Elsa Simcik

Latest posts by Elsa

40 Awesome Free Things To Do in Atlanta This Summer With Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 06/02/2023 - 10:19am

Save money and explore the hiking trails and walking paths near Dunwoody Nature Center. Photo courtesy of the center

"Free summer" is pretty much our favorite phrase when it comes to kids' activities in summer. ("Cheap" is a close second!) And the best part is, our kids are just as happy and worn out playing at a free park or splash pad as they are with pricey attractions. Since an Atlanta summer usually requires water, air conditioning, or evening shade, we've kept those prerequisites in mind while gathering the best free things to do this summer in Atlanta with kids. Go ahead and put that credit card away— it's time for our free summer ideas!

If FREE is your favorite word, too, enjoy the Mommy Poppins Guide to Free Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids all year long. For more summer fun ideas, we've collected many and shared them in our Summer Activities Guide for Atlanta Families.

18 Best Things to Do in Atlanta June 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 05/28/2023 - 8:46am

Butterflies flock to guests at the Chattahoochee Nature Center's Flying Colors Butterfly Festival. Photo courtesy of CNC

Get ready for summer vacation! Things to do in Atlanta this month include Juneteenth celebrations, Father's Day, and lots of summer festivals.

Kick off June in Atlanta with the popular Butterfly Festival at Chattahoochee Nature Center, featuring food, entertainment and butterflies. As June continues, celebrate Juneteenth with the Downtown Juneteenth Parade and Music Festival June 16-18. This month brings cool characters to Georgia like CoComelon Party Time, an all-new interactive experience, launching for the first-time ever in Atlanta and staying for about two weeks. Families can take a two-hour drive south to Cordele, GA for A Day Out With Thomas, a must for fans of the beloved tank engine.

Get more ideas by checking out our Ultimate Summer Bucket List Ideas with 100 FREE things to do with kids. Visit one of our favorite Atlanta Swimming Lakes and Beaches or relax under the stars at the best Atlanta Outdoor Movie Events this Summer.

17 Summer Festivals and Fairs in Atlanta for Families

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 05/26/2023 - 10:52am

Be part of the celebration commemorating the historic day of Juneteenth, marking the emancipation of enslaved Africans in America at Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

Get hyped for summer festivals in Atlanta as more fun events are announced every day! From yummy food and live music to bouncy houses and parades, there is something to keep every family member happy at these fun-in-the-sun summer festivals near you. We picked our faves for you to add to your summer calendar...don't sleep on the always delicious Atlanta Ice Cream Festival.

For more ways to stretch your summer fun, check out our Atlanta Summer Activities Guide with ideas for Summer Day Trips from Atlanta, Swimming Lakes and Beaches for Georgia Families to Visit, and our Ultimate Summer Bucket List!

Memorial Day Weekend 2023 in Atlanta: Festivals, Day Trips, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 10:16am

Celebrate Memorial Day with fireworks at Callaway Gardens. Photo courtesy of the gardens

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

Most Atlanta students will be singing, "School's Out For Summer" this weekend! Luckily, Atlanta has FREE summer concerts starting this weekend, like Fridays-N-Duluth and Peachtree Corners Summer Concert Series. We are also excited about Alpharetta Arts Streetfest happening on Saturday and Sunday, with face painting, food trucks and of course, art. Honor the men and women who died in service to our country at Stone Mountain Park's Memorial Day tribute —for four nights in a row, visitors watch the NEW laser light spectacular followed by a special patriotic fireworks show. Military personnel (active, veterans, and retired) receive a free Stone Mountain Park attractions pass May 26-29, with discounts for immediate family members, too.

We at Mommy Poppins Atlanta have summer on our minds, so we are updating our Summer Activities Guide for Atlanta Kid s daily. Check it out for summer scoop on things like the Best Swimming Lakes and Beaches Near Atlanta and Free Outdoor Movies in Atlanta with Kids.

