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 Christmasy 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!
1. Hit the ice at one of Atlanta’s incredible ice-skating rinks!
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!
Check out some recommendations below or see the full list of rinks.
- Avalon on Ice, Avalon in Alpharetta
- Skate The Station, Atlantic Station
- Skate The Sky, Ponce City Market
2. Take an emotional journey on Titanic: An Immersive Voyage
If you’ve always wondered about the history of the Titanic, this is the perfect experience for you. Learn all about the infamous tragedy that changed the course of history with an in-depth look at artifacts, recreations, movie props and more! You’ll also get to experience state-of-the-art projections, life-like representations, and if you’d like, a VR experience on the Titanic.
As a warning, this is an emotional experience, so make sure you know all the details before you get there! Learn more and snag your tickets for Titanic: An Immersive Voyage here!
3. Plan to attend the most wild bingo party ever!
Get ready for Bingo Loco—the wildest bingo party ever! Think throwback bangers, dance-offs, confetti explosions, CO2 cannons, and epic prizes (like trips & cars). One thing’s for sure: this isn’t your grandma’s bingo—grab your tickets now and plan for an epic night in the ATL!
4. Learn all about the past at Discovering the World of Jesus: The Exhibition
For many, December means celebrating Christmas! And this Christmas time, you can step back 2,000 years in time to learn all about Jesus’ life and the world he lived in. See hundreds of genuine artifacts, like the original James, Brother of Jesus ossuary and the Zacharias the Priest ossuary, which is believed to be the 1st-century AD bone box of John the Baptist’s father, found in Jerusalem. You’ll also get to learn all about the past and the religious reason for the Christmas holiday!
Learn more and grab your tickets here!5. Meet Rolo, Zoo Atlanta’s adorable new baby sloth
If you’re looking for some fun outdoor activities to do this month, you’ve gotta come to Zoo Atlanta and meet Rolo! Rolo, the adorable baby two-toed sloth is a little bundle of joy–and you don’t want to miss out on meeting him while he’s a baby! Learn more about Rolo here, and head to Zoo Atlanta’s website to grab your tickets!
6. Go back in time to discover the start of Earth
Step back in time to walk among dinosaurs, encounter massive sea predators, and journey through ancient landscapes at this epic VR experience that just opened in Atlanta! Go back 3.5 billion years, to be exact, starting with the Archean period. Get your tickets here!
7. Experience an enchanting Candlelight concert
December is the Candlelight concert series’ busiest month of the year, because there are so many amazing concert options!
With festive additions to their already stellar line-up, there’s an awesome collection of orchestral concerts, all completely bathed in dazzling candlelight.
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Candlelight: Christmas Special featuring “The Nutcracker” and More
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Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, and More
Don’t miss out on all the beautiful candlelight concerts! See even more options here!
8. Check out Atlanta’s dazzling holiday light displays!
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
9. Get immersed in the amazing world of Van Gogh
If you’ve ever dreamt of stepping right out of the world and into a painting, you’ll love this awe-inspiring journey into the artistic world of Vincent Van Gogh! Explore his world: his life, his work, and his secrets, all while walking through cutting-edge 360-degree immersive digital projections of his art.
You can also expect a one-of-a-kind VR experience, and a light and sound show to delight your senses. This unique experience brought to you by Exhibition Hub has thrilled millions of visitors in the United States already.
Don’t delay, grab your tickets now for Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience!
10. Brighten your holiday season at this luminous drive-through light show
Hop in the car and immerse yourself in a world of wonder at the Glow Light Show – a dazzling display like no other. From November 15th to December 29th, experience the magic of over 1 million Christmas lights.
It’s the kind of holiday joy that’s better enjoyed with your loved ones, in Christmas pajamas and a cup of hot chocolate from your car. Priced per car, not per person, starting at $39.99, this much-anticipated show is sure to sell out so snag your tickets now before they’re gone!
11. Check out Virginia Highland’s iconic Winterfest!
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!
Get all the Winterfest details here!12. Paint the town red (and green!) at Atlanta’s boozy holiday pop-ups
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.
13. Find the perfect holiday gifts at these festive markets in Atlanta
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!
14. 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!
Learn all about the Christmas fun at Stone Mountain here!15. Learn about Ancient Egypt at Horizon of Khufu: An Immersive VR Expedition
The perfect gift for the history enthusiasts in your life this December? Definitely a trip to the VR experience Horizon of Khufu! Put on your headset and you’ll truly feel like you’ve stepped into a whole new time period. You’ll get to explore the hidden depths of the pyramids, talk with a goddess in the form of a cat, interact with a quirky tour guide, watch an actual mummy embalming and even soar above Ancient Egypt. This breath-taking experience is truly one for the books!
Get all the details and snag your tickets here!16. Find all the best homemade holiday decor… and you might even win some $$
Atlanta’s got a new tracker to find, nominate, rate, and explore the best residential holiday lights in town! You can find a list of all the best lights–for FREE! And then when you go check it out, you can rate your experience. And the best-rated holiday lights will win a grand prize of $1,000–and the person who nominated the house will win $500!
