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Atlanta's Best Christmas Adventures, In Map Form

By Josh Green
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By Josh Green
2 comments / new

Has your Yuletide spirit been amiss? Is there a lump of coal in your soul? Well, here's the elixir! Curbed Atlanta has rounded up eight holiday excursions to get your jollies jingling. Our family-friendly options are located from the fringes of the exurbs to the heart of downtown, priced from dirt-cheap to way, way overpriced. Each is sure to awaken your love of Christmas, and your penchant for being showered in gifts.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

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The “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” extravaganza returns to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens with even more bling (more than 1 million lights now) than years past. Across 30 acres, dazzling new attractions include a “Starry Night Walk” inspired by Van Gogh’s painting. Peak night admission costs $20 for adults, $14 for kids ages 3-12 and free for tots. Non-peak nights are $3 cheaper.

1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 876-5859
(404) 876-5859

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LEGOLAND Christmas

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The “Holly Jolly Holidays!” mark a Santa takeover at Phipps Plaza's LEGOLAND. Expect white beards aplenty on those yellow LEGO figurines. The attraction is open through Dec. 24 at the Buckhead mall. Ticket prices vary, but discounts are available online.

3500 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 848-9252
(404) 848-9252

Snow Mountain

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Atlanta’s official winter wonderland is a fake-snow-packed, 400-foot mountainside with 20 lanes of tubing chutes. Go down as a single rider, or on a family-sized mega-tube, but don’t forget your wallet. A two-hour Snow Mountain pass is $27 for adults and children, but that includes all-day access to the snow play areas, where snowmen are built and snowballs tossed.

1000 Robert E. Lee Dr., Stone Mountain, GA 30083
(770) 498-5690
(770) 498-5690

Lake Lanier Islands Resort

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For 20 years, Lake Lanier Islands Resort has hosted a marvelous show of electricity called "Magical Nights of Lights." There are miles of themed light shows (don’t miss the snowflake bridge) and millions of bulbs. The cost is $60 per vehicle, or substantially more for busses.

7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA 30518
770-945-8787
770-945-8787

Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink

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A little larger than its Piedmont Park cousin, the Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink is a picturesque winter wonderland when it’s not closed because of things like rain and humidity. Sure, it’s contrived, but it’s festive, and a great venue for wipeout watching. Admission is $10 for a 90-minute session, but college students get in cheaper. It’s open until Jan. 27, too.

285 International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 223-4412
(404) 223-4412

Also featured in:

Lenox Square Mall's Pink Pig

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Atlanta’s most curious yuletide tradition involves its favorite protein. Since 1953, the Pink Pig — aka “Priscilla” — has been delighting generations of Atlantans. These days, you’ll find the cutesy ride under the tent atop the Lenox Road parking deck at Lenox Square. Follow the squeals of children. Tickets are $3 per ride, or cheaper with successive helpings of pork.

3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 233-6767
(404) 233-6767

Also featured in:

Nutcracker at The Fox

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It wouldn’t be the holidays at the Fabulous Fox Theatre without the return of the Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker. As if the show wasn’t enchanting enough, this year the ballet teamed with illusionist Drew Thomas to bring “an extra magical touch.” Tickets start at $20.

660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 881-2100
(404) 881-2100

Also featured in:

Christmas at Callanwolde

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This 27,000 square-foot Gothic-Tudor mansion is transformed for the holidays by Atlanta’s top interior and floral designers into an English Classic Christmas bonanza. Additional attractions: cabaret nights and holiday music played on the Aeolian pipe organ. Entry is $20, or $12 for kids.

980 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 874-9351
(404) 874-9351

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Atlanta Botanical Garden

1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

The “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” extravaganza returns to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens with even more bling (more than 1 million lights now) than years past. Across 30 acres, dazzling new attractions include a “Starry Night Walk” inspired by Van Gogh’s painting. Peak night admission costs $20 for adults, $14 for kids ages 3-12 and free for tots. Non-peak nights are $3 cheaper.

1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 876-5859
(404) 876-5859

LEGOLAND Christmas

3500 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30326

The “Holly Jolly Holidays!” mark a Santa takeover at Phipps Plaza's LEGOLAND. Expect white beards aplenty on those yellow LEGO figurines. The attraction is open through Dec. 24 at the Buckhead mall. Ticket prices vary, but discounts are available online.

3500 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 848-9252
(404) 848-9252

Snow Mountain

1000 Robert E. Lee Dr., Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Atlanta’s official winter wonderland is a fake-snow-packed, 400-foot mountainside with 20 lanes of tubing chutes. Go down as a single rider, or on a family-sized mega-tube, but don’t forget your wallet. A two-hour Snow Mountain pass is $27 for adults and children, but that includes all-day access to the snow play areas, where snowmen are built and snowballs tossed.

1000 Robert E. Lee Dr., Stone Mountain, GA 30083
(770) 498-5690
(770) 498-5690

Lake Lanier Islands Resort

7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA 30518

For 20 years, Lake Lanier Islands Resort has hosted a marvelous show of electricity called "Magical Nights of Lights." There are miles of themed light shows (don’t miss the snowflake bridge) and millions of bulbs. The cost is $60 per vehicle, or substantially more for busses.

7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA 30518
770-945-8787
770-945-8787

Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink

285 International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

A little larger than its Piedmont Park cousin, the Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink is a picturesque winter wonderland when it’s not closed because of things like rain and humidity. Sure, it’s contrived, but it’s festive, and a great venue for wipeout watching. Admission is $10 for a 90-minute session, but college students get in cheaper. It’s open until Jan. 27, too.

285 International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 223-4412
(404) 223-4412

Lenox Square Mall's Pink Pig

3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

Atlanta’s most curious yuletide tradition involves its favorite protein. Since 1953, the Pink Pig — aka “Priscilla” — has been delighting generations of Atlantans. These days, you’ll find the cutesy ride under the tent atop the Lenox Road parking deck at Lenox Square. Follow the squeals of children. Tickets are $3 per ride, or cheaper with successive helpings of pork.

3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 233-6767
(404) 233-6767

Nutcracker at The Fox

660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

It wouldn’t be the holidays at the Fabulous Fox Theatre without the return of the Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker. As if the show wasn’t enchanting enough, this year the ballet teamed with illusionist Drew Thomas to bring “an extra magical touch.” Tickets start at $20.

660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 881-2100
(404) 881-2100

Christmas at Callanwolde

980 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

This 27,000 square-foot Gothic-Tudor mansion is transformed for the holidays by Atlanta’s top interior and floral designers into an English Classic Christmas bonanza. Additional attractions: cabaret nights and holiday music played on the Aeolian pipe organ. Entry is $20, or $12 for kids.

980 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 874-9351
(404) 874-9351