10 Fun Holiday Activities to Do with Your Kids in Atlanta

If you’re looking for some fun holiday activities to do with your kids in Atlanta this season, look no further! We have a list of ten awesome activities that are kid-friendly and won’t bore the pants off of you either!

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Atlanta knows how to do the holidays (even without snow)

The second Thanksgiving ends, and well before in many cases, Christmas mode is in full effect. Lights are shining, Christmas tunes are in heavy rotation, and those crazy looking sweaters are appearing everywhere.

Then, of course, there are the commercials showing kids playing in the snow that we know we ain’t getting in Atlanta. Yikes.

Never fear! Even without snow, there are plenty of things to do with your kids over the holiday season!

Here are our top pics for fun holiday activities in Atlanta that your kids are sure to love:

Rudolph at the Center for Puppetry Arts

As stated in previous articles, the Center for Puppetry Arts is a staple here in Atlanta, and that won’t change anytime soon. 

Every year they run a production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer based on the animated classic that airs on television every year. The show will run until the 29th of December and the all-inclusive ticket covers entrance to the show, a puppet creation workshop, and the world puppetry museum. 

Celebration in Light at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta

The “Celebration in Light” is a month-long homage to holidays including Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Las Posadas. If you’re looking for a fun activity that can also be used as an opportunity to expand the cultural horizons of your children, I highly recommend this event.

There will be a sock skating rink (yep, exactly), a Curious George exhibit, a dance party with family-friendly music, and a “New Years Bubble Bash” to send 2019 out with a bang. 

Here’s their daily calendar.

Celebration At The Station at Atlantic Station

Atlantic Station is holding their “Celebration at the Station” event until the 24th of December. There’s live music, an outdoor skating rink, snow shows, and a chance to meet and take pics with Santa.

This is a great chance to drag your children with you to do your shopping and then reward them for the (in their minds) torturous experience after. 

Or you can just make a full day of hanging at the station. Shop, grab some food, catch a movie, and then end the night with some ice skating. 

The Nutcracker at Various Theaters

Let’s be honest, Christmas just ain’t Christmas without The Nutcracker. The great thing about a performance art hub like Atlanta is that there are several different productions happening within and on the outskirts of the city.

Here are a few of our amazing dance companies that will be performing the classic this season:

The Atlanta Dance Theatre

Atlanta Ballet

Ballethnic (The Nutcracker with an Urban twist – my personal favorite)

Gwinnett Ballet Theatre

The Decatur Square

The city of Decatur is one of the most prolific areas in Atlanta, and its value and convenience is becoming more evident to locals every day. 

With that being a fact, inside the square there are a number of activities centered around the holiday season that both Children and adults can enjoy. There are all-day dance shows by the Decatur Arts Alliance, Marshmallow roasts at a bonfire, holiday markets and cafes, brunch with Santa, a Christmas Carol concert, and tons more! 

If you’re looking for fun that won’t even come close to breaking the bank, hang out down here. 

Christkindl Market at Centennial Olympic Park

The Christkindl Market is certainly a step out of the box. This traditional German-styled market is a place where families can purchase tree ornaments, decorations for your home, and gifts for your loved ones while listening to live music and munching on German cuisine. The event will run through the 24th. 

Holidays in the Park at Six Flags

Holiday in the Park at the always amazing Six Flags has been named one of the best holiday events in all of Georgia.

There are thousands of LED lights and Christmas trees lining the streets, with fireside s’mores and several other treats to keep you warm. There’s an all-new musical revue, the Bugs Bunny Boomtown, the Peppermint Plaza, a slapstick comedy show and a plethora of other means to satisfy all members of the family. It’s a fun time!

This event is on select days until the 5th of January. Check the calendar for dates.

Toys R Us Adventure at the Lenox Marketplace

The Lenox Marketplace has partnered with Toys R Us to bring this annual adventure to life again for 2019. Here, children can experience a full-on playland with eight different rooms of life-sized toys from brands such as Paw Patrol, and Melissa and Doug. (I’m super jealous, right now.)

