Atlanta doesn’t do the holidays quietly. One week the whole city is lacing up for a Thanksgiving morning race, the next it’s packing into Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a championship game, and in between, a botanical garden, an aquarium and a zoo all turn into glowing light shows. If you’re visiting this November or December, or you live here and keep meaning to finally go, this is your list.
These are the ten events we’d actually plan a weekend around, in date order, with who each one suits and what to pair it with nearby. We checked every date against the organizer’s or venue’s own website on October 14, 2026. One event’s page doesn’t show the year yet, and we’ll flag it when we get there.
The quick version
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | Nov 11 – Dec 27 | Center for Puppetry Arts |
| Big nights at State Farm Arena | Nov 9, 11–12, 22 and more | State Farm Arena |
| WinterTide | Nov 13 – Jan 3 | Georgia Aquarium |
| Garden Lights, Holiday Nights | Nov 14 – Jan 10 | Atlanta Botanical Garden |
| IllumiNights at the Zoo | Select nights, Nov 21 – Jan 17 | Zoo Atlanta, Grant Park |
| Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon | Thu, Nov 26 | Center Parc Stadium |
| All Is Calm | Dec 2–27 | Theatrical Outfit, downtown |
| SEC Championship Game | Sat, Dec 5 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker | Dec 5–26 | Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre |
| Christmas with the ASO | Dec 10–13 | Atlanta Symphony Hall |
1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the Center for Puppetry Arts
November 11 to December 27, 2026 · Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring Street NW · Showtimes
If you grew up watching the stop-motion Rudolph special every December, this one will get you. The Center for Puppetry Arts brings the whole story to the stage with puppets: Rudolph, Hermey the elf who wants to be a dentist, the Island of Misfit Toys, all of it. It’s made for little kids, and the shows are short enough to hold their attention, but plenty of parents end up mouthing along to “Holly Jolly Christmas.”
There are 38 performances, mostly in the morning and early afternoon, so it slots neatly into a day out.
Our tip: book a morning show and stay for the museum afterward. It’s home to the largest collection of puppets in the country, including pieces from Jim Henson’s work. Our Center for Puppetry Arts guide has the details.
2. Big nights at State Farm Arena
November 2026 · State Farm Arena, 1 State Farm Drive · Event calendar
November is a big month downtown. The Hawks host the Lakers on November 9, Olivia Rodrigo brings her Unraveled Tour to town on November 11 and 12, and Sunday, November 22 is the Hawks’ first Kids Day game of the season, an afternoon tip-off against the Pistons that’s made for families. Doja Cat (November 17) and Dave Chappelle (November 4) are on the calendar too.
Whether it’s basketball or a concert, State Farm Arena is one of the easiest big venues in the country to get to, right in the middle of downtown.
Our tip: arrive early and grab dinner nearby, then walk over. Our State Farm Arena guide covers getting there and where to eat.
3. WinterTide at Georgia Aquarium
November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027 · Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker Street NW · Details
Georgia Aquarium goes all in for the season. A 40-foot LED tree lights up every morning, Santa sets up in a North Pole village, and the dolphin and sea lion shows get a holiday makeover. Santa photos are part of the fun too.
This is the one to save for a cold or rainy day, because the whole thing is indoors, and it’s one of the few holiday events where you also get to see whale sharks.
Our tip: the aquarium sits right next to World of Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park, so you can make a full downtown day of it. Our Georgia Aquarium guide has the highlights.
4. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Nightly, November 14, 2026 to January 10, 2027 · Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Avenue NE · Tickets and times
If you only do one thing on this list, make it this one. Every year the Atlanta Botanical Garden is covered in millions of lights, and walking through it after dark is about as magical as Atlanta gets. Couples love it, kids love it, and it’s the event locals bring visiting family to.
Entry is by timed ticket and the garden stays open late, so you can go after dinner. Expect tunnels of light, glowing orbs floating over the lawns and plenty of spots to stop for hot chocolate along the way. December weekends sell out, so book ahead, and weeknights in mid-November are the calmest time to go.
Our tip: the garden sits right next to Piedmont Park. Take a late-afternoon walk in the park, then head in once it’s dark. Our Atlanta Botanical Garden guide covers the gardens in daylight too.
5. IllumiNights at the Zoo
Select nights, November 21 to January 17, 5:30–9:30 p.m. · Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Avenue SE · Dates and tickets
Zoo Atlanta’s Chinese lantern festival fills the zoo with giant glowing lantern sculptures, and it’s one of the most photogenic nights out in the city. Paths wind past huge, brightly lit animals and scenes, and there’s something new around every corner. It’s built for families, and it’s a nice change of pace if you’ve already done the more traditional holiday lights.
