‘Tis the season for merriment and holly jolly fun! December is the perfect time to treat yourself to a little extra cheer, give your loved ones an extra squeeze, and of course, enjoy all Atlanta has to offer for the most magical season of all! So whether you’re looking for the perfect holiday cocktails with your friends, a romantic Christmas-y date night, or the perfect activities with the kiddos, there’s something for everyone this December in Atlanta!
Keep scrolling to see all the fun and festive things to do in Atlanta this December, and fill yourself with some much-needed holiday cheer!
One of the best winter traditions is definitely trying your hand (or feet!) at ice-skating! Lucky for us ATLiens, there’s an awesome selection of rinks to choose from. From the rooftop rink at Ponce City Market to Avalon’s dazzling Rockefeller-inspired rink, you’ll have plenty of options to break in those skates!
Atlanta is officially LIT for the festive season, with several light shows taking over iconic ATL venues. From the annual spectacle at the Atlanta Botanical Garden to drive-thru light shows. Check out our recommendations for December below or check out the full round-up.
- Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens
- Stone Mountain’s Dazzling Light Show
From $44.50
Experience the magic of Middle-earth with Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings — a classical music concert, a collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences. This immersive performance features a string quartet playing the timeless scores from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Set in a sea of candlelight, the 60-minute concert celebrates the legendary franchise’s 25th anniversary. From “The Fellowship” to “The One Ring,” enjoy the epic music of these iconic films in an unforgettable atmosphere.
This event isn’t actually starting until February, but it’s set to sell out, so get those tickets ASAP!
If you’re looking for a super cool community-based holiday activity, then you’ve gotta head to Virginia Highland’s Winterfest! With an amazing artist market, fun activities, food and drink, an adorable jingle jog, and even the chance to meet a real live reindeer, you can’t miss out on this amazing weekend of fun!
Learn more here!
Holiday pop-ups are all the rage, and there’s no shortage of festive bars in Atlanta for the most wonderful time of the year.
From cozy igloos to winter wonderlands to Santa’s workshop, Atlanta has it all! You do not want to miss out on all the fabulous holiday pop-up bars in Atlanta this December.
Everyone knows that giving and receiving gifts is one of the most fun parts of the holiday season! And where’s the best place to grab a gift? One of our iconic holiday markets of course! You’ll definitely wanna check out a holiday market (or three) this year. Whether you’re looking to treat yourself or get your holiday gifts sorted, check out our holiday market roundup!
Add this to your December plans: iHeartRadio’s 96.1 The Beat presents the Jingle Ball at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on December 18. The festive show features an all-star lineup including Jermaine Dupri, Kehlani, Nelly, Mariah the Scientist and more.
Tickets go on sale to the public starting October 3, and best of all, each ticket sold will support the Ryan Seacrest Foundation — so your night out gives back. Don’t miss this holiday celebration!
Go to the largest Christmas drone & light show in the world at Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain is definitely known for their amazing holiday celebrations–from the Great Pumpkin festival in October to their spring and summer festivities and beyond… there’s always something to do at Stone Mountain! And their winter holiday celebrations are no exception! With tons of activities for the whole family all day and night, you’ll have plenty to do! Check out a dazzling frosted forest, take a ride on Santa’s sleigh all the way to the North Pole, listen to Christmas carolers, and so much more!
Get all the details on Stone Mountain’s website, here!
If you’re looking for the perfect, cozy experience this December, then you’ve definitely got to check out a Candlelight concert! Enjoy beautiful live orchestra music, all while surrounded by thousands of flickering LED candles. This season, there are also festive Candlelight concerts to help you get into the holiday spirit. It’s a beautiful experience with your family, friends, a date, or a solo trip!
Here are some of our recommendations:
- Candlelight: Christmas Special featuring “The Nutcracker” and More
- Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
- Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
Don’t miss out! Learn more and see the full list of December Candlelight Concerts here!
From $5
With over 1.2 million lights, Lights of Joy is the largest residential light display in all of Georgia. You and your loved ones can wander through the gorgeous trees and displays, admiring the twinkling of millions of lights!
