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Thanksgiving Weekend in Atlanta: Tree Lightings, The Nutcracker, and More Things To Do With Kids

Head to The Battery Atlanta for the annual tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 26! Photo courtesy The Battery Atlanta
Head to The Battery Atlanta for the annual tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 26! Photo courtesy The Battery Atlanta
11/22/22 - By Elsa Simcik

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your weekend list! 

Atlanta families have lots to be thankful for this year, including so many fun, memory-making events happening this Thanksgiving weekend. After the turkey has become leftovers (or you're stuffed eating at a kid-friendly Atlanta restaurant open on Thanksgiving), jump right into celebrating the holidays. Check out events like the Lighting of the Great Tree on Thanksiving night in Lawrenceville and The Battery Atlanta Tree Lighting, with live music and an outdoor movie, on Saturday night. Thanksgiving weekend starts off many holiday events in Atlanta, including amazing drive-through light shows like Marietta's Lights of LIFE and Canton's Holiday Lights at Veteran's Park. 

Now's the time that The Polar Express and Atlanta Christmas Trains chug along, including the Holiday Express Train on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, which opens the day after Thanksgiving. Speaking of classic holiday fun, Atlanta also has lots of options for The Nutcracker Ballets and Atlanta Holiday Shows this season. Find more hot tickets, ideas, and events in our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for Atlanta Kids. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Mommy Poppins!

More Things to do in Atlanta This Week with Kids: 

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Disney Junior Live on Tour: Costume Palooza takes the stage at the Fox Theater. Photos courtesy of Disney
Disney Junior Live on Tour: Costume Palooza takes the stage at the Fox Theater. Photos courtesy of Disney

Things to Do This Weekend in Atlanta with Kids

Holiday Lights at Veteran's Park

Canton - November 21-December 31
Families love to drive through this two-mile spectacular light display in Canton during the holiday season.    READ MORE

IllumiNights at the Zoo

Grant Park - November 21-January 15
IllumiNights, a Chinese animal lantern festival, is back at Zoo Atlanta! The lanterns—hand-crafted by Chinese artisans—create a wonderland for zoo visitors to enjoy.  READ MORE

Margaritaville Lakeside Lights Spectacular

Buford - Select dates, November 23 - January 16
Families walk through this spectacular light show with festive seasonal music.  READ MORE

Lighting of the Great Tree

Lawrenceville- Thursday, November 24
Families head to the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on Thanksgiving night to enjoy the 35-year-old tradition of the lighting of the Great Tree. The event includes s'mores, cocoa, crafts and a visit from Santa.    READ MORE

Lights of LIFE at Life University

Marietta - November 24-December 31
A drive-through holiday light showcase awaits at Life University. In addition to the magical display, a petting zoo, train rides, and pony rides are available for children. READ MORE

Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre presents The Nutcracker

Marietta - November 25-27
Right after Thanksgiving families can get into the holiday spirit with Georgia Metro Dance Theatre's rendition of The Nutcracker in Marietta. GMDT promises colorful sets, costumes and special effects that wow the audience.    READ MORE

The Nutcracker Presented by Northeast Atlanta Ballet

Duluth - November 25-27
The Northeast Atlanta Ballet performs the classic version of The Nutcracker with the traditional Tchaikovsky score.  READ MORE

Roswell Dance Theatre Presents The Nutcracker

Sandy Springs - Select dates, November 25-December 4
Audience members are treated to a classic performance of The Nutcracker by both professional dancers and students from Roswell Dance Theatre and Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance at the Byers Theatre in Sandy Springs.  READ MORE

Christmas on the Farm at Southern Belle Farm

McDonough - November 25-December 18
Southern Belle Farms invites families to celebrate Christmas in the country at the farm. Visitors can enjoy the outdoor activities with a cup of hot apple cider and homemade treats, and a visit with Santa.  READ MORE

Christmas Canteen

Lawrenceville -Select dates, November 25-December 23
Audiences love Christmas Canteen because its Gwinnett’s longest-running theatrical holiday tradition. The revue is includes Christmas magic, songs and comic sketches and is perfect for all ages.    READ MORE

Atlanta Christkindl Market

Buckhead - November 25 - December 24
Atlanta parents and kids get to visit this authentic German marketplace in Buckhead Village all season long. The Atlanta Christkindl Market features holiday items, as well as German food, treats, drinks, and more.  READ MORE

Holiday Lights of Hope at Hobgood Park

Woodstock - November 25 - December 23
One of the largest walk-through Christmas lights events in Georgia, featuring a light display with more than 2 million lights, a lighted maze, shop concessions and vendors, craft making, and a visit with Santa. Proceeds benefit the Anna Crawford Children’s Center. READ MORE

Holiday Express at Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Blue Ridge - Select dates, November 25 - December 23
Families head north to the mountains for this one-hour holiday train ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, featuring the story, The Night Before Christmas. Riders are also treated to holiday music, an activity packet, a candy cane, and a jingle bell. Parents can purchase snacks and hot chocolate while on board. READ MORE

The Battery Atlanta Tree Lighting

Atlanta - Saturday, November 26
Families come to The Battery the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the sixth annual tree lighting ceremony complete with a performance by A-Town A-List and a showing of the movie The Grinch.  READ MORE

Disney Junior Live on Tour: Costume Palooza

Midtown - Saturday, November 26
Beloved Disney Junior characters team up with favorite Marvel superheroes live on stage for a concert-style show with singing, dancing, and acrobatics. The show features favorite songs from hit Disney Junior series, as well as new original music. READ MORE

Snellville Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade

Snellville - Saturday, November 26
It's the 41st Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Snellville and everyone is invited! Prior to the lighting, a parade with lighted floats, tractors, trucks, and Santa start at Wisteria Plaza and end at the Towne Green. After the lighting, families enjoy a fun evening with s'mores, cookie decorating, and other activities.  READ MORE

Dupe - Piedmont Park Holiday Gift Market

Midtown - November 26 & 27
The weekend after Thanksgiving, shoppers descend on Piedmont Park for a Holiday Gift Market. The event will feature up to 175 handcrafters centered around the holiday spirit of gift giving, which will include painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalwork, glass blowers, jewelers, and crafters.  READ MORE
Is it better to chop down a living tree, or reuse a hunk of plastic? We investigated! Photo by Any Lane via Pexels
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