This event will last until Jan 5th and you should purchase tickets in advance.

The Mystery of the Christmas Star at the Fernbank Science Center

The Fernbank Science Center is giving a modern retelling of how the Three Wise Men followed the star that led them to find the young Messiah in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. It provides a scientific explanation of how the northern star’s appearance could be possible. 

If you go on the right day, you’ll probably catch me there too!

Candlelight Nights at the Atlanta History Museum 

Candlelight Nights at the Atlanta History Museum are a definite winner.

There are crafts and other creations at their Christmas Market; three 1930’s era houses that will give insight into how Christmas was celebrated in the South during that time; and music, food, and beautiful decorations all through the grounds and gardens. 

I’d definitely recommend this one!

Atlanta has tons of fun holiday activities for your kids!

Being one of the biggest and most populated cities in our nation means making sure the key times in the year are ones where memories will always be created.

As always there are countless things to do in Atlanta, and amazing things to see all around and outside the city.

Making a day, an evening family outing, or just a couple hours of “selah” will be easy with any option we’ve provided.

We can’t wait to hear your holiday stories!

Looking for a place to stay in Atlanta? Check out our featured Airbnb listings and start planning your trip. Click here for featured Atlanta Airbnbs »

What are you most looking forward to doing this holiday season? Let us know in the comments!

Where to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner in Atlanta

Don’t feel like cooking this Thanksgiving? Atlanta has a ton of places where you can eat your Thanksgiving dinner without all the cooking and clean up!

where to eat thanksgiving

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It’s that time again…

Y’all! We’re at the end of the year already!

As always, the days are long but the years continue to pass by quickly. This time of year is usually very busy and chaotic for the majority of us, so we would like to help decrease the stress a little.

Since Thanksgiving is this week, here are ten restaurants (plus a couple bonuses!) where you can eat Thanksgiving dinner without all the hassle! 

5Church Atlanta

5Church Atlanta is a modern, upscale restaurant with modern decor in midtown. It’s become well known for its American cuisine and amazing steaks. 

On Thanksgiving, 5Church will be running a buffet from noon until 8 pm. It will include (but is obviously not limited to) classic dishes such as collard greens, sweet potato casserole, and of course, it wouldn’t be complete without their oven-roasted turkey with sage. The buffet is $65 for adults and $23 for children. 

Make a reservation here

Directions

Atkins Park Restaurant and Bar

The Virginia Highlands is one of my favorite neighborhoods in all of Atlanta, and in it is Atkins Park Restaurant and Bar

On Thanksgiving day their menu will have green bean casserole, smoked turkey breast, braised pork shoulder, garlic mashed potatoes, and sweet potato biscuits. Then to please satisfy your sweet tooth there will be pumpkin cheesecake and pecan pie.

Their full Thanksgiving menu can be found on their website. The price for the holiday dinner is $30 for adults and $10 for kids. Reservations are highly recommended, and dinner starts at 4 pm. 

For reservations, call (404) 876-7249

Directions

Fogo De Chao

One of the best things about what Fogo De Chao is doing for Thanksgiving is opening at 11 am. Should you choose to dine here, you may even be able to beat the midday and evening rush. 

If you’re unfamiliar with this amazingly popular establishment, they are a Brazilian steakhouse that is worth every penny you’ll spend there and then some. 

If you’re looking to do something a bit outside the box for the holiday season, they will not disappoint. Their Thanksgiving day hours are from 11 am – 9 pm.

Bonus for those of you with children: Kids 6 and under eat for free, and children 7-12 will dine for half price! 

Make a reservation here

Directions

The Highlander

The Highlander is a favorite amongst pubs in Atlanta, and for the 28th year they will be running their regular business hours for Thanksgiving. 

