No matter what you celebrate this holiday season, Atlanta can make those celebrations brighter by offering something new. It’s a hotspot of mixing cultures, unique people, and new ideas — much more than ugly sweater pub crawls and tinsel-clad speakeasies for tipsy 20-somethings.
The sense of community and diversity of ideas makes events such as the Atlanta Christkindl Market and the Victorian Holiday at the Oakland Cemetery possible. However you want to celebrate this December, Atlanta’s vibrant community is here to offer you new ways to make memories with your family or experience it on your own.
Holiday on the Town at Town Brookhaven
At 4330 Peachtree Road, Town Brookhaven’s Holiday on the Town event is family-friendly, fun and — perhaps best of all — free.
Featuring a tree lighting, menorah lighting, visits with Santa, live reindeer, dance and music performances, character meet-and-greets, craft activities, and merchant specials, it’s a holiday celebration for one and all.
“Holiday on the Town offers something for all ages to enjoy!” an event representative told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “One of our fun features is the live reindeer display that we incorporated a few years ago. We also have beautiful ballet dancers that perform holiday pieces. This year, we are welcoming a choral group from a Brookhaven school that hasn’t been to our event in the past. Holiday on the Town really has a smaller community feel to it where families, friends, and neighbors can kick off their holiday season during a fun evening that is filled with activities related to the holiday season.”
It all goes down from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1.
Visit townbrookhaven.net/events-brookhaven for more details.
Hardman Farm’s Victorian Christmas
For history buffs, there’s Hardman Farm’s Victorian Christmas. A historic site in White County, Hardman Farms is an hour and a half north of Atlanta, but it’s worth a visit.
“Hardman Farm’s Victorian Christmas is unique because it offers a glimpse into holidays past,” event coordinator Sarah Summers said. “Guests will feel like they’ve been transported into the midst of a Christmas party in 1877 with period-correct holiday decorations, reenactors in beautiful late 1870s style Victorian dress and live music all set in the gorgeous Italianate-style mansion.”
For those with grandchildren, it can make for a holiday experience unlike any other.
“Victorian Christmas is a fantastic event for making family holiday memories,” she said. “Grandparents and grandchildren will enjoy making s’mores and singing around the campfire together, taking a horse-drawn wagon ride, visiting with Santa in the horse barn, and sampling Christmas cookies cooked on the woodfired stove in Hardman Farm’s historic kitchen.”
The Victorian Christmas event takes place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Dec. 2, Dec. 3, Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 16, and Dec. 17.
Visit explore.gastateparks.org/info/266698 for more information.
Winter Wonderland and Holidays During War at Atlanta History Center
Atlanta History Center is the city’s prime location for all things historical and it’s hosting two different events for the holidays.
For the grandchildren, consider giving the Atlanta History Center’s Winter Wonderland event a chance.
“Atlanta History Center invites the community to an educational session featuring arts and crafts, holiday music, and the best in classical children’s stories,” an Atlanta History Center representative said. “Hosted inside the museum gift shop, the program is designed for children ages one to five, with ticket prices ranging from $8 per child/students ages six and up, and $15 per adult. Members and children ages five and under are invited to attend for free. Readings will take place between 10 to 10:40 a.m. and 11 to 11:40 a.m.”
The event takes place Dec. 7.
If your grandchildren are a little older, or you want to experience a piece of fascinating history yourself, the center is also hosting a Holidays During War event from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 15.
“While there are many different holiday traditions, have you ever thought about how the holidays were celebrated during wartime?” a representative said. “At this Homeschool Day, Atlanta History Center will focus on how people would find joy and the types of celebrations seen during turbulent times. Pricing is $9 per child ages 4 and up and $15 per adult. Members and children ages 3 and under are invited to attend for free.
“It is a delight to help create memories for those who wish to celebrate the winter holidays on our campus. The events we host included historical context to explain why we celebrate holidays the way we do today. It is the perfect way to connect people, history, and culture.”
