Top 10 Happenings Around Atlanta This Thanksgiving | 2024
Thanksgiving is finally here, and the holiday hustle is fast-approaching! Take a break from all the recipe planning, and explore the Top 10 Happenings Around Atlanta This Thanksgiving: 2023.
With so much more to do than Black Friday shopping, it’s easier than ever to keep your family happy and engaged this 2023 Thanksgiving holiday!
From holiday interior decor to dining, activities for all ages – and even some unconventional fun – we have all your tastes covered even if turkey isn’t on the menu this year.
Winter House
November 30th – December 15th
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
Complete with visits from Santa himself, the 27,000 square-foot historic mansion will be filled with laughter, holiday magic, activities, and workshops for all! Cozy up next to a blazing fire in the Wine Bar and Beer Garden, and step outside to make s’mores by the outdoor fire pits as jazzy holiday tunes fill the air. Guests can play classic board games, build and decorate gingerbread houses, and explore the holiday artist market for that special gift this season!
Holidays in Decatur
Saturday, November 30th
Downtown Decatur
Santa Claus is comin’ to town! Snap a picture with Ol’ Nick and enjoy make-and-take crafts, holiday music, hot cocoa, warm cookies, and other fun surprises. And be sure to get your holiday shopping done early and support Decatur’s local businesses on Small Business Saturday!
Home for the Holidays Designer Showhouse & Gardens
Through December 15th
Chastain Park
Home for the Holidays will showcase Atlanta’s leading design industry talents while celebrating design and effortless elegance. Learn more about the Showhouse, upcoming events, and this year’s beneficiary, the Atlanta History Center! This year’s 2024 Home for the Holidays Showhouse beautifully bridges past and present, offering a thoughtful redesign of a historic Buckhead home where legendary golfer Bobby Jones helped conceive Augusta National Golf Club
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
Through January 12th
Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Explore the Botanical Gardens unlike ever before on Thanksgiving night. Sip on a hot cocoa as you stroll through the millions of sparkling lights and roast s’mores by a toasty fire. Seasonal favorites such as the Orchestral Orbs, Glittering Galaxy, and Model Trains also return to make your
long Thanksgiving weekend the ultimate experience to kicking off the holiday season!
Holiday Happenings at Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Through January 14th
Atlanta Botanical Gardens
While enjoy the Gardens’ remarkable twinkling light displays, don’t miss out on the other holiday happenings! Visit Botanical Saint Nick as he makes his first appearance on Saturday, hop aboard the ride-on train, and get in the holiday spirit.
Atlanta Half Marathon & Thanksgiving Day 5k
Thursday, November 28th
Spend Thanksgiving morning working up an appetite for that turkey and pumpkin pie! The annual Thanksgiving Day tradition has become one of the largest half marathons in the country. Join the day’s festivities at the Thanksgiving Day 5k or participate in the 50-Meter Dash – both open to children and families!
Chastain Park Holiday Tree Sale
Friday, November 29th
Chastain Horse Park Red Lot
Looking for the most beautiful and long-lasting trees in Atlanta? The Holiday Tree Sale boasts beautiful trees by Barefoot Mountain for sale in the Chastain Horse Park’s Park Red Lot. Enjoy a Thanksgiving weekend tradition while holiday shopping for fraser fir wreaths, garland, and trees!
Winter Wonderland at Fernbank Museum
Through January 12th
Showcasing celebrations from around the globe, Winter Wonderland fills Fernbank Museum with over two floors of twinkling, beautifully decorated trees throughout the holiday season! The variety of trees will be adorned with twinkling with lights, glimmer with color, and shine with a variety of cultural objects. The displays throughout the museum recognize the diversity of celebrations, holidays, traditions, and events from around the world.
Holidays at Georgia Aquarium
Through January 2nd
The atrium will be filled with the sights and sounds of the holiday season, complete with holiday music and a live 40-foot tree! With some new surprises and old favorite (like pictures with Santa himself!), the Georgia Aquarium invites you and your family to take in all the magic of the holidays. Snap some photos of Santa in scuba gear, enjoy singing carolers strolling through the Aquarium, take in some delicious cafe offerings, and more!
Snap a photo with Santa!
He’s making a list, and he’s checking it twice – Santa Claus is coming to town! We’ve put together a list where you can be sure to spot him in 2023 and get a picture with your family and pets.