To avoid the cold weather, you might feel inclined to snuggle up by the fire with a festive drink until spring. This is absolutely an activity you should indulge in, but you shouldn’t stay home the entire season. If you do, you’ll be missing out on a lot of winter fun throughout metro Atlanta.
There are a number of events, both indoors and outdoors, that only happen during this time of year. Whether you’re hoping to entertain the kids with some interactive art while they’re on winter break, see a festive lights show or enjoy a seasonal drink at a pop-up bar, here are a few things to do this winter.
Winter Lights
In addition to the traditional holiday lights shows (including Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Stone Mountain Christmas), a new lights exhibit is launching this year.
PRISM: Winter Lights will take place in Woodruff Park this year. The exhibit will span the park’s six acres and feature light-based sculptures from national artists. The art will enhance the International Peace Fountain, gazebo and other landmarks in the park.
Featured artists include Megan Mosholder, Sara Santamaria, David Baerwalde & Alex Martinez, Jason Peters, Bradley Bowers, Gavin Bernard, Dana Haugaard, Alicia Renee Ball and Sara Jimenez.
6 a.m.-11 p.m. through February. Woodruff Park, 91 Peachtree St., Atlanta. Atlantadowntown.com/woodruff-park.
Holiday Pop-Up
Nothing says winter like a pop-up bar adorned with holiday lights.
Marietta’s Red Sky Tapas & Bar is bringing back its festival holiday pop-up again this year. Inspired by the movie “A Christmas Story,” the pop-up will feature holiday-themed food (including a Christmas Burger and Turducken Egg Rolls) and drinks (Cranberry Mule, Shoot Your Eye Out Eggnog, Winterwonderland Martini, Malted Ovaltine Martini and Christmas in a Glass). Enjoy a dueling pianos performance from the main dining area, which will be decorated with Christmas ornaments and other festive props; sit on the icicle-covered patio; or create a lasting memory in the photo room.
Special nights include the Tacky Christmas Sweater party on Dec. 19 or the complimentary champagne toast on New Year’s Eve.
Regular business hours. Through Dec. 31. Red Sky Tapas & Bar, 1255 Johnson Ferry Road, #16, Marietta. Redskytapas.com.
<<READ: Check out more than 20 metro Atlanta holiday pop-up bars to keep you warm this winter
Winter Art Break
Families looking for something to do while school is out should visit the High Museum this winter. The museum will host a Winter Art Break Series that will allow kids to “drop in” and make art with High Museum teaching artists, tour the museum with a docent or play with multi-sensory activities in the Greene Family Learning Gallery. The latter is only open on a first-come, first-served basis.
Winter Art Break will take place Dec. 26-29 and 31 beginning at 1 p.m.
Times vary (based on activity). Dec. 26-29, 31. $14.15; under age 5 free. High Museum of Art, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. high.org.
Visit the Grinch
Santa isn’t the only person worthy of a winter visit this year. Help the Grinch get through the holiday season by spending time with him at Ponce City Market. Like Santa, the Grinch will be available for photos, but he’ll also help attendees decorate their holiday plants (Dec. 14), and dine on pancakes and pasta during holiday-themed dining events (Dec. 19).
Ponce City Market is truly a one-stop shop for winter activities. The mixed-use space also hosts ice skating on the roof, candle-making classes with Santa at Candlefish, menorah lighting, tree shopping and a pop-up holiday bar this winter.
Dates, times and prices vary. Visit poncecitymarket.com for details.