If you’re looking for something a little more simple and relaxed this holiday, The Highlander should be a frontrunner for you. They will have their regular menu in addition to their “Thanksgiving Feast”, which goes for $25. 

If you want to make a full night out of it and have a few drinks after, they’ll be open until 2:30 in the morning. You’re probably off work on Black Friday, so you’ll be fine!

By the way, this is an adults-only restaurant, so if anyone in your party is under 21, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Directions

Hudson Grille

Thanksgiving Day football games are a huge deal, and if you want a good meal and a great view of the game, look no further. 

Hudson Grille is easily one of the best sports bars in Atlanta, and will always be among the first few mentioned when asking locals which ones they frequent. On Thanksgiving, they’ll have two special Thanksgiving meals for you, and they’re both only $16.95.

There are locations in Midtown, Downtown, Brookhaven, Tucker, North Point, Sandy Springs, and Kennesaw. 

Locations

Ruth’s Chris

If you’ve never heard of this gem of a steakhouse, you’ve been missing out on something special. Whether it’s a porterhouse, a petite filet, a T-bone, a New York strip, or bone-in 16oz filet, you’ll find it at Ruth’s Chris. 

On Thanksgiving, they’ll have a menu consisting of traditional holiday dishes that will cost $41.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 10 and under. The menu will feature a turkey plate with choices of sides, along with a dessert and a starter. 

Make a reservation

Locations

South City Kitchen

South City specializes in putting modern twists on classic southern dishes. If you’re looking for authentic with a little extra swag, you should consider dining here. 

For the holiday, they will offer a three-course menu from 11 am – 8:30 pm. It will cost $30 for children and $60 for adults. The menu will have some classics like turkey and gravy, dressing, and some specific featured items based on location. 

There are 3 different locations: Buckhead, Vinings, and Avalon.

Make a reservation

Locations

Ted’s Montana Grill 

Media mogul Ted Turner co-founded this classic American-style restaurant back in 2002, and it’s had a non-stop buzz around the city ever since. 

On Thanksgiving, their menu will include their $29 turkey feast (which includes chili/soup/salad to start, roasted turkey and gravy with sides, and apple crisp), burgers, a kids menu, different entrees, and a selection of desserts among other things. 

Each store location has specific hours, and those locations include Decatur, Midtown, Downtown, Lawrenceville, 2 in Marietta, Cumberland, and a few others. 

You’ll definitely want to call and make a reservation! The different locations and phone numbers are at the bottom of the Thanksgiving Menu

Locations and reservations

STK Steakhouse

STK is another upscale, modern restaurant with great decor. You step into this place and you’ll be wowed by everything from top to bottom, it’s just a beautiful restaurant with a great vibe. 

For Thanksgiving, they will offer their regular menu, a kids menu, and a holiday menu with turkey, stuffing, green beans, cranberry orange chutney with a few other options. The holiday menu goes for $42 for adults and $16 for children. 

They’ll be open on Thanksgiving from noon until 10 pm. 

Make a reservation

Directions

Petite Violette

If you’re looking for a European experience, why not get your French on at Petite Violette?

From 11:30 am – 6:30 pm, they have a special holiday menu which will include a turkey, short rib, turkey gumbo, and sweet potato souffle just to name a few. The price is $47.96 per person, and they will be very busy! You’ll definitely want to make a reservation!

Make a reservation

Directions

Other places to eat Thanksgiving dinner

In addition to the list provided above, if you’re someone that wants to just go hang at a restaurant and chow down on non-Thanksgiving dishes, you have options too! New York Prime, and Taco Mac are just two of the places you can find that will be open for the holiday but serving their usual menu. 

So if you just want to watch some football and munch on some wings and fries, the good ole A.T.L has you covered too! 

Skip the dishes!

If you’re dreading all the cooking and washing that comes with Thanksgiving, give one of these restaurants a try! Make sure to reserve your spot, as they’ll all be very busy!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Leave us a message in the comments and tell us your favorite Thanksgiving Day restaurant!