Their mission is to spread a little joy to everyone they meet… and they do a dang good job of it! Learn more about Lights of Joy here!
If you’re in Atlanta this December, add a museum visit to your plans: the High Museum of Art is presenting the U.S. debut of ‘Viktor&Rolf. Fashion Statements.’ Known for their avant-garde and boundary-pushing designs, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren will showcase over 100 unique pieces across eight thematic chapters.
Running from Oct. 10, 2025, to Feb. 8, 2026, this exhibition promises a captivating glimpse into the world of couture — the same high fashion adored by artists like Cardi B, Lady Gaga & Madonna — and is a must-see for fashion enthusiasts and art lovers alike.
If you’re looking for the perfect escape from the city this December, then you’ve definitely gotta check out Helen, Georgia!
Filled with fun holiday happenings and over the top decor, Helen looks like it’s straight out of a Christmas storybook this time of year… and you don’t wanna miss out.
Learn more about Helen during the holidays here!See the beloved Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol live at the Alliance Theatre
All season long, the Alliance Theatre is showing their annual classic, A Christmas Carol on the Coca-Cola Stage! Join Ebenezer Scrooge and the whole host of British favorites as they learn what the true meaning of Christmas is!
Learn more about the show & snag your ticket on the Alliance’s website, here!
From $55
Embark on a 90-minute immersive stage performance experience of Dickens’ ghostly masterpiece, A Christmas Carol, all while enjoying four courses of the most delicious cocktails!
It’s the perfect start to your holiday season! Learn more and snag your tickets here!
Laugh your head off at Christmas Invasion at Dad’s Garage
From $55
For the month of December, improv central for Atlanta, Dad’s Garage, puts on an absolutely hilarious version of the classic Christmas story, A Christmas Carol. But this performance is anything but classic!
Basically, the cast rehearses a (relatively) faithful performance of the traditional show. But then, every night, the show is “invaded” by a random character, which is a surprise to the cast and audience alike! Then, the cast must do their best to continue telling the classic story, all while incorporating a chaotic guest.
In the past, invaders to the show have been Ursula the sea witch, Thanos, Jack Skellington and Ted Lasso. You’ll be falling out of your seat laughing, trust me! And there’s also a special performance for Hanukah!
Learn more and snag your ticket on their website here!
From $15.95 – $34.95
If you love nature and twinkling lights, this exhibit at Fernbank is perfect for you! When the sun goes down, the lights come on in the 10-acre forest right behind the museum! This immersive blend of the beauty from the real on-site environment, combined with glowing displays is meant to make you use all of your senses to marvel at the splendors of nature.
WildWoods: AGLOW uses a blend of the real environment contemplative music and glowing displays, uniquely curated to highlight the native flora and fauna within WildWoods.
The walk-thru light extravaganza uses state-of-the-art technology, like captivating illumination, immersive projections and all original musical composition. Combine these elements together and you have a special evening out for the whole family, with friends, or even with a date.
Learn more here!
Is it even the holiday season if you don’t grab a delicious holiday treat!? Atlanta is full of amazing local coffee shops offering up delicious holiday coffees, cocoas and treats. We recommend checking out:
- Brash Coffee
- FiNCA TO FiLTER
- Banjo Coffee
From $21
Looking for a playful indoor activity this December? Step into a whimsical world at Bubble Planet Atlanta, where multi-sensory magic meets interactive bubble-themed experiences across 11 uniquely themed rooms. Explore classic soap and smoke bubbles, participate in VR activities, and wander through ethereal landscapes—like a massive bubble bath pit and an infinity room. This vibrant attraction offers a dream-like atmosphere perfect for all ages, making it a must-visit destination in the city.
Get your tickets now!
If you love Hot Wheels, you’ve gotta check out this amazing new vending machine in Atlanta! You can find everything from rare collector’s cars to classics, and everything in between! Whether you’re getting a little prize for your kiddo or an adult with a Hot Wheels collection, this vending machine is for you!
Get all the details here!Don’t miss out on all the fun in the ATL this December! And as always, if you do something fun, make sure to tag us in your Insta posts @secret_atlanta, and we might just repost your adventures!