Time is ticking away, but never fear because you'll find plenty of family-friendly events to make your season great this year.
Whether you still need to find a few gifts for loved ones, or want to have visions of sugar plum fairies from a Nutcracker performance, you don't need to look any further than this weekend's lineup to fill your time with Christmas cheer. Check out these events happening near you:
Cobb
KSU Holiday Concert. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. $12 to $15 per person. Morgan Concert Hall, Bailey Performance Center. 488 Prillaman Way NW, Kennesaw. 470-578-6000. www.arts.kennesaw.edu.
Join the Kennesaw State University School of Music as they perform holiday-themed pieces, including scores from "Polar Express," "Home Alone," and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
The Georgia Ballet's The Nutcracker. 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 to 3. $10 to $45 per person. Cobb Civic Center. 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. 770-528-0881. www.georgiaballet.org.
The Georgia Ballet performs The Nutcracker all weekend long at the Cobb Civic Center, featuring a special sensory-friendly Friday show for children and adults with special needs.
37th Annual Apple Annie Arts & Craft Show. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2. $3 per person, free for children ages 12 and under. Catholic Church of St. Ann. 4905 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-552-6400. www.st-ann.org.
The 37th Annual Apple Annie Arts & Crafts Show takes place this weekend, which will include artwork and handicrafts from over 120 artists, a raffle giving away a 98-inch-by-98-inch handmade quilt and a bake sale.
Decorating for the Holidays at Smith Gilbert Gardens. 10 a.m. to noon. Saturday, Dec. 2. $25 to $35 per person. Smith Gilbert Gardens. 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw. 770-919-0248. www.smithgilbertgardens.com.
Discover how to make your home look amazing throughout the holidays at this interactive event taking place at Smith Gilbert Gardens. During this class you'll also learn how to make your own seasonal wreath.
DeKalb
1st Friday Soul Sessions. 8 p.m. to midnight. Dec. 1. $10 per person, $7 per artist. Dish Out Restaurant. 5231 Memorial Drive A, Stone Mountain. 404-600-2899. www.dishoutrestaurantatl.com.
Experience a night of music and meaning at the 1st Friday Soul Session taking place at Dish Out Restaurant. You'll hear live music, open-mic spoken word, conscious hip-hop, vocalists, DJ GumboSoul, vendors, door prizes and more.
Breakfast With Santa. 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. $25 per person. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta. 404-872-5338. www.callanwolde.org.
Callanwolde hosts Breakfast With Santa this Saturday with photo opportunities with the big guy, a gift from LEGOLand Discovery Center and a tour of the estate.
Holly Jolly Film Fest. 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Included with admissions, free for members. Fernbank Museum of Natural History. 767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta. 404-929-6300. www.fernbankmuseum.org.
Fernbank hosts the Holly Jolly Film Fest all season, and this weekend's lineup includes "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Along with these festive classics, your family can make ornaments and take part in a Winter Wonderland Seek and Find.
Taoist Programs with Dr. Eva Wong. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2 and 3. $120 to $170 per person. Shambhala Meditation Center of Atlanta. 1447 Church St., Decatur. 404-370-9650. www.atlanta.shambhala.org.
If you've ever wanted to learn more about Taoism, or want to broaden your practice, visit the Shambhala Meditation Center of Atlanta for a two-part program that includes qigong, creating The Way of Peace throughout your everyday life, health advice, Taoist-style sitting and more.
Gwinnett
Jolly Holly Day. 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. Free. Suwanee Town Center Park. 330 Town Center Ave., Suwanee. 770-945-8996. www.suwanee.com.
Jolly Holly Day happens this Friday in Suwanee, which will include the lighting of the big tree, photo opportunities with Santa Claus, and free s'mores, hot chocolate and crafts for the kids.
Lunch with Santa at the Southeastern Railway Museum. Noon Saturday, Dec. 2. $18 person, free for children ages 2 and under with paying adult. Southeastern Railway Museum. 3595 Buford Highway, Duluth. 770-476-2013. www.train-museum.org.
Have Lunch with Santa this Saturday as the Southeastern Railway Museum hosts a holiday event that features train rides with the big guy, crafts, a hayride and a lunch that includes pizza, applesauce and cookies.
Deck the Hall in Duluth. 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Free. Duluth Town Green. 3167 Main St., Duluth. 770-476-3434. www.duluthga.net.
The Duluth Town Green turns festive this Saturday for Deck the Hall. Visitors will enjoy the Duluth Tree Lighting, live entertainment, a Polar Express train ride, hands-on crafts, a snow playground, a visit from Santa and more.
Sugar Hill Holiday Celebration. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Free. Downtown Sugar Hill, Gober Community Plaza. 5039 West Broad St., Sugar Hill. 770-945-6716. www.cityofsugarhill.com.
Come on down to Sugar Hill this Saturday for the Annual Holiday Celebration on the Community Plaza. This year's event will feature a holiday market, photos with Santa, fake snow, free carriage rides, ice skating, live performances, a visit from The Grinch, live music and food vendors.
North Fulton
Breakfast With Santa. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. $14 for residents, $21 for non-residents. Bill Johnson Community Building. 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell.770-641-3727. www.roswellgov.com.
Roswell hosts a Breakfast With Santa at the Bill Johnson Community Building this Saturday, including a delicious breakfast, kid's crafts, dancing and face painting. Registration required.
Back to Nature Holiday Market at CNC. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Free. Chattahoochee Nature Center. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell.770-992-2055. www.chattnaturecenter.org.
Fill your season with a little nature by shopping from the Back to Nature Holiday Market at Chattahoochee Nature Center this Saturday. From handmade soaps and candles, to nature-themed gifts and art, CNC has you covered for an eco-friendly Christmas.
Caroling on Canton Street. 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Free. Canton St., Roswell. 770-594-6271. www.visitroswellga.com.
Experience the old-fashioned joy of Caroling on Canton Street, which will include carolers singing holiday favorites, a bonfire and hot chocolate.
Swedish Christmas Market. 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. $2 for adults, free for youth 12 to 18. Dorothy Benson Center. 6500 Vernon Woods Drive NE, Sandy Springs. 404-613-4900. www.atlanta.swea.org.
Enjoy spending time surrounded by Swedish culture at the SWEA Annual Swedish Christmas Market on Sunday. Visitors will enjoy shopping for traditional Swedish gifts and crafts, tasting Swedish food, listening to live music and more.
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