Elsa Simcik

Latest posts by Elsa

Free Museum Days in Atlanta to Explore Your World

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 01/13/2023 - 9:39am

The High Museum of Art offers free family admission the second Sunday of every month. Photo courtesy of the museum

Atlanta museums are great ways to spend a weekend with kids, especially during the cold winter and scorching summer. But if you don't have a membership, admission prices can add up quickly. Fortunately, we have the scoop on all of the FREE Atlanta museums as well as the ones that have certain free museum days throughout the year. Because isn't everything a little more enjoyable when it's free?!

Take note that many awesome Atlanta museums participate in the Museums on Us program, in which Bank of America cardholders and Merrill Lynch customers receive free admission to participating museums the first weekend of each month. It is a great national program to make use of during trips to other cities as well.

MLK Weekend 2023 Things to Do in Atlanta: Parades, Ice Skating, Light Shows

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 01/11/2023 - 9:34am

On MLK Day, everyone is invited to a day full of events in Acworth including a welcome breakfast, a unity walk, and a program honoring King. Photo courtesy of Acworth Expanding Horizons

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your weekend list!

Atlanta families can look forward to a well-deserved long weekend with lots of options for quality time and fun. MLK Day celebrations are abundant in Atlanta since our city is the birthplace of Dr. King. Families can honor his legacy by volunteering as part of the MLK National Day of Service and attending celebrations around Atlanta such as MLK Day at the Atlanta History Center, The King Center, and an MLK Day Parade in Lawrenceville.

If your kids haven't had the pleasure of ice skating this season (or want to do it again), this is the final weekend for many of our fave rinks at Atlantic Station, Park Tavern, and Avalon. It's also last call for popular holiday light shows like Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Gardens and IllumiNights at the Zoo. Making some resolutions for the new year? We've found Healthy Restaurants in Atlanta That Kids Will Love, as well as 17 Free Things to Do in Atlanta When It's Cold and Rainy.

New Year's Weekend Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids: Fireworks, Football, Fun Noon Year's Eve

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 12/28/2022 - 8:29am

Families head to The Avenue Peachtree City on New Year's Eve morning for a daytime celebration at Central Park. Photo courtesy of the venue

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

This weekend welcome in 2023 with plenty of kid-friendly (i.e. early) New Year's Eve celebrations like The Bubble Bash at Children's Museum of Atlanta and Noon Year's Eve at Avalon. Another reason Atlanta will be all a buzz on NYE? The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl featuring the Georgia Bulldogs! Fans without tickets can enjoy the parade on Saturday at 1pm and attend the kid-friendly, indoor FanFest at 3pm. If you haven't been to Atlanta's fun holiday events, this weekend is your last chance for several of our faves, like Stone Mountain Christmas. And for the last time this season, sip hot cocoa and ride roller coasters (maybe not in that order) at Holiday in the Park at Six Flags.

If you're staying in this NYE, we have awesome ideas for Celebrating New Year's at Home with Kids. As we say goodbye to 2022, let's remember the good times of the cool stuff that opened in Atlanta in 2022, like Sloomoo Institute and Harry Potter: The Exhibition Atlanta.

More Things To Do in Atlanta this Week with Kids:

S ign up for our free newsletter and make a New Year's resolution to use Mommy Poppins for great kids ideas and activities!

12 New Year's Eve Fireworks, Balloon Drops, and Other Atlanta Celebrations for Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 12/23/2022 - 7:16am

Kids and parents can party into the new year during the day at Children's Museum of Atlanta. Photo courtesy of the museum

Usher in New Year's Eve as a family with kid-friendly Atlanta events! We've got the details on kid-friendly New Year’s Eve and Noon Year’s Eve activities happening around Atlanta— many events end early (since the kids usually can't last until midnight), so you can still book a babysitter for an adults celebration.

For more inspiration over New Year's weekend, read our Fun Things to Do Over the Holiday Break with Kids, as well as our Winter Activities Guide for Kids. And don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletters to stay in the know of all the 2023 kid-friendly events and activities in Atlanta.

Christmas Weekend 2022 Best Things To Do in Atlanta: Photos with Santa, Holiday Lights, and More

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 12/21/2022 - 7:15am

The dazzling Shine Light Show is a leisurely drive through illuminated installations for all ages. Photo courtesy of the event

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

This year families celebrate Christmas all weekend long with Christmas Eve falling on Saturday and the big day on Sunday. Naturally, kids in Atlanta are bursting with anticipation and energy, and we here at Mommy Poppins have lots of ways for your family to make amazing memories all Christmas weekend long.

Santa is super busy this weekend, but he will be taking last-minute gift requests and posing for pics. Families can find Santa at his Post Office at The Battery and at the Georgia Aquarium through Christmas Eve. This weekend is a great time to drive through Reindeer Road World of Illumination at Six Flags White Water, Shine Light Show in Lawrenceville, and Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody. We also have the scoop on all the best Atlanta Homes with Spectacular Christmas Lights.

Need that winter entertainment to last a bit past Christmas? Be prepared with our list of Fun Things to Do Over the Winter Break with Kids in Atlanta. Whatever you celebrate, your friends at Mommy Poppins wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

25 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in Atlanta for Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 12/04/2022 - 7:38am

Bring your own camera and take free pics with Santa at Christmas in Acworth. Photo courtesy of the City of Acworth

The holiday season in Atlanta is magical but creating family memories isn't always cheap. We searched for the best free holiday activities and Christmas events in Atlanta happening this season. After all, buying gifts, attending holiday shows, and purchasing photo keepsakes with Santa, has our wallets quickly diminishing. Don't worry: There are lots of great FREE Christmas events in Atlanta! Our list has lightings (both menorahs and Christmas trees), festivals, and holiday markets. We even found free places to pose with Santa and a free drive-thru light show!

Best of December: 23 Top Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 12/02/2022 - 9:15am

Celebrate the holiday season this December during Stone Mountain Christmas. Photo courtesy Stone Mountain

Christmas lights, Hanukkah celebrations, and holiday activities are in full effect for December, and that's just the beginning of things to do in Atlanta this month!

December in Atlanta starts with Christmas tree lightings all over town, including Sparkle Sandy Springs, Woodstock Christmas Jubilee and Parade, and Light Up Brookhaven (where Santa enters on a helicopter)! As December continues, Atlanta families get into the holiday spirit with Nutcracker Ballet and Holiday Shows as well as Dazzling Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows. Around mid-month (starting December 18 to be exact), the eight nights of Hanukkah begin and families celebrate at Chabad Intown's menorah lightings; we also have 8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with fun gift and craft ideas. After all those holiday gifts are ripped open, families can look forward to 2023 and celebrate with fun, daytime events like the New Year's Eve Bubble Bash.

In fact, there's so much to do during December in Atlanta, we couldn't squeeze it into just one article. Make sure to visit our Atlanta Holiday and Christmas Guide to get ALL the details on the many things happening this month, including the scoop on the Places to Take Pictures with Santa in Atlanta, Atlanta Holiday Gift and Christmas Markets, and more!

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. No more holiday drama, mama — sign up for our newsletters to make your holidays run smoothly.

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

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Tue, 11/22/2022 - 6:40am

Head to The Battery Atlanta for the annual tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 26! Photo courtesy The Battery Atlanta

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!