By Discover Atlanta Editorial Team
Published November 25, 2024
Last Updated December 11, 2024
Here’s what’s going on in Atlanta this weekend, Dec. 13, 14 and 15.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is where to find the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Saturday.
The Cricket Celebration Bowl, which features the South Carolina State Bulldogs of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Jackson State Tigers of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at noon on Saturday. Ahead of that, there are lots of events and activities. On Dec. 11, Coca-Cola will host a welcome reception and dinner for the teams and coaches, and the teams will attend a Coca-Cola Taste of Atlanta reception. On Thursday, there will be a Champions Circle Showcase Dinner Reception at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. On Friday, there will be a swim clinic at Morehouse College, a Guardian of the Games Awards Dinner honoring women leaders in sports; a SWAC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and a Band of the Year event. On Saturday, there will be an HBCU swim meet at Morehouse College and the Coca-Cola Fan Experience at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Among the things to do in the Fanzone are: High School Band Jamboree at 9 a.m.; College Band Jamboree at 10 a.m.; and merchant vending at 8:30 a.m. and again at 3 p.m.
Cirque du Soleil takes the stage at Fox Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Fox Theatre)
Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta brings Cirque du Soleil to the Fox Theatre, where the company will perform “‘Twas the Nigh Before” on stage. See it through Sunday.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History once again brings WildWoods: Aglow to Atlanta. It is on exhibit through Feb. 23, 2025. The multi-sensory experience immerses visitors in the wonders of nature through a blend of the real environment and glowing displays curated to highlight the native flora and fauna within WildWoods. WildWoods: AGLOW uses glowing scenes and original music compositions to immerse guests into a nighttime wonderland of biodiversity. Highlights include an interactive tulip poplar pod, projections of nocturnal wildlife, glowing native plant species, larger-than-life incandescent mushrooms and more. New this year, guests will discover large dandelions, fluttering dragonflies, swarming bat displays and glowing garden towers.
Fernbank’s new exhibit is all about Armored Animals. (Photo courtesy of Fernbank Museum of Natural History)
The Armored Animals exhibit at Fernbank Museum of Natural History tells a story of protection and defense through artifacts, spiny displays and casts from animals such as fish and dinosaurs. Other highlights include giant insect sculptures, a 30-foot skeletal replica of the giant crocodilian, Deinosuchus, and more. Displays range from the skeletons of rare early armored dinosaurs and ancient armored fish to giant sea scorpions. The exhibit underscores how humans have emulated the animal world in their armor construction. Early warriors and hunters sought to capture the awe-inspiring power of animals for their own use. From simple defensive plates and helmets to mimicking the beauty of animals’ armor, there is a distinct connection between natural evolution and human adaptations of animals’ defensive techniques. The exhibit is on display through Jan. 5, 2025.
The Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit, “My New Yorks,” is on display at the High Museum of Art. Famed for her images of flowers and Southwestern landscapes, Georgia O’Keeffe spent several years exploring the built environment of New York City. She moved to the Shelton Hotel in 1924 for a five-year period of experimentation. She created street-level compositions capturing the city’s monumental skyscrapers from below and suspended views looking down from her 30th-floor apartment. She called these works her “New Yorks.” The High is the exclusive venue in the Southeastern United States for this exhibition, open until Feb. 16, 2025.
The exhibit, “Giants from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys” is open at the High Museum of Art through Jan. 19, 2025. Musicians, songwriters and producers Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys have lived their ethos of “artists supporting artists,” acquiring a world-class collection of paintings, photographs and sculptures by diverse, multigenerational artists. The exhibition illuminates the renown and impact of legendary and canon-expanding artists.
The exhibit, “Characters: Type in Action,” is open at MODA (the Museum of Design Atlanta) through Jan. 20, 2025. The exhibit delves into the impact of typography on social justice, examining its history and its role in today’s movements. This exhibition showcases typefaces created by Tré Seals, a Black designer from Washington, D.C., and founder of Vocal Type, whose work captures the spirit of social justice movements. Typefaces remind us that a just and equitable world embraces diverse voices in our daily lives. Through the stories of historical figures, the exhibit reveals how typography can be wielded as a tool for both oppression and liberation.
The exhibit, “Golden Opportunity: Botanical Illustration,” is open at Fernbank Museum of Natural History through Jan. 1, 2025. The exhibit showcases the art and science found in yellow plants. See pieces of art created by members of Denver Botanic Gardens’ School of Botanical Art & Illustration, as well as display cases highlighting dried plant materials used in creating yellow dye.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s annual Christmas with the ASO begins on Thursday and runs through the weekend. The musical extravaganza features beloved carols, hymns and festive cheer. Sing along to your favorite Christmas songs and create cherished memories at this program that features the voices of the Morehouse Glee Club and the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir. This popular Atlanta tradition was begun by Robert Shaw, former ASO music director.
