What to Do With Kids Over Winter Break in Atlanta

We won’t actually be spending Christmas in Atlanta this year, but we’ll be back before New Year’s Eve. We’re bringing my nephew home with us to give the boys some fun cousin time together before they head back to school. If you’re like me, you’re already searching for what to do with kids over winter break in Atlanta, in addition to checking off some things from our Atlanta bucket list. Here are some festive events and ideas of family-friendly things to do.

Ride the Pink Pig

This is a fun and totally unique Atlanta tradition. In 1953, the Rich’s department store downtown debuted a suspended monorail ride for children. The original Pink Pig flew from the ceiling of the toy department, but was eventually moved to a rooftop Christmas village surrounding the Great Tree. At the end, riders got a sticker that read, “I Rode the Pink Pig.”
In 2004 the ride was reimagined as a more traditional miniature train style ride, and now kids of all ages can ride the Pink Pig through a giant 1950’s themed tent. Located at Macy’s Lenox Square, Nov. 2 through Jan. 5.

Scene from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. — *“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at Center for Puppetry Arts (Clay Walker)*

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at Center for Puppetry Arts

This beloved classic always signaled Christmas to me and my sisters. This was a favorite to watch together at home, along with Frosty the Snowman. I took Benjamin to see this recreation of the stop motion Rankin/Bass Christmas special when he was younger, and it was a huge hit. It is faithful to the original while offering some unique production twists on the puppet stage. Nov. 5 through Dec. 29

Snow day in Atlanta! This is a happy boy smiling and holding out his arms in the snow.

Ice Skating and Snow Play

While Atlanta is known to get some snow flurries from time to time, it can hardly be called a winter wonderland most years, which is why its fun to get out for some “planned” snow play. We might get lucky this year with snow in December, like we did last year… but if not, I’d love to take the boys to one of these fun locations. Here’s where to go ice skating in Atlanta or enjoy snow play.

Girl building a snowman at Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain Park. — *Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain, GA (Angela Walton)*

Avalon on Ice, Nov. 24 through Jan. 6, 2020
Skate the Station at Atlantic Station, Nov. 15 through Jan. 20, 2020
Olde Town on Ice in Conyers, Nov. 15 through Feb. 23, 2020
The Ice Rink at Sugar Hill, Oct. 31 through Feb. 9, 2020
Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain Park, Nov. 16 through Feb. 23, 2020
License to Chill Snow Island, Nov. 22 through Feb. 23, 2020

Winter Wonderland at Fernbank

This may be as much for me as for the kids but any chance I can get to expose the kids in our family to other cultures in unique ways, I am all for. Now in its 10th year, Winter Wonderland has become a family favorite holiday activity. The exhibit features over 30 sparkling, festive trees decorated by a variety of cultural partners with decorations and other objects from regions around the world. Nov. 22- Jan. 12

There is truly so much to do in Atlanta this time of year. Check out this complete guide to festive events and things to do with kids in Atlanta for the holiday or these 101 fun things to do this holiday season in Atlanta. I hope to see you at some of these festive events over winter break!