November 22, 2024
Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Feature, Food & Drink, Features, Featured, Guides,
Atlanta is home to a variety of fan-favorite activities for the whole family, from gourmet dining experiences to illuminated holiday installations. This winter, treat your loved ones to an extravagant outing at these seven local destinations for family fun.
Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker
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Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway / Website
As winter returns, so does the annual production of Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and played live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, the show takes audience members on a magical adventure as Marie and the Nutcracker Prince battle mice, travel to the Land of Sweets and journey through a fantastical winter wonderland.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
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1345 Piedmont Ave. NE / Website
Visitors can immerse themselves in a lush urban oasis as they explore a vibrant 30-acre botanical garden located in the heart of Atlanta. The destination is ringing in the holiday season with its Garden Lights, Holiday Nights experience presented by Invesco QQQ, featuring synchronized sound and light displays, festive plant sculptures and more.
Atlanta Christkindl Market
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290 East Paces Ferry Road NE; 3145 Peachtree St. NE / Website
From Nov. 22 through Dec. 24, Christkindl Market returns to the city, bringing festive German holiday traditions, tasty treats and handcrafted gifts to Atlantans. With a location in Buckhead Village District and another at Galleria on The Park, the annual experience showcases local, German and old country-inspired vendors and is hosted in partnership with the nonprofit German American Cultural Foundation (GACF).
Arnette’s Chop Shop
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2700 Apple Valley Road NE, Ste 55, Brookhaven / Website
Treat the whole family to an unforgettable steakhouse dinner at contemporary American steakhouse Arnette’s Chop Shop. The upscale eatery has something in store for every member of your party, with an indulgent lineup of tender dry-aged steaks, seasonal salads, fresh seafood (think East Coast oysters, Astrea Schrenckii caviar and hearth-roasted shellfish platters), plus cocktails, craft brews and wine pairings for the grown-ups.
Holidays at Georgia Aquarium
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225 Baker St. NW / Website
Round up your crew and pay a visit to one of Atlanta’s most beloved underwater destinations: the Georgia Aquarium. Peruse a number of fan-favorite exhibitions, from the African penguin exhibit to a massive tank featuring over-18-foot-long whale sharks. Special for the holiday season, the aquarium features a 40-foot Christmas tree, winter-inspired installations, holiday tunes and the chance to take photos with Santa from Nov. 15 through Jan. 2, 2025.
IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta
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800 Cherokee Ave. SE / Website
One of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions is back with the return of IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta, the destination’s after-dark illuminated winter wonderland. Presented by Georgia Power, the experience features brightly lit handcrafted and handpainted lanterns, warm beverages, festival-inspired snacks and meal options, a marshmallow roast, fantastical rides on the Endangered Species Carousel and more.
The Blind Elf Holiday Pop-Up Bar
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128 E. Andrews Drive NW / Website
Located by the black unmarked door behind Chido & Padre’s, speakeasy bar The Blind Pig Parlour Bar has undergone a festive transformation for the holiday season, incorporating themed bites and beverages, seasonal decor, twinkling lights and more. Although guests must be 21 years of age or older to visit the Blind Elf nightly, the bar is offering kid-friendly sessions on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. beginning Dec. 1, featuring food and drink additions for all ages.
See also: The 6 Best Holiday Lights In Atlanta
Photography by: iStock
