Holiday things to do this weekend in metro Atlanta
You’ve got a few hours over the weekend and are looking for a nearby diversion – something that doesn’t require reservations or a tank of gas. Welcome to Close to Home! Each week we’ll highlight the quick, quaint and quirky events in your neighborhood. Email submissions to CommunityNews@ajc.com.
‘A Civil War Christmas’ in Kennesaw
“A Civil War Christmas.” 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today. Free. Visitor Center, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, 900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw. Join Ranger Matthew Ibbetson as he discusses how a Civil War soldier would have experienced the holiday in December 1864. 770-427-4686, nps.gov/kemo.
‘A Christmas Carol’ in Woodstock
“A Christmas Carol” for all ages. 2 p.m. today. $13.50. City Center, Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, 8534 Main St., Woodstock. 678-494-4251, info@ElmStreetArts.org.
‘Light into Darkness’ in Kennesaw
“Christmas Eve at NorthStar: Light into Darkness.” 2:15 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 6 p.m. today. NorthStar Church, 3413 Blue Springs Road, Kennesaw. 770-420-9808, NorthStarChurch.org.
RELATED: This Kennesaw home has a Christmas light display with 275,000 bulbs
RELATED: This Cobb Chick-fil-A is treating customers to a holiday light show
Christmas Eve services in Atlanta
Christmas Eve services. 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. today. The Church of the Apostles, 3585 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta. 404-842-0200, apostles.org/UpcomingEvents.
Christmas services in Marietta
Christmas services. First United Methodist Church of Marietta, 56 Whitlock Ave. NW, Marietta. 770-429-7800, info@mariettafumc.org.
3-4 p.m., 6-7 p.m. today. Christmas Eve Children’s Nativity.
4-5 p.m., 7:30-8:30 p.m., 11 p.m. to midnight today. Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion.
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Sunday. Christmas Day Worship.
Find more Christmas church services in metro Atlanta
RELATED: What, no church on Christmas? Some churches won't hold Sunday services
Christmas services in Hiram
Christmas services. Poplar Springs Baptist Church, 2056 Hiram Douglasville Highway, Hiram. 770-943-6789, psbchurch.net/calendar.asp.
5 p.m. today. Christmas Eve Service.
10:30 a.m. Sunday. Christmas Day Service with communion. No Sunday School.
Christmas services in Norcross
Christmas services. 5 p.m. today, 10:30 a.m. Sunday. One Heart Church, 706 N. Peachtree St., Norcross. 678-533-1900, OneHeartChurch.org/calendar/this-month.
Live Nativity in Atlanta
Rock Spring Presbyterian Church, 1824 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. 404-875-7483, office@rspc.org.
Live Nativity: 7-9 p.m. today.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Services: 5:30 p.m., 9 p.m. today.
Christmas Day: 10:15 a.m. Sunday.
New Year’s Day: 10:15 a.m. Jan. 1.
Family Fun Day in Dunwoody
Family Fun Day. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Free but food and beverages will be available for purchase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Family-friendly movies, assorted inflatables, ride-on toys, table tennis, indoor swimming and more will be available to all visitors. Weather permitting, the Paradies Playground at the Weinstein School Preschool will be open for outdoor play. 678-812-4173, atlantajcc.org.
Christmas at The Rock
Drive-Thru Christmas Lights for more than 1 mile. 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 31. $5 per vehicle, $20 per bus (by cash or card). The Rock Ranch, 5020 Ga. 36, The Rock off Interstate 75, Exit 201. 706-647-6374, TheRockRanch.com/our-location.
Christmas in the Grove in Decatur
Christmas in the Grove, an animated Christmas light display. Through Jan 1 (weather permitting). 6:30-11 p.m. today and Dec. 31, 6:30-10 p.m. Sundays through Thursday, 6:30-11 p.m. Friday. Free. 1428 Oak Grove Drive, Decatur. facebook.com/ChristmasintheGrove.
RELATED: Atlanta Hawks’ Dwight Howard surprise Decatur YMCA kids with Christmas shopping spree
‘A Mid-Century Christmas’ exhibit in Douglasville
“A Mid-Century Christmas” exhibit. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays through Jan. 14. Free. Douglas County Museum of History and Art, 6754 Broad St., Douglasville. 678-449-3939, info@DouglasCountyMuseum.com.
Stone Mountain Christmas
Stone Mountain Christmas. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, closed Christmas Day, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Dec. 31 and Jan. 1-4. $25.95 to $49.95, free for children under age 3. Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. 1-800-401-2407, StoneMountainPark.com/Events/Stone-Mountain-Christmas.