Ballethnic Dance Co. performs “Urban Nutcracker” this weekend at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the Morehouse College campus. The performance showcases the Reggae Ragdolls, the Arabian dance, the Black Russians, Mother Spice and her tumbling Spice Drops, the Coca-Cola Pas de Six and the Brown Sugar and her Chocolatier.
Miracle on Peachtree returns this weekend.
Miracle on Peachtree is back for the fifth year with family-friendly events and activities. Livable Buckhead plans Hot Chocolate Crawls on Saturday and also a Kids’ Christmas. Learn more.
Through Dec. 29, the Pemberton Place Holiday Express invites you to wander the park around Pemberton Place, which will be decorated for the holidays. Catch a ride on the Coca-Cola Holiday Express train, which will whisk you from the North Pole to the South Pole and back.
Local girls perform in “Madeline’s Christmas” at Horizon Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Horizon Theatre)
“Madeline’s Christmas” returns to Horizon Theatre for its 14th season through Dec. 31. The musical adaptation of Ludwig Bemelmans’ children’s book is produced by Horizon Theatre in collaboration with Atlanta Children’s Theatre. Featuring 24 talented local girls (8-13 years old) from all over metro Atlanta performing alongside professional actors on a beautiful set, this production promises to delight both children and adults.
Head to Virginia Highland this weekend for Winterfest. On Friday from 6 until 9 p.m. a ticketed event includes music, games, a snow machine, live reindeer and holiday lights. Saturday begins with the Jingle Jog from 9 until 10 a.m. That gives way to the Holiday Parade from 10 until 11 a.m. There’s a gift market from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Kids’ Corner from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Atlantic Station’s Celebration at the Station runs through Dec. 25. Skate the Station at the ice-skating rink while listening to holiday classics. Take in the sights and sounds of the neighborhood, reimagined into a magical holiday wonderland.
Explore holiday traditions from around the world at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Winter Wonderland. (Photo courtesy of Fernbank Museum of Natural History)
“Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions Around the World” is open at Fernbank Museum of Natural History through Jan. 12, 2025. Enjoy the holidays and other celebrations through two floors of decorated trees and display cases that highlight cultural objects, events and traditions from around the world. “Winter Wonderland” tells stories about the more than 25 countries represented from across the globe. Some of this year’s cultural partners represent countries such as Argentina, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Norway, Japan, India, Mexico, Peru, Turkey, the Philippines, Switzerland and more.
Experience the magic of the holiday season at Atlanta Christkindl Market, a fusion of traditional German festivities and the spirit of Atlanta. From culinary delights to handcrafted treasures, the market combines old-world charm with the modern energy of the city. Located in Buckhead Village, it is open through Christmas Eve.
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Ready to get into the holiday spirit? See the Alliance Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol.” (Photo courtesy of Alliance Theatre)
The Alliance Theatre’s annual production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” runs through Dec. 24. Audiences will be transported to the streets of London for the timeless redemption story of Ebenezer Scrooge, told with live music and an all-star cast.
See Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse through Dec. 23. A handful of Tavern performers invites you into the wondrous art of storytelling, transporting you to Scrooge’s London counting house that fateful Christmas when Ebenezer meets three ghosts and a certain little boy named Tiny Tim.
“A Christmas Story” is on stage at Theatrical Outfit through Dec. 24. Nine-year-old Ralphie Parker takes audiences on a hysterical, hijinks-filled avalanche of adventure filled with all the trappings of a perfect family holiday – an exploding furnace, a perfect pair of pink bunny pajamas and a wild rash of theatrical fantasies not for the “fra-gee-lay” of heart.
See Stone Mountain Christmas now through Jan. 5, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Stone Mountain Park)
The annual holiday extravaganza Stone Mountain Christmas at Stone Mountain Park continues through Jan. 5, 2025. Traditions include visits with Santa, the magical Christmas Parade, the tree lighting ceremony with Aurora, the drone & light show, screenings of the film “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 4-D, sing-a-long train rides and plenty more.
Take a flight to the North Pole, a journey that whisks you away to the heart of Santa’s world. See the drone and light show where 250 drones light up the sky and create holiday-themed aerial formations and displays. Join Aurora, Princess of Light, as she lights the way for Santa’s sleigh. Santa Claus will make a grand entrance with a fly-over, marking his arrival at Stone Mountain Park. Get into the festive spirit with the Christmas Parade featuring floats, holiday characters and music. Take in live shows and enjoy special meet-and-greet opportunities with some favorite North Pole friends including Santa, Santa’s reindeer and more. Hear the true meaning of Christmas aboard the sing-a-long Christmas train, and sing along to your favorite classic Christmas tunes with the Crossroads Carolers.
