13 Weekend Happenings Around Atlanta: November 21st – 24th
From prepping for Thanksgiving to spotting the Big Guy in Red, the holiday season is upon us!! Don’t miss a moment with our Top 13 Weekend Happenings Around Atlanta This Weekend: Friday – Sunday, November 21st – 24th.
Kick off the festivities this Thursday with the much-anticipated return of the Home for the Holidays Designer Showhouse & Marketplace! Plus, don’t miss a chance to spread some extra holiday joy in Decatur, where Santa will be snapping adorable photos with pets. Get your jolly on early and dive into the weekend spirit!
This Friday, dive into the holiday magic with the return of Buckhead Village’s charming German Christkindl Market. Enjoy cozy fireside hot cocoa, twinkling lights, and festive holiday shopping. Over at Fernbank Museum, the Winter Wonderland exhibit is back, showcasing stunning trees and traditions from around the world.
Throughout the weekend, don’t forget to visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden, where the holiday festivities are in full swing! From ride-on trains to visits with Santa himself, it’s a weekend celebration you won’t want to miss. Santa is continuing to make appearances throughout town, so be sure to snap a picture with Old Saint Nick!
Looking for less festive fun? Hop on over the the Atlanta BeltLine for a culmination of art and flavor for an oasis in the city – And as always, we have you covered with the city’s best Farmers Markets and a newly updated lineup of Inman Park’s best restaurants. Through all seasons, we will continue to have a spectacular lineup of fun each week – with events for couples, families, and running solo.
Our Top 13 Events This Weekend
Home for the Holidays Designer Showhouse & Marketplace
Thursday, November 21st
Home for the Holidays will showcase Atlanta’s leading design industry talents while celebrating design and effortless elegance. This year’s Showhouse bridges past and present, offering a thoughtful redesign of a historic Buckhead home where legendary golfer Bobby Jones helped conceive Augusta National Golf Club. Don’t miss out on a number of festive events throughout the Showhouse, including pop-up shops, panel discussions, workshops, and exciting demos!
Holidays in Decatur: Santa Pictures with Pets
Thursday, November 21st
Bring your pets and snap a photo with Santa on the Square – for free! Furry, feathery, or scaly – all are welcome! Remember to bring your camera or smartphone to capture the fun! All pets must be well-behaved, properly restrained, and up-to-date with vaccinations. Decatur’s Taj Ma Hound will be selling puppy, holiday-themed treats.
Buckhead Village German Christkindl Market
Kicks off Friday, November 22nd
This holiday season, Buckhead Village will be decking the halls with fresh eucalyptus garlands, oversized pastel ornaments, larger than life floral sculptures, and trees illuminated with sparkling globes. The dazzling celebration continues with festive activities, including cozy beverages and treats, music and entertainment, traditional German fare, holiday shopping, live performances, and so much more!
Holiday Happenings at Atlanta Botanical Garden
Through January 14th
It’s the most magical time of year, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden is filled with holiday wonder all season long! In addition to the beloved Garden Lights, Holiday Nights spectacular display, there are plenty of ways to festive through the end of the year – all in one place. Check out the Holiday Model Train Show, take a spin on the Ride-on Train, get your wishlist ready for Botanical Saint Nick, and more!
Winter Wonderland at Fernbank
Kicks off Saturday, November 23rd
Runs through January 12th
Showcasing celebrations from around the globe, the annual exhibit 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.
Georgia Aquarium Holidays
Runs 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.
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
Runs through January 12th
Atlanta’s favorite holiday tradition is back! Experience crowd favorites and some new surprises in store, including an upgrade to the world’s largest curtain of synchronized light and sound, “Nature’s Wonders.” Expect new music and choreography with more vertical lights than ever! The extravagant music and moti
on spectacle illuminates the Gardens with countless strands of synchronized dancing lights strung high over Storza Woods!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Center for Puppetry Arts
Through December 29th
Narrated by Sam the Snowman, this adaptation of the classic 1964 stop-motion animated special will quickly become a holiday tradition for you and your fellow misfits. Along the trip, audiences will experience Santa’s Workshop, the North Pole, and the Island of Misfit Toys – all while enjoying live performances of all the festive songs of the season from the 1964 original! All-Inclusive Performance tickets include the show, admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum, and the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™ where visitors can create a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Shadow Puppet.
Wildwoods AGLOW
Through February 23rd
Perfect for families and nature lovers alike, WildWoods: AGLOW is a one-of-a-kind experience in Atlanta. Fernbank Museum’s outdoor, nighttime experience is unlike anything else in Atlanta, taking guests of all ages on a multi-sensory journey through glowing displays blended with the natural woodlands. New this year, visitors can marvel at large illuminated dandelions, fluttering dragonflies, swarming bat displays, and glowing garden towers along the boardwalk.
Snap a Photo with Santa!
Through December 24th
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 Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick in 2024 and snap a picture with your family while finding some festive fun along the way. Catch Santa illuminating extraordinary live trees, sip on hot cocoa as you sing holiday carols, and maybe even spot a few of his reindeer as you search your way through the city to catch the Big Guy in Red (or green!).
Food and Street Art Tour on the BeltLine
Saturdays
Enjoy 6 delicious tastings across 4 popular Atlanta BeltLine restaurants and experience some surprise interactions with local street art! The immersive experience takes you along Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, not only showcasing the city’s hub of diverse flavor, but why the BeltLine is called the South’s largest outdoor art gallery. Come out and see the ways the Atlanta BeltLine is completely transforming the city!
Taste Your Way Through Inman Park
What better way to experience Atlanta than to delve into its hub of flavor? With over 70 incredible bars and restaurants within walking distance, Inman Park is home to Atlanta’s best flavors and dining experiences. We’ve compiled a list to help you get the most out of your dining experience with our favorite stops along the way!
Explore Atlanta’s Best Farmers’ Markets!
NEWLY UPDATED FOR 2024
Grab those market bags and get ready to experience the city’s local flavors at their very best with our 2024 Guide to Atlanta’s Best Farmers Markets. Enjoy a leisurely Saturday morning sipping hot brewed coffee as you stroll through a rainbow of organic produce, listening to live music and exploring local art. Even the kids will enjoy the variety of family-friendly options, including activity centers, baby animals, picnics, and more! Shopping local has never been easier, and Atlanta turns a weekly stop for food into a remarkable experience for everyone.