Your guide to fun things to-do this holiday season

November 28, 12:13 PMAtlanta Family Entertainment ExaminerAngela Cavallari Walker

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Check out these holiday happenings starting this weekend and throughout the holiday season!

One-Time Holiday Events

-Candlelight Tour of Roswell’s Historic Homes. Saturday, November 29, 5pm-9pm. Visit three of Atlanta’s Historic homes under the soft glow of candlelight. Bulloch Hall will feature, “Christmas Across the USA”, and Barrington Hall will present “A Dollhouse Christmas at Barrington Hall.”  Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for children (advance sales) or  $25 for adults and $20 for children (at the door.)

For more information on this event click here.   

-The Children’s Christmas Parade: Saturday, December 6, 10:30am-12pm. Each year this holiday parade takes to the streets of downtown Atlanta and features: marching bands, giant helium balloons, antique automobiles, floats, and more! Benefits and proceeds go  to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. There is no cost for this event.  

- Reindog Parade: Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., rain or shine at Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  Bring your pooch in full costume for fun events that include: a parade, and costume contest with prizes for: best botanical costume, best owner/dog look-alikes, best puppy costume, and best in show.  One dog per owner, pre-registration of $10 is required, plus regular Garden admission $12.

Holiday Events Throughout the Season

-Centennial Olympic Park; Holiday in Lights: Take a stroll through Centennial Park's 21-acres of glittering displays of lights, or take a whirl around Atlanta’s only outdoor skating rink. Admission to the park is free. Ice Skating is an additional charge.

-Underground Atlanta Presents: The Gingerbread Party. Festivities include: educational tale about Christmas, holiday music, a take-home bag for all your treats, a viewing of a holiday movie, and your child’s decorated gingerbread house. Cost for The Gingerbread Party is $30 per child, and admission is free to Underground Atlanta. For more details click here.

-Archibald Smith Plantation Home:  The Smith Plantation will be decorated for the holidays and representing Christmas traditions across the world.  Countries include:  Italy, France, England and South Africa. Cost is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for children (children under 6 are free.) 

-Stone Mountain Park Christmas: Activities and events include:  The Polar Express 4-D experience, sing-a-long Christmas train ride, shows, snow and fireworks. Admission is $20 for adults, and $17 for kids. To read a review of this event click here.

-Callaway Gardens Fantasy In Lights: 8 million lights glitter and glisten to create more than a dozen holiday displays. Drive through in your own vehicle or take in the view from a trolley.  Included in the admission is access to Callaway’s Christmas Village, where you can meet Santa, The Gingerbread Man, or Frosty the Snowman.  Admission is $16 (+tax) for adults, and $8 (+tax) for children over 6 (under 6 are free.)

-Lake Lanier Islands Magical Nights of Lights: Features a dazzling 6-mile drive of lighted displays and illuminations. Highlights include: Santa’s grotto where you can warm up with hot chocolate or roast marshmallows over an open fire. Admission is $40 per car, $55/van, or $150 per bus. 

-Atlanta Botanical Gardens:  Events include: Photos with St Nick,  Puppet Shows, Holiday Ride-On Train ( additional cost of $2) , holiday greenery and more! Admission is $12 for Adults, $9 for seniors and children (under age 3 are free.) For more information on these events click here.

-Shows:

Alliance Theater: Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol” starts Friday, November 28^th and runs through December 24^th. Ticket prices range from $20-$50.

Horizon Theater: “The Santaland Diaries” by famed author David Sedaris starts Friday, November 28^th and runs through January 4^th. Ticket prices range from $25-$35, and VIP tickets are $40-45. 

The Fox Theater: Atlanta Ballet’s “Nutcracker” debuts December 5^th and continues through December 28^th.  Tickets are available through ticketmaster and range in price from $15-$85 depending on seat location.

Center for Puppetry Arts: “Sam the lovesick snowman” is a family-friendly tale about a snowman that falls in love with a stove. The show starts November 28^th and runs through January 4^th. Ticket prices range from $9-$16.