Atlanta Botanical Garden’s annual lighting extravaganza, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights continues through Jan. 12, 2025.
Back for its 14th year, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights shines bright with an upgrade to its curtain of synchronized light and sound, Nature’s Wonders. Expect new music and choreography with more vertical lights than ever. There will be several giant plant sculptures from the “Alice’s Wonderland Returns” exhibit, dramatically lit and including the Skyline Garden’s White Rabbit and nearby Chess Set as well as the Cheshire Cat.
Rudolph and the gang are back at Center for Puppetry Arts. (Photo courtesy of Center for Puppetry Arts)
The Center for Puppetry Arts presents its annual production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” through Dec. 29. This celebrated holiday classic follows Rudolph and Hermey the Elf, two misfits on the run. The unlikely friends set off on a merry and heartwarming adventure of acceptance and self-discovery, even with Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster on their trail.
Zoo Atlanta’s annual IllumiNights showcases vistas of brilliantly illuminated wildlife and captivating sights that celebrate the wonders of nature. This year, the zoo introduces new lanterns and experiences, transforming Zoo Atlanta into a nighttime wonderland. IllumiNights continues through Jan. 19, 2025.
During Holidays at Georgia Aquarium you’ll find a completely transformed atrium with festive music, winter-inspired projections and a 40-foot live tree. There will be photos with Santa, daily lighting of the tree and holiday-themed dolphin presentations. All the swimmers at the aquarium cannot wait to sea you. Festivities continue through Jan. 2, 2025.
On Saturday from noon until 5 p.m., the team behind the Netherworld haunts will host limited VIP Lights On Tours of this year’s two haunts, WAKE THE DEAD and MR. GRENDEL’S BIRTHDAY PARTY OF HORRORS. With the house lights on plus haunt effects, this is a one-of-kind experience that haunted house fanatics will love.
Guests in groups of up to seven will be led by knowledgeable guides who will explore the storylines, themes, operations and history that bring these attractions to life. Each tour-goer will also receive a free souvenir printed photo, have the opportunity to take pictures at select locations inside the haunts and have access to the House of Creeps Monster Museum. A limited number of tickets is available.
Winter House returns to Callanwolde Fine Arts Center through Sunday. Among the things to do are an artist market, a children’s dance party, storytelling and 15 holiday workshops. Try ornament painting, wreath making, snowflake weaving, glass etching or blacksmithing. There are charges for some activities.
Saturday from noon until 4 p.m., enjoy Tinsel and Twine at Westside Provisions District. In addition to the holiday market, there will be hot toddies on tap, photos with Stylish Santa, kid crafts and festive music.
Atlantic Station hosts Creator’s Market from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturdays and noon until 7 p.m. Sundays, every weekend through December. The market offers a shopping experience featuring more than a dozen vendors of hand-crafted products ranging from jewelry and home décor to soaps and candles. There also are tasty treats, artists and fun.
Sockefeller Plaza is open at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta through Jan. 2, 2025. Let the little ones slip, slide and sock-skate. Jane’s Innovation Station transforms into a mini-skating rink made of soft, snowy white tiles, surrounded by a friendly fence to keep the fun on the rink. Kids can kick off their shoes and glide around in socks, showing off smooth moves and silly spins. Daring dashers and tiptoeing twirlers alike will find Sockefeller Plaza the place to sock-skate and commemorate the season in style.
LEGO Discovery invites kids and their families to the Holiday Bricktacular running through Dec. 31. At the holiday-themed Discovery Center, kids can give back to the community, build a take-home LEGO holiday creation and meet the LEGO Gingerbread Man.
Take the kiddos to the exhibit, “Wallace & Gromit: Get Cracking” at Children’s Museum of Atlanta. (Photo courtesy of Children’s Museum of Atlanta)
Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s featured exhibit, “Wallace & Gromit: Get Cracking,” is open. Inspired by the film and television characters, this interactive exhibit invites visitors to engage in creative, hands-on activities that promote problem-solving and resilience. Created in collaboration with Aardman and the Minnesota Children’s Museum, the exhibit will educate and entertain kids through Jan. 12, 2025. Designed for children ages 3 through 9, the exhibit invites little inventors into Wallace’s world, where inventions and contraptions often go terribly — but hilariously — wrong.
The Atlanta Hawks play at home on Sunday in the NBA Cup, facing either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Orlando Magic. Game time: 5 p.m. at State Farm Arena.
The Georgia State University men’s basketball Panthers play the Charlotte 49ers at the GSU Convocation Center at 2 p.m. Saturday.
This article updates weekly with brand new things to do in Atlanta for the weekend. Feel free to bookmark it for next weekend. For more weekend events, check our calendar.
