By Ally Wright
Can’t get enough of the holidays? Here are a few more events to celebrate the holiday spirit and stretch this season of celebration into the new year. From Hanukkah to Christmas to Kwanzaa to New Year’s Eve, Atlanta is the place to be for young and old alike.
Meet the Holidays at The Children’s Museum of Atlanta
This series is designed to both educate and entertain the children this holiday season, and each weekend of December is dedicated to a different holiday. Learn about Hanukkah the weekend of Dec. 15, Christmas on Dec. 22, and Kwanzaa on Dec. 29. The programs include stories and crafts. For the full schedule, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.
Holly Jolly Holidays at LEGOLAND
This attraction at Phipps Plaza welcomes kids of all ages, beginning with a slightly less traditional Christmas Tree lighting. In fact, it’s not a lighting at all, but a build. Come be a part of building an entire tree, Lego-style. This will take place between Nov. 30 and Dec. 2, and the tree will be displayed for the rest of the season. Other events here include building holiday ornaments, visits with Santa, and a pajama party and reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas with Mrs. Claus. The celebration continues through the New Year, with “Noon Year’s Eve” on Dec. 31, from 10 a.m. to noon, which gives the little ones a chance to celebrate the new year, without staying up too late. For more information or tickets, visit legolanddiscoverycenter.com.
Piedmont Park’s Season of Magic
Piedmont Park is celebrating the romance of the season with horse-drawn carriage rides, ice-skating, and plenty of opportunities for romantic strolls through a park ablaze with holiday lights. The Christmas carousel will take children and adults alike for a spin in front of the Midtown skyline, and The Rink at Park Tavern will host both family skating time and a post-9 p.m. adult skate. For more information and a full schedule visit piedmontpark.org and parktavern.com.
Variety Playhouse
There are a number of things going on at Variety Playhouse for the holiday season, with events like “A John Waters Christmas,” an adults-only evening of mischief and comedy with the Baltimore filmmaker, on Thursday, Dec. 13. Other events include a holiday music night with Yacht Rock on Saturday, Dec. 15, and The 2nd annual Holiday Hootenanny on Sunday, Dec. 16, featuring several different musical acts and supporting The Atlanta Community Food Bank. For more information on the schedule or to buy tickets, visit varietyplayhouse.com.
Celebrate Kwanza at the Library
Come learn the principles of Kwanzaa through interaction and hands-on activities at the library’s community lecture on Saturday, Dec. 8. On Sunday, Dec. 30, come to the central library on Margaret Mitchell Square and observe Kwanzaa. The celebration will include a musical performance by vocal and percussion ensemble Giwayen Mata. For more information, visit afpls.org/events-aarl.
New Year’s Eve at Park Tavern
Ring in 2013 with live music, gourmet food, and an open bar at Park Tavern, surrounded by people ready to celebrate! Live music will be provided by Yacht Rock, with a DJ to fill in the blanks. Toast with champagne at midnight, feast on the breakfast buffet, take a photo in the photo booth, and dance right into the new year all in the same place. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly so visit Parktavern.com to snap yours up today.
Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta
The 24th annual celebration at Underground Atlanta will begin early on New Year’s Eve, with music and family events from 11 a.m. onward. The main event, the dropping of the 800-pound peach at midnight, will be followed by fireworks, and bars in the area will be open until 4 a.m., so it can be an all-day adventure. For a full schedule of events, a list of musicians playing on the different stages, and a live countdown to 2013, visit peachdrop.com.
New Year’s Eve at The Shakespeare Tavern
Want a more intimate celebration? Enjoy music, food, drinks, and comedy while spending New Year’s Eve at The Shakespeare Tavern. Storyteller and musician Andy Offutt Irwin will be presenting his New Year’s Eve Old Fashioned Good Time Concert, with musical guests Three Quarter Ale, Cyndi Craven and more. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. For more information, visit shakespearetavern.com.
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