One thing to flag: the zoo’s page lists these dates without a year. They line up with the 2026 calendar, but check before you book. It also runs on select nights only, not every night.
Our tip: the zoo is inside Grant Park, one of Atlanta’s oldest parks, so come early for a walk under the trees before the lanterns come on.
6. Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K and Mile
Thursday, November 26, 2026 · Center Parc Stadium, 755 Hank Aaron Drive · Race info
Atlanta Track Club’s Thanksgiving race is how a lot of the city earns its second helping. There’s a half marathon, a 5K, a one-mile race, and even a dash for kids six and under, so the whole family can take part. The half starts at 7:45 a.m., with the shorter races right after.
Not a runner? Grab a coffee and cheer. The energy on Thanksgiving morning is hard to beat.
Our tip: the stadium is in Summerhill, right next to Grant Park. Many attractions keep holiday hours on Thanksgiving, so check before you plan the rest of the day.
7. All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
December 2–27, 2026 · Theatrical Outfit’s Balzer Theater at Herren’s, 84 Luckie Street NW · Performances
This is the holiday show for people who think they don’t like holiday shows. The Atlanta Opera tells the true story of the 1914 Christmas truce, when soldiers on both sides of World War I put down their weapons, through the soldiers’ own words and songs, sung a cappella. It’s moving and it’s short, and it sticks with you.
Most evening shows start at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. and a Christmas Eve afternoon show.
Our tip: the theater is downtown, a short walk from Centennial Olympic Park and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Read more about the company in our Atlanta Opera guide.
8. SEC Championship Game
Saturday, December 5, 2026, kickoff time to be announced · Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 1 AMB Drive NW · Stadium events
The game is played on the first Saturday in December, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s own events calendar lists it for December 5, 2026. The kickoff time is usually set a week or two ahead, so check closer to the day.
The top two teams in the SEC meet for the title, and the whole city fills with fans. Even if you don’t have a ticket, downtown that weekend is something to see, with tailgates, team colors everywhere and sports bars packed from lunchtime. Mercedes-Benz Stadium itself is worth a look, with its famous pinwheel roof.
Our tip: if you’re visiting that weekend for anything else, book your hotel early, because downtown fills up fast. The stadium is a short walk from Centennial Olympic Park.
9. Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker
December 5–26, 2026 · Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway · Tickets
For many Atlanta families, the Nutcracker is the start of Christmas. Atlanta Ballet’s production has a live orchestra, big sets and plenty of snow, and it’s a great first ballet for kids. Dress up a little, get there early to see the lobby decorations, and let the little ones spot the Sugar Plum Fairy.
One thing to know: it’s not at the Fox Theatre. The company performs at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, northwest of the city, so plan for the drive.
Our tip: the Galleria area has plenty of places to eat before the show, so you can make a whole evening of it.
10. Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
December 10–13, 2026 · Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree Street NE · Holiday concerts
The symphony’s holiday concerts are a dressier night out, with carols, choirs and seasonal favorites in Midtown. If you want more, the ASO also performs Handel’s Messiah on December 17, and Sounds of the Season, its family concert, on December 23.
Our tip: Symphony Hall is in the Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown, a short ride from the Margaret Mitchell House and Piedmont Park. Pair a daytime visit to the house where Gone with the Wind was written with an evening at the symphony.
A few more worth keeping an eye on
These didn’t quite make the top ten, either because the 2026 details aren’t out yet or because there’s a catch to know about.
- Stone Mountain Christmas: holiday lights, a drone show and Santa at Stone Mountain Park. It usually opens in early November, but 2026 dates haven’t been announced yet.
- Children’s Christmas Parade: Atlanta’s big televised parade, usually on an early-December Saturday morning along Peachtree Street in Midtown. The 2026 date isn’t out yet.
- Candlelight Nights at the Atlanta History Center: usually Friday evenings in December. Watch for the 2026 dates.
- Silent Night, The Atlanta Opera: the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera about the same Christmas truce, November 7–15 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
- Georgia Veterans Day Parade: held on Peachtree Street in Midtown in recent years. The 2026 details are still to come.
How to make the most of an Atlanta holiday season
- Book the light shows early. Garden Lights and IllumiNights sell out on December weekends. Weeknights are easier.
- Thanksgiving week is busy. Between the race, travel and shopping, plan around crowds and holiday hours.
- Pack layers. Atlanta in December can swing from mild to near freezing, and the light shows are outdoors after dark.
- Group things by neighborhood. The Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park sit side by side. So do the Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park.
- Check before you go. Dates and times come from each organizer’s website and can change, so follow the links above for the latest.
That’s our list. From the lanterns at the zoo to the Christmas truce on stage, Atlanta has a lot packed into these two months. Which one are you most excited about?
Last checked: October 14, 2026.