Visit atlantahistorycenter.com/event/toddler-storytime-winter-wonderland-2 and atlantahistorycenter.com/event/homeschool-day-holidays-during-war.
Holidays On The Home Front at Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site
Dallas’ Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site is hosting Holidays on The Home Front Saturday, Dec. 17, for history buffs of all ages from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“There will be games, crafts, and holiday decorating specific to the years 1840-1864,” Park ranger John Walker Hoomes said. “In a modern twist, Santa will be present from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is no extra event fee, but there is a general Historic Site Admission charge of $3 - $6 per person.
“Holidays On The Home Front will allow different generations to bridge generational gaps to connect, and realize the differences in how Christmas is celebrated, yet retains a consistent meaning.”
Learn more at explore.gastateparks.org/event/301855?c=22470477&s=0.0.0.5.
The Atlanta Christkindl Market at Buckhead Village District
For those looking to experience a different cultural representation of the holidays, the Atlanta Christkindl Market is back in a big way. The event at 290 East Paces Ferry Road kicks off Nov. 25 and runs until Dec. 24.
“This is the only real authentic German Christkindl Market organized by German/American citizens for everyone who loves the tradition of a German Christmas Market,” representative Marco Foelske said.
“We named the Atlanta Christkindl Market after Atlanta’s German partner city Nuremberg, where the Christkindl (“Christ child”) originates from. The vendors vending out of original German-built wooden booths, which over the years brought the total number to 75 booths, a Santa House, an 18 feet Christmas tree, and Kaethe Wohlfahrt, which is the largest all-year-round seller of Ornaments, wooden crafted Christmas (articles) and wooden candle mill houses. In addition to all the vending during the Christkindl Market, we have a cultural music program plan, where local musicians and artist present their art, acting, music and craft to the public. The exact local artists schedule will be featured on our Christkindlmarket.org website.”
Snow Day at Alpharetta City Center
How about this for a new twist on the season: dressed-up holiday llamas!
Alpharetta City Center is hosting a Snow Day event from noon to 3 p.m. on Dec. 10, and it is free for the public.
“There will be snow machines, live music from local band Lilac Wine, a photo booth in front of the Town Green Christmas tree, dressed-up holiday llamas, as well as a hot cocoa and cookie station, beanie craft station, snow globe craft station and a make-your-own-snow station with a bucket to take home your creations,” a representative of the center said.
“Since the event is outdoors on a large green space, the event is grandparent-friendly as there is plenty of room to spread out and move around without being in cramped situations. There will be plenty of kid-friendly activities as mentioned above, and the entire event is planned with children and their families in mind.”
Find out more at citycenteralpharetta.com as the event nears.
Victorian Holiday at Oakland Cemetery
Fans of the iconic Oakland Cemetery have two reasons to be excited this holiday season — the Holiday Scavenger Hunt and the Victorian Holiday celebration.
The self-guided scavenger hunt takes place throughout the historic cemetery from Nov. 20 through Jan. 2, and the event will require a ticket. The Victorian Holiday celebration, which will feature family-friendly tours, wreath sales, kids’ crafts and more, will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 for free.
“One might say that enjoying time at a cemetery during the holidays is, in itself, unique, but our holiday events ensure that a day spent at Oakland will create memories that last a lifetime,” representative Angie Wynne said.
“Our Holiday Hunt scavenger hunt, which runs throughout the holiday season, offers a unique opportunity for all generations to stretch their legs and work up an appetite together in one of Atlanta’s largest greenspaces. Grandparents and grandkids can solve clues and learn about Atlanta’s fascinating history before heading home to indulge in more holiday treats. Victorian Holiday (December 3 and 4) is a unique seasonal open house that features holiday activities for young and old alike. Families can snap photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, learn about Oakland on free mini-tours of the cemetery, tour historic mausoleums decked out for the holidays, make holiday crafts, and more.”
More info is at oaklandcemetery.com/event/holidayhunt2022 and oaklandcemetery.com/event/victorian-holiday-at-oakland-cemetery/2022-12-03/.