Free Outdoor Movies in Atlanta this Summer with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 05/19/2023 - 10:03am

Take a look at the fun places to see FREE outdoor movies in Atlanta this summer! Photo by the author

Watching outdoor movies under the stars is an ideal summertime bucket list item for Atlanta families. Moviegoers enjoy the cooler evening weather, a family-friendly flick and best of all, they're almost always FREE! These outdoor movie nights in Atlanta and the surrounding suburbs last all summer long. Even better, you don't have to scour the internet trying to find outdoor movies in Atlanta because we've already done that. Get out your calendar, dust off the picnic blankets and lawn chairs, and enjoy the show!

Want ideas for other fun ways to experience outdoors movies? Check out our list of the Best Drive-in Movie Theaters in Georgia and Tips to Throw Your Own Outdoor Movie Party.

Swimming Lakes and Beaches Near Atlanta for Georgia Families this Summer

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 05/14/2023 - 11:43am

Aqua Island floats atop Robin Lake Beach at Callaway Gardens. Photo courtesy Callaway Gardens Facebook

Swimming lakes are a great option for families to beat the heat in the Atlanta summer. Sure, pools are fun but sometimes kids and parents need a change of scenery from diving boards and chlorine. Luckily, there are lots of swimming lakes near Atlanta with great beaches that make an easy summer day trip for Atlanta families. You don't need a boat or a personal watercraft for these beaches; you can actually just go jump in the lake. We've narrowed it down to our favorites, all within 90 minutes or less of Atlanta. Remember, we're moms too so obviously we only included places that offer restrooms.

Need more ideas about how to cool off as the temperatures rise? Check out our Summer Activities Guide for Atlanta Kids, which includes great ideas like the B est Outdoor Water Parks in Atlanta for Family Fun.

Mother’s Day Weekend 2023 in Atlanta: Brunches and More Things To Do With Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 05/10/2023 - 10:17am

Treat mom to a fabulous Mother's Day weekend in Atlanta! Photo by author

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

The main event of Mother's Day weekend is...MOM! If mom is into art (and/or free fun), we've rounded up several art festivals on Mother's Day weekend in Atlanta. Head to Dunwoody for the Dunwoody Art Festival or Buckhead for the Chastain Arts Festival, both running Saturday and Sunday. These beloved Atlanta festivals offer activities for adults (art, shopping, food) and kids (bounce houses, face painting, arts & crafts). Another great spring festival on Mother's Day weekend in Atlanta? The Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes offers music, a wing cook-off, and kids' area.

We have more ways your family can celebrate Mother's Day, like Atlanta Spots for Mother's Day Brunch, 30 Things to Do on Mother's Day in Atlanta, and High Tea and Tea Party Places in Atlanta. Mommy Poppins hopes you have a wonderful Mother's Day!

18 Best Things to Do in Atlanta May 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 04/30/2023 - 9:15am

The Art of the Brick features over 70 works of art crafted from more than 1 million LEGO bricks. Photo courtesy of alaegolsnk

From Mother's Day to Memorial Day, we'll be finding fun things to do all month long—May the 4th be with you!

Head outdoors this May in Atlanta for sunshine, warmth, and opportunities for kids to get out their wiggles. Families flock to free art festivals in May like Chastain Park Arts Festival, Decatur Arts Festival, and Alpharetta Arts Streetfest. Each of these outdoor events have fun, interactive activities for kids in addition to cool, local art for parents to peruse. Another category of family events we're stoked about? Immersive experiences, like two new ones in Atlanta —Art of the Brick Immersive Experience (a must for LEGO lovers) and Immersive Disney Animation (a must for Disney lovers). Every weekend in May families can hit the Georgia Renaissance Festival, which has tons of things to do for kids.

We've been hitting up all the Atlanta attractions so we can bring our readers the scoop on what to see and do! Check out our posts on Tiny Doors ATL and Truist Park and The Battery for Atlanta Braves Fans. Find more May fun with our Atlanta Spring Bucket List, which includes Best Spring Festivals and Fairs in Atlanta.