With the kids out of school and visitors in town, the holidays can be a challenging time to find things to do that are a little different. Here are some suggestions for surprising, unusual and inexpensive seasonal fun in the next few weeks.
Hit the Ice
Visitors from Minnesota may be surprised, but Atlanta has plenty of places to lace up a pair of skates and hit the ice, even when it’s sunny and 50 degrees. Seasonal rinks at Centennial Olympic Park, Park Tavern in Piedmont Park, and the St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead offer picturesque settings with holiday sights and sounds. The Alpharetta Family Skate Center and the Ice Forum in Duluth and Kennesaw feature year-round skating, with public sessions, skate rentals and classes.
Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink, $10, includes skates. 265 Park Avenue NW, Atlanta, 404-222-7275, www.centennialpark.com.
Southwest Rink at Park Tavern, $15, includes skates. 500 10th Street NE, Atlanta, 404-249-0001. www.parktavern.com.
Astor Holiday Ice Skating Rink, $30 per hour adults; $18 under 16, includes skates and parking. St. Regis Hotel, 88 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, 404-563-7797, www.stregisatlanta.com.
Alpharetta Family Skate Center, $8-$9, skates, $3. 10800 Davis Drive, Alpharetta, 770-649-6600, www.cooler.com.
Duluth Ice Forum, $8, skates, $3. 2300 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 770- 813-1010, www.iceforum.com.
Kennesaw Ice Forum, $8, skates, $3. 3061 George Busbee Parkway, Kennesaw, 770-218-1010, www.iceforum.com.
Lake Lanier Islands Resort , $10 per person includes skates (plus admission to Magical Nights of Lights), Buford, 770-945-8787, www.lakelanierislands.com/magical-nights-of-lights.
NASCAR Holiday Lights
It might seem a tad crazy outside of NASCAR country, but last year more than 50,000 people visited Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton to drive the inaugural Gift of Lights. The nightly high-tech holiday show features more than 1 million LED lights in hundreds of displays around a 1.5 mile track. Adding to festivities, drivers can tune in holiday music on the FM dial and hear messages from NASCAR stars. Kids can get a free photo with Santa on Dec. 7-9, 14-16, and 21-23, and the Speedway’s gift shop will be open for holiday shopping on the same dates.
Atlanta Motor Speedway Gift of Lights, $15 per car Mondays-Thursdays; $20 per car Fridays- Sundays. Open through Jan. 6, 2013, including Christmas and New Year’s Day: 6-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 6-10 p.m. 500 Tara Place, Hampton, 770-946-4211, www.atlantagiftoflights.com.
Little Five Points Xmas
Recently, Forbes magazine named Atlanta’s Little Five points among America’s Hippest Hipster Neighborhoods. And it’s a hip holiday destination, too, with record stores, boutiques, theaters and music venues. Variety Playhouse is hosting several holiday shows, including “A John Waters Christmas.” The filmmaker of “Pink Flamingos” and “Hairspray” fame is back in Atlanta on Dec. 13 with another evening of witty, adult fun and games that promises to put the X in Xmas.
A John Waters Christmas, $35 general. 8 p.m. Dec. 13. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, 404-524-7354, www.variety-playhouse.com.
Beer Garden Nikolaustag
Most of the year, Der Biergarten in the Luckie Marietta District transports guests to Germany with the sights, sounds and flavors of an authentic Bavarian beer garden. But during the holiday season, the garden becomes a winter wonderland, filled with 26 Christmas trees twinkling lights, garland and ornaments. The decorations stay up through Jan. 7. But on Dec. 8, the third annual Nikolaustag Holiday Celebration will honor the German St. Nikolaus Day tradition featuring drink specials, including warm German wine and liters of draft beer, musical entertainment, games, giveaways, and an appearance by Santa.
Nikolaustag Holiday Celebration. Dec. 8. Beer garden open: 5-9 p.m. Mondays; 5 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays-Fridays; noon-midnight Saturdays; noon-9 p.m. Sundays. Der Biergarten, 300 Marietta Street, Atlanta, 404-521-2728, www.derbiergarten.com.
The Pink Pig
As much an Atlanta tradition as a trip to the Varsity or a climb up Stone Mountain, the Pink Pig has been a Christmas attraction since 1953, when it first transported giggling children around the top of the downtown Rich’s department store. After a short hiatus, Priscilla, as the kitschy pink one is known, survived corporate consolidation to resurface at Macy’s, where the porcine train runs above the Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead, amid holiday decorations and historic artifacts.
The Pink Pig. $3 per rider. Open through Jan. 1, 2013: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays, plus, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31. Macy’s Lenox Square, 3399 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, www.macys.com.
Ghosts of Christmas Past
Recapturing the social spirit of the Victorian era, the period gardens of Atlanta’s Historic Oakland Cemetery have become gathering spots for everything from picnics and pop-up supper clubs to music festivals. During the holidays, the Historic Oakland Foundation offers fresh, handmade wreaths to place on graves as a token of remembrance. Meet at the Visitor’s Center for guided tours at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and find holiday gifts at the Museum Shop.
Historic Oakland Cemetery, Admission free; guided tours $5-$10. Open 365 days a year: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 248 Oakland Avenue SE, Atlanta, 404-688-2107, www.oaklandcemetery.com.
Arty Holiday Market
Set in a quaint 19th-century farmhouse, Spruill Gallery in Dunwoody has become known for presenting cutting edge contemporary art in a surprisingly homey setting. Every December, the gallery is decorated as festive destination for its Holiday Artists Market. Everything during the invitational show is one-of-a-kind and handmade by artists, many of whom are instructors at the nearby Spruill Center for the Arts. At 3 p.m. Dec. 15, the Jewelry Trunk Show features selected jewelry artists.
Spruill Gallery Holiday Artist Market. Free. Open through Dec. 23: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Extended Shop ‘Til You Drop hours until 9 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20. 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, 770-394-4019 spruillarts.org.
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