7 Festive Things to Do Around Atlanta This Holiday Season (2023)
Staying in town or nearby Atlanta this holiday season and looking for some festive activities to get you in the spirit? We have you covered with all kinds of fun things you can do around the city whether it’s a family outing, romantic date night, or you wanna go out and get silly with the girls. Buckle up and get ready to shop, skate, and sip your heart out this December in ATL! (Be sure to check their websites for the most up to date information.)
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1. Barnsley Resort
Dates: Open year round, but visit now through January for a magical experience
It’s a vacation getaway without barely having to travel, at all! Barnsley Resort is so easy to visit for an extended, fun-filled weekend if you procrastinated making plans this holiday season. You don’t even need to hop on a flight. Just an hour away from Atlanta, enjoy 3,000 acres of serenity and fun, with beautiful holiday lights all aglow and especially lovely this time of year, plus picturesque manor ruins perfect for holiday photos. There’s plenty of goodies for food lovers to enjoy, like delicious BBQ with sauces made in-house and refreshing brews by the fire in their Beer Garden. The fried chicken at Woodlands Grill and the pimento cheese beignets are a MUST! You can have an active day with activities like sporting clays, horseback riding, golf, and archery, or relax with spa treatments and bourbon tastings. There of course will be special holiday menus for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and it’s lovely to make s’mores every night and enjoy the wood-burning fireplaces in their various cottages and restaurants.
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2. Shop at the Atlanta Christkindl Market
Dates: Now through December 24
Times: Monday-Thursday 3pm-8pm and Friday-Sunday 11am-9pm
Back for another year of holiday cheer is the Atlanta Christkindl Market in Buckhead! There is so much to love about this cozy market. They have all kinds of great vendors selling things like hand-crafted goods (hint hint if you still need to buy some gifts) and so many delicious things to eat from crepes and fresh jumbo pretzels to boiled peanuts and authentic Belgian waffles. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and walk around as you pop into each tent and take a look at everything the Atlanta Christkindl Market has to offer!
3. Go ice skating at Park Tavern
Dates: Now through January 15
Times: Monday-Thursday 4:30pm-midnight and Friday-Sunday 11:30am-midnight
A classic wintertime activity is ice skating, and although we may not have Rockefeller Center, there’s still a few super fun spots to get your fill here in ATL. One of our fav places is The Rink at Park Tavern. The Rink is open seven days a week through January 15 so there’s plenty of time to skate your heart out. Take the whole fam out, grab some lunch and then skate the afternoon away, or take your significant other for the perfect holiday date night. Other favorite skating rinks in the area include Ponce City Market, Atlantic Station and Avalon all offering a fun activity to do this holiday season.
4. See the lights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Dates: Now through January 14
Times: Everyday 5pm-10pm
Seeing the lights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of the greatest ATL holiday traditions. Grab your tickets online and bundle up as you walk through the botanical garden and take in all of the beautiful holiday light installations. Take your kiddos, take your boo, take your besties, it really doesn’t matter who you’re with, it’s always a lovely time here. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights will go until January 14 so be sure to plan your wholesome night out.
5. Go to a Christmas pop-up bar
Dates and times vary by location
Nothing says the holidays are here like checking out the Christmas Pop-up Bars around town. We love getting together with a group of friends at any one of the pop-up bars or restaurants that get decked out in holiday decor. You can expect all kinds of festive cocktails and bites, and of course photo ops galore. Some do require reservations so just be sure to check online before you go!
6. See The Nutcracker at The Fox
Dates: December 15 &16
Times: December 15 at 2pm and December 16 at 2pm and 7pm
December 15 and 16 you can head on down to The Fox Theater for a wonderful time watching The Nutcracker. This ballet performance is just magical and right in time to get you in the Chritsmas spirit. Make a whole day of it and grab lunch or dinner before the show in midtown. If you haven’t seen this performance, or even if you have, be sure to check it out this December.
7. Aprés All Day in Buckhead
Dates: December 2,9,16
Times: Noon-7pm
The first three Saturdays in December (2nd, 9th, 16th) Buckhead Village is transforming into a winter wonderland! Join in on all the fun at their Aprés All Day event. If you’re not careful you might think you’ve actually transported to an Alpine Village in the snowy mountains. The festival will be from noon to 7 PM and you can expect all things live performances, photo ops, hot cocoa, delicious food and cocktails, and of course all those vintage aprés ski vibes!