Enjoy the dazzling lights, Atlanta! Learn more about this great service here!17. Get nostalgic with the Pink Pig, back at the Georgia Festival of Trees
This year, the iconic Georgia Festival of Trees his hosting a holiday classic–and a blast from the past! The Pink Pig, an iconic train ride for kids around the toy section of Rich’s (in Downtown Atlanta, before it closed), is coming back with a brand-new look! Whether you’re reliving nostalgic memories from your childhood or making new ones with your kiddos, you can’t miss out on all the fun!
Learn all about the Festival of Trees here! And get the scoop on the Pink Pig here!
18. Take a trip to the 90s at this Mariah Carey-themed jam session
If holiday music is your favorite part of December, then you’ve definitely got to check out this amazing 90s party! Get a blast from the past with Mariah’s incredible songs, sung by Atlanta legends and local bands–and tons of other 90s holiday classics too! Get all the details for this super fun party here!
19. Get your game on with this huge interactive gaming experience
Activate is a new way to game; it’s a combination of high-tech games and physical activity that’s meant to challenge a team or single-player’s mental and physical agility! Players can choose from hundreds of combinations and difficulty levels, with each game lasting from one to three minutes!
Guests can expect laser mazes, arcade-style basketball hoops, and so much more. There are tons of rooms to play in, and with all the combo options, the experience is unique every single time.
For all the details, check out Activate in Buckhead!
20. Take a day trip to Georgia’s German Alpine village
Did you know that there’s an authentic German Alpine village nestled in North Georgia? If not, then the holidays are the perfect time to visit. With gorgeous decorations and a Christmas parade, you don’t want to miss Helen during the festive season!
Get all the information you need before you go!21. Go to a hilarious spin on the Christmas classic A Christmas Carol at Dad’s Garage
Every year, Dad’s Garage, Atlanta’s best-known improv theatre, puts on a hilarious rendition of the classic Christmas story, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Every year, the cast “rehearses a (relatively) faithful” version of the well-known story and then… adds a twist! Each night of the show, the story is “invaded” by a random character, which is a surprise to the cast and audience alike! Then the cast must continue to tell the story of A Christmas Carol, while incorporating that new character.
It’ll knock your socks off it’s so funny, and downright impressive too!
22. See the Atlanta Ballet’s gorgeous performance of The Nutcracker
From December 7th-26th, you can watch in awe as Atlanta’s premier ballet company puts on the holiday classic! This show is perfect for audiences young and old!
The larger-than-life production will be a dazzling spectacle, with classic favorites like Marie and the Nutcracker Prince, and the gorgeous dance of the sugarplum fairy, but also, with new and exciting elements! Amplified by traditional stage magic and state-of-the-art technology, Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker is an unmissable holiday classic!
Get all the details on their website here!23. Grab a Festive holiday coffee!
Skip Starbucks this holiday season and grab a local treat for your holiday cravings! Atlanta is full of delicious coffee shops. Go for the classic favorites, like a yummy hot peppermint mocha, or try something a little more unique, like Dancing Goats’ white chocolate cranberry matcha!
Our recommendation? Try 404 Coffee’s vanilla gingerbread iced latte! Check out the full list of delicious coffees to try this December!
24. Play in the snow, right here in Georgia!
Okay, okay. We know what you’re thinking. It doesn’t snow in Georgia (well, not really, anyway). But hear us out! There’s a snow park where you can make all your wildest snow activity dreams come true: License to Chill Snow Island!
From snow tubing to ice skating to having a real-deal snowball fight, there’s so much to do at License to Chill Snow Island!
Get all the details before you go!
25. See Alliance Theatre’s iconic take on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
All season long, the Alliance Theatre is showing their annual classic, A Christmas Carol on the Coca-Cola Stage!
This year, theatre-goers can get excited for a completely reimagined set design and stunning new costumes!
Get ready to be transported to the streets of London to revisit the timeless story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey to redemption, told with beautiful live music and an all-star cast.
Check out the Alliance Theatre’s website for more information!26. Step into a forest of dazzling lights at Fernbank’s WildWoods: AGLOW
Fernbank’s winter classic, WildWoods: AGLOW is back, baby! Through some pretty incredible cutting edge technology and the absolute wonder of nature, you can explore the beautiful woods right in Fernbank’s backyard. You’ll be in awe of the natural flora and fauna, and of course the breathtaking lights that set the woods, well, AGLOW!
This glowing exhibit is truly unlike anything else in the city, WildWoods: AGLOW shines a light on fascinating natural phenomena, and asks questions you’ve probably never even considered! For example, you’ll be able to answer questions you never knew you needed the answer to, like what mushrooms would sound like if they could sing, to reveal the vast underground Mycorrhizal network of the ecosystem.
For more information, check out WildWoods: AGLOW!