December is a month full of merriment. It's also a month where children make mile-long toy lists, eat all things sugar and then are released from school for over two weeks. Parents, we feel for you during this season of giving until your wallet bleeds. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, here's a holiday list full of family fun to keep the kids busy and your fraying nerves tethered.
Children's Christmas Parade | 10:30 a.m. Dec. 5
Peachtree Street at 16th Street to Peachtree Street at 5th Street
www.choa.org
It doesn't matter what you celebrate, everyone loves a parade. Especially one with candy being thrown, lots of music and grown-ups dressed in silly costumes for charity. This rain or shine event transforms the route among the sweeping skyscrapers of Atlanta's Midtown Mile into Santa Claus Lane. Claim your spot along Peachtree early and then watch while holiday-themed, giant balloons, floats and marching bands pass by before the big arrival of the man in red. Be sure to look your festive best, you could be on TV. Though this event is free, consider giving a little cash to Children's Health Care of Atlanta. The organization has been there for parents across Atlanta during those 1 a.m. high fevers and a few broken arms.
Celebration Days and Winter Wonderland at Fernbank | Now-Jan. 10
$18 adults, $16 children, Free to museum members
767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30307
www.fernbankmuseum.org
Make this a teaching moment for your kids while having fun. Bring the family to Fernbank on Saturdays throughout December to learn how cultures around the world celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa through puppet shows, choral performances, light displays and holiday movies. Special guest appearance by Santa-saurus. Stroll through two floors of over 30 beautifully lit, decorated trees full of ornaments and cultural objects showcasing diverse holiday traditions from all over the world.
Hanukkah Storytime in Decatur | 3:15 p.m. Dec. 6
Little Shop of Stories, 133 E. Court Square, Decatur, Ga. 30030
www.jewishatlanta.org
Bring the kids to hear stories read aloud by Atlanta children's author, Laurel Snyder, and help kick off this year's Interfaith Family/Atlanta Hanukkah celebration. There will be donuts and dreidels for everyone.
Light Up the J | 5:15 p.m. Dec. 7-Dec. 9
MJCCA-Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, Ga. 30338
www.atlantajcc.org
Bring the family along to MJCCA's three-night Hanukkah celebration and sing songs, watch performances, eat jelly donuts and sip on hot chocolate before the lighting of the menorah each evening. All are welcome.
Sojourn's Atlanta Chanukah Party | 7 p.m. Dec. 9
Rush Center Annex, 1530 DeKalb Ave. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30307
www.sojourngsd.org
Nobody throws a party like Sojourn, and Hanukkah is no exception. This fun-for-the-whole-family, all-inclusive event includes latkes and snacks, kid-friendly and adult beverages, dreidels and other festive fun times. BYOM (Bring Your Own Menorah) encouraged but not required for the evening's lighting ceremony.
25th Annual SW Cascade Christmas Kwanzaa Parade | Noon Dec. 12
2435 Cascade Road, Atlanta, Ga. 30311
www.atlantaga.gov
Celebrate Kwanzaa, now in its 25th year in Atlanta, with a parade and festival while helping to boost civic pride along the Cascade Road corridor. Open to everyone. Event organized by Cascade Merchants and the Rev. Yvonne Shaw.
Georgia Aquarium's Breakfast with Santa | 9 a.m. Dec. 12
Non-members $19.95 per person, Members $14.95 per person
Oceans Ballroom, 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30313
www.georgiaaquarium.org
This epic breakfast with Santa includes decadent dishes from Wolfgang Puck Catering and holiday crafts as well as a chance to visit with Santa himself -- next to the beluga whales exhibit, of course. Look sharp for your date with St. Nick, and don't forget the camera.
5th Annual Reindeer Day | 12 p.m. Dec. 13
$10 adults, $6 children, Free to members
Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, Ga. 30075
www.chattnaturecenter.org
Get up close and personal with Santa's sleigh-pulling companions on a day that celebrates all things reindeer. Enjoy live reindeer, winter crafts, a caribou migration game, roasting marshmallows and nature hikes fit for the whole family.
Kwanzaa Celebration and Reception | 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21
Cleveland Avenue Branch Library, 47 Cleveland Ave. SW, Atlanta, Ga. 30315
www.afpls.org
Come learn about everything you've ever wanted to know about Kwanzaa as the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library system helps celebrate the season with music, speakers, discussions and of course, holiday refreshments. Open to all ages.
Ongoing Activities
Ice Skating
Rip the kids away from their holiday toy stash and head out for an afternoon of ice skating at one of these outdoor rinks.
Park Tavern | Now-Feb. 15
$15-$20
500 Tenth St. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30309
All ages until 8 p.m., Ages 16+ after 8:30 p.m.
www.parktavern.com
Centennial Olympic Park | Now-Jan. 10
$12, including skate rental
265 Park Ave. West NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30313
www.centennialpark.com
Atlantic Station | Now-Feb. 14
$13 adults, $10 children, $75 Season Pass
District Avenue (between American Apparel and Banana Republic)
www.atlanticstation.com
Historic Marietta Square | Now-Jan. 4
$12, including skate rental
Historic Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square, Marietta, Ga. 30060
www.winterwonderlandmariettasquare.com
Avalon | Now-Jan. 24
$18, including skate rental. Special kids pricing Mon.-Thu. $175 Season Pass
2200 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta, Ga. 30009
www.experienceavalon.com
Lights of Life | Now-Dec. 31
$5 per car Monday-Thursday until Dec. 17. $10 per car Friday-Sunday and Dec.18-Dec. 31
Life University, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, Ga. 30060
www.life.edu
Why drive miles and miles in traffic and pay big ticket prices to take in holiday lights? It's all right here in your own backyard. Throw the family in the car and travel to Marietta to see the 26th annual Lights of Life holiday light show. Billed as the Southeast's most affordable public holiday lights display, you will wind your way past gardens of twinkling trees, a 65-foot Santa with his sleigh and the mighty sea monster bobbing on the surface of the university's lake. Driving tours begin at 6 p.m.
Macy's Pink Pig | Now-Jan. 3
$3 per ride, $5.50 for two rides, $7.50 for three rides
Lenox Square Mall, Upper Level Parking Deck, 3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30326
www.macys.com
An Atlanta tradition for over 50 years, relive childhood memories while making new ones with your own children as they ride along with Priscilla the Pink Pig through a life-sized storybook under the glow of, you guessed it, her big pink tent.
Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain | Now-Feb. 28
Check site for pricing and reservation details
1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, Ga. 30083
www.stonemountainpark .com
In Georgia, we create our own snowy wonderlands. While it may not snow much in the Southeast during the winter, the folks at Stone Mountain understand that sometimes you just want go sledding and make snow angels -- even if it's 60 degrees. Fun for the whole family, enjoy a day of sledding, building snow people, making snow angels and roasting marshmallows. Make sure to bundle up, because while it may not be Minnesota cold, this is still real snow, y'all.
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