive past 3 million lights and displays at Holiday Light Spectacular, which includes Santa’s village, a Christmas tree forest, and carnival rides at Atlanta Motor Speedway. See schedule.
December. 1 – 31: The Santaland Diaries is a comedy for adults at Horizon Theatre.
December 2 – 18: Santa After Hours is for adults at Out of Box Theatre, Marietta.
December 2 – 18: Scrooge: The Musical is at OnStage Atlanta
December 3 – 23: The 12 Dates of Christmas is for adults at Aurora Theatre.
December 3 – 31: Madeline’s Christmas is a musical play about 12 girls in Paris at Horizon Theatre.
December 17 – 22: Sprucey, The Blue Christmas Tree for all ages at OnStage Atlanta.
December 1-31: Lights of Life is open every day with 1.5 miles of holiday lights, displays, kids’ activities, and concessions at Life University.
December 1-31: Drive past colorful displays on Magical Nights of Lights to reach Holiday Village, where you can shop, dine, visit Santa, and take carnival rides at Lake Lanier Islands Resort.
December 1-31: Festival of the SEAson features a light and music show, tree-lighting ceremonies, Santa and SCUBA Claus, and live entertainment at Georgia Aquarium.
December 1-31: Stone Mountain Christmas features 2 million lights, holiday shows, a snow-angel palace, a parade with Santa, fireworks, and snowfall at Stone Mountain Park. Nearby Snow Mountain offers inner tube rides from Nov. 19, 2016 to Feb. 26, 2017.
December 1-31: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights features one million colorful lights, costumed characters, attractions, and snacks at the 30-acre Atlanta Botanical Garden.
December 1-31: Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens is a giant holiday light and sound show, with eight million lights, displays, a Christmas village, and Santa Claus at Callaway Gardens.
December 1-31: Visit the Ice Rink & Holiday in Lights Display with thousands of lights in the north section of Centennial Park. The new Chinese Lantern Festival in the south section of the park is open Dec. 9, 2016 to Jan. 15.
December 1-31: Winter Wonderland celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, and other cultures with bright lights, decorated trees, ornaments, and emblems at Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
December 1-31: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph soars back into town for the wonderful holiday tale that speaks to the misfit in all of us! Based on the classic television special, it’s become an Atlanta tradition. Ages 4+ at Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts.
